Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

General discussion of the BMW R1200RT/R1250RT
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Capt Sisko
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Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Capt Sisko »

Hi All, I already have an Airhawk inflatable seat cushion which whilst it does it's job quite well, it's a pfaff to put on & get the pressure right and even when the right pressure it always feels just a bit to wiggly & you can feel it moving under your bum; so, I've been thinking about buying one of the Cool Cover seat covers instead.

Has anyone got a direct comparison between the two, feel one was noticeable better than the other or other feedback. AND, does anyone have one they want to sell (ideally rider seat & UK only). The cover Cool Covers website says the one that fits my '18 R1250RT is the same unit that's fitted all liquid cooled 1200 RT's since 2014.
Last edited by Capt Sisko on Mon Apr 15, 2024 3:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Doctor T
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Doctor T »

I purchased my copy of the Cool cover(front and Rear) from Temu. It's not a universal cover but meant for the RT. Fit is perfect but you do need to really stretch the front. For £10 I would recommend it. I keeps my meat and two veg cool in the summer as I can feel the cool air coming up from it. Not good in the winter. :o
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Capt Sisko
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Capt Sisko »

I see them, £12.98 now but still one hell of a lot cheaper that the well know brand. How thick are they? What I mean is do raise the overall seating height or do they compress?
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Doctor T
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Doctor T »

The extra height is 5 mm to 8mm. Due to the 3D matrix design it doesn't seem to compress. Despite this I find the cover very comfortable. Last year I rode to South Devon with only 2 stops and unlike the standard seat I suffered no bum burn.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by SimonD »

I see one on there for £12.98 but the pictures are for a LC seat.
Are they sufficiently generic to fit both? Is it just the front seat cover?

https://www.temu.com/uk/for-bmw-r1200rt ... jgnbx4ty8s
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EasyRider
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by EasyRider »

I've got to pay £70 for a cool cover as no one else does a cover for a sargent seat :(
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Doctor T »

SimonD wrote: Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:12 pm I see one on there for £12.98 but the pictures are for a LC seat.
Are they sufficiently generic to fit both? Is it just the front seat cover?

https://www.temu.com/uk/for-bmw-r1200rt ... jgnbx4ty8s
That's the same one I bought for my 07. Price seems to have gone up a bit in price since I purchased mine.
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Sullivj »

Slightly cheaper on AE.

I used one whilst riding in the Canaries last year and it was excellent. Not sure we get enough warm weather here for it to be beneficial.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005 ... ry_from%3A
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Bashafoc »

I had the Air Hawk on another bike and felt very unstable even having let out most of the air. Bought a Cool Covers and it is much better and I don’t seem to get a numb bum!
I remove it in the winter as it works so well that I have concerns about my ‘meat and two veg’ getting too chilly!! That means it obviously makes a difference in the summer and also stops a wet bum as water flows away as an added bonus!
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Steve398
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Steve398 »

Thank you :cheers:

You’ve reminded me to try and find my Coolcover for my trip, I know where it should be… which isn’t necessarily the same as I know where it is!
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Capt Sisko
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Capt Sisko »

Thanks for all your replies and I've ordered a Cool Cover to see how it goes. I've got a 250mile RTE next weekend and then an Iron Butt 1000 a couple of weeks later. I'll report back later.

Worst case scenario and it could be the Airhawk over the Cool Cover!
Capt Sisko
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Capt Sisko »

UPDATE

The CoolCover arrived midweek and today I did a 280mile trip from Shrewsbury to Lincoln & back. So some initial thoughts.

a. Fitting was literally a five minute jobbie. No problems, everything just fitted.
b. Initial comfort felt okay, no movement, you couldn't feel the mesh and perhaps a slightly softer feel, maybe.
c. If was already about 15c when left home and got up to 24c by mid afternoon. I know they talk about 'air conditioning' for your arse, but behind all the bodywork on an RT I can't honestly say it felt any different. That said, I had my mesh riding suit on today so generally thing were more breezy than wearing the Gore-Tex Textiles that I've used almost exclusively for the last six months so difficult to say really.
d.The nearest rain was in the next country today so I can't comment what they say about you not sitting in a puddle or otherwise is true.
e. Comfort. Definitely more comfortable than the naked saddle, for the initial part part of the ride anyway, the second half and we're talking getting into 200mile plus territory here, still more comfortable than not having it, but I think the Airhawk has it for comfort. BUT, getting the pressure right on the Airhawk seems to need be trial & error each time, you can't really leave them on all the time and they look bloody awful.

Bottom line. I'm going to leave the Cool Cover on for general riding, but in a few weeks time I've got the RBLR 1,000miles in 24hrs on and the Airhawk whilst may not be on for the ride to the start, I think will be on for the ride itself.
Last edited by Capt Sisko on Sun May 12, 2024 11:47 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Steve398
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Re: Airhawk vs Cool Covers Seat Covers

Post by Steve398 »

I didn’t actually feel any appreciable increase in airflow or improved cooling effect with the Cool Cover when I first fitted it, but I left it on because, as you have suggested, it felt a bit more comfortable.

I didn’t bother to take it off when my holiday or the summer finished, but on the first cold snap I suddenly realised that my backside was freezing! I removed the cover the following day and that improved things dramatically, so it must be working I guess… but if the air temp is 35c that’s what’s going to be wafted under your bum, so it won’t be cool will it?
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