Seats. If you’ve ever ridden any type of dirt bike – electric or gas – you don’t need me to tell you they’re not made for comfort!!
If you’re brand new to this exciting world of dirt bikes, you may be wondering “What?” and “Why don’t they make comfy seats?” Because they’re made to be a performance machine. You need the ability to shift your weight easily, and if you look at any of the top AMA riders, you’ll notice the trend of standing on the pegs way more than in previous years. No time to sit down and relax!
“If you want comfort, look at a Harley, or sit on the lounge chair at home!” – Surron, probably
Having said that, there are options to make your electric dirt bike more comfortable on your rear end.
This article will list the top three seats we’ve found for the Surron LBX, based on our top-selling products and what we love to run on our own electric dirt bikes. There’s even a lesser-known bolt-on called a seat riser that could give you the extra comfort you need for far less money than buying an entirely new seat.
This makes a good seat
A good seat is 100% personal preference, but there are a few things that make a seat better. Firstly, where are you going to ride? If you’re commuting and sticking to the road, you could probably go more comfort over performance. However, if you’re looking at taking your e-moto to the track or dirt trail, you’ll want to tick a few more boxes.
- Grip: A seat needs to grip your butt. Yes, you need to shift your weight forward and backward, but that’s by choice and not by physics and slippery material! Can the seat retain its grip, even in muddy, sweaty conditions?
- Plushness: A little comfort makes a more enjoyable ride. You need to find the happy medium between a solid seat and a soft seat.
- Width: The width plays a big part, especially on electric dirt bikes which are slightly narrower than ICE dirt bikes. If the seat is much wider than the bike, you’ll have trouble gripping it with your legs. This will lead to a less controlled ride.
- Length: Some seats give you the option of extending the seat over the battery cover. This has its advantages as you can shift your weight fully forward, without getting stuck in the little gap between the stock seat and the battery cover.
- Color: Don’t forget to get a seat that completes the look of your build!
Our top seat options
Here are our top three seat options:
1. EBikeZilla Upgraded Leather Seat
This seat, made by EBikeZilla, would have to be the closest thing to riding a lounge chair you could get for an LBX! There’s a heap of padding under the leather, which can help absorb the bumps in the road, but it also gives you a little extra ride height. You’ll get about an extra inch higher, depending on your weight, which can make all the difference.
We love this seat because it is super quick to install, doesn’t require any further modifications to the OEM or aftermarket rear fender, and simply uses the stock brackets to mount. And, it’s just plain comfortable for the around-the-town Surrons in our fleet.
2. Guts Hardcore Gripper Complete Racing Seat
Guts create some hardcore seats! To give you an idea, these guys boast they are the most preferred seat of the pros.
It doesn’t take much to notice their seats everywhere! This is for a good reason, they make awesome seats! The material is their signature ‘gripper’. Yep, these are grippy seats. Guts also do a ribbed pattern to help with even more grip.
The cool thing about these seats is the color choice available. Not only are they a great design for comfortable riding, they also look great, and all those seemingly superficial material choices add up to a seat that’s far more responsive to inputs whether you’re standing up or sitting down, helping you go faster in those all-important racing scenarios.
3.Guts Racing Hardcore Gripper Ribbed Seat Cover
This seat cover (not to be confused with the full seat option I just mentioned) is a seat cover that you fit over your existing seat. This is an excellent option if your current seat is in good condition, and you’re looking at increasing the grip of your seat. Again, the options for color choices are almost unlimited!
This is a good YouTube video to show you how to install the seat cover:
It is relatively simple to fit, and a great way to keep costs down and performance up.
This makes a good seat riser
A good seat riser for your Surron is one that is strong, sturdy, lightweight and ensures the seat is lifted into the correct position. When you’re looking for a seat riser to add to your e-moto, here are a few things to consider:
- Strength: The riser needs to be made from material that won’t bend or snap under the full load of a rider landing a hard jump.
- Lightness: Strong doesn’t necessarily mean heavy. The seat, its underpinnings, and the riser itself all need to be lightweight to get the best performance.
- Positioning: The seat riser needs to lift the seat into the best ergonomic position. Too high and too low are both possibilities.
- Simple installation: It needs to be simple to install, with all the components included, and reversible if desired.
This article explains everything you need to know about seat risers, including the best way to install them.
Best Surron LBX Seat Risers
These are our favorite seat risers, many of which we sell on our website as a result of using them on our personal e-motos and liking them enough to recommend to you. Check them out here.
1. EBikeZilla Surron LBX Seat Riser
EBikeZilla makes some good seats, but they also do a wicked seat riser. (Not one we sell, but we like transparency and love these. If you prefer, shop our range here)
This one is made from heavy-duty billet aluminum construction. It is an easy install with everything you need included, it comes in black or raw aluminum finishes, and it gets the job done well – albeit for a ton of coin.
2. Warp 9 Subframe Riser + Battery Spacer
This seat riser is made to increase the height of your Surron LBX by around 2.5” while moving your seating position back by around 1.5”. Like the seat riser made by EBikeZilla, this one is also a simple install with everything included, they even throw in some blue thread locker! This seat riser even has a spot to mount a tire pump if you choose.
The bonus with a seat riser is it gives you space for a bigger battery and a larger rear wheel. Hmm, future upgrades?!
When do you need to consider upgrading your seat?
You need to consider upgrading your seat after you’ve ridden your Surron a few times and had a few people watch how you interact with the seat. See what it feels like, have a think about what you’d prefer it to feel like, and then choose the seat that fits your criteria. Here are a few things to get you thinking:
Comfort
Would you rather have a more grippy material on your seat, or perhaps some more plushness? What about the size and shape of the seat? Is it comfortable to grip your electric dirt bike with your legs?
Height
If you’re a taller rider, you’ll likely benefit from a seat riser, but you can also increase the height of your seat by upgrading the seat itself. Thicker foam may be sufficient. How much height are you after?
Damage
This one is easy! If you’ve damaged your stock seat, you might just need to replace it! However, could you get away with replacing the cover only, or do you need a full new seat?
Looks cool
Is your build looking epic? Have you got a color scheme you’re keeping to? The seat may be the finishing touch to a visually great-looking bike.
What are the best seats?
The best seat is the one that is currently on your e-moto. That is because right now, you could head out for a ride! However, there is always room for improvement by modding your e-moto to your body size.
If it’s extra height you’re after, consider getting a seat riser. If it’s more comfort, then select a new seat. Keep in mind that if you’re removing your seat to add a seat riser, it could be a good time to replace the seat – less work for the future!
Either way, we’re here for you at GritShift. Jump onto our website and check out the range of parts. If you’ve already modded your e-moto and are not sure of compatibility, just send us a message to make sure everything will work together.
Remember: more comfort = longer ride days!
Random seat facts so you look cool with your mates
What’s the history of motorcycle seats?
Randomly, did you know that motorcycle seats started with hard leather saddles? They were designed to be durable, not comfortable. It didn’t take long for riders to start requesting more comfort, and foam was added to the seats. Gel seats were experimented with in the 1970s, and then air-filled seats were featured in the 1990s. Today, you’ll find technical, durable foam in most seats – especially dirtbikes and e-moto.
Did you know?
Choosing your seat may not be based solely on your height. Have you ever considered everyone has different body and leg lengths? The measurement of interest is called the inseam. This is the measurement from your crotch to your ankle bone.
Your tall mate might have short legs, so may not need a seat riser and vice versa. This is why it is important to make any mod specifically for you as we’re all unique individuals.
Leave a Reply