Funny how we can sit on a pub bench for hours which is just a plank of wood 🪑🤣or is that the alcohol 🤔

My dear friend, years ago I used to drive my BSA M21 from France to Norway to enjoy the scenery, beer and meeting females in the Christian way. The largest muscle in the human body is the gluteous maximus. Muscles can be trained and if one has ever ridden a rigid frame with a Lycett saddle, this muscle gets a workout and becomes hardened. It may be that one drives, perhaps, the A65 at 80mph for some time. Numbness in this muscle can be relieved by standing at the footpegs, (not at 80 mph). Of course, the hands and feet will also be numb. My advice is to drive a Citroen for comfort and prepare the buttocks for war when riding a real motorcycle. I waterproof my motorcycle saddle by putting my wife's shower hat on it. Why not? She does not let me go to Norway any more/

The answer for me is a sheepskin offcut my wife shaped to fit and added Velcro straps to hold over the original seat. Great comfort, cool when it is hot and warm when it is a cold day. Not very wet weather friendly, out comes the bin liner cover then, guess I am a function over form type of guy😂

Hi Stuart, I'm a big fan of your content but this is the first time I'm saying something here because I too tried the Tripmachine seat thay you have featured here. In fact I was one of the first people who pre booked it when it was launched. Now I'm the sort of person who puts big miles on his bike and I do a lot of touring. But the seat did not suit me at all. I took it on a 500 km ride and on my way back I was actually wincing with pain. The seat to me was like an absolute plank of wood in its default setting. Luckily I also own the touring seat from RE and I could shift back to that. I will mention that upon complaining about the seat, the company came back to me offering to help change the padding but I declined for now. However that instance shook me up. I know that soft seats are actually worse for your bottom especially on long rides but I feel TM have gone a bit too hard with the seat and in that regard the RE touring seat is perfect. Apologies for the long comment. I just had to tell you this. I would really appreciate a long term review of the seat from you to see how it's getting along. For now I'm just using the TM seat for bopping around town but not on long highway rides.

I wish the aftermarket brigade made a seat that comes straight up at the back. Passenger comfort is important, especially if it's the wife. 😉👍

Meet a chap at a bike shop in Suffolk last week. He was part exchanging his BMW SS1000 full on sports bike for a GS. Had left Northern Ireland that morning. He was 74 !

I worked in a Hull cycle shop for many years and I always told customers that complained of saddle pain "the saddle breaks YOU in not the other way round " OK it not just that simple bike saddles are adjustable fore and aft and angle which most people get wrong , but the main fact is as you said .....you've gotta get those miles in ! The only saddle that does get broken in is a Brooks leather one which I liken to breaking in a pair of brogue shoes . As for the suede I bought a Raw & Rugged seat cover which is very nice but then you made me buy a seat cowl ! Still kept the cover for when my young lady joins me and the cowl comes off . You're welcome to try it as a comparison.

Before I bought my Interceptor I watched many reviews , and one point many made was that the basic Interceptor seat wasn't that comfortable , so before I picked up the bike I had it changed to the Continental touring seat , 3000kms later in 15mnths and have had no troubles , keep safe and the rubber side down !

You’re analysis and commentary regarding seat comfort are spot on. A couple of weeks ago, I took a 2,400 km trek over 3 days. The days were long logging 14-hour, 12-hour, and 14-hour days respectively. By the end of day 3’s 909 kms, my a** was done. Fortunately, this riding year has been better than those in past years and my ‘sits bones’ were well-seasoned allowing for monster treks. Time in the saddle goes a long way into one’s ability to stretch out one’s riding time through the season. As usual, wonderful video!

You really brief it in a very good way. I am person with Hemophilia and facing the seat problem thanks for helping me to get a batter seat.

Haha I ride and race pedal bikes and put in many hard miles every week. Getting a saddle that matches your sit bones is the only thing that matters and good racing saddles are always firm (some would say hard). All the cycling miles mean that long hours on the motorcycle are a doodle and the KTM I ride most certainly isn’t built with a soft plush saddle 😎😎😎😎.

Interesting and entertaining video. Thanks, Stuart. Your comments re becoming accustomed to a given bike are bang on. The bikes I ran in the 70s and 80s I remember as being the most comfortable I have owned. My favourites for comfort were a stock Honda 400/4 which had flattish bars and semi rear-sets and a Meriden Bonny which had conventional a footrest position and half-rise swept back ape-hangers (which I modified myself with a tube-bender). Very different riding positions but I could ride either for hundreds of miles in comfort. (I remember a 200 mile run with the wife driving her boy-racer-ed mini with me on the Bonny - she was exhausted and I was fine.) The key element here was that I rode these every day and hadn't even bothered to learn to drive a car at the time. One of my favourite pedal cycle saddles is a Brooks leather with coil springs, really well shaped. After a day's rainy trail riding I tried one of their synthetic types (which doesn't need 3 days drying out). Superb shape but rock-hard and consequently abandoned. I tried it again six months later with a suspension seat post and never took it off the bike, just perfect.

Great video on a hotly debated topic Stu.. well done, you talk a lot of sense in your videos. Being a 65 year old sod, who suffers with hemorrhoids and has had six prostate biopsies, I went on a three week tour from my home in Czech Republic to Croatia and then back and up to the Baltic in Poland, in all 6,000km on the standard Interceptor seat.. with no complaints whatsoever! Having said that I was in agony on my first ride from the dealer home (160km), and though 'bloody hell.. what can I do about this plank underneath me.. it's terrible!' It gradually got better and better and now I don't even think about it. I'd still like the standard seat to look a little better but that's all.. and I'm not prepared to spend loads of dosh at the moment just to do that! Keep the videos coming Stu, I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say you are very much appreciated.

Well said, I did thousands of miles on my ZX10r over the years with lots of trips being 300miles plus and loved the bike. The best advise is definitely get used to your bike and seat, do the miles, nothing compares.

I had my Royal Enfield 650 Interceptor for a year and could not get used to the stock brick RE called a seat. A 30 minute ride, and my backside was killing me. I purchased a Touring II seat, and from day one, no more sore rides.

Thanks Uncle Stu, Aha! The old discussion of REM seat is too hard. I disagree, the RE650 seat is stiff but so are Mercedes Benz car seats and a few other European sports cars. I have never felt any issue with discomfort that I could not adjust to. I have ridden some 11 hr days - longest stretch about 140 miles at a time. Especially on motorways and Expressways, where I can shift my butt back lean down out of the wind a bit, or sit upright and close but that is harder on the hands and arms. Whenever I am on rural roads, say 8hrs of a day, I am always moving my body balance around for corners and the seat surface allows hip shifts into a corner. I am rarely sitting still/static except for the above comments where there is an answer. I am about 5ft 8in tall and 90kg - oops! So I guess my weight is inclined to work the seat foam construction! I am happy with the OEM seat.

I pedal cycle to and from work on a mountain bike, previously I have done many miles on a racing style road bicycle which traditionally have a very slim saddle with a small contact point with your backside, and I can confirm at first it was like some medieval form of torture when riding the bike. But as you say in your video when you get some serious miles on the bike your body adapts to the seat and almost miraculously it becomes comfortable. Great video Stuart

Highly recommend Corbin. Broad, leather seat and I love the look

Great seat and wraps, bought both in tobabco for my rocker red GT650. Based on Stuarts I invested in trip machine, the seat and wraps were both easy to install even with sausage fingers, and the quality is premium. I weigh in at 120kg (+/-2) and I find this seat very comfy. And the wraps provided me with the comfort on the grip that was missing before. Cheers uncle Stu.

I used to have an R100RT, that bikes seat was like a plank but I could ride all day, day after day, because my bum was used to it (I had that bike 10 years).

I found the original seat on the 650 to be ... not too bad. Hitchcock's had an aftermarket seat for the 650 which looked to be of good quality and a reasonable price, I purchased it and it has proven to be comfortable on long rides.

Shortly after I got my Interceptor.... in Ravishing red ! I upgraded to the RE touring seat.... the one they should have used to begun with.

Wow! Once again, you hit the nail firmly on the head. I seldom ride less than 100 miles, and 200-300 is more typical for me, and often I will do that on both days of a weekend. Granted, I don't often ride during the week as I don't use my bikes for commuting. But still, I cover longer distances at a time. So, my point is, if over 40 years of riding, I very typically don't understand why people complain so much about the seats on the same bikes that I find perfectly comfortable. I've always joked that I had an iron ass, and/or had punished my ass nerves into submission... But, your take makes a very good point... Bad seat? Ride your bike more! Outstanding insight!

Outstanding, always look forward to your videos.. 👌👌👌👌

Very informative as usual, much appreciated, i'm hopefully going to test ride a Himalayan next week, all the best

The BMW F900XR seat was slated by reviewers for being too hard. I'm out training several days a week, covering around 100 miles a day. The seat is just fine. It's firm and gives good support. I happily spend all day in the saddle on this machine. So, your point stands.

Seats...... 🙄 I have had more than my fair share of seat experiences. Most aftermarket manufacturers don't get it right, but this one seems to be on the right track. I know what you are talking about in regards to fiber pans. I bought a Corbin seat for my BMW, poor fit, under side was ugly, but, it was leather. Leather that was poorly stitched. I sent it back.

Another great video Uncle Stu. Great information on seats and seat construction. Good to see you got to the “bottom” of this… 👍 Ride safe my friend!

I've got a Motone The Viper seat on my T100 as I wasn't getting on with the stock seat, and it has made my 60 mile a day commute so much better. Put over 700 miles on it and it just gets better!

In the sixties seventies rare were the custom replacement seats ,for my at the time bony ass i covered my seat with a lamb skin ,oh what comfort and a gift in cold weather

I've had a Trip Machine seat for about a month, now. Love it.

I wonder if Ultra-Suede would be more water resistant. My custom seat is perforated ultra suede and over 15 years and over 100,000 miles on it. The perforations let the water in and through. Here's a hint for this lovely Tripmachine real suede seat if it gets wet or you know you're going to get wet, get a "Bead Rider" beaded seat cover. It allows air up through fo r warmer riding, water down through for wet riding and eliminates "hot-spots" for long distance travel. I have well over 60,000 on my beads and yeah they look funny but the effectiveness is phenomenal. I ride long distance quite a bit so I know what I speak. 2002 BMW K1200RS (108,000mi)....soon to add and Interceptor 650 to the stable because of these great videos by Uncle Stu.....Cheers!

Good discussion and advice. We had a Triumph brand King & Queen seat on a T120 which we liked. Since then I’ve got a F900XR, the seat of which owners often complain about it’s hardness, but I’ve decided to stick with stock seat for awhile for the very reasons you give. We can always get off for a leg stretch after and hour or so. Cheers.

Quite often what looks like a well made item reveals it's true nature when you look inside and find it to be appallingly made . This is the opposite , from underneath it looks like a primary school craft day project .

I was hoping you would look at this seat. I bought a Tripmachine messenger bag in tobacco brown for my every day carry gear for work based on your previous reviews. I'm very pleased with it.

I agree 100%. The ONLY way to get in shape for a long distance ride is to ride as much as possible for several days before the ride.

Brilliant video as always Stuart and that’s a fine looking seat for any interceptor 😃👍🏻

Interesting subject - I agree. I used to cycle a great deal and the razor blade seat on that was as comfortable to my backside as a Lazy boy recliner!

Totally agree with everything Stu says!

As a former bicyclist what you said about your bum needing to get used to a seat makes a lot of sense, my bicycle racing seat took a bit of getting used to, then afterwards it was no issue until I stopped for a month or two, then it was absolute agony again, swapped it for a mountain bike seat, just as thin and firm under the balls but with a wider support under the sit bones

Thanks for your video and thoughts today. Keep well. Bye Stuart 😊

Man that seat is gorgeous

Hi Stuart, just throw my opinion in ( and it’s just that)….I had to change my Interceptor stock seat. It just got a bit uncomfortable after 30 mins or so. Went for the Continental GT touring which is really comfortable especially on longer rides. Great value too! This looks like an interesting alternative though. Cheers

Stuart. Sound was great but I like to hear that gorgeous bike roar.

Hi Stuart, I’ve watched many many of your videos with great interest and really appreciate your ‘tell it like it is’ style. With motorcycle seats though I do think it’s a matter of finding one to suit the rider. On a Kawasaki ZRX1200R I found a Corbin seat which has been the most comfortable seat I’ve had to date, genuinely ride all day and be fresh at the end of the journey. On a Z1000SX I ditched the standard seat for a Sargent, which improved matters, but not as much as I’d like. So I’ve just purchased a Top Sellerie (strange company name) seat, which so far feels much more comfortable, although it was a head scratcher in terms of how to get it to fit on the bike - there is a ‘knack’ you have to figure out for yourself as the instructions are pretty useless. Yet to really test it on a proper long ride, but first impressions are good. Here’s hoping I’ve found the best one for me on this particular bike.

Awesome! Got this same seat for my GT650 and absolutely love it!

Hi uncle Stu. Your new seat is very exotic and compliments your bike perfectly. The sprung saddle on my bullet is wonderful. I have scoliosis so the saddle molds to my butt !!! So I can ride for hours at a time. Take care 🙂 ride and be safe.Ron.

Dale la vuelta al soporte del espejo original derecho y la rosca quedará hacia abajo y no se verá sin necesidad de poner tapon

NOW he changes the seat, your a BAD influence uncle Stu! First off, the continental GT turns up and gets explained. Bugger, think i will get one of those. Then attention turns to explaining the Classic 500. Double bugger, think i will get one of those before its too late! (Production finishes or i expire) Touring seat and double cowl for GT. Yea thanks uncle Stu. I like the tractor seat on my ural CT and manage 6 hour rides with little posture or cheek induced discomfort so thought a RE tan leather tractor seat for the chrome classic 500 would look the …… Ey-up its another post from uncle Stu, put the kettle on matey, check how much money is in the kitty to spend at Hitchcocks emporium!……...love the attitude, content and Ey-up the videos are good too!

Simple changes make a big difference, the seat angle and padding, the handlebar height and angle and foot peg location, simple changes can make a big difference between liking a bike and loving a bike.

I agree that it takes time to break in a seat , and your body. It also takes time to break in the motorcycles mufflers, as the miles build a bikes exhaust burns in the baffles and begins to sound quite nice.

hi Stuart ive just subbed ive been watching your channel for a while now , as i turned 66 in march and officially a pensioner, ive thought about going back to riding a motorcycle again , what do you think , the last motorcycle i rode was a honda vf500f2 that was in 1992,

Uncle Stu I've been using Trip Machine seat for 3 months now and have ridin 160km regularly non stop with no problem.I would love to know when the seat cover will be released.If they give you a heads up on its release could you tell us please.Absolutly love seat.Thanks.

I've ridden a good amount of bikes in my 54 years, British, Japanese and German. The BMW was pretty much OK but did hurt after a while, the rest weren't very good to be honest. The only bike I've ever ridden that had a stock seat that was all-day comfortable right from the off was on a Honda CX 500 'plastic maggot' !..

I've got a couple of trip machine military duffel bags and a trip machine backpack/pannier. I like their gear. But I don't think that leather is the best material for a seat. To me, there's a reason vinyl is so popular- it's just a better suited material for something out in the weather. Who can go touring and guarantee that it won't rain? I got the new design RE touring seat and think it's great

Get that side panel sprayed Orange Uncle Stu, with the tan coloured seat it will look great.

Loaded questions? Pah!.... I'll raise you one...... Tyres...., Ha! Love the seat, I've tried explaing these things about breaking in, seats, suspension, engine, gearboxes tyres ect only to be met by being ignored, not the right answer, and argument, an expert, a scientific reasoning blah blah blah.. All from weekend, good weather, summer riders.. They'll never break in their various bit and bobs they just don't ride often enough as you say.

I ride a 2016 t120 ,I use it for touring 200 miles in a day, the seat is fantastic and you get off it no num bum, I had a XR 1200 Harley 20 miles and your bum is num for hours, there was a seat manufacturer 25 miles from my home, asked him to remove padding and put a jell pad on the seat pan, raised the seat 3/4 inch but I could ride it .went to the West Country for some chips by the sea, 200 miles return journey refill the tank once As that is how far the tank before it’s empty , and carry on riding! If you like your seat see if jell pad can be installed , looks standard and you can use it!

Hello Master Fillingham, as well as my RE Interceptor I also ride a KTM 1190 Adventure and I'm pretty sure they modeled the seats off Austrian oak hardwood planks although after 6 years and over 100 000km the seat and my backside have become better friends and when the interceptor was brand new I took her for a long 500km ride up to the north of where I live in New Zealand and did not find the stock seat a problem and I'm sure the luggage on the back made the stock suspension plusher for some of the more rugged back country roads.

It sure looks pretty!

Don't like the staple showing from the side (14:57) keep up the good work Stuart.

Upgraded mine from stock (30min) to Sahara Seats (180min) Much better now!

Sound and video are great!!!

I also have this bike.... Really its awesome... To have a long ride...

I like that in the tan. Suits my sunset strip interceptor and tan leather jacket! *edit* Also agreed about aclimatising yourself to the seat. You wouldn't expect to do the tour de france after doing 10 miles on a bike

Good to know I'll have to reconsider it again

I mostly agree with ya on my buell blast the OEM short seat was abismal no matter how many miles I did I simply couldn't adjust to it then I put on the optional tall seat which in addition to adding height which helped the foam was much more supportive as you mentioned being more important and by adding that seat made a world of difference but I finally added an air flo thin gel seat cover and fit the shorter trips I do was the ticket but sometimes a bad seat is just a bad seat

13:31 a nice green boat appears of the company D.E.M.E. , that's my employer🙂 , i like your explanation on why the seats can hurt, i have a roadking with a tall boy seat(very soft and firm) on it, i'm rather a big man (186cm & 128Kg) , and i never had any problem of that kind, sometimes the bikes stays in the garage for several months, then a make a tour on it for about 250Km without any problem, have a kawasaki versys300 X(seat is hard like a rock), that's a different story, if i don't ride it frequently then i have a huge problem after about 50Km

Gotta admit that seat looks great on that Orange Crush machine. But if an "Iron Butt" tour looms, a sheepskin from Ikea will ease your pain and reduce summery "monkey butt" in the bargain. Then again, I'm bashing along on a leather Lycette sprung saddle, so my hindquarters have been pounded into a marble-like resilience more than a towel boy's in a '70s San Francisco bath house.

I've been using this seat for several weeks now, and I think it's far better than the RE touring seat much more comfortable and looks fantastic and being made by Tripmachine the quality is second to none.

Great video Stuart.

Thanks Stuart ...I take it the continental touring seat doesn't suit you as much as you'd like, as i haven't seen a review...I know mine looks good but is less comfy than the standard one...Living in Perth WA , i often do 300kms over a 4 hour period

I get the advantages of the foam, as well as the suede. My only concern of the suede is water... I ride in all weather, and use gortex riding gear almost exclusively. And in my experience, while gortex works very well, when sitting on a waterlogged and soggy surface, it allows dampness to seep through. I've experienced this phenomenon when using a sheepskin seat cover, and fear the same would occur with suede. Also, unless there is a water barrier between the cover and foam, when riding in prolonged wet conditions, the foam can become saturated as well, And, as you can imagine, that becomes nothing short of a nightmarish mess... Do you have any comments on these issues? Being in the UK, I have no doubt that wet weather riding is not a foreign concept for you. ;-)

My bicycle seat still hurts still but after 25 miles or so, might have to change it. And yeah was agony after first ride. My current Zontes seat is very comfy I def prefer seats with a backing rather than flat just feels more snug so the interceptors does put me off.

I have had to give up bikes in general as i get severe coccyx pain and no arse padding at all, i cannot see why they cannot do a foam cutout or split the foam down the middle partially in order to use your sit bones only rather than my tailbone if on more upright or cruiser positions as all the bumps go straight to your spine as its harder to take some of the bodyweight with legs stretched forward, i have had air cushions and other devices yet even my last scooter with armchair seat and vanvan before that crippled me within 20 minutes, me adapting to a seat is not an option its a problem with my coccyx, i would rather they chopped it off or severed the nerves in it than being in agony all the time i cannot even sit on a comfy couch i lie down most of the time, but just had open heart surgery for a double valve swap 3 weeks ago so surgery is out of the question for a long time yet, i am only 49, 6ft and 15.5st so not fat or skinny.

If you happen to see my comment on this older video, I’m curious as to how this seat has worked out for you over time. Thank you in advance.

Hey Stuart, great video, i live down the way from you in "With!" and see you about quite a bit, bought myself a ceptor last week the same nice orange, being old now with lots off time and nothing to do til nxt cricket season, ive started adding bits! got a luvly corbin type seat from Delhi, put the two in one stinger on leds cetra adjust prgs hi flow air box! rear sus to lower her, and come christmas the big bore and crank ,but! i want to put my set off 10 inch apes on or my wide T140 70s US wide pull back bars! but theres nothing anywhere on the web! i can extend the throttle cables/ the clutch with venhills nice braided job and put wiring splices from both controls in to and back out off my drilled bars! but this damm top ABS hose! ive not gone into the brake bleeding part this being my first ABS system and want to do all my own repairs serviceing, i see on line its plug in software bosch/siemes software job! as far as i can see i just need a extended bog standard banjo bolt both ends braided hose from bars lever to unit under tank! drain then rebleed the system? any ideas? regards CB

I would like to change seat mostly for aesthetic reasons. I d love a slim leather seat...but I cant seem to find any

Hi Stuart. Awesome video, thank you! Love those bar end mirrors, may I ask where did you get them? Thanks!!

Good advice Stu.👍

At age 85 and being reasonably "well off", I do not have a lot of time and patience to accept mediocrity in a bike's comfort. I sent my OEM Interceptor 650 seat to Russell "Day "Long" Seats in Northern California, USA and on 12/7 Russell's will build a proper seat custom fitted to my measurements, weight, riding style and after observing two specifically-positioned photographs of me on the bike. I will pay over $600 USD for the rider's portion of the seat to be re-done and the entire seat re-covered. It will allow me to ride all day without once standing up to give my butt a rest. I used Russell's in the past to make a Honda CB-500F into a genuine all day rider (I intend to keep this bike for later life riding as it is much lighter and lower than the Interceptor, but the Interceptor is more fun!). Ralph

Hello steward, thank you for introducing this beautiful seat. I've been looking for an alternative to the original (GT 650) for a long time because downhill I always slide towards the tank and have to support myself strongly on the handlebars, which is tiring in the long run. I have just ordered a seat and hope to solve the problem with it. Unfortunately the discount code doesn't work, maybe because of the EU. It doesn't matter I want the seat. :-) greetings from Germany Translated with Google translator

Bottom comfort matters, Uncle Stu 👊.

ºI believe you are right about the body ...'your butt'... adapting itself. I used to ride far more than I do now. Riding to work, ride out in the evenings..albeit hanging about in Biker coffee bars...Later in life I would ride a BMW R100RS the 80 miles to work and back, never had a problem. Motorist would still try to kill me but my 'Butt' remained intact and ache free.

You know, this is similar to my problem with my former wives, I always thought they were the problem - turns out it was me!

thank you Stuart for your reply so quickly i should mention that i've had both knee's replaced , i would like your thoughts on what bike i should be looking for i'm 5' 10" and really over weight and possibly a pillion as well [ the wife ]

Now, for next week, how about a look at how it looks on the GT 650? You know it will swap right over?

Hi Stuart. I have a '19 interceptor and the stock seat is loose and I don't understand how to secure it properly. The seat moves up and down at the back and even left and right a little. There seems to be nothing wrong with the latch.

Hi Stuart, love your riding shots. What do use to get footage on the road? Do you have a body mount?

I notice that you cut off the pillion's rear grab handle after starting the video. The bike looks a lot better without it. Do pillions miss it?

Nice one Stuart, not so sure about the way the pillion end is finished at an angle though....

Looks cool but unfortunately the severe weather we get in my area of Australia rules it out. We just had major flooding.

Hi Stuart very imformative video also where can i get a set of those nice gold coloured bolts on the rear suspension please cheers Mark

Hi Stuart , Does this seat lower the height ? Are the grip wraps vintage tan and the seat in Tobacco , hard to tell in the light ? Cheers

Informative 👍 🙏

Hello Mr.Stuart, I’m learning so much about the interceptor through your in-depth videos. After watching this video, I proceeded to purchase one from tripmachine, but it seems the discount code mentioned on the description is not valid (yet?). Could you confirm on this issue? Thank you and always, ride safe!

Hi Stuart, how you finding the seat?

Hi Stuart. What's up with that cable hanging un with a zip tie to the chassis in front of the left side panel?

For the first time I am wondering why Stu is looking at an accessory that makes absolutely no sense in British weather conditions, it will be a soggy mess in no time at all despite the coatings.

Why don’t they use memory foam?