wolfgang
1st August 2005, 21:58
I installed a LePera King Cobra LT seat on my 2002 883R. Thought I should let people know how it went and how it feels.
First, my stock seat was just OK, but I felt 1) too held into one place; 2) the seat was kinda soft, so I felt like there wasn't good support, especially in curves; and 3) the seat is wide and I thought it was kinda uncool. After doing a bunch of research, I thought that a firmer seat without the big pillion hump would allow me to shift back up onto the fender - alter seating position on those long rides, which would help reduce fatigue. I finally narrowed my choice down to the LePera King Cobra LT. It came last week and I put it on. It went on easily - took about ten minutes to get the seat bolt plate adjusted right, and it markedly improved the looks of the bike (whoops - I forgot to take a picture - I'll post one later). So - how does it feel? It is definitely firmer than stock, but I can now easily slide back and relieve pressure points on a long ride, so that works well. Haven't ridden it more than 20 miles at a stretch yet, though. Also, the narrow profile I feel is better for me, especially at a light when I often stand up to get off my butt for a minute. I don't feel bowlegged standing. The craftsmanship is fine - steel base plate, powder coated, vinal covered seat, dense foam. It is not a soft seat - so if you are looking for soft, this isn't it, but I feel more in control with a firmer seat. Also, it has a slightly lower profile over the stock seat, which I thought would be a problem for me (I'm 6'1" and don't want to sit any lower with mid-controls), but I didn't even notice it. Perhaps my stock seat, with about 21,000 miles, was collapsing or compacting and I already was sitting low - I don't know.
I bought the seat through CyborgCycles in Idaho - you can find them on the net. Total price was about $215.00, and it only took a few days to get. I've bought other parts from Cyborg - they have pretty good prices.
:tour
First, my stock seat was just OK, but I felt 1) too held into one place; 2) the seat was kinda soft, so I felt like there wasn't good support, especially in curves; and 3) the seat is wide and I thought it was kinda uncool. After doing a bunch of research, I thought that a firmer seat without the big pillion hump would allow me to shift back up onto the fender - alter seating position on those long rides, which would help reduce fatigue. I finally narrowed my choice down to the LePera King Cobra LT. It came last week and I put it on. It went on easily - took about ten minutes to get the seat bolt plate adjusted right, and it markedly improved the looks of the bike (whoops - I forgot to take a picture - I'll post one later). So - how does it feel? It is definitely firmer than stock, but I can now easily slide back and relieve pressure points on a long ride, so that works well. Haven't ridden it more than 20 miles at a stretch yet, though. Also, the narrow profile I feel is better for me, especially at a light when I often stand up to get off my butt for a minute. I don't feel bowlegged standing. The craftsmanship is fine - steel base plate, powder coated, vinal covered seat, dense foam. It is not a soft seat - so if you are looking for soft, this isn't it, but I feel more in control with a firmer seat. Also, it has a slightly lower profile over the stock seat, which I thought would be a problem for me (I'm 6'1" and don't want to sit any lower with mid-controls), but I didn't even notice it. Perhaps my stock seat, with about 21,000 miles, was collapsing or compacting and I already was sitting low - I don't know.
I bought the seat through CyborgCycles in Idaho - you can find them on the net. Total price was about $215.00, and it only took a few days to get. I've bought other parts from Cyborg - they have pretty good prices.
:tour