Just transitioned from a 2005 883XLC into a 2012 Road King Police. The air ride seat is too high for my comfort and I started looking at the seating options for my bike. As I have been riding around, I have noticed some upper back strain as well that as I search find could be from too much reach to the handle bars. I'm 6-00 feet 215 lbs with a 32 inch inseam. So, here are my questions:

1. Will going from an air ride with very low pressure to a standard seat lower me very much?
2. Will a standard seat put me any closer to the bars or should I look at the reduced reach set up?

Thanks in advance.

Tad

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnkymn

Just transitioned from a 2005 883XLC into a 2012 Road King Police. The air ride seat is too high for my comfort and I started looking at the seating options for my bike. As I have been riding around, I have noticed some upper back strain as well that as I search find could be from too much reach to the handle bars. I'm 6-00 feet 215 lbs with a 32 inch inseam. So, here are my questions:

Probably not an exact answere for you. Ever considered some pull back handlebars? All I can advise regarding the seat is to demo some of Harley's seats. the dealer should have various assortment of harley demo seats. I think the police seat is supposed to sit you in a manner that promotes proper posture over many hours in the saddle thus reducing back fatigue. I notice that motor officers tend to sit very upright, rather than laid back positioning which is not possible with that seat. I changed from the stock Ultra seat to the Harley Hammock to get me out of the somewhat laid back positioning and get me off my tailbone. I'm now in a much more upright manner putting much of the weight distribution on my inner thighs. Plus I have a backrest for longer rides. Works for me.

 

Another option is to move the bars closer to you rather than moving your seating position closer to the bars. Replacing the stock bars with the HD Heritage Style bars effectively moved the bars closer to me and solved the "sore back between the shoulders" issue I had with the stock bars.

 

I'm 5'8" with a 28" inseam. Just switched to a reach seat and I feel a bit crowded. I can get both feet flat on the ground but the controls seem to be too close. I'll probably have my Sundowner reworked and put it back on. I don't think the reach seat is going to help you.