Alcantara seat - soggy arse

[Tobers]

Hello again.

My new to me GSA has a very comfy alcantara-covered seat fitted which looks lovely.

But when I rode the bike yesterday, the seat was a literal block of ice. Rain and frost had frozen onto and into it, making it an arse-numbing experience and leaving me with a very damp crotch in my jeans. Prior rides when the bike has been sitting outside in the rain have been similarly crack-damping experiences.

What to do? Is this normal? Do people with alcantara seats just put up with it? Should I cover it with something when not in use? General alcantara seat experience required please. Thanks.

 

[Guru Gora]

I put one of these on mine (Thruxton 1200) when not in use.

Cheap and packs down to nothing.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Tobers]

Ta. Good idea. My seat is 1 piece so I’d need to find a longer thing, but a cover sounds like the most sensible approach.

 

[wessie]

you could try a mesh cover. They are designed to improve ventilation by providing an air gap. They are also good in wet conditions as rain drains away rather than pooling around your nads. Of course, the alcantara will still get wet but you won't be sat in direct contact with it and it will provide some insulation to stop the seat freezing unless a very hard frost.

 

[Guru Gora]

Ta. Good idea. My seat is 1 piece so I’d need to find a longer thing, but a cover sounds like the most sensible approach.

The XL version should work

 

[Tobers]

Maybe I could keep a little towel in the top box and put that on the seat when it is wet.

Alcantara just seems a little weird as a covering material.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Maybe I could keep a little towel in the top box and put that on the seat when it is wet.

Alcantara just seems a little weird as a covering material.

Your last sentence sums it up...

 

[MikeO]

Maybe I could keep a little towel in the top box and put that on the seat when it is wet.

Alcantara just seems a little weird as a covering material.

I think the idea is to keep you from slipping around on the normal vinyl when manoeuvring hard (off-road etc). I seem to remember Touratech's GS seats were covered with Alcántara, but - like yours - they'd neglected to waterproof the underlying foam.

 

[Paul S]

I think the idea is to keep you from slipping around on the normal vinyl when manoeuvring hard (off-road etc). I seem to remember Touratech's GS seats were covered with Alcántara, but - like yours - they'd neglected to waterproof the underlying foam.

Using a waterproof spray for out door clothing will help but not cure the problem completely. As said above a Cool Cover will work but tends to be tad chilly in winter.

 

[Gee-]

A few bikers put a sheep's wool cover over, trimmed to match seat, warm in winter, cool in summer, shake dry, replace. animal lover? can always get away with a fake faux fur throw. ?

Tip: I used four old braces type clips, held on with tie wraps, unseen under cover, easy for a quick release. The ones that hold down ironing board covers.
Some ready made to measure ones on Flebay.

 

[Neil W]

It should have been covered in Alcantara EXO which is specifically designed for use in an outdoor marine environment (my Katana seat is ) the Alcantara has a waterproof membrane bonded to the underside to protect the foam and seat bases

 

[dean0n0]

It should have been covered in Alcantara EXO which is specifically designed for use in an outdoor marine environment (my Katana seat is ) the Alcantara has a waterproof membrane bonded to the underside to protect the foam and seat bases

Who did the Katana seat?

 

[Neil W]

Who did the Katana seat?

It was done many years ago by Saddlecraft in South Shields but Alcantara EXO should be used by anyone who does motorcycle ,convertible cars and yachts etc , normal Alcantara was designed for indoor dry environment use only .
If you look at the cost Of Alcantara online the knock off stuff can be £10 per metre whereas genuine Alcantara seems to be between £40 to £70 per metre plus VAT , the outdoor stuff is where you find the cost listed online at up to £136 per metre plus VAT.

Probably the reason why the cheaper or non outdoor versions of the stuff is often used

 

[Tobers]

That might be it then. It’s definitely not waterproof.

 

[rustycloe]

Hello again.

My new to me GSA has a very comfy alcantara-covered seat fitted which looks lovely.

But when I rode the bike yesterday, the polaris rzr accessories seat was a literal block of ice. Rain and frost had frozen onto and into it, making it an arse-numbing experience and leaving me with a very damp crotch in my jeans. Prior rides when the bike has been sitting outside in the rain have been similarly crack-damping experiences.

What to do? Is this normal? Do people with alcantara seats just put up with it? Should I cover it with something when not in use? General alcantara seat experience required please. Thanks.

Hello, this is normal for Alcantara seats. It absorbs water, so when the bike is left out in rain or frost, it can soak in moisture and then freeze, which is why it felt like an ice block and gets you wet. Most people either live with it and accept the trade-off for the look and grip, or they use a waterproof seat cover whenever the bike is parked outside. A simple cover solves most of the issues. If the bike is regularly left in the weather, a vinyl or OEM-style seat is much more practical.

 

[Tobers]

Hello, this is normal for Alcantara seats. It absorbs water, so when the bike is left out in rain or frost, it can soak in moisture and then freeze, which is why it felt like an ice block and gets you wet. Most people either live with it and accept the trade-off for the look and grip, or they use a waterproof seat cover whenever the bike is parked outside. A simple cover solves most of the issues. If the bike is regularly left in the weather, a vinyl or OEM-style seat is much more practical.

Thanks for this excellent explanation. I have now put a black bin bag in the top box and a couple of straps to hold it on the seat when parked up outside.