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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: sbeadg on December 26, 2011, 06:06:30 PM

Title: "low seat" model
Post by: sbeadg on December 26, 2011, 06:06:30 PM
When I bought my K100 LT, my buddy who has owned his K75S for many years told me it was a "low seat" model because it had the knee pads on the tank.  Happily, it was/is because I have a 30" inseam.  The seat was noticeably lower than my son's KRS.  Can I assume any bike I'm looking at with knee pads is a "low seat" model?
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on December 26, 2011, 06:33:03 PM
No, some regular seat bikes had knee pads.

The key is if the knee pads are one piece that wraps around the tank and hides the battery.

Low seat model:

(http://verrill.com/moto/bmwchron/k75.gif)


Regular seat model with knee pads:

(http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=48542&stc=1&d=1162090736)
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: sbeadg on December 27, 2011, 04:51:41 PM
Muchas gracias.  IS there any way to tell, just be looking if a bike is the low seat model?
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Inge K. on December 27, 2011, 05:27:50 PM
The low seat model is missing the side/battery covers.

Inge K.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: sbeadg on December 30, 2011, 04:52:16 PM
Maybe on the K75's but my K100 LT has side covers and IS a low seat model...
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on December 30, 2011, 05:11:45 PM
Maybe on the K75's but my K100 LT has side covers and IS a low seat model...

Let's see a pic...

Does the seat lift off or is it hinged?
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Inge K. on December 30, 2011, 07:41:18 PM
Maybe on the K75's but my K100 LT has side covers and IS a low seat model...
Not only 75`s, K100 II was delivered with the low seat as standard.


(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr326/IngeKarlsen/k1002-2.jpg)

Inge K.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on December 30, 2011, 08:01:56 PM
I wanna see pictures of a K bike with a low seat AND battery covers....
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Inge K. on December 31, 2011, 06:06:31 AM
I wanna see pictures of a K bike with a low seat AND battery covers....
I`m also looking forward to that.....
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Rick G on December 31, 2011, 07:25:15 AM
That makes 3
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: johnny on December 31, 2011, 10:04:05 AM
IV
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: HCorn on December 31, 2011, 04:33:15 PM
Although technically not a "low seat" model, some K-bikes have seats which are lower than stock.  My bike has a BMW seat, but it is lower than stock.  I don't think it came from the factory this way, since it is somewhat cobbled together (tool box cover removed and the tray has been modified a bit).   

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LY_q5No8hcg/TbH4dAS-fbI/AAAAAAAAAzE/zGSHnkvF2v0/s640/IMG00037-20110422-1646.jpg)

Just saying that after 20+ years, there's a variety of "lower" K-bikes, but they aren't the "low seat" model from the factory. 

I'm only 5'8" and have a 30" inseam.  I have no problems with the seat above and a regular length shock.  With the shorter length Works shock on previously, I could flat foot it.  So, to the OP, you may not have to limit yourself to "low seat" bikes.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Inge K. on December 31, 2011, 06:04:41 PM
The seat you got is a "superkomfort" seat, this design was used from about mid. `90.
This was standard on the 1100LT/SE models  (the 1100`s ain`t got tool trays)

Inge K.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on December 31, 2011, 06:10:39 PM
Yep, if it sticks down into the frame on the front then it's a K1100 seat.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: Inge K. on December 31, 2011, 06:24:09 PM
Although technically not a "low seat" model, some K-bikes have seats which are lower than stock.  My bike has a BMW seat, but it is lower than stock.  I don't think it came from the factory this way,

Just look under the seat pan and you would find BMW part #52 53 2 307 589.
Which is the number for this design (and rather limited production in this design).

Inge K.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: johnny on December 31, 2011, 06:30:50 PM
 :popcorm
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: HCorn on December 31, 2011, 08:24:15 PM
I'm too lazy to walk ALL THE WAY out to the garage to see the part number.  But  recall when I looked it up trying to figure out what it was there was very little info about it.  IIRC, when I first got the bike, Duck had said he thought it was an 1100 seat. 

I still have the tray on my K75 and it is useable.  But there''s no cover and it has clearly seen an exacto knife at some point to fit it.

But my point is there are a lot of aftermarket, shaved, cobbled seats out there on K bikes after all these years.  If you're a shorty like me, you don't necessarily need a Low seat bike to be comfortable. 

Honestly, I keep toying with the idea of getting a regular K75 seat because I wouldn't mind a bit more room.  But this one is pretty darn comfy.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on December 31, 2011, 08:26:51 PM
Yeah, the stock low seat isn't mandatory. 

I have an inseam-challenged buddy.  What worked for him to be able to flatfoot his K75S was to have the front sides of the seat shaved down a bit when he had it recovered.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: johnny on January 01, 2012, 10:16:29 AM
here is a hi lo seat on ebay... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-MOTORCYCLE-SINGLE-SEAT-BLACK-52-53-2-308-237-FITS-K100RS-RT-LT-K75-C-S-/250923394500?hash=item3a6c3325c4&item=250923394500&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr)

(http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/m/makCIt1d84BnKMwJQZjfCrg/140.jpg)

j o

Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: sbeadg on January 02, 2012, 08:51:36 PM
Here's a picture I took yesterday on a lovely New Year's ride around western Mass (love that Gerbings).  Its a quote my father used to say that I wanted to share with my 3 brothers.  Coincidentally, its a decent picture of the area in question.  Its a Corbin seat and it pivots.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on January 02, 2012, 08:56:56 PM
That's not a low seat.  That's a standard Corbin Dual Tour.  Somebody may have scooped it out a bit and had it recovered but it's built on a standard Corbin seat pan.  Low seats aren't hinged.
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: sbeadg on January 02, 2012, 09:16:01 PM
Thanks Frank.  Could the difference in seat height between son's '91 KRS (stock Corbin seat) and my '90 LT be the model? 
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on January 02, 2012, 09:45:16 PM
There's really no such thing as a "stock" Corbin seat.  If it's got a cloth label on the side that says "BMW by Corbin" then that's from a few years where BMW had a deal with Corbin where dealers would install them prior to sale as an option.  Since they're not made by BMW you really can't consider them "stock" because they're not OEM equipment.

If it came on a K75S then it's probably a Corbin Canyon Dual Sport model seat like the one pictured below:

(http://home.comcast.net/~smithduck/tours/bmw0/bmw0_album/slides/bmw0_a23.jpg)

Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: johnny on January 02, 2012, 10:11:14 PM
that looks like a corbin sub low seat... lower than low seat... hinged... retain your side panels... flat foot it... ride with comfort and confidence...

j o
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on January 02, 2012, 10:18:29 PM
For a couple of years Corbin actually made low seats too.  Here's an example:

(http://www.gingerich.net/motorcycles/images/K75-11-16-2004b.jpg)
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: johnny on January 02, 2012, 10:23:42 PM
is that as low as you can go...

j o
Title: Re: "low seat" model
Post by: frankenduck on January 02, 2012, 10:55:26 PM
is that as low as you can go...

j o

Nope. I rode to Badwater Basin in Death Valley.

(http://home.comcast.net/~smithduck/tours/bmwm_winter09/bmwm2_pics/bmwm2_2880.jpg)