As I roll gently into my retirement years, I’ve taken to scouting used motorcycles on Craigslist to stock up my garage. I never know what will grab my attention and tickle my heart, and as I unearth hidden two-wheeled treasures, I’m usually delighted to inherit a rich assortment of accessories previous owners have lavished upon their bikes – now to become my next ride.
When acquiring used bikes, the one item that often requires my attention is the seat. Many riders work at lowering reach to the ground, but I’m 6 feet tall with a 31-inch inseam and grouchy hips. I like legroom. So when a newly acquired bike doesn’t fit me correctly, I head over to Legendary Best Motorcycle Seats in Ventura, California.
I’ve been using BMS for seat alterations for decades, beginning back in their Ojai days under Bill “Rocky” Mayer (BMS used to stand for Bill Mayer Saddles). Now, longtime stalwart Adrian Mercado handles the business, turning out the same quality work he’s crafted for all these years.
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The personal fitting service at BMS is terrific. If you can devote a half day or so on site, Mercado and his crew will craft a custom-made seat built to your liking and personal fit while you wait. BMS also appears at rallies and other riding events across the country to provide custom services, or you can also send in your seat with your necessary personal dimensions for mail-order service.
Mercado listens to your requests, then makes suggestions based on his decades of seat-building experience. He’ll give you what you want, but I’ve learned to follow his advice, typically after some give-and-take regarding comfort versus aesthetics. The decision often comes down to a simple question: Do you want the bike to “look right,” or do you want the seat to coddle your rear end over a full day’s ride? Personally, I tend to lean toward the comfort side, but you can have it your way, exactly so.
Custom-built BMS seats absolutely transformed my new-to-me 2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S and 2017 KTM 690 Duke. Due to an extra-low seat at purchase, I found the Multi virtually unrideable, while the 690’s aftermarket rearsets shortened the seat/peg relationship and made things too cramped. Mercado fixed all of that, making both bikes more enjoyable – and “all mine” in the process. Nice. Problems solved.
Pricing begins at $595 to build a solo seat, pretty much in keeping with other custom seat options.
For more information, visit the Legendary BMS website.
You do a dis-service by not mentioning at all Rocky’s late father, Bill Mayer Sr. the designer of the Russell Day Long saddle. I understand the company is still in business , and is a competitor of Rocky (or maybe the other way around). My first Day Long saddle was on my 1976 Honda GL1000, and I have used a Russell seat on every touring bike since, up to my current BMW. Rocky also has a brother in the seat business. I would guess the two brothers learned at side of their father, who at the time was peerless.
I put a Mustang dual touring seat on my 1999 Vulcan 1500 back in 2000. One 250 mile trip on the stock seat was all I could take. The Mustang seat has a dual density foam, bucket shaped, and has proven to be a top quality replacement seat. Twenty two years and 38,000 miles later the seat still looks and works like new. Best investment I ever made, can ride all day with almost no discomfort. Wife loves the back seat as well.
Hi, I have a surcalation problem and some seats
kill me, including my seat on my 05 Harley heritage Softail classic! Can you help!