BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

I recently purchased a used rear seat for my bike and I installed it without realizing that the lock cylinder on it would be different and not match my current key. Now I cannot remove the seat. Is there any alternative release to remove the seat or am I stuck like this?

Unless it is radically different from the first generation 1200RT, the lock is independent from the seat, located just above the license plate. It may just be that the new seat fits more tightly than the stock seat, inhibiting the release mechanism. Have you tried turning the key with some force and simultaneously striking downward with your fist over the attachment area on the rear portion of the seat, or even have someone sit on it and repeatedly bounce on it as you apply pressure with the key?  If that works, I'd recommend that you grease the catch and bar on the bottom of your seat so that it works more easily. I bought a low seat myself and found that it was much more difficult to turn the key than it was with the stock seat, hence my above suggestions from personal experience! Good luck.

Maddog1929 wrote: I recently purchased a used rear seat for my bike and I installed it without realizing that the lock cylinder on it would be different and not match my current key. Now I cannot remove the seat. Is there any alternative release to remove the seat or am I stuck like this?

If you don't have the key then drill the lock out(should be easy enough)then replace the cylinder with the one from your old seat.Should be eay enough to do.Should be a video somewhere on YouTube with a how to.Good luck.

jackronner wrote: Unless it is radically different from the first generation 1200RT, the lock is independent from the seat, located just above the license plate.

Its built in to the rear seat on the 2014+


I suspect the only way will be to drill it or try and get something between the seats to unhook the latch although I'm not sure if you would get anything in!


I will check on mine shortly and see if there is a way in

Here is a top view of the seat and looking at it there is a a guard to stop you opening it from the top
[attach=1]


But if you go in from the side under the seat with a long screwdriver or something you may be able to push the catch back
[attach=2]

sakm wrote: Here is a top view of the seat and looking at it there is a a guard to stop you opening it from the top
[attach=1]


But if you go in from the side under the seat with a long screwdriver or something you may be able to push the catch back
[attach=2]

I had to go in from the top instead of the side but I did eventually manage to trip the latch to release the seat. Thanks!

A bit late as I see you got the seat off. I found myself in somewhat the same predicament with some panniers that I had been given. I got a lock pick set off Amazon and watched enough YouTube videos to learn how to pick locks. The cylinder lock on a BMW might be a little better than what I had, but there are very few locks that cannot be picked with some practice and patience.
Learning to pick locks was a fun exercise and another tool that comes in handy occasionally.
Cue the comments about a new b&e vocation