OMG, I just bought a new Chieftain, but not before sitting on a few of them including the one I actually bought. Who in their right mind would buy a bike without checking the fit. There are so many things that determine a well fitting seat and it's different for each person. My advice is to throw away the tape measure and try different seats.

 

Just to be clear it is only after riding 400 miles that it becomes uncomfortable. Bike was test ridden 4 times before purchase.

 

Maybe Indian measures their seats with one of us "Big Boys" on it! Hahaha!

 

I'm kinda gettin what your saying. I had the same experience with a 2003 Moto Guzzi Titanium. I never felt comfortable on longer rides, and the bike didn't deliver as I had hoped. I ended up selling it and moved on to a different bike.

 

Which model are you talking about.

The air shock might play in to that.

 

The seat height is the only dimension that would change much under weight. Perhaps they factored that in and measured the seat height with a 150 - 200 rider in the saddle.

 

3little
I'll be keeping it for sure (contrary to what some advise me to do!) and just need to fine tune it. Coming from a sport bike background where you can take some weight of you bum by pushing up off the pegs, the Indian "lazy boy recliner" riding position doesn't allow for that, so my lower back gets sore.

Nick
2015 Chief Classic

Enzo
That would be the only thing that would account for it but it states on the website: "Seat Height: 26.0 in" ..... kind of misleading if that was the case but you do make a good point...

 

And ALSO, the 2" pullback Touring Bars DO NOT come back 2" on the '15 & '16 Chieftains - closer to 1". Starting to wonder if this kinda stuff is "mistakes" or intentional

 

A hemorrhoid blow-up donut should do the trick! LOL!

 

Now that is damn funny!!!
I just hope it doesn't have the self locating pin option!!!
;-(

 

Now that is damn funny!!!
I just hope it doesn't have the self locating pin option!!!
;-(

They actually call it "The Dover Pin"... Ben Dover! Hardy-Har-Har! Hee-Haw!!!

 

Sounds like the Stage 1 pipes for the Scout,Indian claimed they added 10 hp,then when challenged on this they removed wording from website.

 

HIJACK IN PROGRESS!

 

Butt hater

 

What seat will fit this?

 

Stock seat is "a little too low" .. really? If it's too low, then you must have some seriously long legs. And, if that is true, the seat height isn't going to be your problem. Your knees in the air, on them boards, is going to be your problem.

So , which is it?

 

What does seat height have to do with the 400 mile ride, after you pick your feet up off the ground. I have ISO wings on my highway bars so I can streach my legs. I am 6' 1" and did a thousand mile ride in one day had no problems.

All seats cannot fit everyone's azz the same. I had a buddy who had to have his azz molded (yea we laughed about that for awhile) to have a custom seat made.

I never even looked at the factory specs, before or after I bought my bike. I test rode it, loved it, bought it.

 

What does seat height have to do with the 400 mile ride, after you pick your feet up off the ground. I have ISO wings on my highway bars so I can streach my legs. I am 6' 1" and did a thousand mile ride in one day had no problems.

.

Yep.. .I kind of get a kick out of when the bikes are lil lower.. the seats a lil lower... nice wide stance at a stop..... as you say, once you're moving , doesn't matter.

Compared to .. at a stop, the short guy pulls up.... on a 850-950 lb bike, mama is over 200 on the bike.. and .. he's on his tip toes... I don't know whether to laugh or say ... "RESPECT!" .. lol

 

One of my Army Buddies bought a heritage soft tail. His rider name is Papa Smurf. When he picked up the bike he looked like a ballet dancer on his tip toes. Took a weekend, but he lowered it to the point at least his front feet would touch. His heels not so much. He is too cheap to buy a custom seat.
That's him on the left on a ride with me this last summer. If you look close his heels still don't touch.
Him and I have road thousands of miles together.
Stop whining about the seat height and ride the damn bike.

 

A hemorrhoid blow-up donut should do the trick! LOL!

Hey wait a minute.
They told me that it was a neck brace.

 

Thats funny BD... probably not as tasty as a donut either..

 

They told him that it was powdered sugar on the donut, when it was actually corn starch.

 

Thanks BD. I am familiar with the triangle but will check my knee and hip position against your thoughts tomorrow.
I'm not even going to start talking about needing my feet under me so I can lift my weight to hang off the seat..... Oh dammit!.....

 

Oh and I find the beach bars to be very comfortable also. Plenty of width and an easy reach.... Not too keen on changing those.....

 

I am looking at new seat options because the stock seat is a little too low for me.

I called Corbin and they state their seat height is 28" when fitted on the bike and that the Indian height is wrong on their website and in their brochures. Sure enough I put a straight edge on the seat, stand the bike up and yes it is 28". No other mods to my bike have been done. So I head to my local dealer with my tape measure and measured 3 other bikes all at 28".

This could be an issue for someone relying on factory measurements. I wonder what else is incorrect!
Anyone else notice this?
I guess my only option now is a custom seat.

Did you try adjusting the shock height???? Maybe the 26 in is the minimum height when the shock is fully tightened down. (Which would be like riding on boards - but nevertheless a valid measurement).

I am short in the leg and I don't have any complaints about the height.

 

I came back froma 200 mile ride on Sunday with a numb arse and the feeling the RM seat could do with being another inch higher. in relation to the foot boards and possibly the bars. I use all the ground clearance so wouldn't want to lower the boards. Saw the Corbin comment but from the pictures of their touring seat the rider position looks a similar height with the pillion lowered slightly, its not that easy to tell from photos. Has anyone compared the corbin to the RM seat, does it set you any higher?

 

Most likely Roadrunner magazine has the answer to why Indian advertises 26" and you measured 28"

RoadRUNNER Magazine | MotoMojo: Seat Height & The Factors That Contribute To It

Measuring and Interpreting Height
Seat height is measured from the lowest portion of the bike's front saddle to the ground, with the motorcycle held straight upright on its suspension, not on the centerstand. This number may vary slightly according to suspension settings; if spring preload is increased, it makes the bike - and therefore the seat height - a little higher. Your inseam measurement, for the sake of comparing it to saddle height, is the distance between your crotch and the ground.

A few manufacturers provide seat-height specifications based on a laden motorcycle, that is, with a rider of a certain standard weight in place. This "fudge factor" with the springs and seat cushion compressed typically takes about 2 inches off seat height, allowing a manufacturer to advertise a considerably lower height than competing brands that provide unladen specs, so watch out for this in the fine print.