Sargent Seat with Heat

[Swrv]

I recently acquired a Sargent Seat for my 07 R1200RT with integrated heat for the OEM controller. After changing out the plug on the bike to match the Sargent Seat I have found that the heat system is not working, although the heat icon is displayed when switched on. I spoke with Sargent, explained the issue and they told me this is a recent problem that has been reported by 3 of there R1200RT customers. They said the seats heating system is drawing 6 OHMS and the canbus system and computer on the bike are expecting a draw of 10 OHMS, thus shutting the feature off. They said they were troubleshooting the issue and took my name and number and will get back to me soon. I am concerned that the resolution to this problem may exceed my 30 day warranty and I don't want a seat that is not fully functional. After speaking with Sargent I began to wonder how an issue like this could suddenly arise five years after the bikes debut and certainly many years after the Sargent seat became available for it.

So my question to other Sargent owners is, have you experienced this issue with the heat feature on your bike?

[Dave_in_TX]

I've noticed that my Sargent seat is slow to warm up and doesn't seem to get as hot as the stock seat but it works.

[Alan D]

I just got mine, tried it out once and it worked.

[FrankBrown]

Don't worry Sargent people are good people and will get it right for you. I have the same problem and Sargent are looking for a resistor to solve our problem that apparently only some of the RT's canbus is shutting down.

 

Make sure you're getting juice at the wire coming from the bike, put a multi-meter on it when the switch is on to make sure it's not the wiring.

[Alan D]

Now I'm beginning to doubt my seat is working correctly. When I check the voltage at the connector I'm getting 13.8 volts but it pulses. The meter swings from 0 volts to 13.8 to O. That's not a Sargent seat problem, that appears to be a BMW problem.

[10ovr]

Now I'm beginning to doubt my seat is working correctly. When I check the voltage at the connector I'm getting 13.8 volts but it pulses. The meter swings from 0 volts to 13.8 to O. That's not a Sargent seat problem, that appears to be a BMW problem.

Thats normal,Thats the way it works,,Check your Gerbing socket if you have one,On low settings it sends a small slow 12v pulse,about half setting it sends a longer 12v pulse,and on high it send a constant 12volts,,,Check it with a test light and you can see how it works,,

[Alan D]

Interesting. It pulses on high or low. Maybe the pulse is a little longer on high, I didn't really pay attention.

[krussell]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-width_modulation

 

 

[Alan D]

Interesting. Thanks Kevin!

[cliffeley]

I am having the exact same problem. The seat won't heat. I have had it at the shop for 4 weeks. They replaced a control unit, etc. and the shop kept insisting that it was the bike and not the seat. But today the shop said they are calling Sargent tomorrow because there is some issue with the seat and 1200RTs. The thing that ticks me off is that I called Sargent before I ordered this seat and went over things in detail. They didn't tell me anything about this problem.

[Alan D]

My seat is working correctly. Apparantly the pins in the connector were not fully seated, my fault.

I did an Iron butt run over the memorial day weekend, could never have done that on the stock seat.

[Swrv]

As a follow up to my original post of 5/4/09. I took the bike to the dealership for it's 12G service and asked them to check the connectors to the seat. They reported back that the bike was performing correctly and that the connector to the Sargent seat was properly connected.

The seat will not warm up.

And by the way, Sargent promised it would get back to me with a fix to the issue and it's been over a month and I have not heard one word from them.

So much for "getting it right for me"

[tlc]

Please let us know how this turns out. I'm ready to order a Sargent seat, but my plans now are on hold.

[JT R1200R]

Got my standard Sargent seat today with heat for my R1200RT. Dang I didn't realize it really pushes your seating position back. I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam. In both the low and high positions it takes away the arm bend I like, and reduces my ability to grab with my knees and lean the bike that way. The High position is also too high for me. I have got to where I like the standard seat in the high position as it gives me a good knee bend angle. Oh well I guess after 4000 miles I might as well just stick with the stock seat, so I guess it's back to Sargent.

JT