Hello everyone.
On long rides with the standard seat on my BMW G650GS, I used to get a sore backside. I'd read online that the high seat is better, but what worried me was reaching the ground.
So I bought a used genuine high seat on Yahoo! Auctions (a Japanese auction site) for about 15,000 yen and compared it with the standard (low) seat. In short, reaching the ground gets a little harder, but the benefits outweigh that, in my experience.
In this post, at 167 cm tall with short legs, I compare how well I can reach the ground on the high seat and the low seat, and the benefits I felt when riding, using photos taken from the same angle.
BMW G650GS (F650GS) seat basics
According to information online, the shape of the G650GS seat has been the same for every model year since it went on sale in Japan in 2012 (including the lowered version). That also matches what I've seen on the various bikes I've looked at.
Also, the seat fitted as standard to Japanese-market bikes is apparently classed as the low seat in its home market (Europe).
| Seat type | Character | Comfort |
| Standard (low seat) | Focused on reaching the ground. Fairly firm. | For me, my backside started to hurt after one to two hours |
| High seat (tested here) | Focused on comfort and riding position. | Thicker, and my backside was much less sore even on long rides |
The standard seat isn't badly made, but long tours are a different story. I tried the high seat to see whether it really is easier on your backside.
My verdict: four benefits I found with the high seat
With the used high seat fitted, I knew as soon as I set off: "this is good!"
Here are the four benefits.
- Less soreness even after long hours in the saddle
The foam is thick and just firm enough, and it sinks in to support your whole backside. - Reaching the ground isn't as bad as it looks
The seat is shaped narrowly, so it doesn't hurt reach as much as the seat height figure suggests (more below). - Less bend in the knees with your feet on the footpegs
Sitting higher gives your legs more room, and my legs got less tired on long rides. - Less hot air from the radiator on your calves
With your knees (and thighs) higher, the hot air from the radiator passes between your thighs and calves while riding.
Photo comparison: reaching the ground at 167 cm tall: high seat vs low seat
If you're wondering about reaching the ground most of all, here are photos taken from the same angle.
The rider
Height: 167 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Very short legs (new trousers always need taking up)
1. The seats compared
Left: high seat / Right: standard (low) seat
The photos show that the high seat is clearly thicker and sits higher.
2. Both feet down
Left: high seat / Right: standard (low) seat
This is with both feet on the ground.
Naturally, reaching the ground is harder on the high seat, but oddly, it doesn't feel as high (or as scary) as it looks.
From behind. On the left (high seat), my heels lift a little more.
The seat is soft and sinks under your whole backside, so it only feels about 2 cm higher.
3. One foot down
This is the usual stance at traffic lights: one foot on the peg and the other holding the bike up.
Left: high seat / Right: standard (low) seat
Standard seat (right): my whole foot, heel included, is flat on the ground, which feels very secure.
High seat (left): my heel lifts slightly, but the front half of my foot (around the ball) is firmly down, so I have no worries holding the bike up.
From behind. Even on the high seat (left), I could hold the bike up without trouble as long as I kept it upright.
Getting a G650GS (F650GS) high seat, and other options
I bought a used genuine high seat on Yahoo! Auctions for about 15,000 yen.
Ways to get one include:
- Look for a used one on auction or second-hand sites (this is what I did; I searched for "G650GS seat" and "F650GS high seat")
- Order the genuine part from an overseas online shop
- Ask a BMW dealer
Search results for "F650GS G650GS high seat" on Yahoo! Auctions (Japan)
If you can't find a high seat, or don't want to lose any reach
"I just can't find a used one..."
"I'm still nervous about reaching the ground..."
If that's you, instead of changing the seat you can put a cushion on top of the standard seat.
Well-known options are the "GEL-ZAB" and "mesh seat covers". I haven't used either, so I can't say how well they work, but they let you try something without changing the seat.
Summary: if you want easier long rides, the high seat is worth trying
Here's how the G650GS (F650GS) high and low seats compare.
- If worries about reach are stopping you from trying the high seat, I think it's worth a go
- Even with my short legs at 167 cm, one foot goes down firmly, so I didn't feel uneasy
- Less soreness, less bend in the knees, less hot air on the calves: plenty of benefits
Enjoy your riding!
I've written about why I sold my G650GS in this article.
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Why I Sold My BMW G650GS: What I Liked, and the Cost and Wait for Parts
Why I sold my BMW G650GS after five or six years: moving from a heavy Triumph Tiger Explorer, making it just right with small mods, then expensive, slow-to-arrive parts in Japan.
Related post:
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Why My Used G650GS High Seat Felt Hard: It Was the Cover, Not the Foam
A used high seat for my BMW G650GS felt hard, so I peeled the cover off to find out why. The foam was still soft; the cover had hardened. Here's how I removed it (about one to two hours) and the cutter trick that worked.
