HD Seat Demo Program

[Jeff Higgins]

So, my wife and I have been pining for a new seat on our 2013 Road King. Not that the stock seat is all that bad, we've been riding on it for five years, after all. We are simply both finding that as we get older, and our backsides perhaps a bit less tolerant, we just couldn't comfortably do the miles we used to.

Enter the H-D seat demo program. All you have to do is show up at your local dealership and trade your seat for one of their demo models. We spent the day Monday riding two different touring specific models, the "Sundowner" (their most popular) and the "Hammock", a rather unique design that suspends rider and passenger like, well, a hammock.

After just over a hundred miles on each, we decided on the Hammock, so I picked one up yesterday. Spent this morning putting about 200 miles on it solo. What a comfortable seat. I think we are really going to enjoy it.

What a program as well. So much better than blindly buying a new seat, hoping it will be better, or just sitting on one at the dealership to "try it out". Real miles, on a real road, on our bike, how we like to ride. What a grand idea.

So, tell me, does any other manufacturer offer anything at all like this? Oh, I know, I can hear the haters already - "H-D only has to because their seats really suck..." yadda yadda yadda... To those, I will offer this - BMW R series touring seats are notorious in the touring motorcycle world for being just about one of the worst torture devices to ever come out of Germany, making some of the Nazi's efforts pale in comparison. Companies like Corbin, Sergeant, Mustang, etc. do fairly well supplying aftermarket seats for all makes - you just don't get to try them first.

[javadog]

I've never heard of anybody doing this, it's a good idea.

[911boost]

I had not heard of this, one of my friends just had a casting seat made for his Road Glide and I was thinking of going that direction as I’m just not in love with seat on my ‘18.

I will definitely try this out, thank you for posting.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

It's a great program. Shows HD cares about its customers and just as important, gets them into a store twice.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

It's a great program. Shows HD cares about its customers and just as important, gets them into a store twice.

Exactly. First time there, with my wife, we went straight to the service department to grab the first demo seat. Second time there (the next day to pick up the seat), I was on my own. So I looked at a few new bikes... Oh my, 117 inch CVO bikes this year... even more "oh my", $32,000 for one of the darn things. Jeebus, that's a lot for a motorcycle. I left with just the seat.

[motion]

Wonderful idea. Those Harley guys probably gain 30lbs a year, so its off to the store for a new demo seat once a year

[911boost]

The 117 goes like stink too....

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by motion

Wonderful idea. Those Harley guys probably gain 30lbs a year, so its off to the store for a new demo seat once a year

Heh Heh... They make a seat called the "Road Zeppelin" for those guys. It's inflatable. It even has separate air compartments that you can adjust as the shape of your ass changes. They know their customer base... they think of everything...

[LakeCleElum]

Had never heard of this till a few years ago when I met a buddy at a MC Conf. in Eureka Springs, Ark....His seat had big lettering saying "HD"........Told me it was a demo seat........Seems like a good idea. HD is smart to sell aftermarket seats. And Pistons, exhaust, cams, injection tune; etc.......

Very crafty marketing ploy......

[Jeff Higgins]

Yes, very crafty indeed. They understand the enthusiast - we simply cannot leave anything alone, even if it is outstanding right out of the box. We're always fooling around and modifying our bikes, cars, boats, or whatever.

I have to say the most farkled out bikes I have ever seen belong to three guys I ride with who all own FJR's. These guys are serious long distance riders, and have outfitted their bikes with endless little doo-dads to make them "better" for this duty. All of it is aftermarket, since there is nothing available from Yamaha. So how much money is Yamaha leaving on the table by not supporting this market?

Then there are the BMW guys. The Triumph guys. When was the last time anyone saw a bone stock GS? When was the last time anyone saw a Thruxton with the stock exhaust? BMW supplies some accessories, but most turn to the aftermarket. Triumph does a little better than some, but could still learn a lesson from H-D.

I've long maintained that H-D should just give motorcycles to anyone who wants one. Free. They would easily make it up in "Motorclothes" and "Screaming Eagle" parts.

[Chocaholic]

I recently bought a BMW R1200GSA. I hate the seat. It’s fine for about 30 minutes and looks nice. Every mile beyond 30 minutes gets progressively less comfortable. Bought a seat concepts seat used off ADV. Equally uncomfortable in all different ways.

Yes, I wish such a program existed. But alas, will buy yet another seat based on the reviews of others...and hope for the best. Had a Sargent seat that transformed my RT a few years ago. Loved it. That will probably be next.

[Don Ro]

The seat on the BMW R1100S is terrible. Slanted to the tank...nut crusher.
Owners spend time and money looking for a better one...even modify the stock seat.
I bought a used Sargent seat off the For Sale Forum...thinking it would work.
The butt pocket is too far back for me...but I don't tour anymore so it's OK for city riding.
Better than the OEM, at least.

[scottmandue]

As per speeders thread I'm too old, scared, and locked into the big city to consider a motorpickle.

But Jeff has convinced me that Harley has great customer service.

Around here we have a couple types of HD rides.

Rich guys on their $50-100k customs that they cruise the beach then take home because their butts are sore from riding a bike that is so stylized it is beyond any ergonomics (they sure are purdy thou)

Average Joe (like Jeff) that rides city to city or state to state.

OG bikers with saggy tattoos, long beards, and rusty old bikes (fun guys to talk to at the bar over a beer)

Then the real bad guy 1% that when they walk into a bar I polity pay my check and slip out ASAP

[Don Ro]

The biggest HD dealer in the US is supposed to be here in Scottsdale...newly opened.
They even have a theater in there.
Going into that place is like going to a different country altogether.

[911boost]

Was just there for the 1,000 mile service at 1,700 miles, will be the last service at the dealer for the forseeable future as I do most of my maintenance.

I noticed they do the demo program with windshields as well. You know so you can get a tiny one that looks cool but doesn’t do anything for the wind....

I got my windshield from Freedom Shields, spoke to the owner and gave him my height and inseam and he suggested one. Mount it with the plastic wrap on it still and he will take it back for a different height or profile for free.

[LakeCleElum]

Jeff - Need new thread with Pic's and Stories of IOM??????????