Mustang Tripper Fastback seat for H-D motorcycles
Maverick - Jan 13, 2011

Mustang’s one-piece Tripper Fastback design offers a super clean, custom style.  Cut low and sleek, this seat provides good back support for the driver. Smoothly tapered in the back, the Tripper Fastback still gives passenger comfort for “tripping” around town.  

Mustang’s One-Piece Tripper Fastback is priced right at only $339; models are available to fit Road King, FLHT, FLHX and FLTR 1997-up.   

Mustang Motorcycle seats are made up of three essential parts: the baseplate, the foam and the cover.

The baseplate is the starting point in the design of a motorcycle seat. Ideally, the baseplate is designed to mount the motorcycle using the exact same mounting holes or brackets as the stock seat. (Nobody wants to drill new holes in their frame or fender.)

The notion behind creating an aftermarket seat is to make it far better than the original. That requires a good seat designer to roll the motorcycle into their studio, remove the stock seat and set it aside. Then, starting from scratch the designer creates a baseplate as the foundation for a great seat.

One of the best ways to assess the quality of a motorcycle seat is to turn it over and examine the baseplate area or “underbelly.” When you pick up a premium seat, feel the weight and balance. That alone should show you how substantial a custom seat is compared to most stock seats.

Mustang Seats are constructed with the following features:

• Polyurethane rubber bumpers should be strategically located and riveted to the baseplate to protect the paint and minimize vibration. (Bumpers made of polyurethane are ozone protected and will not crack with age.)
• The cover should be riveted to the baseplate at close intervals around the edges. (Most stock seat covers are merely stapled on.)
• Although not readily visible, if you were able to lift up the cover, you would notice that a steel-reinforced, impact-absorbing vinyl-edge trim had been secured to the edges of the baseplate to protect the seat cover material from wearing.
• A label specifying what make/model/year of bike the seat is designed to fit should be visible as well as the manufacturer’s name, warranty and contact information.
• Finally, complete mounting information should be attached to a replacement seat.

Foam

The most important component of seat comfort is the foam — and that includes both the shape and the quality of the foam itself. This is truly a case of “it’s what's inside that counts."

After creating the baseplate, an experienced seat designer will hand-sculpt the initial shape of the foam to carefully contour the shape to support your body and align your spine at the best angle possible to relieve back stress. And your mother had the right idea — sit up straight. It alleviates back pain.

Once the foam shape is created, a heavy-duty fiberglass (non-shrinking, isothalic resin) mold of this shape is created in which to “cast” the foam. The liquid foam solution is poured into the mold, which is then securely closed up. Within minutes, the chemicals react and the liquid is solidified within the mold in a process reminiscent of a giant waffle maker.

The chemical compound of the liquid foam is as significant as the shape. The molecular structure of foam can be described as either open-cell or closed-cell. Think of the difference between types of foam, sponges or cushions on couches. Some foam is really soft and can be easily squeezed and almost flattened (open cell construction) while other foam is really firm and can barely be compressed (closed cell).

For a motorcycle seat to be comfortable, the foam compound must be carefully formulated to be soft enough for comfort but resilient enough to stand up to those "thousand-mile" days. The best aftermarket manufacturers use their own formula of controlled-density, polyurethane foam — a highly proprietary recipe, like those 13 mystery herbs and spices in KFC’s secret recipe.

First-rate foam usually feels firmer than stock but it shouldn’t feel hard; it should offer “gentle” support. A good test is to stand next to the seat and press down on the foam. It should depress by about a third.

Cover

Well-designed covers on Mustang seats must be meticulously pieced together and sewn to fit tight contours for a true custom-looking seat. The best aftermarket seat covers are individually hand-sewn, not mass-produced.

The highest-quality expanded vinyl has the appearance of leather but has the durability and resistance to the elements that exceed original equipment standards for motorcycle seats. Maintenance shouldn’t ever be an issue with a premium vinyl — no fading, no treating or oiling. Just wipe it clean when you wash your bike. Unlike leather, top-grade vinyl will not dry out and crack, nor do you need to worry about it getting wet. It doesn’t fade and it requires practically no maintenance.

Look for the following features on the cover of a Mustang seat:

• All seams sewn twice for strength.
• The bottom edge under the seat that is attached to the baseplate is hemmed.
• The cover and stitch pattern should complement and enhance the shape of the seat and the flow of the motorcycle.
• Stitching should be evenly spaced, uniform and tight. 
• Mustang offers a full line of replacements seats for Harley-Davidson^® and Metric Cruisers, all proudly handcrafted in the USA. 

Click here for more information about Mustang Seats or call 800-243-1392.