Some things never change, such as the lack of comfort delivered by a typical OEM motorcycle seat. The stock perch on my ’09 BMW F 800 GS was a butt pincher, while my Yamaha Ténéré 700’s seat, with its cool rally look, is more plank-like. It seemed okay at first, but a couple of long rides proved me wrong. The comfort solution for my BMW was a World Sport Performance Seat from Sargent Cycle Products. Hoping lightning would strike twice, I sourced one for the Yamaha, and my derriere hasn’t stopped thanking me since.
Sargent builds its seats from the bottom up, molding Poly-Tec material to fit individual motorcycle models. The new pan for my Yamaha has the same tool storage area underneath as the stock unit, and it fits perfectly to that seat’s attachment points. I only had to transfer the Yamaha’s rubber grommets and washers to the new seat for a painless installation. The World Sport is lower than the stocker by nearly an inch and weighs 0.6 lb more, likely due to a wider pan and larger padded area.
Read more of Rider‘s gear reviews
Atop the pan sits the comfort zone, a sculptured slab of Sargent’s proprietary Super Cell Atomic foam, designed to damp vibration while remaining firm and resilient. A memory foam layer molded inside that slab is said to relieve hot spots by conforming to your rear. One more comfort enhancement – a central channel much like those on some bicycle seats – takes the pressure off your nether region. Covering it all is black, UV-stabilized, marine-grade vinyl, hand sewn to a perfect fit. If my GS seat is any indication, this seat will last for many years with no care regimen other than an occasional scrub-down when it gets dirty.
Wider at the rear than the stock perch but narrowing at the front with rounded edges for better control while standing, the slightly dished seat distributes rider weight over a larger area. I found it comfortable for sitting back on highway slogs, sliding forward for the twisties, and standing on the pegs when off the pavement. The sides are grippy enough for decent control while standing, while not interfering with tossing the bike side-to-side on curvy pavement. All of this adds up to a much-improved perch for extended riding days, something I’ve appreciated on several long rides with the World Sport under my rear.
Sargent offers a host of options and upgrades to the basic model reviewed here ($369.95), starting with color-coordinated welts. I went welt-less, preferring the smoother edge look. Those who want to match up their rear seat can order a do-it-yourself rear cover, and heated seats are available for those wanting bottom-up warmth. Sargent makes the World Sport seat for a dozen brands of motorcycles, and probably yours. When my buns were burning, they put out the fire.
For more information, visit SargentCycle.com.
