So I just got back from Sargent Cycle and they are going to use my Versys for research and development for their saddle. They already have a saddle (I assume from one of you) but need to see it on a bike. I was told to drop off my bike Monday the 14th and that it should only take 2 or 3 days to finish. So hopefully they will be on the market in a couple of weeks. Once it's completed and I've rode on it I'll give yall an update on this thread.:D

Rat,
Are they going to take out the forward slope? And maybe a bit taller for those of us that need it?

Bad Tat,
They are using my bike to make three seats: a template prototype to replace the stock seat, a seat someone else has sent them (don't know the specs on it) and a custom seat for me. My seat I'm trying to get taller which is going to be hard to do because I also want to take out the forward slope. I don't know how their template is gonna sit but I think they are making it a little lower to deal with the slope issue. When they are done making it I will ride it and let you know how the prototype rides and my custom rides.

See the problem is their upholstery is a lot thicker than stock, so if you make the seat taller than the front edge of the underbody(of the seat) when you beef up the front and you stretch the upholstery over it, it will give you a kind of bulbous front to your seat so when I go back on monday we'll see if they can make it taller, eliminate the slope and make it aesthetically pleasing.

Rat,
I would think they will recover the seat once modified as they did with my Dakar seat years ago.

I hope its soon and comfortable. My butt is killing me. :mad:

Ratmonkey...

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! :clap: :yeahsmile: :thumb:

I hope I can speak for other Versys riders (current and future) who owe you a huge debt of gratitude for being willing to give up your bike for a couple days to do this.

I'm in love with their seats, and knowing that they will now (eventually) have a seat for the V, it makes it much more likely that a Versys will now be my next bike purchase in a few months.

Thanks....I can't wait to get my seat!

I had a Sargent saddle on my ZRX1200 and loved it. Super comfort and quality, plus it had a little tube to hold important papers. Too bad the V has nearly zero underseat storage.

Make sure you let the people a Sargent know that there are many of us out here that would like to have our saddles upgraded. Let us know cost and time to do it.

Any update yet Ratmonkey?

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e154/1972spencer/bike/4.jpg
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http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e154/1972spencer/bike/1.jpg
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Just got the Sargent seat and it's awesome! It's a little taller and it does address the forward slope issue a little bit although not as much as I had hoped. The foam is a lot firmer than stock and it is way more comfortable. I think Sargent is charging $375 and you have to send yer seat to them but it only takes about 2 days for completion.

Is it my eyes playing tricks on me, or is the back seat smaller, giving you more room in the front?

Is it my eyes playing tricks on me, or is the back seat smaller, giving you more room in the front?
You got good eyes Bear. I think it's 3/4" to 1" more room. You can see the full size image of the 3rd pic in my gallery.

That is one good looking seat!! :thumb:

Any Corbin reps seeing this?! :D

Ok Ratmonkey, get away from the computer and go for a ride. Let your boss know that you can not come in the of the week as you are performing very important butt saving research!

Great looking seat, hope you enjoy it.

Now that is sweet! Looks like I need to save up 4 bills... :-D

YESSSSSSSS! I can't wait to send mine in!!

Graham,
Want to get a big box and send in two together?

Graham,
Want to get a big box and send in two together?
I can get a really big box for 3. :clap:

Bad,
Time Graham and I get to Nonan we are half way to Jax!!!:)

Make that Newnan!

If my butt could take it I would be up for a trip down. I'm sure the trip back would be better with the Sargent.

Bad Tat,
They are using my bike to make three seats: a template prototype to replace the stock seat, a seat someone else has sent them (don't know the specs on it) and a custom seat for me. My seat I'm trying to get taller which is going to be hard to do because I also want to take out the forward slope. I don't know how their template is gonna sit but I think they are making it a little lower to deal with the slope issue. When they are done making it I will ride it and let you know how the prototype rides and my custom rides.

See the problem is their upholstery is a lot thicker than stock, so if you make the seat taller than the front edge of the underbody(of the seat) when you beef up the front and you stretch the upholstery over it, it will give you a kind of bulbous front to your seat so when I go back on monday we'll see if they can make it taller, eliminate the slope and make it aesthetically pleasing.
I believe the credit for the other seat sent to them goes to member 'Waxrash'.

That is one good looking seat!! :thumb:

Any Corbin reps seeing this?! :D
Agreed IMhO that the thing is aesthetically better than the Corbin.Now awaiting the ride report anxiously. Cheers..............Lefty.

Has anyone else had their seat done by Sargent? I'd like to get one that is lower than stock. Any talk of that through Sargent? They still do not list the V on their website. Are they selling new seats or still reconditioning existing seats? Thanks.

B-

I don't think they are planning on doing a new seat. The last I heard they were only reconditioning stock seats. Of course that was before the BOTY award, so maybe demand will increase for the bike to the point that the aftermarket volume will support a new offering.

Ratmonkey,
any news, does it cradle your butt and feel like a dream. Give us a report. I had been considering a Corbin, but it blows chunks after seeing the Sargent. The Sargent seems to respect the styling of the V and is more similar to the stock saddle, but I really like the idea of more slide back space, cause my wife is never going to spend more than 30 minutes on the bike, if that. I would assume it would not have the rear rack compatibility problems we have been reading about on the Corbin since it utilizes the stock seat platform. waiting w/ baited breath!!!!

Any ride reports on these suckers yet? :confused:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/Bear_on_a_bicycle/lurker.gif

why buy a seargent or corbin when you can reshape your stock seat? i did mine...damn thing was killing me after less than 100 miles.....so i totally reworked it...getting the forward slope out is easy and you don't even have to raise it...in fact you can lower it if you like in the process....i'm 6'2" so i left mine the stock height, widened it, and modified it to let me sit back about 2 inches further.....did it for $75.00....i posted some pics awhile back on reworking the stock v seat.......

'Cause I don't want to reshape my stocker...

doesn't matter who makes your seat, if it's not cut to fit your requirements it's never gona feel right....bought a corbin seat years ago for my rt bmw, rode 400 miles in 2 days, thought my ass would fall off!! ...cut down a stock seat and reshaped it...rode to wyoming and back in two weeks of nostop travel...never had a problem

two types of foam i used....blue camp pad with a 2 inch layer of high quality memory foam over top of that...restitched it in marine grane vinyl......

Ratmonkey,
any news, does it cradle your butt and feel like a dream. Give us a report. I had been considering a Corbin, but it blows chunks after seeing the Sargent. The Sargent seems to respect the styling of the V and is more similar to the stock saddle, but I really like the idea of more slide back space, cause my wife is never going to spend more than 30 minutes on the bike, if that. I would assume it would not have the rear rack compatibility problems we have been reading about on the Corbin since it utilizes the stock seat platform. waiting w/ baited breath!!!!

Actually it's a very good seat.........with a big problem for me. It seams that the nice folks at Sargent said that since they use the stock seat pan, the front of the seat (where it hits the tank) can't be raised very much so, in an effort to solve the sliding forward problem, they lowered the area where your butt sits. This means that they have to use some very firm memory foam (I think that's what it's called) and after about an hour and a half of riding I have to take a brake. Now I must add I don't weigh very much #175 and I have a severe case of NoAssAtAll so it may be more comfortable for a heavier rider who can actually sink into the seat, I just bounce on top.

Actually it's a very good seat.........with a big problem for me. It seams that the nice folks at Sargent said that since they use the stock seat pan, the front of the seat (where it hits the tank) can't be raised very much so, in an effort to solve the sliding forward problem, they lowered the area where your butt sits. This means that they have to use some very firm memory foam (I think that's what it's called) and after about an hour and a half of riding I have to take a brake. Now I must add I don't weigh very much #175 and I have a severe case of NoAssAtAll so it may be more comfortable for a heavier rider who can actually sink into the seat, I just bounce on top.

I don't get it. You say it's a very good seat, but the specifics of your review seem to suggest otherwise. Frankly, I brake way more often than every 90 minutes, but if I need a break from the seat in that period of time, then it's not a good seat. In fact, I'd call it a terrible seat if I paid almost $400 for that result.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not being critical of you or your choice, but just trying to understand. Spending big bucks on motorcycle seats rubs me the wrong way (sorry ;)) even when the results are good.

i agree....when you buy a seat from a supplier they're giving you a version they think is best....the factory thought the same thing when they made the stock seat the way it is......the seat pan doesn't need to be raised, just the foam...but you need a dense foam as the base to give support and final shape, then a soft layer over top of that, i used a swedish memory foam pillow i had..nice quality version, slice out a 2 inch sheet out of it and used it as the top layer...when you sit on it, it compresses down quick but you can feel it mold around you, the blue camp pad is firmer than stock but not nearly as hard as a corbin by no means....in time the blue pad will mold to suit you...i bet i test fitted the seat 10 times during the process....during the intial cutting ecspecially, and added foam till i had removed 100% of the slope, sits very flat now, you sit in the seat , not on it

I don't get it. You say it's a very good seat, but the specifics of your review seem to suggest otherwise. Frankly, I brake way more often than every 90 minutes, but if I need a break from the seat in that period of time, then it's not a good seat. In fact, I'd call it a terrible seat if I paid almost $400 for that result.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not being critical of you or your choice, but just trying to understand. Spending big bucks on motorcycle seats rubs me the wrong way (sorry ;)) even when the results are good.

My seat was the first one they did and I got a substantial discount. If I was making trips of over 300 miles I would have to get a different seat and/or bike.

FYI, I just installed a set of peg lowering blocks and now find that the seat (stock) is much more comfortable. Not perfect, but much less fatigue. The reason is... my legs are now lower and the upper part of the back of my legs are now on the seat. That takes load off the butt and also provides more traction to keep from sliding forward.

I am 6' 3" and really needed to get my knees down. With the lower pegs, I sit much more comfortably, have better seat support and noticed too that my back is more against the rear seat riser than before. For those of us who cringe at paying over $400 for a new seat that might or might not solve the problem, these cheap peg lowering blocks have worked wonders - in my case.

Hmmm... I noticed the same thing after installing the lowering blocks, but figured it was just in my head.

FYI, I just installed a set of peg lowering blocks and now find that the seat (stock) is much more comfortable. Not perfect, but much less fatigue. The reason is... my legs are now lower and the upper part of the back of my legs are now on the seat. That takes load off the butt and also provides more traction to keep from sliding forward.

I am 6' 3" and really needed to get my knees down. With the lower pegs, I sit much more comfortably, have better seat support and noticed too that my back is more against the rear seat riser than before. For those of us who cringe at paying over $400 for a new seat that might or might not solve the problem, these cheap peg lowering blocks have worked wonders - in my case.

Interesting... Maybe it's time to give Speedy's new website a try.:thumb:

Def a lot cheaper than a seat.

Just thought other people might be interested. This is the email I got back from Sargent after inquiring whether they are planning on making a WorldSport seat for the V.

Eric,

First I would like to thank you for your interest in Sargent Cycle Products!

We did have the Versys on our development list at one point but it was removed for various reasons. Most importantly, the pan configuration is an very unusual one to say the least and making this seat level is a near impossible task. For these reasons, there are not any plans to pick up this project again in the immediate future.

We do however, have another option for our clients/potential clients seating for whom we do not currently carry a WS product for. Please take a moment to look at this link to our Custom Seat Services department; http://www.sargentcycle.com/custserv.htm. There you will find all we have to offer you and your machine to attain a Sargent quality seat custom made to your specifications on your seat pan. Keep in mind that there are some compromises to be made because of this seat pans factory design. We can improve on the level of the seat but cannot make it completely level and still maintain any amount of foam near the riser at the rear of the primary riders seat. Lowering can decrease the amount we can level this seat for the same reasons. The culprit in the seat pans design is the huge "hump" in the pan behind the primary rider that can be seen when you take the seat off and look at the pan in this area.

We have had many of our Versys riders choose to use our Custom Seat Services with the understanding that we can improve your comfort level with this seat but cannot completely meet our normal standards of level because of the seats factory design. Should you choose to use our Custom Seat Services, you may call us and speak to one of our highly qualified Custom Seat Services Representatives and they can assist you with any further questions you may have to achieve the right comfort and style for you and your machine.

I hope this information was of assistance and we would like you to feel free to contact us anytime you have questions or comments and as always....Ride Safe!

Mary Pestalitz
Research and Development
Sargent Cycle Products
904-354-4531 ext 119
www.SargentCycle.com
Jacksonville, Florida

I e-mailed one rep and talked by phone to two different customer service reps at Sargent. All three told me the same thing. They don't plan on making a replacement seat for the Versys because of the original bike design. They won't sell a seat unless they can make it have a flat rider portion and with the frame design of the Versys they couldn't find a way to make it work while having a proper junction at the tank. The only thing they offer is to rework the stock seat for you; a compromise at best IMO. I didn't want to spend close to $400 dollars without knowing I would like the results. I don't have a top case rack and use the SW-Motech quick detach side racks for the Givi V35 bags so I went with a Corbin (no issues with fitting the seat). Found a place that delivered a Corbin to my door for $395. The Corbin completely eliminated the forward slope, gave about the same seat height and has a dish from side to side to give better support. I'm completely happy. I think Sargent has let us down.

I don't feel that Sargent has let anyone down. In fact, I like they they will only create a product if they are willing to stand behind it.

I don't feel that Sargent has let anyone down. In fact, I like they they will only create a product if they are willing to stand behind it.

What I meant was; if Corbin can make a seat that works, and they stand behind theirs, seems like Sargent should be able to also. In that regard, they let us down. At first, I would have rather had a Sargent but they didn't offer one and from what they informed me; don't plan on doing so. Turns out it isn't a problem for me because I'm totally happy with the Corbin (this is not my first experience with either manufacturer, I've had 5 Corbins and 3 Sargents on various bikes over the years). I'm not trying to talk anyone out of having Sargent modify their seat, just sharing my personal experience.