More class than arse! Buying and fitting an Acerbis X-seat (comfort/soft) is definitely not a bum steer. This is the only seat that I have used that over three days riding or more has left me feeling human rather than sporting a severe case of monkey butt – especially in the wet!
The comfort seat is easy to fit, has loads of grip, and is waterproof so does not take on water like the OEM ones do. The X-Seat is unique in that it uses internal expanded foam that is moulded in a one-piece shape (no base, no staples, no vinyl cover and no upholstery foam) so it keeps the bike light in wet conditions. More importantly it’s comfortable, it has raised ridges that align under each bone in your bum cheeks and creates an airflow channel down the middle of the seat to keep the ventilation at optimal levels – and the did I say that it keeps the seat dry? That translates into a dry and happy rear end. All of these features combine to make it a superb investment in personal comfort.
I found the shape of the seat to be slightly flatter than the stock seat (I liked it) but it felt narrower so bigger bottoms may not get on as well with this seat a skinnier one would. The grip was better than OEM but not as harsh as a gripper seat. It won’t be pulling down your trousers but I felt it aided in my transitions over the seat during a race. It also felt like the seat would be less prone to wear and tear from knee braces, which can be brutal on stock seat covers.
The downside is the price – yes it’s pricey, but if you want hours of comfort then perhaps it’s worth it to you, for me it’s definitely worth the investment.
Warren M.
