We spend a lot of time on bikes. And I mean a lot! Rusty and his R&D team are constantly testing parts, and of course, everyone else in the GritShift team needs to test out products too! Even on weekends! Which means, I think we’re qualified enough to say that when Monday comes around, some of us are feeling a bit sore – I know I am! Seats and seat covers have a fair bit to do with this.
Have you noticed the difference a good seat cover makes?
It helps keep you in place so you’re not sliding off the back when you twist the throttle, which means you fatigue your muscles less. However, when the seat is super grippy, we’ve also found it can be a bit rubby in the wrong places.
Don’t get us wrong, I would like to think we’re pretty good riders, but we’re also not pros and don’t always need the top level of grip that you can absolutely get. Somewhere in between is good. A nice compromise between a full racemode grip and losing skin between the inside of your legs. Ouch.
That’s pretty much why we spent ages working out the perfect compromise. The perfect grip for everyday riding.
Why did we create the Gripper Seat Cover?
As you’ve probably noticed, stock seat covers are super slippery. Not good when you’re in drag mode, or pulling a wicked wheelie. Rookie mistake when you slide off the back due to zero grip.
The hard part was finding that happy medium.
Some of the big-name covers we’ve found can be, well, too grippy. If you try to shift your weight, it can end up grabbing your clothing, resulting in a weird-looking bunny hop on the seat to reposition your butt. This is especially true if you’re riding in jeans or worse – shorts.
Now, I want to start by saying I’m a big advocate for full protection. I like my body the way it is, with a full covering of skin. But, even with motocross pants, after a while, friction leaves you feeling a bit tender.
Designing and creating our own Heavy Hitter seat covers means we have full control over not only the plushness, grip, and look and feel of the cover, but of things most riders never even think about, like production times. Nothing worse than waiting for a new part to come – we’re all riders, so we know what it’s like to wait! With how fast new e-motos are being released, making our own seat covers means we can keep up and be ready for new models faster.
The design process
The design process started with GritShift boss Bullet ordering a heap of material samples to test. This included numerous types of material, colorways, gripper styles, different cuts, and more. Then, after many mock-ups and initial prototypes, the main fabric was found. Once the fabric was sorted, it then came down to testing the style and fine-tuning of the design.
The initial design was created and went through a thorough testing process, aka riding hard with a prototype until we got sore – or until the cover showed signs of wear. This was then improved, created again, and tested again until we were completely happy. We were looking for something that had plenty of grip but was also perfect for more street-oriented riders and those who want more comfort over grip.
Rusty and his team are meticulous about even the smallest details. For example, one of the improvements that was made between versions was slightly tighter stitching. Necessary? Probably not, but we will only put the GritShift name on top quality.
Not everyone gets out and rides hard enduro, tough sand, or long city miles every weekend, but we do, and we throw extra abuse at prototypes to make sure they fail before making it to you, not after.
The Range
These are the seat covers by Heavy Hitter that we currently stock. Sign up for our free newsletter if you would like to hear about any other seat covers coming next.
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | E Ride Pro
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | Talaria XXX
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | Surron Light Bee
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | Sur Ron Ultra Bee
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | Talaria Sting MX
Heavy Hitter Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover | ETM RTR
Specs and installation instructions
For a full range of the specs, check out our website here
Here is a rundown on the main points (check the pages above for the latest info:
- Made from a tough 1.2mm thick UV-resistant material
- Optimised 3- 4 mm stretch to allow fitment but no rippling
- Added coolness factor with a color selection to match your mood
The Ribbed Gripper Seat Cover comes in many different sizes to suit a range of e-motos.
To fit the seat cover:
- Remove the seat from your bike
- Turn upside down and remove the staples from the underside using a flat head screwdriver or needle-nose pliers
- Remove the old seat cover. Keep this if it’s in good condition – it can be a spare if needed
- Line up the new cover from front to back. Add a staple in the front on the underside and, again, checking it is lined up, pull so there is some tension and staple the back on the underside
- Then, add some tension and pull one corner on the back over the seat, and add a staple underneath. Do the same on the other side, checking that the cover is still in alignment
- Repeat for the front of the seat
- Repeat until the cover is firmly in place
- Replace the seat on your bike
- Go riding!
You’ll find in-depth instructions on the packaging.
Do you need the Gripper Seat Cover?
Technically, you don’t need a seat cover, just like you don’t need to mod your bike. But if you want to make life easier, perfect your tricks, ride berms flawlessly, and have less muscle fatigue, it would be a good idea to get a Heavy Hitter Gripper seat cover.
And, unless you’re pro and need every bit of race speed squeezed out – at the expense of tender thighs – you can sub in some comfort to keep your skin intact.
We don’t see why a balance of performance and comfort can’t come in the same package. Riders like us want to improve performance without sacrificing skin.
If you enjoy enduro, MX tracks, stunts, or just everyday riding, check out the Gripper Seat Cover made by our very own R&D team here at GritShift.
Leave a Reply