| Seat Replacement |
| Replaced the stock 1999 883 hugger solo seat with the Mustang Wide Vintage Style (no studs, no conchos) Solo with removable adjustable Driver Backrest. Part number 79126. It cost me $350.00, which included shipping directly to my house. This page will give you a pictorial comparison and my impressions of the new seat. |
| My Observations: The two seats are the same height but I feel like I'm sitting a little higher. This may be a reality rather then a feeling based on my eye level in conjunction to the windshield. The difference in height may be due to the compression of the softer Harley seat or the fact that the new Mustang seat tends to promote a better posture. I also felt like I was sitting more on top of the Mustang seat then squishing into the Harley seat. At first it felt awkward but I believe anything new feels awkward. I also felt that the backrest was pushing me too far forward. I decided to ride without the backrest until I got used to the seat. To my pleasure I discovered that after quickly and easily removing the backrest, I was able to fold in the bar so the unit was only the size of the backrest pad. It then easily slid into my saddlebag. After riding about two thirds of my 85 mile first trip without the backrest, I then stuck it back on. After playing a little I discovered that the highest position of the backrest enabled the backrest to lean further back. It's hard to judge by looking but once you're on you can feel it. From that point on I was much more comfortable with the backrest. One other nice feature of the backrest is that it folds completely forward. This allows you to mount the bike without having to raise your leg over the backrest. As I discovered it's a nice feature when traveling with the heavy cold weather gear. There is about a one-inch difference in height mostly due to the extra width of the Mustang seat. As indicated in the pictures above, I found that I ended up rolling my pelvis forward when putting my foot down. That allowed me to flat foot as I was used to. This was very natural for me and didn't end up being an issue. One other note, this seat does slide you forward some, probably about an inch. If you're tall & leg room is an issue this may not be the seat for you. In Summary: It took a little getting used to but after an 85 mile trip my legs didn't go numb once. Even without the backrest you get support from the ridge around the back. It's a nice convertible seat. I believe I will ride around town more without the backrest & throw it on for the long trips. It fits nicely in my saddlebag so I won't ever have to be without it. Certainly not the most inexpensive seat but I think in the long hall it will be well worth the money. As they say, you get what you pay for! I guess I've had my seat on for nearly 15,000 miles now. It's a great seat! I've done a couple 1000 plus mile weekend trips with no problems. I highly recommend this seat. I don't use the backrest for day to day riding but I always use it on long trips. It's nice to be able to lean back & rest your back while you're doing the long haul super slab. Thanks to the Yahoo Sportster Owners Club for the great advice! |
