BMW GS Adventure Seat Guide: R1250GS, F850GS and F750GS
BMW GS Seat Guide: Three Different Bikes, Three Different Seat Systems
The BMW GS range covers three meaningfully different motorcycles — the R1250GS with its boxer twin engine, the F850GS with its parallel twin, and the F750GS with the detuned version of that engine. All three are adventure bikes designed for long-distance touring, which makes seat comfort a genuine priority. But the seat designs are quite different, and covers are not interchangeable between models.
R1250GS Seat
The R1250GS is BMW's flagship adventure bike — one of the best-selling motorcycles in the UK. It comes with BMW's standard Comfort seat or can be specified with the optional Low seat (reducing height by 30mm) or the high Touring seat. These different height options affect seat cover fitting: a Low seat and a standard seat have different foam profiles, and a cover specified for one will not fit correctly on the other. When ordering a seat cover for the R1250GS, always specify whether you have the standard, low, or touring seat configuration.
Tappezzeria R1250GS Options
Tappezzeria produces R1250GS-specific covers for both the standard and low seat variants. Their Vellutino material is particularly appropriate for adventure touring use — the grip is excellent in all weather conditions, durability is high under the demands of regular long-distance riding, and the material handles occasional light rain without issue.
F850GS Seat
The F850GS is the mid-size GS — less expensive than the R1250GS, lighter at 229kg, and with similar off-road capability proportional to its size. The seat design is completely different from the R1250GS — a different pan shape, different mounting points, and different foam dimensions. Tappezzeria produces F850GS-specific covers that account for these differences. The F850GS also comes with low seat option, which again requires a separate cover specification.
F750GS Seat
The F750GS is the entry-level GS — the most accessible to new adventure riders. The seat is different again from the F850GS despite the bikes being closely related. Seat covers for the F750GS are not the same as for the F850GS. Tappezzeria and Top Sellerie both produce F750GS-specific covers.
Top Sellerie GS Options
Top Sellerie is a French seat specialist with deep BMW coverage. Their GS range spans the full family with model-specific options. Top Sellerie's GS covers are available with custom foam density options — standard, comfort (higher density, better long-distance padding) and a lowering option (reduced height for shorter riders). Their material range includes their anti-slip Griptech fabric, which performs comparably to Tappezzeria's Vellutino for adventure touring use.
Adventure Touring Seat Requirements
For adventure touring use — multi-day trips, loaded with luggage, varied surfaces — seat covers need to combine grip (you want to feel stable on the bike on rough roads), comfort over distance, and weather resistance. The Vellutino/Griptech category of synthetic suede materials addresses all three reasonably well. Pure Alcantara is marginally superior in feel but requires more care in sustained wet conditions.
Shop BMW GS Seat Covers
Browse the full range at Euro Motards seating. For more guidance, see our articles on R1250GS seat comfort and adventure bike seat upgrades. We ship worldwide.