Thought I'd put this here so I'd be hearing from others with Thumpers... So I've decided to go the Seat Concepts route for a seat upgrade on my DR, problem is, once I get down to the actual ordering, there are options. So, who has what, and what can you recommend? Thanks to copy and paste, here are the choices: Cover Options <INPUT id=gwt-uid-3 tabIndex=0 name="7268100-Cover Options" value=on CHECKED type=radio><LABEL for=gwt-uid-3>Carbon / Gripper</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-3></LABEL><INPUT id=gwt-uid-4 tabIndex=0 name="7268100-Cover Options" value=on type=radio><LABEL for=gwt-uid-4>Embossed</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-4></LABEL><INPUT id=gwt-uid-5 tabIndex=0 name="7268100-Cover Options" value=on type=radio><LABEL for=gwt-uid-5>All Carbon</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-5></LABEL><INPUT id=gwt-uid-6 tabIndex=0 name="7268100-Cover Options" value=on type=radio><LABEL for=gwt-uid-6>Standard Viny</LABEL><LABEL for=gwt-uid-6>l</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-6></LABEL><INPUT id=gwt-uid-7 tabIndex=0 name="7268100-Cover Options" value=on type=radio><LABEL for=gwt-uid-7>Suede (+$100.00)</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7></LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7> Let me know what you think.</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7></LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7>MV</LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7></LABEL> <LABEL for=gwt-uid-7> </LABEL>
carbon top gripper sides ..other wise the gripper top will pull ya pants down I also have the suede ...its wearing well after 12 months and 1000's of miles xr650r
Same decision stumped me. I went carbon all the way. I was afraid gripper would make moving around difficult. Haven't tried other combos, but I am pleased.
I went with carbon sides / gripper top after calling Seat Concepts and having a pow wow. My fear was it would be too grabby. Fears were unfounded and is very comfortable. It has the added (minor) benefit of providing a non slip surface for your phone/iPod/sunglasses etc.
I went all carbon on my WR250, and liked it, so did the same on my G650x Moto. On the xmoto, the carbon top was way too slippery. Just engine braking, not to mention hard braking, on the road had me sliding forward in a concerning manner. I ordered a gripper top with carbon sides and it's much better. It's a little grabbier than I'd prefer, but WAY better than the slick carbon top, for my application. Might want to tell them what bike, what kind of riding, and what material pants you generally wear. The good news is that the replacement cover was about $40 IIRC.
On my KTM 400, I went with gripper all around, which works well for me offroad, since I usually ride standing up and often need to hang on with a leg. On my TE630, I went with vinyl all around and red stitching, which allows me to easily move around on the seat. On both seats, I went with custom sizing of a little wider and lower than stock seat, but not as wide as Seat Concepts standard width. Free shipping for ADV'rs and 10percent off for Cafe Husky members. Great folks to deal with!
I've bought four of their seats. I went with gripper/carbon on three of the seats and full suede on my supermoto seat. Contrast color stitching adds a custom touch.
I went all carbon on my DR and like it. For an offroad bike, I'd do carbon/gripper. I have an all-gripper (non-Seat Concepts) cover on my XR and the gripper top annoys me as often as it helps.
I went Gripper top and carbon sides with their standard foam (which is actually very firm). I should have gone all carbon or embossed. The gripper makes it tough foot dabbing in the city because I can't slide to one side very well when wearing Gortex pants. No problem in cotton pants, though. BTW, that seat is the most comfortable I've ever had. No butt burn at all. Well, at least in four hours. Not sure about 8 or 10.
This. If you need to slide over to touch the ground, the gripper makes it hard. If you're short and/or your bike is tall, best to avoid the grip. Sean
I got whatever is their standard cover. I'm happy with that. I had to have them re-do is because the foam was too firm. It is still a bit firmer than I would like but is better. I want it as cushy as my Polaris ATV!
Thanks for the input. It looks like carbon/gripper is the choice of many, and I think it will be mine also. I like the colored stiching on some of those seats, but can't really think of anything that would really be worth it on a grey and black bike. This actually sounds like a really good plan, the only problem being, aside from the bike (which I'm pretty sure I know what it is), I'm fairly new to all of this, and don't really know yet what/how I'll be riding, and even what pants I'll be wearing. Pants are jeans for now, but I plan on some dedicated riding pants in the future. Though any seat would still have to be compatable with jeans, because, let's face it, I'll be on the bike in jeans. Hell, I'm hoping to be on the bike from time to time in my whatever-the-hell synthetic work pants as well. But those would be short trips. I don't think I'll ever be really aggressive in my riding, back roads and forest roads are more my style, but who knows what I'll feel like in a year or two. Nice thing about the Seat Concepts is that I can afford to change it out if I end up wanting something different down the road. Again, thanks for the thoughts, and feel free to let me know any others. MV
I got the all carbon for my WR250R and I love it, but it is very slippery when wearing my Motoport cordura pants. Strangely it doesn't seem slippery at all when in jeans. On my Husaberg I've got gripper top/carbon sides. I've only ever ridden it in the cordura pants, but it feels fine. Not too grippy or slippery & considerably less grippy than the stock seat. Regardless, Seat Concepts seats are awesome! Best money I've spent on either bike.
I have the gripper top and carbon sides on my 450exc and my 950ADV. Interestingly enough the gripper material is different on both seats yet the carbon is the same. The gripper on the 450 is much grippier. I also went with orange stitching on both seats. Love them!