I just picked up this beauty from a member of this forum. I'll leave him to chime in if he'd like, or maybe you recognise the bike. It even has a k100-forum sticker!



I'm originally from the USA and have always been around motorcycles. I've owned several vintage Hondas. The largest was my prized 1979 Honda CB750F Super Sport. I've been in Australia for a few years, and have been looking for a bike since I arrived. For several reasons, mainly cost, I have put off buying one until now. I picked this 1988 K100RT up late Tuesday and spent the better part of yesterday riding approximately 400ks to the coast. I'm currently in northern NSW and plan to ride the bike to Adelaide to do the rego early next week. 



As you can see, it took me a few tries to get the center stand working, but I think I've got it now! The ride yesterday was really comfortable, but I have to agree with the general consensus on the seat. It has to go. A large portion of my riding will be long-distance touring, and I'm really looking forward to changing the seat.

The bike only has the right pannier, but I've just picked up a set on Ebay for a decent price, so I'll have an extra RH pannier if anyone needs it. I'm planning to install a water bottle holder of some sort in one of the glove boxes and fit a radio. I'll try to update the forum on my progress.

Hi Ya Soapy welKome to the forum. I'm sure Phil has Philled you in on the K. That's a mighty fine bit of Australia you have just passed through (some of my favourite places).

WelKome!

Look at page 5 here for tips on how to get it on the center stand:
http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/optips/Operating_Tips_For_A_K75_or_2V_K100.pdf

Welcome! 

I agree on the standard seat not being a good way to go long distances.  See if you can find a BMW "comfort seat".  I have them on two of my bikes and have found them to be much better than almost any other seat you can put on your bike.  The only better seat for long distance that I have found is the Russel Day Long seat.

With the number of K100RT/LT bikes being hacked into cafe racers it shouldn't be hard to find one.

Thanks for the welcome and the information. That PDF is really great! I've been searching gumtree and ebay for BMW comfort seats. There doesn't seem to be anything out there today, but I'll keep looking. I'm planning a ride up to Gold Coast this weekend, but nothing too big this week. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to find a seat before the big trip to Adelaide!

Glad you like it Sam. You should have a good run with it. Looks like you were ahead of the worst of the rain. its been pissing down all day here.

Rockman wrote:Glad you like it Sam. You should have a good run with it. Looks like you were ahead of the worst of the rain. its been pissing down all day here.

Thanks Phil! Yeah, the rains were chasing me the entire way down! I got wet a few times, but nothing too bad. Once I hit Grafton, it was nothing but sunshine.

Comfort seats have a good reputation but can be hard to find or badly worn. My K has a custom rebuild by a specialist bike seat upholsterer and it is great. There are always options.

WelKome.

Bill

indian036 wrote:Comfort seats have a good reputation but can be hard to find or badly worn. My K has a custom rebuild by a specialist bike seat upholsterer and it is great. There are always options.

WelKome.

Bill

Point taken. Thank you. Will this seat fit http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112275735694? If not directly, can it be easily modified?

Hi 
It's a bit hard to see the detail of the side of the seat at the back, but it looks like it's the right type. Ad says early, but in the K, earlier or later can depend on which part of the bike you are considering. 
Earlier seats had the pillion grips built into the seat where later had handles incorporated into the bodywork side immediately behind the seat side. The shape of the seat varies in that area, but mountings are otherwise the same unless it's a low seat. 
Bill

Soapdude wrote:

indian036 wrote:Comfort seats have a good reputation but can be hard to find or badly worn. My K has a custom rebuild by a specialist bike seat upholsterer and it is great. There are always options.

WelKome.

Bill

Point taken. Thank you. Will this seat fit http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/112275735694? If not directly, can it be easily modified?

Won't fit yours.  The early type (>late '85) has different rear bodywork to your '88, they aren't compatible unless you change the rear bodywork. Keep your eyes open, you will get a comfort seat easily enough. The problem is that some people dont know the name and might advertise differently.

This is what you are looking for:
A Comfort seat has a 'cupped' seat area for the rider and the pillion. Sold as an accessory on an RS or an RT, standard fitting on an LT. If the bodywork has grab handles in the bodywork, not on the seat the seat will ft your bike.

I am in the middle of modifying a comfort seat foam onto a low seat base.

Al

Great information thank you both. I actually contacted the seller and he confirmed that it won't fit. I'll keep searching. I've found quite a few on ebay overseas, but realistically I'm not in that much of a hurry and will likely hold out for something decent and in Australia

I would be very careful with Corbin seats.  I had one on my K75S that was excruciating after only 20 minutes.  It was harder than the standard seat, almost like sitting on wood.   The one in the ad you linked looked just like the model I had.  It was a very nice looking seat, but brutal on my butt. 

I have kept it for when it comes time to sell.  The bike looks really good with it, and a test ride isn't long enough for a buyer to find out how bad it really is.

One option would be to get an AirHawk seat pad.  I had one for the Corbin seat until I found a good Comfort seat.  Very comfortable, but raises the seat height about a half inch so might make it hard to reach the ground when stopped.

https://airhawk.net/

Yes, there is much variation in Corbin seats. A guy who does seats once explained to me that too hard a seat will cause issues but so can seats that are too soft so you need one that is "just right."

I've heard those Airhawk pads are nice but I've always been too cheap to buy one. I also know a few people who think the bead things work very well. I've had good luck with sheepskins though. I get mine at https://alaskaleather.com/

My LT came with a Comfort seat and its definitely the business. The standard seat is a PITA. I got a different seat for the RT because being 84 the Comfort seat wont fit....until I change the rear bodywork.

I woke up this morning after dreams of a comfort seat, but I may pick something up on my ride today to increase comfort in the meantime..

welcome aboard

have fun

Just gave back an Airhawk loaned to me to try. I have an older harder seat and one I have just redone. I tried the Airhawk with the harder seat, and while it did make sing on it softer the displaced air moves out to the sides and also pops up between your legs. It was set up per the instuctions, I think if it was redesigned so there were no air pockets between you legs it would be a lot more comfortable and less disconcerting.
Regards Martin.

I just got a Merino Wool Lamb Skin seat cover & I would seriously not b without it, ever.
It's not really what I would call a seat cover, 'cause it is a skin, you can see the outline like u would on a bear skin rug, w some holes punched at strategic points around the perimeter. So you can put some laces in and tie it down.
I have tied it down on top of my Russell All Day Long Touring Seat. 
And WOW! 
The Russell it in itself is very comfy.
Add the Merino Wool & no more "Monkey Butt".
The Russell is great, however it has a vinyl cover which doesn't breathe at all. So your neither region becomes quite sweaty.
The wool breathes, allowing air to reach the neither region & not so quick to sweat.
I haven't yet made a long enough ride to learn if and or when the man parts shall begin to perspire.
With the vinyl cover, sweating begins fairly immediately.
Especially when park outside for a bit and heated by the beautiful Arizona sun.

I picked the skin up at Thunder Rode in Kingman, AZ. No affiliation, other than it has become my fav shop in the area.

WelKome to the forum Soapdude. Glad to hear about your new love affair.

Personally, I found the comfort seat on my old RT (now naked) not so comfy. It seems to cut (as best a piece of foam can) into my inner thighs. Where your legs hang over the edge of the seat you will typically see the vinyl is cracked and giving-way on a lot of comfort seats that have seen a reasonable service because they get really squashed at that point. The edge is a little too square in this region and should be more rounded. I could only get about 5 or 6 hours before I would get sore inner thighs and bum.
Also I found that the scoopy shape of the seat made my arse constantly slip forward (could've been because I'm a bit tall) which seemed to stress the skin in that 'nether' region. I was constantly repositioning myself to maintain some comfort and pull my 'gear' out from under as my bum slid forward. When the RT went 'naked' I change the bars to RS style which made no difference to the comfort levels one way or another. Sheep skin made it feel better but I've not done long runs to be able to comment on that.

The standard plank seat on my K1100RS on the other hand is very comfortable. Last year I traveled half way around Australia over a few weeks without any issues what so ever. I've since replace the seat with an original brand new plank seat because the old one had been recovered in cheap slippery vinyl and I found that pillion passengers had problems maintaining a purchase on the back.

Maybe try a sheepskin on the seat you have first before spending on a comfort seat.

Cheers