I'm in the market to replace the stock seat on my 2017 RGS. I've sat on half a dozen at the local MoCo dealers in the area but I feel like there's more out there to explore especially online.

How do you folks go about buying a seat you haven't sat on? Corbin interests me but there's no rallies or stores within the general area that would allow me to sit on a couple of their models. I really don't want to plop down $700 and not like something and be stuck with it.

So how do you guys buy seats online without really getting to get your cheeks on them?

 

Dennis Kirk has a very good return policy on seats and usually some of the best prices.

 

I've bought three sight unseen, the first one was a Mustang. I rode on it from Nashville to D.C. and thought I would have to have a hip replacement by the time I got there. It was a miserable trip back. I returned it and was lucky to get my money back.

Second one was an Ultimate Seats. This truly has to be the ultimate seat manufactured. Would buy from them again but no return policy after installation I'm aware of, check with them.

Third is a Lucky Daves. Jury is still out on it but so far so good. It's not a touring seat and I may end up another Ultimate Seat to supplement it for longer trips but so far so good. No return policy on it after it's been installed.

Problem with seats is you're really not going to know if it's for you unless you put some hours on it. I think eBay is probably the best bet, buy used, if it's even moderately comfortable for you then keep it, or flip it, and buy the same one new so it really breaks in with you. If you're out a hundred bucks on the flip, it's not the end of the world maybe if you get what you want.

 

I picked out three seats I thought I'd like to try for my 2017 RGU. I shopped around on the classifieds on this forum and others. I bought all three seats used and tried them out. I decided on the Harley Davidson Signature Solo with built in back rest. I sold the other two seats for more than I paid which helped with shipping. The seat I kept which was used was less than one month old when I got it and came in the original box with receipts at 150 dollars less than new. So shop around try out a number of seats and get what you want.
Bill

 

I actually live about a 30 minute ride from Dennis Kirk. Figuring to hit that up in the spring (like I do 3-4 times a year) but initial browsing on the site didn't result in anything catching my eye.

 

Give Dennis Kirk a call and talk through what you have in mind! As for your local dealers, some at least will let you take a demo seat our for a ride on your own bike - that is why they have 'demo' or similar plastered all over them! Personally we have a Corbin, bought new sight unseen and haven't looked back.

 

Seats are probably number one or two in the toughest things to buy period, because you simply can't get a feel for it without putting miles on it, well beyond where a return policy would protect you. Corbin, for example, is a pretty hard seat at first and many people will find them uncomfortable at first, only to be perfect after 500 - 1000miles. I've heard similar about Saddlemen. And a seat that's comfortable for a quick day ride or demo, may well be too soft after a 300 or 400 mile day.

Ebay and Classified are your friends, although you hardly ever really *know* how many miles you have on them.

I think if you buy direct from Mustang (and you're paying full vs. discount pricing), they have a pretty good return policy. Of course, that's only if you buy the standard seat, if you want customization which most of these manufacturers offer, then they're non-returnable. I've been speaking with a Saddlemen rep via e-mail (I'd like to try a Road Sofa I think) and they say the same, you get a full refund after a "couple days", but have to pay the return shipping. That's not so bad given the seats are 500 and up...

If a seat vendor could come up with a reasonable way to allow extended demos (maybe by putting a cheap covering on it that no one would want to keep), and if you like it you send it back to be finished or something. I think they'd do really well.

So basically, you have to buy the seat and plan yourself a typical ride or extended ride for the day it arrives, under ideal conditions, maybe put a cover on the seat of some kind to keep it pristine and see how it does. Then it's a gut call and hopefully a decent return policy.

 

 

 

OP, I'm in the same boat you are; I'm in the middle of nowhere and I really don't have many options to try a seat, except for swapping with a riding buddy for a half day or something like that. I've thought about the "flip" option on used seats and that may be a good option in the end, but for now, I'm banking on bike week in Daytona. I may end up eating a seat I don't like, but at least I could sit on one, if not take it for an extended ride first.

The other option I'm seriously considering is Mean City Cycles and having my seat modified. It's much cheaper and you'll pretty well know what you're going to get before you spend the money.