Custom Seats

Hi, I am new to this forum. I just posted this question on the HD forum but thought maybe my fellow biker sisters could help.

I am a fairly new (female) rider. I bought an 883 Low in April and put a little over 2000 miles on it and just traded it in for an 07 Softail Deluxe. My problem is that I am barley 5'3" and about 105 pounds. The seat that came with the bike is too wide. I have been looking at the Mustang seats and also the Harley Reach seat. I can't find any reviews from shorter people describing what seat they most prefer. Any comments out there?

Kind of off topic, but how's the reach to the bars and pegs on that Deuce? My mom is also about 5'3" and is looking at getting something similar.

My bike is a Deluxe, not a Deuce, and the reach is good. The width of the frame on the bigger bikes are wider, which makes it seam taller to us short people, but the Deluxe is only a 24.5 seat hight. The biggest problem I am having right now is the seat. The original seat "sucks" for lack of a better term. The bike is just as easy, if not easier to pick up than my Sprotster was. Although, I haven't been able to ride it yet. I am waiting to resolve the seat issue first. The Deuce's last year is 07, they will not be manufacturing any more. Hopes this helps you.

Try the Mustang "Gunfighter" eat. It's narrow and low, if you like the look.

haha Oops I read that wrong.

Nevermind then, I know the difference between the Deluxe and the Deuce. Thanks though!

Mustang rocks!

That's what my wife says anyway. She has a Mustang touring saddle on her Road Glide and loves it because of the narrowness of it. She's 5'6" and when she gets on my Road King (Corbin saddle) she complains everytime about how wide it is. Go with the Mustang. -OR- Have a cutom saddle built by somebody.

BTW, if you have too much money laying around, Corbin will custom fit one of their seats just for you. My friend Christine did that for her Sporty, they put the new seat on her bike, then fit foam around her butt to move her position forward. Not cheap, it was about a thousand buckazoids all said and done. Took almost two months.

A note on Mustang, I got their gunfighter seat 15 years ago. The vynil finally gave out, but for about $200 they'll completey re-do it. I just have to send it in to their factory. Not a bad deal at all.

Kenneth_Moore said:

BTW, if you have too much money laying around, Corbin will custom fit one of their seats just for you. My friend Christine did that for her Sporty, they put the new seat on her bike, then fit foam around her butt to move her position forward. Not cheap, it was about a thousand buckazoids all said and done. Took almost two months.

A note on Mustang, I got their gunfighter seat 15 years ago. The vynil finally gave out, but for about $200 they'll completey re-do it. I just have to send it in to their factory. Not a bad deal at all.

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A local upholstery shop will do the same thing for about $300. I had "rags to Riches" do my seat. It took about 3 hours.

I've always had good luck with Corbin seats. I have them on every bike I ride. Some people swear by them and some swear at them, but I would check them out here:

Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories | Harley-Davidson Softail | 800-538-7035

They even have the width of the seat on the specifications. I know they are comfortable after breaking them in. The link is for the seats that fit the Deluxe. Good luck!

Ditto for the Corbin seats. They work for me, I've got a leather one on the Bonneville and I had them on my Trophy, K-100 and R-100. If you talk to them on the phone and tell them you want it narrower they should be able to accomodate that without getting carried away.

Alternativly, like Dr. Seruzawa said, a local Hot Rod or Boat shop should be able to trim the stock seat down

Welcome, momof5. I can't offer specific advice because I don't ride a Harley and I'm a bit taller (5' 7"). However, I've had a couple seats rebuilt by a Seattle seatmaker (Rich's Custom Seats) and I was very happy with that shop's work. I would strongly recommend that you first check out the local possibilities for seat work before you try to get a mail-order seat, because a local seatmaker can see you on the bike and cut the seat to fit what you need (as well as fit your behind)! Local makers also tend to be cheaper and quicker than the more-well-known motorcycle seatmakers such as Mustang and Corbin.

Best of luck in your search. Come on back and let us know what you choose to do and how it works out!

Thanks for all your comments. I decided to try the Mustang because I could get it fast and I really wanted to get on the bike. It is comfortable and it will do. I like the narrowness in the front, makes it much easier to put my feet down. I do wish it would seat me a little more forward. Maybe when I get more money I will look around again - since I plan on keeping this bike for a long time.

I just came from the Poker Run, I ride a 1200 Low, but there was a friend of mine riding a Deluxe (my next bike..hopefully) and he had lowered the front with Harley Lowering gear, and then he had lowered the back with other market parts, I sat in it, I am 5'4 and my feet where very comfortably planted in the ground. In my 1200 Low I am just there...so If it helps in any way, it is a very good option. Also my brother read an article about the new Harley Rocker, although I still havent seen it, in the article, written by a woman, it says it is by far the lowest bike tha HD has ever made and that it rides like a dream, so I am looking forward to seeing it and trying it as a good option for "next bike"....

Safe Riding!

I'm a Mustang guy.

Corbins look like they were made with someone with skills even more limited than mine.

Buzglyd said:

I'm a Mustang guy.

Corbins look like they were made with someone with skills even more limited than mine.

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If they were more limited than yours, they would be into negative territory I think! :-D

longride said:

If they were more limited than yours, they would be into negative territory I think! :-D

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Sitting on the frame rails.

I haven't owned a Harley for a few years, but have put custom seats on many bikes. I'd echo the MOron who suggested trying to find a local motorcycle seat maker to fit the bill. I can also recommend Rick Mayer and his brother as well as far as custom seats go (And they won't set you back as much as others have said a custom Corbin will). They say some people have a Corbin butt and some don't, I know I don't. Try a Corbin seat from one of your friends before buying one.

You may check out the Lepera sets. They have several "up front" seats that put you about 3" closer to the bars. Check their web and see what they offer for your ride.