Sargent Cycle Yamaha Ténéré 700 Comfort Saddle Review

[MotoNews]

Published in: Gear

There’s a lot to love about Yamaha’s venerable Ténéré 700, but the stock seat isn’t one of them. The rally racing heritage of the bike comes through in many ways, including the somewhat narrow and hard saddle. This is more suitable for off-road-oriented riders who don’t spend much time on the seat. Unfortunately, larger/heavier riders may find the padding insufficient, and it lacks all-day comfort for touring.

Sargent Cycle set out to solve the problem with a dished seat design that widens considerably where your body contacts the saddle. After a few hundred miles of testing, the seat broke in well, with an appreciable amount of extra relief. The seating platform is more comfortable because of the added width, with foam that’s firm and supportive without feeling hard.

Sargent Cycle also paid attention to a very important but often overlooked consideration in seat comfort. The design places the lowest point on the foam towards the back edge of the seat. Whenever the lower point of the seat shape is in the middle, we tend to “slide” into that position over time which causes hot spots and contributes to poor circulation. Some cruiser seats are almost “bucketed” toward the back, greatly enhancing both comfort and rider stability. Many OEM seats simply use soft foam, and their lowest point is near the front. This helps in a dealer showroom experience, but not so much after a few hours in the saddle when it keeps you wedged into the tank.

The only caveat is that the stand-over height feels a little taller. While the seat height is about the same as OEM, there is a rather aggressive taper from the widened seat area to the nose, where it meets and slopes up the tank. I believe keeping this area high adds to the seated comfort, but the width applies a bit more pressure to my inner thighs and bows my legs out a bit more than stock.

You will notice this difference when you’re stopped and trying to flat-foot the bike. Taller riders with heels on the ground or larger riders heavy enough to compress the suspension may not care. Shorter riders, or riders who are already on the balls of their feet at a stop, may notice a slight difference.

Sargent Cycle only offers a replacement for the front seat, and it’s a direct swap. Aside from the standard version seen here with red piping, you can order a heated version or specify a more grippy cover. If you’d like matching materials, there’s a kit that includes the rear seat cover, but it will have to be installed over the OEM rear seat pan. We went for this option as well.

Yamaha’s OEM rear seat cover is a nicely fitted piece that contours the seat pan and is easy to remove. Sargent Cycle’s seat cover uses a stronger, thicker material that matches the front but is not as fitted, so it requires a bit of trimming during or after installation. If you haven’t installed a seat cover, this is a great small project to try out your skills. We kept the rear seat strap on our installation, and it looks great.

If you’re tired of a sore butt at the end of only a short stint on your Ténéré 700, an aftermarket saddle is one of the most important upgrades you can make to the bike. There are a few options out there, but from about $370, Sargent Cycles’ front-only seat is a well-built, mile-munching drop-in success that nearly any rider will appreciate.

SargentCycle.com

MSRP: $389.95 (front seat only) to $449.99 (as shown front and rear)

PROS:

• Much greater comfort for touring or heavier riders
• Well built
• DIY rear set cover option
• Heated option available

CONS:

• Slightly increases reach to the ground
• No height options (high, low, mid)
• $50 rear seat cover option is pricey for what it is

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