Need to modify driver's seat on 2023 RTL - anyone made theirs comfortable?

NoTyme said:

Yes, I believe weight has a lot to do with it. Speaking with Russel Day Long CS, they said they use a spring system, and me being 245 I would need the heavier spring in mine. It is also wider, which I think will also help.

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Russell also adjust the height and angle of the seat to suit your physical build based on the photos you provide, No Tyme - and it is not simply the extra width that helps, but the upward angle of the wings which supports the outer thighs.

Pete

I just recently was able to purchase a like new take-off heated seat from a 2023 RTL for $125. This seat will be sent in to Russell Day Long to be modified for my specs. I really didn't want to send in my 2022 RT Sea To Sky seat, as it has a specific cover/color scheme that I wanted to keep. Problem solved. That said, there is a distinct difference in seat build between an OEM RTL seat and my Sea To Sky seat. The S2S seat is close to an inch taller, and noticeably heavier than the RTL seat. It does feel a bit firmer. I will be using the RTL seat for the remainder of my WI riding season, so I should get a good feel for the differences.

As with crossbowme above, I put the Ultimate seat on ofter my first day ride of 600 miles that ached butt so much. I have ridden 47 k miles with the Ultimate seat and never had a sore butt again. Plus, I have a door on the seat for putting gas in the tank. I never ever have to lift the seat to gas up. If I got a new RTL , the very first think I'd do is get a new Ultimate seat, day one.

NoTyme said:

I had Mean City Cycle redo my Harley seat with memory foam. Now with the Spyder I need to mod the seat. I ride 100 miles and my butt is sore.
Who has found a way to make the newer model seats on the RT's comfortable?
2023 RT L

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I hear ya about sore, I bought 2 gel pads after watching a youtube video and did the same, cut out the foam and inserted the gel. Had to buy a pneumatic upholstery stapler to attached the cover to the seat pan again but it was cheap. I am hopeful come spring my sore butt woes are over

Good luck I hope it works for you!!

I have been through a number of Can Am seats and finally arrived at what I consider the solution. I had a 2019 RTL and wanted a more comfortable seat so I acquired an Ultimate seat. I thought it was great. Traded my 2019 for a 2022 Sea to Sky which comes standard with a Can Am Comfort seat. I could hardly stand 100 miles on that seat so because of my past experience with Ultimate decided to spend the money to put an Ultimate on the new bike. Big mistake. It was barely tolerable and certainly no more comfortable that the Comfort seat. I found out I could have Russell Day Long do the front seat only for apx. $500. I sent the factory seat off to them. They were great to work with and the seat is the answer. Back to being able to ride 700 to 1000 mile days.

My take off RTL seat is currently at Russell Day Long now, as its build date was Dec.30, so it should be on its way soon. Being in WI, I won't be able to test it out for awhile. That said, when I get it back, I'll post up some comparison pix between it and my OEM 2022 RT S2S seat.

NoTyme said:

My thought is the issue is that the seat is so narrow. I sit on the Spyder seat and it doesn't cover the whole backside of me. I see the RDL mod does widen the seat. After I do the Baja Rob sway bar I will start saving up for the RDL mod.

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Yes, RDL seats are wider, but they also have upward “wings” to support your outer thighs, NoTyme. This makes them act similar to a car seat, which usually provides all day comfort. They may not be the prettiest seats in the world, but if you are trying to solve an uncomfortable seat issue, they really are the only way to guarantee comfort for your particular size/shape.

Pere

A couple of things -
My 2024 Sea To Sky seat is hands down the most comfortable seat I have had on any of my 11 Spyders, including a custom Day Long seat. Riding from 7 am to 10 pm long distance is now pain free.

But when I am riding one of mine that is not the Sea To Sky, I wear Ripple Apex Rides and I am a TRUE believer after using them!
Link is below

Ripple

NoTyme said:

I had Mean City Cycle redo my Harley seat with memory foam. Now with the Spyder I need to mod the seat. I ride 100 miles and my butt is sore.
Who has found a way to make the newer model seats on the RT's comfortable?
2023 RT L

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As others have said already, I cut the foam and installed gel pads, it took 2 to cover the top and wrap over the sides. I had to use a pneumatic upholstery stapler to put the cover back on, the seat pan is hard; but it was cheap, and I will use it for other projects as well.