[splais]

So I am the proud owner of a "new" 1997 R1100RT. My only other street bike was a Heritage Softtail Classic. Quit a change, but I like the bike. My closest BMW dealer is 200 miles away so I will probably be doing all the routine stuff myself. A couple of questions.

1 I already can tell I'm going to have to do something about the seat. It's the adjustable (maybe they all are) two piece stock seat. It's very uncomfortable, just "feels" hard on my arse after not to long a time. I've seen places where you can send your seat and they will install an insert or new padding and I guess there are a bunch of after market seats out there - for comfort I'm thinking the cost may not be the most important thing. I'm 5'8" and 165 pounds. So if you changed your seat in any way - what did you do and how did you like it?

2. The upper body seating postion is fine; it's my legs need to fix. I don't like the bent and tucked leg position. I have have ordered the lower pegs to try. I'd also like to have highway pegs but the only ones I've seen mount to the cylinder ends and are actually located at the front of cylinder. I'm only 5'8" and can't comfortably get my legs around the wide lower fairing and up to the peg location. Is anyone aware of a peg that locates at the rear bolt of the cylinder? Maybe an even more ludicrous idea - does anyone make a more stream-lined side fairing for the bike.

Thanks.

Thanks.

 

[goose512]

I'm 5'8" as well, (with about 20 more pounds) I've become adjusted to the stock seat on my R1200RT, but I've heard a lot of good things about the Day-Long seats both from people I ride with and on this forum.

I came from a Harley myself and I too had issues with leg comfort due to the begs and being "tucked up" in my rider position. Although it can be a little akward in the beginning with our shorter stature, I now keep my seat in the highest position on long rides and in the lower position when I'm running about town making a lot of stops. I've found that just the slight of adjustment it gives me by having the seat higher makes a WORLD of difference in my long term comfort and endurance on the bike.

Derek

 

[beech]

So I am the proud owner of a "new" 1997 R1100RT.

Give it some time to get saddle broken. Coming from a totally different riding position and format you need to get adjusted to the new norm. It will happen and you will see the merits. Have a great summer riding the "new" bike.

 

[hopz]

Wow, there is a guy over at BMW Sport Touring with the same questions you have. Maybe you guys could get in-touch.... see my comments over there for the seat.

But I digress,...

lowering the pegs will help. Easy modification and many of us have done that.

Highway pegs... sounds like you used to ride a Harley... if the need to ride like that overwhelms you, check out the highway pegs from Illium. Not sure they will fit an R1100RT but they might. Spendy but good stuff. You can also seek out the various tubular head protector options which many can have bolt-on pegs.

Note: there is nothing you can bolt to the cylinders... those are valve covers that stick out on the sides. They are neither as sturdy nor as weak as you might imagine. The idea of putting highway pegs on the valve cover bolts is not new and has been done for many years. I personally do not favor the idea but have never actually heard of any problems doing it.

 

[splais]

thanks for the info. Yeah I know that guy on the other forum; but I'm looking for the best BMW forum here :wave

Oh, and yes, I'm an ex Harley rider, this whole BMW thing is a completely new experience in many areas - on a steep learning curve.

PS: yes, I like the Ilium pegs, but as suggested I'm going to try her for a while with the lowered pegs and see if I can get the "Harley" out of me.

 

[hopz]

Good to hear your are trying for the Harley-ectomy.. good luck.

Worked for me to have it gone.

Another tip for you is to get you body in shape. You will discover that riding a H-D was like sitting on your ass, while the BMW is more bodily involved. you will find that you are holding your body with the parts of it that are designed to do that... as opposed to, say, sitting.

The BMW 'involves you and you need to enjoy that involvement.

Get on the interwebs and find an article called "The Master Yoda Riding Position"... then ask questions. (gee, I haven't invoked MYRP in so long I almost forgot about it)

Enjoy the process.

 

[gbbaile]

Splais, I have a 96 R1100RT and absolutely love it. Changes I've made are:
Bar risers
Lowered pegs
Russell Day Long Seat

Perfect comfort for me now. Plan to add highway pegs in the future. Enjoy!