Saddlemen Seat Kits Anyone Have Experience With Em?

so after abusing my behind on long rides this seat needs to go, i was looking around for the usual suspects, corbin, sergeant etc and i came across the saddlemen kits for the VFR1200 http://www.saddlemen.com/seat-kit-tour-suede-vfr12-anyone tried em? i'm tempted to buy the 2010 seat that is on the classifieds and put that on it. and will a 2010 seat fit a 2012?

Yes the 2010 seat will fit the 2012. I swapped seats with our 2012 while my 2010 seat was being recovered by Sargent. They are interchangeable but the 2010 is slippery and painful for long extended rides.

Not with their kits (yet) or their VFR seats.

I DO have experience with their seat works on KTMs. They are high quality folks. I'd expect their VFR kits to be high quality. If you look at details I believe it's only an extra $20 and S&H to have them do it for you.

Their suede is porno plush... :goofy:

Hmmm.... my only real issue is that it's a bit slippery.

What's their touring shape like compared to their sport shape, and compared to stock?

-Dan

There are a couple of threads for the Saddleman kits for 5th & 6th gens... not a direct comparo for the 7th but the verdict seems to be folks like 'em. I just installed the touring profile with suede like surface on my 5th gen for a 3000 mile ride to TMAC and back... it feels comfortable and I think looks pretty good. I haven't put any miles on it yet.

The touring is a little taller padding and the sport is more narrow and supposedly helps you sit into the bike a little more...

cool, now i need to see if i have the cash for it.......

EhViffer

Yes the 2010 seat will fit the 2012. I swapped seats with our 2012 while my 2010 seat was being recovered by Sargent. They are interchangeable but the 2010 is slippery and painful for long extended rides.

thanks for the info!

Have the sport suede kit coming. From what I've read, the foam is a bit thinner so the finished seat is supposed to be a little lower and narrower than the touring profile. My main complaint with the OEM seat is the slippery surface, so I'm thinking I don't really need to refoam and recontour, but the price is not much higher than quite a few of other cover only kits.

If all goes well, this will be my everyday seat.

The way they cut the suede paneling on the touring kit looks gorgeous. The sport version isn't quite as pretty, but I don't need thicker padding and could use a lower seat height.

Suede ok in the rain?

Rider14

Suede ok in the rain?

It's not actually suede... it is a suede-like textured vinyl so it is ok in the weather

I just received mine. It's not exactly what I would call suede. More like matt vinyl... lol

Volfy

I just received mine. It's not exactly what I would call suede. More like matt vinyl... lol

What, no pics?

The suede like surface is a lot grippier too... according to the website it has more grip than the carbon fiber texture

Rider14

Volfy

I just received mine. It's not exactly what I would call suede. More like matt vinyl... lol

What, no pics?

Slight problem. They sent me a "performance" cover with a "touring" foam. :mad: Neither Riders Discount nor Saddlemen will pay for the return shipping, so I worked out a deal with Saddlemen to return the cover for a "touring" one that fit the foam, since that's a lot cheaper to ship than the heavy bulky foam. I actually like the touring profile better anyway, but ordered the "performance" for possibly lower seat height. I tried the "touring" foam on the bike, and it's not too tall, so I'm going with it.

Will try to shoot some pics later.

When you shoot the pics - take a shot of your oxford heaterz controller...curious as to how it mounts.

-Dan

Installed a Saddlemen touring seat kit on my second seat base. It is pretty good - not as comfy as my Russell Day Long, but it is lower and narrower and better in stop and go traffic. If I could have the Russell Day Long comfort and quality with the lower narrower posture of the Saddlemen, I'd have the perfect seat -- for me at least

Finally got around to taking some pics. The cover is on the way back to Saddlemen for a swap. Hoping to get it back ASAP to try it out.

This is the "touring" foam sitting on - but not glued to - stock seat pan. I've already removed the stock cover+foam.

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[image: post-23836-0-87465100-1431393113.jpg]

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any updates? anyone get it installed yet?

Just got a shipping notice from Saddlemen. Looks like my stuff will arrive early next week. Long story, but I will end up with two seats kits - Performance and Touring. The Honda optional low seat will get cannibalized, too, so I'll have 2 seat pans.

Any updates? Considering this for myself. Did you get both foams? Can you compare the differences. I'd like the shorter/ narrower version

Haven't ridden the VFR1200 in a bit. Been having too much fun with the Trophy SE. I got the 2 different seats done up a while back. Never did get the correct foam for the "sport" seat. After going back and forth several times with Saddlemen customer service, they ended up sending me another "touring" foam, but without the white foam overlay (see attached pics above). I got tired of dealing with them, so I ended up shaving the pillion down a bit to make the sport cover fit properly. Turned out okay. Since the front part is exactly the same, there is no difference in how the 2 feels to the rider. Very comfortable and none of the slipperiness with the stock seat.

If you are considering doing this conversion, get the touring version and avoid the headache of trying to get the "Sport" to work.

I'll try to take some pics over the weekend.

Volfy

Haven't ridden the VFR1200 in a bit. Been having too much fun with the Trophy SE. I got the 2 different seats done up a while back. Never did get the correct foam for the "sport" seat. After going back and forth several times with Saddlemen customer service, they ended up sending me another "touring" foam, but without the white foam overlay (see attached pics above). I got tired of dealing with them, so I ended up shaving the pillion down a bit to make the sport cover fit properly. Turned out okay. Since the front part is exactly the same, there is no difference in how the 2 feels to the rider. Very comfortable and none of the slipperiness with the stock seat.

If you are considering doing this conversion, get the touring version and avoid the headache of trying to get the "Sport" to work.

I'll try to take some pics over the weekend.

Thanks for the great info. Is it any taller or wider than stock? I wouldn't mind it a little narrower or lower. I'm short (5'5") My wife will like the thicker pillion.

It is about the same height as stock seat. Not sure if it is physically wider, but toward the back of the rider's seat it feels very flat and more supportive at the edges than stock. Front of it narrows enough for my legs to get an easy reach to the ground.

I had the optional Honda low seat, and it was very nice for my 5'7" frame. Unfortunately, the texture of the covering is almost as slippery as the stock seat.

Touring foam with suede cover.

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Volfy - is the seat significantly grippier? That is my main complaint with the stock seat, it is like glass its so damn slippery in my opinion anyway.

Oh yeah. Much more so. I went with the suede cover because I wanted the grippiest surface. Not to say the carbon version wouldn't be an improvement. I've had that type of cover on other aftermarket seat, and they were nice. I think the cover bonded to foam method Honda used on the VFR1200 probably cause a good part of the slipperiness.

Volfy

Oh yeah. Much more so. I went with the suede cover because I wanted the grippiest surface. Not to say the carbon version wouldn't be an improvement. I've had that type of cover on other aftermarket seat, and they were nice. I think the cover bonded to foam method Honda used on the VFR1200 probably cause a good part of the slipperiness.

Thanks for the feedback. One of the first mods will be this seat!

I ordered mine over the winter. Looks to be very good quality, but no seat time yet. Still winter here in Manitoba.

motorn

I ordered mine over the winter. Looks to be very good quality, but no seat time yet. Still winter here in Manitoba.

I love mine ... let me know if you want to stop in and see it.

One word of caution. This kit was a bitch to staple the cover on tight, with zero creasing. I am lucky I had quite a bit of practice recovering dirt bike seat, which are a whole bunch easier, before I tackled this one. The negative contour of the deep dish rider section makes it rather difficult to stretch right. I thought about tying a couple of pull lines at the crease, so I can draw them tight through the seat pan (similar to the buttons on a lot of cruise seats). In the end, I decided to do the best I can with the stretch and just live with the "puffed up" center. You can see it in the pic I posted above. It's not too bad, and once the rider sits on it, the cover conforms to the foam contour underneath anyway, so no big deal.

Volfy

One word of caution. This kit was a bitch to staple the cover on tight, with zero creasing. I am lucky I had quite a bit of practice recovering dirt bike seat, which are a whole bunch easier, before I tackled this one. The negative contour of the deep dish rider section makes it rather difficult to stretch right. I thought about tying a couple of pull lines at the crease, so I can draw them tight through the seat pan (similar to the buttons on a lot of cruise seats). In the end, I decided to do the best I can with the stretch and just live with the "puffed up" center. You can see it in the pic I posted above. It's not too bad, and once the rider sits on it, the cover conforms to the foam contour underneath anyway, so no big deal.

Cool thanks for the info. I've covered 3 motorcycle seats in the past using Seat Concepts products (wish they had one for the Veefalo) so I have the air stapler and a few tools for doing seat covers, but I appreciate the heads up and yes you can see yours barely but still looks pretty good IMHO.

Mine was glued at the dish of the seat from Saddleman. It seemed to help on the install. I also sprayed adhesive on the foam at let it cure overnight before any staples.It turned out wrinkle free.So far I'm pleased with the kit,but a ride will be the real test.

Hey Jeff, let's get together for a ride this spring.!

I have one on its way as we speak. Will update once I have it in hand and installed. Thanks for the information from all who have purchased.

MotardMenace

I have one on its way as we speak. Will update once I have it in hand and installed. Thanks for the information from all who have purchased.

You get it in and installed yet? What version did you get? Touring, sport, suede or CF?

ridered

MotardMenace

I have one on its way as we speak. Will update once I have it in hand and installed. Thanks for the information from all who have purchased.

You get it in and installed yet? What version did you get? Touring, sport, suede or CF?

Yes I got it installed and its 100 times better then stock. I have the touring version and its way nicer on the bum and the grip is much better, yet you can still move around.