Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => PRODUCT REVIEWS => Topic started by: Scubadvr on May 21, 2010, 05:05:39 PM
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I've been wanting to do this ever since a 750-mile day at the end of a 2,000 mile 4-day trip last August.
Here's what I found waiting for me on the front stoop three nights ago:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_1.jpg)
I eagerly opened the box, and found the seat well-cushioned by foam peanuts:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_2.jpg)
The first thing that struck me was the quality of the seat. It far exceeds my expectations. Although, I wonder why they went to the expense of putting a really cool, high-quality advertising sticker where no one will see it ("SUPERIOR COMFORT THROUGH DYNAMIC CUSHIONING" - my butt can't wait!):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_3.jpg)
The build quality is outstanding, even better than I had hoped for; the hardware all stainless steel; everything looks very sturdy:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_4.jpg)
The tool compartment will be nice. Although I don't think my toolkit will actually fit there, I'll find some use for the space:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_5.jpg)
Another nice touch - Sargent put an extra layer of soft anti-scratch fabric at the front of the seat pan, where any contact with the fuel tank will occur:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_6.jpg)
OK, here are some comparisons. While not really much wider than the stocker, the rear portion is dished out and flatter, providing a consistent contact patch across the entire buttockal area, rather than pressure directly on the ischial tuberosities:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_7.jpg)
Note: in the picture above, the stitching on the Sargent looks crooked; this is just the angle at which I took the picture. It's straight as an arrow, as evidenced in other pictures below.
Here's a side by side, showing the extra padding on the Sargent (incidentally, I went with the Sargent "Standard" height, which is higher than stock by about 1" (25mm). I have a 32" inseam (81cm), no problem with reach to the ground, so I wanted as much padding as possible for those long days.):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_8.jpg)
The dished-out portion is actually slightly deeper than the pictures show. This is due to the cover not being glued down to the seat foam. I could push down on the cover about 1/4" (6mm)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/scubadvr/Bandit/Sargent_9.jpg)
The seat was SOOOOO comfortable on my test ride; I cannot wait to get it out for an extended run. Being an inch higher than stock, and firmer, the extra height is noticeable, but for me is not a problem. It actually improves the knee angle slightly, a plus for long rides.
Kudos to SoloMotoParts.com for a great shopping experience, and for the lowest cost I could find for this seat - $364.95, free shipping.
Hope this may help some others who are looking for long-distance comfort.