Anybody have any experience with Saddlemen products? I tripped across their site the other day and their seats (with Gel pads incorporated) peeked my interest. They make one for the ZX-14 (three styles)

http://www.saddlemen.com/

Spyglass

Asssist:

http://www.saddlemen.com/en/products/saddlegel-seats

no, unfortunately not.....love the Tech style one piece for the 14 though. That is my pick of all the seats available.
Only drawback, the Tech is 3.3 lbs heavier than the stocker. Corbin is almost twice as heavy as stocker. (6.7 lbs, stock seat weight).

Best seat mod is a cut down stocker.

OH Hell, Spyglass----

I bought the last tech 1 piece from Dennis Kirk. Been eyeing that for well over a year....they have the best price I have ever seen unless you can find a used one on Ebay.... you pushed me too far, I had to go for it as there was just that last one left in stock.

DENNIS KIRK with best price guarantee, SADDLEMEN TECH STYLE ONE-PIECE

Will post pics and give opinion ....

should recieve it on the tenth or there abouts.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/6/2012 @ 11:48 AM *

hey Rook send me a pm with a short review after you try it... I don't hawk this site like I used too. I would like to know if hanging off and aggressive riding are suited for this seat. I'm also looking at the Corbin. One more thing... Can you install the seat cowl on this one?

Will do, DK....

Can you install the seat cowl on this one?

.....or else you can buy from me cheap.

You guys should ask Loren Mock at Baldwin Motorbike Saddles if he can make a ZX14/ZX14R saddle.

The Grand Touring model I have on my Connie is fantastic, its the most comfortable seat I ever sat on, on a bike.

I bet he could do a more sporting version (since the pans are the same) which is still comfortable and fitted to your inseam and weight, but looks great on your bikes.

Baldwin Saddles "Contact Us" Page

I'm very interested in your review as well, Rook. Kind of apprehensive about the raised bumps on the seat, but looking for something that doesn't make me sore after 30min of riding. Decent price too, at under $350.

OH Hell, Spyglass----

I bought the last tech 1 piece from Dennis Kirk. Been eyeing that for well over a year....they have the best price I have ever seen unless you can find a used one on Ebay.... you pushed me too far, I had to go for it as there was just that last one left in stock.

Too funny Rook..... sorry I bent your rubber arm and push you over the edge. I value your opinion and any possible review you can offer. If the seat is worthy I would like to see if I could get them to take on a custom seat. I want to see if they will make a seat where the rear portion is not a seat but a storage area recession with the factory cowl acting as a hinged trunk lid. I have been looking for a cheap factory seat to modify myself. This type of storage on the ZX-14 would allow enough space for a jacket liner, gloves, long sleeved shirt, bottle of water, and a few other items.

Thanks Rook

Spyglass

Never even occurred to me that the cowl wouldn't wotrk withthe seat.

Cool. The 14 looks really cool in solo mode IMO!

spyglass; A little different looking.
sargent seat

Thanks alg8er, I will have to look into the Sargent seats (storage cowling option looks promising).

Cheers,

Spyglass

We also have this thread going at the same time in General.

http://www.zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=54D5A801-D56B-84E2-10C8E7159C38457F

Heres' what I got a coupe days ago. Saddlmen Tech Style.

Very nice stiching , upholstery is exact fit to seat and attached with rivets. Nice.

DAmn thing feels heavy.....I was afraid of this...

OEM: 8lb, 10 oz. Tech Style, 9 lb, 3.3 oz
Tech Style weighs in at just over 9 oz heavier. Not bad. I think I can live with that.

There are threaded holes to screw the locking mechanism into the undersine of the Saddlemen. This will require two M6 x 1.00 x 16mm bolts. I picked up 6 from Lowe's at the cost of 98 cents. The steel tab at the back of the seat may also be attached with the same scerw but this part seems worthless to be. I don't know what it does accept for it may help to center the seat. Also, there are holes to attach the seat cowl. The OEM phillips head screws fit in these. You can even transfer the strap over from the OEM seat if you want. There are a pair of threaded hole sfor that as well.

Looks sharp on the bike, hey?

The Saddlmen is a bich to attach to the bike.... Just as bad as the OEM seat was until it got broke in.

The Tech Style is more comfortable than the OEM seat. I did not get the sore spots on the back of my legs lik e I did from the OEM seat. I rode the Tech style for 4 hours and it was verry confortable. The back is scooped out lower but my body seems to fit on the bike the same way it aleways did. When I get in a crouch, my knees touch my elbows just like they always did. The raised bumps are a soft MOOSHY memory foam.

The seat got drenched in the rain it sat in this afternoon. I just wiped it off with a towe. NO water soaked into the seat.

More later. I'm beat. Gotta sleep now..

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/8/2013 @ 11:57 AM *

Haha, I read your review, Rook, and bought one from motorcyclesuperstore immediately. Been waiting for that a few days now. They have a few more in stock at $342, over a hundred cheaper than the Sargents and Corbins. Glad the cowl fits over it, weight is negligible, it's rain repellent and is comfortable...sold me, at least. Thanks again for the review, mine should get here next week.

BTW, powdercoat those damn rearsets. I cringe at their brightness!

* Last updated by: runr2940 on 9/13/2012 @ 10:34 AM *

They have a few more in stock at $342...Thanks again for the review, mine should get here next week.

That's about what I paid a Dinnis Kirk..Good price so get it now. (although that price has stood for at least a year at DK so if you have to wait, prolly be around as long as the supply doesn't dry up)

it's rain repellent and is comfortable...sold me, at least.

Also, the seat sat out in fairly heavy rain all day and night. Under a tree but still it got thoroughly drenched. I was seriously pissed that idid not cover it cuz it had water standing in the crevices on the seat top. I simply wiped ot with a towel and that took care of it. Zero wetness came out when I pressed the foam with my fingers. I doubt there was a drop that seeped in anywhere. Very reliable in this aspect, I would say.

Also, I have a lot of electronis under the seat and There is just as much room with the Saddlmen as the OEM underseat compartment.

runr, you might just get that seat at your door by weeks end with the MCSS's delivery speed. I've done a lot of business with them. You can sometimes find it a bit cheaper elsewhere but they do ship your stuff FAST!!

BTW, powdercoat those damn rearsets. I cringe at their brightness!

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/13/2012 @ 11:38 AM *

Also, I am really impressed with this guy that Privy is singing praises for. Really, have a look at this site. This is one guy making all of these seats?? WOW. Didn't look at the prices but if you can spend a few more might want to consider this rout.

Privy wrote (in other thread linked to in my post, 3 above):

I promise you guys, if you put a group buy together, you could get Loren Mock at Baldwin Motorbike Saddles make you ZX14R seats. And you'd get to be specific with what you want, so each saddle would fit the rider. Not cheap, hence suggestion to make a group buy deal with him. Not fast, he is a master craftsman and moves at a snails pace but the quality is second to none.
Six week wait as of today.
He already makes a more sporting version than my Grand Touring saddle, which isn't far off from what many of you would want.
All the seats he makes, many close enough to judge his work for your kind of saddle:
Baldwin MC saddles

I don't recall my butt slipping forward on this seat. That was so common on the OEM seat that I just got used to it. Will have to post the impressions of the GF's riding experience as a passenger on the Tech some time soon....hopefully this weekend.

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/13/2012 @ 12:24 PM *

Not to be outdone by Rook, I had my own GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) attack today and ordered one of these:
Saddlemen C/F Track Seat...
I'll post up picks once I get it and install it.

Cheers,

Rob

* Last updated by: robertv19 on 9/14/2012 @ 6:56 PM *

Can't wait to see it on the bike, Rob!

Robertv19,

I really would like to hear your opinion on that seat. That's the same seat that's on the 2012 Icon Company Banded ZX14r that looks like a 1991 ZX7r now that's the Limited color scheme they should have for 2013.

Here's some pics on a 14R...fitment could be a bit better, especially around the cowl. Lowers it about 0.5" but felt amazing during my ~1hr ride today. Might be a tad narrower as well. Mine came with the 6 bolts, Rook, and I just locktited them in...

* Last updated by: runr2940 on 9/18/2012 @ 8:03 PM *

Just picked my Track C/F seat today.
Will mount it up this weekend and post some pics.
Rob

Just picked my Track C/F seat today.
Will mount it up this weekend and post some pics.

Here's some pics on a 14R...fitment could be a bit better, especially around the cowl.

Thanks for the pics of the 14r w/Saddlemn Tech Style, runr. I see the passenger seat could be a wee bit longer but really, it looks as though that would not be real noticeable out in the bright sun of daylight. Still looks bitchin as hell. Love the logo embroidery on the side. Mine does not have that---yours must be the latest product.

IDK if I mentioned this before but the seat cowl seems to be pushed up just a few mm right in back over the small rear tail piece....the gap is a bit larger than it was with the OEM seat and cowl installed on the bike. Not a big deal to me. I'll paste a pic of this up in a bit.

runr, I see you already have the scuff marks from the seat s cowl touching the small tail piece. I bet your Saddleman will hold that thing up highenough that that will no longer happen. Seems like the extra foam is touching the underside and holding the seat cowl up more. Not too big a deal in my book. I alraedy put foam westher stripping under the seat cowl tabs so that it is held up higher to avoid rattling on the tail pieces. Prolly never need to worry about that again.

No complaints about comfort. Looks great too. Yeah, maybe it could fit a little better....for the 14r, for sure...they could revise that back vinyl panel so that it flowed with the design of the 14 and the 14r both. Maybe they will do that. Minor. Looks good to me oon both bikes.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/8/2013 @ 6:50 PM *

Just rode 3+ hrs on it today...feels so much better than stock did. Once I get my throttlemeisters in (and my PCV should be coming next week too) I think I'll take a trip north to Santa Fe/Taos (5 hrs) area...maybe west to Tucson (5 hrs). My comfort range has increased, haha.

Had the cowl off fgor several days now and I see that the 14 is plagued withthe same poor fit as the 14r. Seems as thoughthey could have made the seat another inch longer to cover the rear tail piece gap.

I have it too. Still love the seat but if I rode 2up a lot, I'd be a little disappointed. These seats cost enough, there is no reason they should not fit pretty much the same as OEM.

gap at rear tail piece, you can see right in the underseat compartment.

detail shot of same

fits with the side tail pieces rather poorly too. Concealed by cowl but should be neater for times when the seat is uncovered

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/8/2013 @ 6:48 PM *