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 nec-
essary 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.
Using the tool kit included with your motorcycle, remove the old seat and install the new seat as follows:
GL1100, GL1200 GOLDWINGS
1. Two bolts hold the seat to the motorcycle. To gain access to these bolts, remove the saddle bag lids. Approximately ten inches from the
rear of the seat there is one bolt on each side of the seat. Remove these two bolts.
2. To remove the unbolted seat, the tongue, which protrudes forward underneath the front of the seat, must be disengaged from its retain-
ing sleeve under the tank. To do this, push the seat backwards while carefully lifting the rear of the seat up and away from the motorcycle.
NOTE: On 1984 and 1985 Gold Wings it is necessary to lift the seat adjustment lever (located under the false gas tank cover) to release the
tongue as the seat is being removed.
3. Turn the old seat over. Using a 10mm wrench or socket, remove the nuts that secure the two side brackets to the seat. Each is held in
place by two nuts over studs. On some saddles one of the brackets provides for fore/aft adjustment; note on which side of the seat this
bracket is located.
4. Re-install the brackets on your new Saddlemen seat using the four nuts removed earlier. Be certain to replace the fore/aft adjustment
latch on the correct side (if supplied on original seat). Sometimes the studs on the seat will have to be forced together slightly to accommo-
date variations in brackets.
5. Install the Saddlemen seat by reversing the steps for seat removal. Be sure that the tongue built into your new seat on the front aligns with
the sleeve on your motorcycle frame for proper engagement. When properly aligned, the tongue should slip easily into the sleeve.
NOTE: The new Saddlemen seat is slightly longer than your original seat in order to provide more space for the passenger. In rare cases this
will require removal of the trunk to facilitate installation of the new seat.
6. Re-attach the two boIts to secure your new seat to your bike. Take care to properly insert the bolts into the threaded hole in the frame so
that “cross threading” does not occur. Tighten both bolts. Using the adjusting latch, adjust the seat to the original fore/aft position. This posi-
tion may be adjusted later as your new seat will have a different feel and riding position compared to your original seat. The new seat may be
slightly higher than your original seat which may have broken down and compacted over the years. The new Saddlemen will also lower with
time but will not break down as the original seats often do. Take care when you ride the bike for the first time and until you become familiar
with the new “feel” and riding position.
7. Re-install your saddle bag lids and check the overall installation to be sure that all steps have been completed.
EQUIPMENT CAUTION: Sometimes the brackets used with aftermarket driver backrests will interfere with the bottom forward edge of the
seat during installation. This will prevent proper installation and can cause damage to the lower edge of the seat cover. When installing a
seat on a motorcycle with an "around-the-seat" accessory backrest, be certain the backrest brackets, near the bike frame, do not contact
the Saddlemen seat.
11-400438 Rev 1 (04-22)
