Poor heating of seats

[Rayjohnston]

Hi
Just bought a 2016 1200rt and bike is immaculate but the heated seat temp is poor. Anybody stripped a seat and managed to source a heating element , based in Scotland UK.

[chestere]

I have the same issue with both seats on my 2019 RT. Hope you get some replies soon.

[BoB21]

High seat will be less effective than low seat due to element at Base. For me sometimes feels cold others burns my arse. Worth trying few times and moving around seat as do notice difference at times.

[Sherseni]

Have you tried contacting a BMW dealer or a specialist motorcycle parts supplier?

[Strat Tuner]

I have put good heating elements into two different bikes now and will probably do the same to the R1200 as that heated seat is WEAK.
I will now attempt to find the heating element as well as the harness I used.

I like to put the OFF/ HIGH/LOW toggle for it on the left side of the seat so that you can control it while riding. That will make the controller on the R1200 redundant, but it's worth it.

Pictures will follow... I'm not at home right now.

[Strat Tuner]

Here's one I've used and like. At least it should be, it's been two years, but this is the one, I believe.

It runs off the battery, and it's best paired with a relay switch that will turn it off when the key goes off.

Search for: "Saddle Tramp Universal Seat Heater Brand: Metra" on Amazon.

You have to remove the staples that hold the seat cover on AND drill a hole in the left side of the seat to hold the switch. I made a flat piece of plastic (cut to shape from Rubbermaid waist basket) with a hole just big enough to hold the switch but not push through. Without that, the switch wants to push through the hole when you handle it. The "collar" on the round toggle helps with that.

heatred.jpg (10.86 KiB) Viewed 910 times

A staple gun is a must for this project.

[Pannier Down]

Mine has the high seat and takes a good 10 mins on max to feel warm. It gets hotter and I can knock it down to 3 after about 20 mins.

[Randyjaco]

I guess that seat heat is subjective. On my 17RT anything past 2 bars is too hot

[Strat Tuner]

Yours does it better than some.

I've considered putting a volt meter to mine to see if it's getting electricity at all.

[Capt Sisko]

I guess that seat heat is subjective. On my 17RT anything past 2 bars is too hot

Same with my '19 1250RT. It's even good enough to warm the air in the Airhawk on a long run in the cold weather.

As a side note, if you read the manual BMW it says you can put the seat of full power to get it up to tempurature quickly, then knock it back to lower level once heated up. I've never needed to do this as mine is pretty good, but if the OPs is a bit lacking maybe this technique is worth experimenting with.

[Rayjohnston]

Thank to everyone for their suggestions. I have already tested the voltage at the plug andI have full battery power. If I leave the seat on for ages , I think I feel a warmth on the right side of the ride seat but nothing like the heat some of you guys are getting.
I did pop in by MOTORAD here in Abdn and spoke to the tech and he also suggested it’s more than likely the element.

[Pannier Down]

Just a thought. I know of a case where a chap had 2 new seats under warranty. Then realised the cool cover he had fitted was the culprit. Whenever he took it to BMW he removed the cover of course. Erm......

[Strat Tuner]

I'm hoping that replacing the heating element alone will make it warmer.

I'd like to keep the existing wiring and switch near the right grip.

It's a fancy custome seat, so I'm guessing the seat maker used the existing element and did not supply his own.

[chestere]

Yours does it better than some.

I've considered putting a volt meter to mine to see if it's getting electricity at all.

I checked the voltage to my front seat heater at the connector under the seat. With the engine running, I got 14.3 vdc. I then checked the seat heater resistance and got a reading of 4.3 ohms.

If you check the voltage at you seat heater connector, will you also check the heater resistance too. I'd like to know the resistance value you find.

Thanks in advance

[chestere]

BTW, I neglected to mention the 14.3 vdc reading was with the seat heater set at its' highest setting (5 bars on the screen).