DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THIS SEAT IF: • You do not understand these installation and use instructions; • You do not understand any part of the seat’s mounting
system; • You have any doubts as to the security of the seat’s mounting system.
• If you have any concerns or questions, seek help at your qualified motorcycle dealer or call the Saddlemen support line at (310) 638-1222.
Remember: Motorcycling can be a dangerous activity. Installation of any accessory can increase your risk if it is not installed properly. You are responsible to install this
seat or any accessory so it will not contact any portion of the drive train, suspension or steering, or if it will in any way interfere with the operation of your motorcycle.
In most cases, your new seat will install the same way as the original seat. Consult your motorcycle's owner's manual to remove the seat, and replace it with
the Saddlemen seat.
In some cases, it may be necessary to remove mounting hardware and rubber bumpers from your original seat and reinstall them on your new seat. Our seat
base design may differ slightly from your original pan because your original brackets and hardware will mount onto the new seat with new bolts (supplied with
this seat). Because of manufacturing variances between different models and years, it may be necessary to slightly alter the bolt-hole size on the original
brackets with a drill or file to accommodate the new bolts. Seats that require unique mounting will have instruction labels affixed to the seat or a supplemental
instruction set will be included.
For most motorcycles, your new Saddlemen seat installs to your bike by inserting a front bracket into the bike's frame below the gas tank, and a rear metal tab
that secures to the bike's fender with a single screw (see Fig. A). Some metric motorcycles may have additional mounting points on the side of the seat that
will not be used with the Saddlemen seat; those brackets can be removed (and stored for future use if you reinstall the original seat).
1. Remove the original seat and place it bottom side up next to your new custom
replacement seat.
2. If applicable, remove the brackets from your original seat and install them in the
corresponding location on your new seat, using the bolts provided. Place the new bolts
through the brackets and into the threaded riv-nuts in the new seat bottom. Repeat
until all hardware is transferred.
NOTE: 2014 and later H-D Touring models require removal of two metal frame bum-
pers, located on either side of the battery.
3. If your Saddlemen seat uses a single mounting bracket at the rear, you may need
to remove the two bolts holding it on, and reinstall the bracket with the tongue in the
installation position (see Fig. B).
4. Check all fasteners for tightness, 10 -to- 15 ft/lbs torque is recommended, do not
overtighten.
5. Remove rubber bumpers from your original seat and move them to your new cus-
tom seat. In some instances, we have already installed bumpers that are needed, but
some models require the special specific bumpers from your original seat for proper
tolerance and fit. The stock bumpers are easily removed by twisting and pulling at
the same time. Reinstallation requires drilling a hole of the same diameter as the
original into the new seat pan. Rubber bumpers are most easily installed using either
water or silicone spray as a lubricant.
6. Reinstall the seat on the motorcycle. Check to make sure the seat fits properly.
The new seat will be firmer than the original seat and will break-in over time to pro-
vide greater comfort (usually several hundred miles of riding is required). During the
break-in, the seat will also settle-in, or lower, about ½ to one inch. Older seats may
seem substantially lower because of the worn-out, compressed foam that may have
deteriorated with time.
11-400240 (Rev 10-21)
A REAR TAB FENDER PROTECTOR WASHER IS SUPPLIED with seats that mount with a rear tab. Use this washer between the rear seat tab and your bike's
fender to protect the paint. For additional protection, use a Saddlemen Adhesive Fender Washer (PN: 8901) and a Saddlemen part number Protective Tape
Kit (PN: 4320-0807) which further protects paint from abrasion damage from a seat, and is also useful when mounting other accessories such as tank bags
or saddlebags. NOTE: It is not considered abnormal for your new Saddlemen seat to touch the motorcycle’s chassis in certain places (just like your original
seat). Due to the natural variance of your vehicle and your new Saddlemen seat, you should always check to see if portions of the seat are touching painted or
finished surfaces on your motorcycle. If the test fitting of your seat indicates an area where the seat is touching a sensitive surface, you can protect that area
by using the film from the Saddlemen Protective Tape Kit (PN: 4320-0807). This kit can help protect these areas from abrasion damage from a seat. Some
seat designs vary from the original seat, so the Protective Tape kit is supplied with these seat models. This will be noted on a decal applied to the seat’s pan.
It is your responsibility to make sure the seat installation does not create an unsafe or illegal situation. Remember that this seat is a custom accessory. It is
your responsibility to check the installation to determine if it will be safe for you to operate the motorcycle and to properly and safely carry a passenger (this
includes reinstalling the passenger grab strap or installing a suitable replacement). You must also ensure that the installation does not damage your vehicle in
any way. After 50 miles (80 kilometers), recheck the seat’s mounting to make sure it is still secure. Inspect all of your accessories and related hardware before
and during each ride. An improperly mounted seat can interfere with the vehicle’s operation and cause an unsafe riding condition.
