Seats....the saga continues
Great info.....thank you! Dimensionally, the SDC is probably spot on for what I'm looking for, but....... it's gotta have a legit 2up capability for extended rides. My wife has her own bike, but she's been riding with me more lately since getting the RG. A couple of months ago, we did a run from Bergen County, NJ (10 min west of the George Washington Bridge going into upper NYC) to Bennington, VT for lunch on the stock seat. She was not happy halfway through the trip. If the SDC had a full on passenger seat, the SDC would be right near the top of the list. Would love to see a Road Sofa with the SDC dimensions.
Question for you...
I've been interested in various Saddlemen seats for a few months now. In my research, I've come across a fair amount of people reporting the seat getting really hot, like uncomfortably hot, when sitting in the sun due to the gel. What has your experience been with this? And just to verify, the SDC is about 1" or so higher than the stock SG/RG seat?
Question for you...
I've been interested in various Saddlemen seats for a few months now. In my research, I've come across a fair amount of people reporting the seat getting really hot, like uncomfortably hot, when sitting in the sun due to the gel. What has your experience been with this? And just to verify, the SDC is about 1" or so higher than the stock SG/RG seat?
The gel in the seat holds heat. On hot days, it can be real uncomfortable. I mentioned this in that other thread as well. A white towel over the seat alleviates this issue. It's the gel, so any seat with gel has the potential. Something to know about the SDC over the standard step up. The SDC has a dual-density foam whereas the step up has solid single-stage foam. The Step up is good for 200-300 miles. The SDC is however long you want to ride. It makes a huge difference.
As far as the seat movement, the step up moves you forward about an inch, the SDC moves you back. I don't know exactly how much, but about 1" back and 1" up from stock.
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
If you want your wife on the bike for anything over an hour, the SDC is not for you. I repeat, avoid the SDC! My wife would slap me if she were close enough. We did a ride that ended after 331 miles and she has not ridden with me since. She bought her own bike. She mentioned how awful it was yesterday, I kid you not. The SDC seat passenger portion is okay for anything under an hour. My daughter doesn't mind it and all the rides with her are short.
The gel in the seat holds heat. On hot days, it can be real uncomfortable. I mentioned this in that other thread as well. A white towel over the seat alleviates this issue. It's the gel, so any seat with gel has the potential. Something to know about the SDC over the standard step up. The SDC has a dual-density foam whereas the step up has solid single-stage foam. The Step up is good for 200-300 miles. The SDC is however long you want to ride. It makes a huge difference.
As far as the seat movement, the step up moves you forward about an inch, the SDC moves you back. I don't know exactly how much, but about 1" back and 1" up from stock.
The gel in the seat holds heat. On hot days, it can be real uncomfortable. I mentioned this in that other thread as well. A white towel over the seat alleviates this issue. It's the gel, so any seat with gel has the potential. Something to know about the SDC over the standard step up. The SDC has a dual-density foam whereas the step up has solid single-stage foam. The Step up is good for 200-300 miles. The SDC is however long you want to ride. It makes a huge difference.
As far as the seat movement, the step up moves you forward about an inch, the SDC moves you back. I don't know exactly how much, but about 1" back and 1" up from stock.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 295
Likes: 20
From: Elgin, Okla.
Has no one tried Harleys Zeppelin seat? Ive got a friend who is 64 and around 350lbs, he and his wife ride all day with the Zeppelin on his road glide. He loves it, says if you start getting uncomfortable or hot spots you can adjust the air bladders to change up the points of contact. Havent tried it myself but he swears by it!
Has no one tried Harleys Zeppelin seat? Ive got a friend who is 64 and around 350lbs, he and his wife ride all day with the Zeppelin on his road glide. He loves it, says if you start getting uncomfortable or hot spots you can adjust the air bladders to change up the points of contact. Havent tried it myself but he swears by it!
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 104
Likes: 54
From: Salem Oregon
Stock RG/SG seats are both lower and a bit more back than a Limited or Ultra seat. Your passenger will not like it though. I use mine a couple of times a year when I remove the TourPak and go out by myself on short rides.
There's usually plenty of these used (take-off) ones for sale. I got mine for $100 and it was like new.
There's usually plenty of these used (take-off) ones for sale. I got mine for $100 and it was like new.
Jes
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 45
Likes: 17
From: Southeastern Ma
Been through a few seats on my Road Glide so far. At 6'2" with a 32" inseam I started with a Harley Brawler solo seat. It sits you back and lower than stock. It's looks awesome and is decent for an hour ride but if offers no lower back support and longer rides take a toll. Tried a Mustang Super Touring solo seat with back rest. I felt too high and close to the tank for my liking. Mustang took it back no problem and they have great customer support. I gave up on finding a solo seat and next tried a Harley Tall Boy. Unfortunately I didn't love it either. Lastly I went with a Lepera Maverick Daddy Long Legs and I think it's the keeper. It's a hard seat but I get no butt burn and it fit's me right.
I've been to the Mustang Factory, Their walk in customer area is small and I would call ahead to see if they have the model seat you want to try. Really not much to see unless you're getting a tour which I didn't.
I've been to the Mustang Factory, Their walk in customer area is small and I would call ahead to see if they have the model seat you want to try. Really not much to see unless you're getting a tour which I didn't.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 766
Likes: 238
From: Calvert, MD
Where the Sargent is dished and contoured to support you correctly the central pressure relief channel is a game changer for me. https://www.sargentcycle.com/sargent...ne-suspension/
The position is close to a street glide seat. Maybe back a bit more. I noticed with the Road Sofa I was scooching forward during low speed technical maneuvers to get more up on the tank. That habit went away with the Sargent.
I'm 6'2" 33" inseam
Interesting side note: I purchased the "City seat" first from Sargent - the GF was not happy. So I put the Saddlemen back on for week long road trip. Also the day before the road trip I put a set of SuperShox on the bike. 1/3 into the trip the seat was killing us and we toughed it out with more frequent stops and I picked up a full pelt sheepskin. Once back home I ordered the Touring seat from Sargent and the GF didn't like all the extra real estate on her legs. So I put the city seat back on and she was happy. Turns out her issue was suspension related and with the bike riding better from the SuperShox she's happy now. I was going to send the Touring seat back to Sargent even with online discount shipping it was too much of a bath for me to take. I might post it in the classifieds here - not sure if I want to deal with the lowballers that want free shipping and use paypal.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,733
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
We just did 1350 miles in 4 days on the Tri Glide. The Ultimate tallboy did good. I still have the full Alaska pelt on and added a gel pad to the back for Mrs Notgrownup. Overall I’m very happy with the seat and it’s now broken in I think.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Novice
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 24
Likes: 16
From: Boston
Saddleman oppinion
I am 6' w/ 34" inseam, after lots of reading, debating, and mental struggle of the right solution, I finally pulled the trigger on a Saddleman Road Sofa extended reach with removeable backrest in 2019. I always ride solo but like the flat seat of the pillion for my touring bag for long trips. I originally purchased this for my '17 SG and put about 10k on the seat on that bike and now 6k on my 22 SGST. I generally do 200-300mi days for quick rides and 700-800mi on long days and have been reasonably happy with the seat. I do miss the adjustment of position that the HD backrest allowed but no longer feel like a gorilla riding a tricycle with the extra leg room and this seat is night and day over stock. My backside still gets sore when I do long rides riding tank to tank but I I have yet to try a seat that would eliminate that especially since my own cushion (***) continues to disappear as I age. . I also was very interested in the SDC but it was not available at the time I purchased but think it is a worth a look.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
what about C&C customs ? i run their seat on my low rider S and love it . i have corbin on RGS and it's good. not great, but good enough. too many projects right now to sink more $$ in another seat lol