Bike Upgrades Seats

Words Dean Mellor

There’s nothing like a long ride to unclutter the mind, but the enjoyment and relaxation of being on the open road can be short-lived if you’re uncomfortable and your focus turns to your nether regions.

There are several options when it comes to improving seat comfort, from seat covers and gel pads to replacement seats and custom jobbies. The best solution for you and your bike will depend on several factors, including the shape and height of the original seat, the material it’s made from, your body shape and height, and, of course, your budget.

Seat Covers

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve your bike’s seat comfort is to fit a seat cover, of which there are several types and styles.

Sheepskin is a popular choice when it comes to seat covers, as this natural material is ideally suited to long-distance touring. The fibres in the wool allow air to circulate between your bum and the synthetic covering of your bike’s seat, which minimises sweating, while the inherent thickness of a quality sheepskin seat cover also offers an added layer of cushioning.

There are several manufacturers of sheepskin seat covers including Australian brands Cruis’n Comfort and Good Wool Store. Both of these companies, and others, produce seat covers that are specifically designed to suit different motorcycle makes and models, ensuring a good fit for ultimate comfort, as well as aesthetic and functional compatibility with your bike. You can even source a cover for your cover; nylon rain covers are designed to keep the sheepskin cover dry from rain or overnight moisture.

If you’re not up for the expense of a model-specific seat cover, or you can’t find one to suit your bike, you can opt for a sheepskin seat pad. These attach to the original seat via straps and/or buckles, and are available in a variety of sizes to suit different bikes.

AMS Comfort Max Gel Pads combine the advantages of a sheepskin seat pad with the added benefits offered by advanced Viscoelastic moulded gel as used in medical and sports applications. A ¾-inch gel base under the sheepskin is designed to eliminate pressure points and absorb vibrations, while a layer of memory foam conforms to the rider’s shape. As well as a sheepskin outer, AMS pads are also available with a neoprene finish.

Another seat cover option comes in the form of the Australian Airhawk motorcycle cushion, which sits atop the standard seat and features interconnected air-filled cells that are customisable to suit the weight of the rider or pillion. According to Airhawk the cushion redistributes weight away from pressure points to promote improved blood flow and to absorb shock and vibration.

> Seat Reshaping

Dirtbike riders often remove their bike’s seat cover to modify the shape of the foam underneath, either by cutting away at it or adding raised sections where needed, and then refitting the cover, and there’s no reason you can’t do this on your roadbike.

One of the main reasons for cutting away foam is to lower seat height, making the bike easier to manoeuvre for shorter riders, but another is to improve the shape of the seat to suit the rider, such as by removing prominent edges that might “dig in” to a rider’s legs. Taller riders may even want to add foam to raise seat height and open up the ’bar/seat/footpeg arrangement to provide a more comfortable overall riding position.

Touring bikes usually offer a wide perch for the rider to sit on, which spreads the load more evenly across the buttocks, but if you ride a sportsbike, nakedbike, supermoto or dirtbike, chances are the seat will be narrower so you might need to add foam if you’re going to be doing long stints in the saddle.

As well as foam inserts, some companies also offer seat-heater units that can be fitted to a bike’s standard seat.

Of course, you need to know what you’re doing when you reshape your bike’s seat, so if you’re not confident you’ll do a good job, either seek out an expert in the field or opt for an aftermarket or custom-made seat.

Replacement Seats

A number of companies produce off-the-shelf replacement seats for motorcycles, such as Corbin, Wunderlich and Touratech, while others also produce custom-made seats to suit the individual requirements of different riders, including ACM Seats, MJM Custom Motorbike Seats and Guzzler Custom Motorcycle Seats.

The goal of any aftermarket seat manufacturer is to offer improved comfort, so a lot of work goes into the design and construction of each seat, which will usually offer a greater surface area than an OEM seat for improved weight distribution, ergonomic sculpting to eliminate uncomfortable pressure points, and occasionally a number of seat height options for each bike model.

Most aftermarket seats will also be constructed using higher-grade materials than OEM seats, such as premium multi-density foam layers, gel inserts and breathable outer layers. Some aftermarket seats are also available with optional backrests and seat heating.

Considering everyone has a different-shaped posterior, there’s a chance that an off-the-shelf aftermarket seat might not provide the comfort you require, in which case your best option is to have a seat made to suit your exact requirements. When choosing a tailor-made seat, talk to the manufacturer at length about your exact requirements and ask for referrals… after all, a seat is one accessory you want to get right so you can focus on the road rather than your backside.