Top Sellerie Seat - Purchase Report

[axel-moto]

I have finally received my Top Sellerie Seat and wanted to do a quick thread about my experience with it. As of now, I have simply received it and mounted it to the bike and have not put extended miles on it.

This first note will go over ordering the seat and shipping. I am located on the West Coast USA and Top Sellerie is a France based business, shipping out of Spain.
This is not a sponsored review in any way, if this ends up being bad I will post about it for sure. Same if it's good!

Why This seat:

I recently put 10k miles on the bike, and while I liked the stock seat I had issues with my a*s falling asleep on 700+ mile days.
I'm anticipated some more iron butt rides in my future and decided to treat myself to more comfort to do so.
I did not manage to find a cheap used Russel Day Long or Sargent seat. New, these options were pretty expensive pushing me to look elsewhere.
To top things off, I am French living in the USA, so the idea of buying French makes me happy.
I heard good reviews from our friends at the FJR forum so decided to give this brand a try.

Ordering the seat:

The ordering process is simply, you head to the main top sellerie website and place an order on the seat configurator: https://www.topsellerie.com/en-us/configurateur.php

You then choose to either buy a "deluxe seat" or have it reworked for you.



Since I am located in the US and shipping both ways + getting the seat remade would take a lot of $$ and time, I opted to purchase a full seat. If you're in Europe and can be down a bike for a couple of weeks, you can send in your seat to save some $$ and have them create a deluxe seat on top of your stock seat pan.

You can customize the seat height, I chose to keep a standard height. This is a bit taller than stock - when installed on the bike it definitely feels like at least an extra half inch was added to the seat height.

After this step you can go a bit crazy with customizing the materials, color and adding custom logos. There's frankly a ton of options, however I opted for a somewhat understated black seat with chrome stitching, using all the default materials. I am not a big fan of adding big logos, if I could I would purchase all my vehicles with no branding at all.

The only custom option I added was a gel insert in the front section. Very much looking forward to testing feel (in all climates - I hope it doesn't get too hard under 40f...). You can also add heating but I didn't feel the need. If it's really cold I just stuff a hand warmer down there...

I finalized my order and got 2 emails: one with my receipt, and one with my expected completion date.
The order cost $490 (incl shipping) and was estimated to ship 30 days after payment. This was beat by a couple of weeks: The order shipped out 20 days after placing my order and I received my parcel 28 days after placing my order.



The order was shipped via TNT, which is partnered with FedEx. Once received I stacked it on the steed, excited to see what was in the box!

First Impressions:



The seat looks very nice, finish and build quality feel super sturdy. I'm happy it looks understated, black with a little silver sliver look good with my bike's colors.

It's built in a molded seat pan - not a stock seat pan, and fitment could be a bit better. Everything lines up fine, but the latch does take some convincing to get latched.
It doesn't impede mounting of the seat but you can see that $$ was saved somewhere compared to more expensive options. Again - if you are in europe, providing your seat pan will allow you to avoid this issue entirely and save some cash.

Ergonomics:



The sellerie seat has a section towards the back of the rider seat designed to support your tailbone and provide a "pocket" to cup the rider's butt.



The front feel slightly higher than stock - I never had too much of a sliding forward issue, but this seat will for sure keep me back, away from the tank.



This does have the effect of reducing the amount of seat real estate. If you have a large behind, this may not be the best option for you. For reference, I have a 32 inch waist and it feels comfortable but not as roomy as the stock seat.
The pillion section looks a smidge wider than stock. Will have to wait for pillion reviews!

Material feels grippier than stock. When doing rodeos/ maneuverability I will likely use the stock seat since it's easier to move around on but this gippyness will be very nice when doing long days in the saddle.

I'm looking forward to testing this out. I will keep this thread updated with check-ins once I have actual mileage on the seat!

 

[Obo]

Thanks for the feedback on it's fit and finish!

 

[Oldbikefixr]

Thanks! I've been considering buying one for my 1100. 33 year old seat still looks great but has gotten a bit hard and uncomfortable.

 

[Upt' North]

Anybody thinking of buying they've got offers on at the moment.

Top Sellerie - Deluxe seats for motorcycles, petrol tank covers, tank bags and scooter leg covers [Rates for: FRANCE]

www.topsellerie.com

 

[Sadlsor]

Nice details and photos, axel.

For whatever reason, my stock 1300 seat has not proved to be uncomfortable on longer rides.

For that matter, the stock seats were acceptable on my previous bikes, too, to include the Suzuki GT550, the Blackbird, the f650gs, the KTM 950 and now the GSA. I was able to do SS1Ks on all of them in stock trim.

Maybe I just don't have any feeling back there.

My old 1975 Norton never ran long enough for me to establish whether my butt could handle the distance, because the motor never could.

 

[axel-moto]

Nice details and photos, axel.

For whatever reason, my stock 1300 seat has not proved to be uncomfortable on longer rides.

For that matter, the stock seats were acceptable on my previous bikes, too, to include the Suzuki GT550, the Blackbird, the f650gs, the KTM 950 and now the GSA. I was able to do SS1Ks on all of them in stock trim.

Maybe I just don't have any feeling back there.

My old 1975 Norton never ran long enough for me to establish whether my butt could handle the distance, because the motor never could.

It's a good problem to have! I just did a saddlesore on the stock seat and it's only with extended mileage that I feel discomfort. It's actually among the stock saddles I liked the most - my fz6's seat was pretty rough after 2/300 miles and same with my old cbf. I had a v7 with a surprisingly comfortable seat, could do long days in it with no issues.

I'm hoping to do a Bun Burner soon, and this seat is an attempt to make it feel a bit better.

 

[PanRider1300]

Great review. I orderd also a Topsellerie de luxe seat a week ago.
I choose the stock height but the longer lenght. I was warned that it is pretty narrow for bigger guys.
The photo is what i have orderd. Same materials, only i switcht the sides with the top. That is anti slip. And the longer seat. The photo is the normal lenght.

 

[Oldbikefixr]

Nice details and photos, axel.

For whatever reason, my stock 1300 seat has not proved to be uncomfortable on longer rides.

For that matter, the stock seats were acceptable on my previous bikes, too, to include the Suzuki GT550, the Blackbird, the f650gs, the KTM 950 and now the GSA. I was able to do SS1Ks on all of them in stock trim.

Maybe I just don't have any feeling back there.

My old 1975 Norton never ran long enough for me to establish whether my butt could handle the distance, because the motor never could.

1970-on classic Brit bikes were simply not worth my efforts. Vibration, fit, reliability, leaks, watch as they rust....their attempts to stay alive simply weren't worth my time or money. They had always required tinkering but it became unacceptable at that point. But, that defined much of UK manufacturing of the time. Seems they were still recovering from the war and couldn't catch up. 'Full Metal Jacket' was filmed in the remaining bomb damage around London and not SE Asia.

 

[ST1100Y]

...providing your seat pan will allow you to avoid this issue...

The actual benefit of sending them your seat is to receive an OEM seat pan (not your's though, so ensure you've removed the fold-able luggage wire looms as well as all rubber dampers from the underside before shipping it out) ... vs receiving only a mimicked GFK-mold seat-pan with known fitment issues on ordering the complete saddle option...

I too have gotten me one there, nothing fancy, original height, only gel inserts, plain black surface, stitches and trimming, fully inconspicuous to not attract any vandalism...

At first quite unusual sitting that high again (after two decades the original foam was really worn down), be it from the controls, knee angle as well as the now increased airflow on the helmet over the already tall SECDEM screen... but I really like that thing...

 

[ST Gui]

This is not a sponsored review in any way, if this ends up being bad I will post about it for sure. Same if it's good!

An objective review is a beautiful thing.

The order cost $490 (incl shipping) and was estimated to ship 30 days after payment. This was beat by a couple of weeks: The order shipped out 20 days after placing my order and I received my parcel 28 days after placing my order.

That's a little cheaper than I thought it might be all things considered. Nice turnaround time. And a good looking seat as well. Between the lift in the frontg (because of the gel pad?) and the ring around the tushy that should be a pretty comfortable seat. Do you feel that extra .5" of seat height when stopped?

 

[STRider]

Great write-up @axel-moto . Since you mention the difference between the OEM and Top Sellerie seat pan, would you please take some photos of both and post them here? Perhaps highlighting notable differences that you've discovered?

I've got three aftermarket seats for my 1300 - Sargent (rider & passenger), Russell Day Long (rider only) and Corbin (rider only).

The RDL is easy, it's built on an OEM seat pan.
The Corbin is... well it's a Corbin. The seat pan looks like it was built in a high school shop class.
The Sargent is easily equal to the OEM in design and construction, with the same mounting points and even adds storage for flat things under the rider's section (registration, proof of insurance, owner's manual...) and a cylinder under the passenger section for whatever. I keep a couple of sets of ROK straps in it.

I only discovered Top Sellerie after I settled on the Sargent, which I bought used, but the Top Sellerie products are certainly attractive style wise.

I look forward to hearing what your butt thinks of it after a long day.

 

[axel-moto]

Do you feel that extra .5" of seat height when stopped?

Definitely - it feels like when the stock seat is in the high position. While I'm pretty short myself (5'7 on a good day) I don't generally mind tall seats but it's definitely noticeable.

Since you mention the difference between the OEM and Top Sellerie seat pan, would you please take some photos of both and post them here? Perhaps highlighting notable differences that you've discovered?

Will do!

 

[ST Gui]

The Corbin is... well it's a Corbin. The seat pan looks like it was built in a high school shop class.

Having watched my Corbin built for my V65S I can say it's a lot like watching a HS shop class. However less elegant the construction I think the reasoning behind having a rigid seat pan is sound. Purely anecdotal but empirical I'll say it seems to allow for longer saddle time with less foam. Getting the foam thickness right for each rider is the key though.

 

[axel-moto]

Since you mention the difference between the OEM and Top Sellerie seat pan, would you please take some photos of both and post them here? Perhaps highlighting notable differences that you've discovered?

Here are both side by side. The top sellerie feels larger and bulkier.


The latch on the top sellerie is a weird shape, which makes it fussier to latch than stock. It tends to "pop out"if not in the correct position. Once it's latched though it will stay in and work as expected.
There's also a bit less space under the passenger seat. I usually carry my pump/ plugs but now I will only be able to carry my plugs and will put the pump in a saddlebag. Not a huge issue, but a but annoying.

 

[axel-moto]

First Ride Impressions:

Went for the first ride with the new seat today! Mix of city streets, highway and then practicing motogymkhana in a lot.
The seat is definitely taller than stock. On the low position it feels close to the stock seat in high position. I have a v stream windscreen and my sightline is definitely higher. I've always felt I sat "in" the ST as opposed to "on" some of my other bikes like my FZ6. This seat changes that somewhat and I feel more on top of the bike.

The seat shape is really nice though. You feel as though you're in a pocket and the seat holds you in position nicely. The material is grippy so there's no sliding around from where you're sitting.

I will likely not have a high mileage day until the weekend of the 4th - at that time I'll report back what a longer mileage day feels like.

 

[axel-moto]

First Day Ride (about 400 miles):

In Short - I'm going to contact Top Sellerie to see if there's any chance to return it for even a partial refund.

Pros:
- Feels nice when riding the bike aggressively
- Looks good

Cons:
- Can't move around at all. You're locked in to one position.
- In that position, your crotch is way against the tank.


Read below if you want to know more.

I went on my first real ride with the seat today. 400 miles of mixed roads. I'll list them below for those who might recognize some of them:

CA 101 - boring highway, long sweepers near Ukiah
CA 223 - Tight, almost goat road turning into nice fast turns
CA 128 - Nice and curvy, mostly good surface, lots of quick turns in succession
CA 253 - Good pavement, quick turns
CA 510/ Mountain View Road - Trash pavement, potholes, bumpy (I didn't like this one much)
HWY 1 between Manchester and San Francisco - needs no introduction. Beautiful road, some tourist traffic as usual.

I'm preparing for a 5k mile trip in a week or so and wanted a shakedown run to see how the bike felt loaded up with the new seat.

I liked the first 150 miles. The seat was firm but kept me in place in the long sweepers on 101. Moving onto the tight turns of 223 started to feel less fun - the seat felt very firm, which would not be an issue if the section you sit in were larger. I'm sure the firmness goes away as the seat breaks in, however the position you are made to sit in makes you brush up against the tank when hitting bumps.
The little section at the back of the seat that "holds" you in place is nice, but I wish it were a couple inches back - I am not a heavy set person at 170 with gear and 30 waist and it felt like it was preventing me from moving around even a little. When the goal is to put on 1000 mile + days, you want a little bit of freedom to move and alter how you're riding.




As mile 200 rolled around, I started to notice another issue. Since the seat moves you forward and up, the bend in your knees is bigger (since the pegs now feel further back). This is also not very comfortable. This section of road (128 north to 510) was very twisty so again appreciating the seat "holding" me in place. However moving to 510, the pavement got terrible and when this is the case I like to push up on the pegs a bit - moving my weight slightly off the seat and sometimes even partly standing. The seat didn't really help this, since the material is grippy and wants to keep you in place.

Going down the coast, I got caught up in the usual tourist traffic. HWY1 is beautiful but if you want to ride it swiftly, you need to go early or during the week. Since it was 3PM on a Friday, I got stuck behind cars and going at a slower pace it started to really… hate this seat. I felt the pressure point on my knees and groin, and started to want to shorten the ride. Mind you, this is 400 miles of interesting roads. I am glad I didn't do 400 miles of boring interstate.



I ruminated what the seat was good for during this time stuck behind RVs and Campers. I do think it's a good sporty seat - going fast feels good on it. Makes it easy to squeeze the tank with your thighs on quick turns. You're posted a bit higher so the sightline is also neat. And I do think it looks really nice to look at.

That's where the positives end. I was looking for a seat to allow me to do 1000 mile days in comfort, and to me this seat fails to deliver on this. It feels like it makes your rider seat so small compared to the stock seat - while placing you in a position that aggravates your knees and your nuts.

I'm disappointed, and for my upcoming 5k miles trip I will be putting the stock seat back on. If Top Sellerie doesn't offer a refund (I don't think they will per their website) this thing is going up for sale.

Destiny can be ironic sometimes and on the way home

I almost ran into a pillow that had jumped out the bed of a truck.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Nothing much better for long distances than a Russell Daylong - up in Shasta Lake about 230 miles north of you.
Just did a ride in for my 4th RDL saddle for my ST1100s - super pleased with the results after 4,000+ miles on it - as usual.

 

[Sadlsor]

Sorry for your expensive experience Axel.

Mayhap, it would be suitable for someone just a little bit smaller than you?

Hopefully you won't take too big a hit when you sell it, in addition to For Sale here, I'd suggest the ADVrider Flea Market.

Have to agree with @Uncle Phil here, very few riders ever complain about their custom RDL, ESPECIALLY if they ride in and use their stock seat pan.

Which may be a caution to others ordering a custom seat... probably always gonna be best if you send them a gen-yoo-wine stock seat to start with.

 

[PanRider1300]

Thats why they offer a long seat.
Glad that i read alot of reviews before i order it.
The standard lenght is for short People only.
But they will for sure adjust your seat.

 

[PanRider1300]

Last week my new seat arrived. Very nice seat and the fitting is fine. Not perfect.
This is the long seat with standard hight.
I think the normal seat from Topsellerie is to small for most People.
You can barely move than.

This is perfect.