Hammer Tested: SDG Complete Seat

The SDG complete seat will help finish the look of any bike. It has improved the feel and look of my 6 year old YZ250.

Is your bike looking and feeling a little tired? Each time you sit on your machine does it feel like you’re sitting on the sub frame rails? Why try to replace the seat cover and foam when you can get a complete seat for around the same price with zero frustration? If you are asking yourself these same questions, then restore that new bike feeling by replacing your old dilapidated seat with a new complete seat from SDG. The factory seat on my 2005 YZ250 2-stroke was tired. The foam has flattened out, the seat cover is shabby, and the seat base itself was hammered due to a few seat covers and seat foam changes over the years. Yes it felt like I was sitting on the sub frame, it was so bad that it actually improved my riding skills because I was forced to stand more to keep my back side happy. Humm maybe a great idea for a training aid.

Highland Park Resort was dry and dusty

SDG has become well known for their seat covers and I used them in the past with outstanding results so I kind of knew what direction I wanted to go when I decided to replace my factory seat. I ordered the “tall” foam model which was very close to the factory height (based off my worn out seat.) To get a good sense for how this seat was going to perform I visited MX tracks and off-road trails to try it on several types of terrain. First place I visited was Talking Rock Arena which is a super-cross style track with dry loam to hard pack most of the time. Talking Rock has a few great berms to try out body position on the seat. Next I visited Calhoun Super-Cross track which is a near perfect super-cross track with fast and technical sections, the track is always prepped and has moist loamy soil. Both tracks allowed me to move around on the bike and see how well the seat would hold you in position and how easy it was to go from sitting to standing and it provided exceptional traction while gripping with your knees. One of the hot spots in Georgia is Highland Park Resort. I hung out at Highland Park a few times because they offer off-road trails and a MX/GP track. The SDG seat performs great off-road as it holds you in place so good that I recommend investing in some riding shorts to protect your backside. The MX/GP track is so fast and wide open I spent most of the laps in the standing attack position which is where the seat actually shined as far as being able to grip the bike with your knees which allowed for you to have more control over the bike while at speed.

Quality and Function is what you get with this SDG complete seat

Features:

• Replace OEM seats at a fraction of the cost.

• Water-resistant, closed cell foam to reduce foam breakdown.

• Seat base is composed of nylon, making it lighter and stronger than the stock polypropylene base.

• The seat includes a two-stage gripper cover with double-stitched, taped seams assembled on seat base with brackets.

• Not recommended for use with oversized tanks.

• Available with standard, tall, low or step seat foam.

• Standard seats are OEM replacement; some models available with soft foam and soft foam for electric start versions.

• Tall seats are 3/4” to 1” (20mm to 26mm) taller than stock.

• Low seats are 1/2” (12mm) lower than stock; perfect for shorter riders.

• Step seats offer improved riding position and decreased rider fatigue.

Perfect fit around the gas tank

Now that I have ran through a wide variety of terrain from single track to fast wipe open MX let’s see how well the seat performed when compared to the Hammer Tested criteria?

The design and fit of the SDG complete seat is precisely the same as factory. It fits the shape of the gas tank flawlessly and follows all the contour lines of the bike. Not even any issues with lining up the mounting brackets and the alignment post on the gas tank. SDG doesn’t recommend that you use this seat with over sized gas tanks so that could be a minor setback for some. The complete seat assembly comes with replaceable coated mounting brackets and a light weight but stronger than stock seat base. You will find a quality double stitched gripper seat cover that out performs the factory canvas.

Zero issues with fit around the subframe area. Again perfect fit

Price is important right? Cost of riding and racing continues to increase so it’s very important for all of us find ways to keep our bikes performing and be able to haul them to our favorite riding places. At $109.00 bucks you will not find a better alternative for you’re worn out factory seat. For this price it’s going to be hard to come under $109 bucks for new foam and seat cover to freshen up that old seat. Even if you did come in under $109 bucks for seat foam and cover you are still left with an old seat base that flexes and doesn’t offer any support and worn out brackets. Not to mention the hassle of installing the seat cover, believe it or not it takes some patience and some skill to do it right. Price will vary depending on make and model.

Coated steel brackets that can be replaced as needed

You will love the function of this seat as it offers great control as the seat cover just grips and holds your body in position. If you’re like me and had a dilapidated factory seat then you’ll adore the new bike sensation the first time you sit on the bike. This complete seat assembly just gets the job done both on the track and in the woods.

Two-stage gripper seat cvoer. You can see the two different patterns

Since the seat has a stronger seat base, quality foam, and seat cover I can’t foresee you having any issues with the durability of the seat. I have had the seat for a few months now and have not had any issues with the quality.