I answered a request for an eval of a new seat company and was fortunate enought to get a seat from Seat Concepts. Another rider had good things to say about it so I met with one of the owners, Robert, and picked up the seat.
I cleaned up the bike for it's photo shoot and then took a bunch of shots with too many shadows, bad lighting, general photographic mayhem. I'm a putz.
You'll get the idea. The intitial feel when sitting is soft, then firm without hitting the pan.
With the IMS.
Stock tank shot.
Side by side.
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Well - here it is. Short version: Order one immediately. I have a Sargent on my Strom and this is right in the running....actually better for DS. It's about an inch narrower which allows more movement.
Disclaimer - I got a seat from Seat Concepts to evaluate. I did not have to pay anything out of pocket to start. If I like the seat and want to keep it, I have to give them my stock seat (to replace the seat pan on the tester). So my benefit here is a free seat cover and foam if I choose to keep it (and I do). No punches pulled...they wanted me to post an honest opinion.
Longer version: I'm too short for my weight and pack 230 lbs onto the seat with gear. Disclaimer - everybodies backside is different and "sensitivity" vaires.
The initial soft feel of the seat firms up without hitting the pan. My seat pain comes from long road rides / slab sections between dirt so that's what I did to see if this seat would work for me. I stand a lot in the dirt unless I'm just on fireroads so this long "seat time" would be good. I put two hours of sitting down road time on the seat and didn't have a moment where I had to stand up to reduce fatigue.
As mentioned, I'd prefer the non-gripper cover for me...to each his own. Keep in mind the slight width increase takes up leg to ground room so it feels like it added a half inch to the seat height....not a problem even with my 29 inch inseam. Just take that into consideration. Non issue for me for the gain in comfort.
The seat is a great DS seat as it's wide enough in the sit down mode but not so wide as to hit you in the back of the legs while standing. Keeping that in mind, it's not a saddle style....it's made for DS and allows you to move around on the seat enough to postition yourself for varying terrain...whether sitting or standing. It does not interfere. On longer stretches, you can shift back about an inch to the wide area ( I ride up against the tank most of the time) to take advantage of the comfort area.
Stitching - it looks like it might rub in my pictures. In reality it's very flat and double stitched for longevity. I didn't notice it at all while riding - non issue.
This seat goes on the stock pan (yours) so fitment is almost just as it is with a stock seat. The foam resisted a little bit more than stock when it came to mounting it up against the IMS tank but a lite push down and forward took care of that. The upper part of the seat where it meets the tank (stock) has a little movement to it. It disappears when you sit on it as the seat goes flush against the tank. If this bothers you, put an old piece of tube in the upper slot on the seat pan.
Mounting - I did not have to mount mine. If you're not handy with these things, pay an upholstery shop $20 and they'll do it. Seat Concepts will do it for $20 but then you have shipping your seat, down time, etc involved. I'm sure they're not making any money on that but offer it anyway.
Buy the seat cover / foam. Even if you pay someone to mount it, you're still under $200 which is a deal for a comfortable seat.
Robert has customer service at the top of his list right behind "Quality Product" so give the start up company a chance.....and an order. Seat Concepts
Administrator Edit: Here is the website for Seat Concepts.
http://www.seatconcepts.com/index.php?p=1_24
