BFLYER
.040 Over
I received the Maverick Lowrider seat. IF you want a solo seat that is not as wide and sits lower than the stock seat - this seat may be right for you. I am however a bit disappointed.
First off their site said that this seat was a "direct replacement" for the stock seat.
That indicates to me that, well, the seat is a direct replacement. Even though they did not build it on my seat pan, I assumed that I would be able to take my stock seat off and place their seat on with with limited modification to the bike. They do not place the instructions on their website. They also do not picture the seat on a bike with the stock pillion however on their site they state "It can be used with the original triumph pillion seat or rack.."
So my fault - when I read "direct replacement" and that it works with the stock pillion I assumed just that. We all know where an assumption leads.
Installation - Once you remove your seat you must then remove the hardware and cable for the key lock that allows you to take your stock seat off and on with the turn of a key, and relocate it below. It also will work better if you remove your tool kit above your battery. Second there are two stock side bolts that you remove and replace with two lower profile bolts supplied - no big deal there. Then you need to remove a bolt in the middle of the rear fender that has no apparent need other than to plug a hole under the seat. You then need to drill out the threaded hole in your fender.
To install the Maverick seat you tuck the metal attachment in the front similar to the molded plastic tab on the stock seat under the stock bracket; fit the new seat and press it down onto the seat rails; then from under your rear fender you must slip a bolt through the hole you drilled out and into the bottom of the new seat.
This makes the new seat more or less permanent in that you can no longer remove it with a turn of your key. So if you need to get to your battery for example you will have to remove this bolt under your fender each time to remove the seat. I have Corbin Beetle bags installed so I need to remove one of them as well to be able to get to the bolt under the fender.
I did not intend to remove the pillion seat so I was happy to read that it works in conjunction with this seat - uh, not really. In the picture on their site it appears that the back of the seat may come up high enough to asthetically work with the pillion, and they say it works, however there is a huge gap. The gap would be bad enough alone but the pillion attaches to a big ugly bracket that is exposed in the gap between the two seats. Not sure what they are thinking when they imply that it works with the stock pillion - sure it allows you to keep the stock pillion on the bike but who would with this huge gap and ugly bracket exposed?
AS far as these two statements "It fits nice and snug against the frame rails all around" AND "it has no restricting snorkel attachment in the base it also allows your ride to breathe much easier. The result is a smoother more efficient air intake." - that sounds good but I do not believe it is good. The seat does not fit snug against the tank or the front though it does fit snug on the rails as stated. Since their is no snorkel and it does not fit snug at the front there is a potential for water to seep into the air intake. I ride rain or shine. In a hard rain I do not see how water will not run down the tank or splash up under the seat and get into the air intake. Even when you wash your bike I fear water would get in. And you can not take your seat off with the turn of a key to cover the air intake.
So my review is - this seat may be for you if:
It is a solo seat only and you have already or will remove your stock pillion and the bracket holding it. You will then need to plug the remaining holes in your fender from the bracket.
You never ride in the rain.
You are OK with removing the bolt in your fender to remove your seat every time you need to get to your battery AND every time you wash your bike so that you can cover the air intake.
As for their customer service - I emailed them and pointed out some of my above complaints mainly that their site stated that it was a direct replacement for the stock seat. I asked in the email what their return policy was. I did not receive a response. How am I certain they received my email you ask? They removed the verbiage from their site that their seat was a direct replacement.
First off their site said that this seat was a "direct replacement" for the stock seat.
That indicates to me that, well, the seat is a direct replacement. Even though they did not build it on my seat pan, I assumed that I would be able to take my stock seat off and place their seat on with with limited modification to the bike. They do not place the instructions on their website. They also do not picture the seat on a bike with the stock pillion however on their site they state "It can be used with the original triumph pillion seat or rack.."
So my fault - when I read "direct replacement" and that it works with the stock pillion I assumed just that. We all know where an assumption leads.
Installation - Once you remove your seat you must then remove the hardware and cable for the key lock that allows you to take your stock seat off and on with the turn of a key, and relocate it below. It also will work better if you remove your tool kit above your battery. Second there are two stock side bolts that you remove and replace with two lower profile bolts supplied - no big deal there. Then you need to remove a bolt in the middle of the rear fender that has no apparent need other than to plug a hole under the seat. You then need to drill out the threaded hole in your fender.
To install the Maverick seat you tuck the metal attachment in the front similar to the molded plastic tab on the stock seat under the stock bracket; fit the new seat and press it down onto the seat rails; then from under your rear fender you must slip a bolt through the hole you drilled out and into the bottom of the new seat.
This makes the new seat more or less permanent in that you can no longer remove it with a turn of your key. So if you need to get to your battery for example you will have to remove this bolt under your fender each time to remove the seat. I have Corbin Beetle bags installed so I need to remove one of them as well to be able to get to the bolt under the fender.
I did not intend to remove the pillion seat so I was happy to read that it works in conjunction with this seat - uh, not really. In the picture on their site it appears that the back of the seat may come up high enough to asthetically work with the pillion, and they say it works, however there is a huge gap. The gap would be bad enough alone but the pillion attaches to a big ugly bracket that is exposed in the gap between the two seats. Not sure what they are thinking when they imply that it works with the stock pillion - sure it allows you to keep the stock pillion on the bike but who would with this huge gap and ugly bracket exposed?
AS far as these two statements "It fits nice and snug against the frame rails all around" AND "it has no restricting snorkel attachment in the base it also allows your ride to breathe much easier. The result is a smoother more efficient air intake." - that sounds good but I do not believe it is good. The seat does not fit snug against the tank or the front though it does fit snug on the rails as stated. Since their is no snorkel and it does not fit snug at the front there is a potential for water to seep into the air intake. I ride rain or shine. In a hard rain I do not see how water will not run down the tank or splash up under the seat and get into the air intake. Even when you wash your bike I fear water would get in. And you can not take your seat off with the turn of a key to cover the air intake.
So my review is - this seat may be for you if:
It is a solo seat only and you have already or will remove your stock pillion and the bracket holding it. You will then need to plug the remaining holes in your fender from the bracket.
You never ride in the rain.
You are OK with removing the bolt in your fender to remove your seat every time you need to get to your battery AND every time you wash your bike so that you can cover the air intake.
As for their customer service - I emailed them and pointed out some of my above complaints mainly that their site stated that it was a direct replacement for the stock seat. I asked in the email what their return policy was. I did not receive a response. How am I certain they received my email you ask? They removed the verbiage from their site that their seat was a direct replacement.
