#Tested – Best Harley Davidson Seats for Tall Riders

For the taller guys out there, like myself. You might have found yourself taking strain on longer rides when venturing out on your Harley. Now I’m not talking strain on your fitness or body fatigue or mental focus. I’m talking about strain in riding position and comfort. I’ve finally found the solution and it’s as simple as changing your seat.

Firstly, as we as Harley riders know, the stock seat is simply extremely uncomfortable. This is largely due to the lack of rider support in the means of foam or gel padding of the seat – and let’s not even start on the ergonomic design of the seat, or rather, the lack thereof.

Best Harley Seat for Tall Riders Quick Review

Top Choice: Le Pera Maverick Stitch Daddy Long Legs

Comfortable seat that retains a custom look. Designed for the taller rider who needs more room to move back while still giving the passenger comfort

First Checkpoint

The Tall Harley Davidson Rider Paradox

I stand at 6’2, which is well above average height – at least compared to the majority of the population. Perhaps not that far ahead compared to the Dutch, but still, this article is for you – the above average rider who suffers from lack of comfort while out touring on your Harley.

The typical Harley seat height varies rather considerably from about 23-29 Inches, depending on the make and model obviously. While one of the seat heights should be correct for you, the chances are that the corresponding make and model simply does not tickle your fancy. Instead you would most likely choose your favourite style and try to adapt to the riding position – which has lead you to this very problem, and this very article – looking for a solution.

Importance of Harley Davidson Seat Height

While a difference of a few inches whether that be as little as one or two may not seem like a big deal to most, it can actually make the world of difference to your riding position and overall comfort.

If the seat height is too tall, you’re going to struggle to reach the ground with a flat foot. (Although you could always look into our review on the best Harley boots to give you a bit of lift with with a thicker sole) This means you have the constant hassle of having to lean over to one side every time you come to a stop. Luckily for those of you reading this, this isn’t our problem. We are faced with the issue of not having enough room on the bike, having to constantly shift our butt’s backwards or bend our knees into awkward positions just to fit ourselves onto our hogs in a comfortable position.

The problem with this awkward contortion of our bodies is that it can lead to a lot of strain in all the areas you don’t want to be straining. Your knees and lower back are just two examples. I suffer greatly from lower back pain, probably from earlier injuries but regardless, this makes seating position even more important.

What Tall Riders Should Consider When Choosing A Harley Seat

Harley Davidson Seat Height

First and foremost, you obviously want to consider the seat height. Buying a seat that offers to little extended reach is simply a waste of money as it doesn’t fix the problem. On the contrary, buying a seat that extends to far will worsen the problem, and we definitely don’t want to do that.

Many companies will not allow you to return the seat after you’ve installed it and taken it for a test ride. What you want to do is try to find a replica of your bike that already has the preferred seat installed. This can be quite tricky to do, especially as we all know the code of not sitting on another person’s baby without their permission. A make-shift alternative would be to prop up your current seat with a sponge liner that would roughly mimic the extra height provided by your neaw seat. OR for a better feel, try fitting a motorcycle seat pad. We’ve gone in depth on this topic on our best motorcycle seat pad article. Once you’re happy with the new position, check out the seats in my recommendations below and choose the one that best fits your preference. If you’re looking for a big increase in seat height you might be interested in the La Pera Daddy Long Legs.

You want to make sure that you’re not leaning to far forward over your bars. This will result in you struggling to find that comfortable upright-ish position, instead you’ll be putting unnecessary pressure on your hands and arms which will make cornering and controlling more difficult.

Harley Davidson Seat Position

We’ve already discussed seat position along the Y-Axis above. Now let’s talk about position along the X-Axis or the distance to/from the tank. As mentioned above seats that are too high up can lead you to the feeling as though you’re sitting on top of the tank. Quite obviously, seats that push your riding position will lead to the same feeling, as well as making you feel cramped and craving space even more than before.

Tall Riders often find themselves feeling hunched over the bars. This is when you want to look for a seat that slightly shifts your ass back. By slightly I mean only 1 or 2 Inches. While this doesn’t sound like a lot, I guarantee it will leave you feeling as though you’ve just hopped onto someone else’s ride – a much more comfortable one at that.

There’s no real way to test exactly how much extended reach you need or want. You could try to eyeball some rough measurements at the bend of your elbow. Take a seat on your current setup, or go for a slow ride. Look at how much of bend there is at your elbows, and push yourself into the desired position and try to guess-tiamte how much of a difference you’re looking for. If you’re looking for max reach and seating comfort, read the review below on the Saddlemen Road Sofa

Harley Davidson Seat Padding

When it comes to padding, there are a lot of different options out there. Generally I find the Mustang and Saddlemen seats come with better padding and foam technologies with comfort as a focus.

The type of padding whether it be gel or foam can make a huge difference, especially in the long run. Typical Harley seats are designed to have a longer break in period as you don’t want the seat to be too soft in the beginning. If that were the case the sponge wouldn’t be able to fight your bodies weight and would soften and become thin very quickly – putting you back at square one.

Be prepared to deal with a tougher seat, at least for the first few 100 miles or so. Even with the extra stiffness, you will still find your ride far more enjoyable thanks to the improved riding position. Besides, any upgrade from the stock seat can only be good. If ultra comfort technology is important to you, read our view of the Saddlemen Dominator Seat below or check it out on Amazon

Harley Davidson Solo & Passenger Seats

This consideration is purely up to you. If you never ride with a pillion, a solo seat is the way to go. Unless you plan on passing through any “dance halls”, you might just want to grab a passenger seat (although even if that were the case it would probably be a short ride anyway). If you enjoy touring with a significant other you would have most likely heard the complaint of how uncomfortable and narrow the passenger seat is. Do both of yourselves a favor and check out our review on the Mustang Super Touring Seat below or check it out on Amazon. She’ll thank you later!!!

Best Harley Seat for Tall Riders Review

1. Le Pera Maverick Stitch Daddy Long Legs

What you’ll find with the La Pera Daddy Long Legs Seat is that it fits perfectly, looks amazing, and most importantly it feels terrific.

First Checkpoint

As with many factory seats, they tend to leave a lot to be desired, particularly if you’re anywhere near 6 foot or over. Although the Daddy Long Legs, fixes all your problems, and some more. It provides an additional 2 inches of legroom to the rider by shifting you backwards while still maintaining enough space for your passenger to be comfortable. You will also notice that the front of the seat is narrower than the standard factory seat and offers more room for your legs which seems to help with pinching the at your thighs and keeps the blood flowing. As far as comfort is concerned, there is no comparison with the stock seat. This one will be MUCH comfier! If you’re riding around on shorter day trips or daily commutes this seat is ideal. It doesn’t offer quite as much padding as some of the touring seats, so if you intend to be riding for a couple 100 – 1000 miles you may want to look at something with a bit more padding.

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Compatibility:

2. New Hammock Rider and Passenger Seat

For the money, you’re unlikely to find a better option

This one is for those of you who are looking to avoid spending 100’s of dollars on a premium seat. I don’t blame you. Not everyone is willing to spend that much. For that reason I’ve included this option in the list as one of the best Harley seats for you hard earned cash and boney butt.

You can expect to about an extra inch both vertically and horizontally when compared to the stock seat. This should be enough for taller riders, however if you’re somewhere in the 6’4 or 6’5 range you might want to look at a slighter more tailored fit. Like the La Pera Daddy Long Legs, mentioned above. In need of some maintenance work? Read our Harley Cleaner Review.

It comes in two color options – midnight black or dessert brown. In order for the manufacturer to sell this seat at the low price point, it’s constructed with a synthetic leather. This is the part that may give you some hassle after you’ve done a couple 1000 km’s. You could expect some kind of fading or tearing after doing a fair amount of mileage – but I suppose that holds true for just about anything in life.

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3. Mustang Super Touring Seat With Backrest

Super comfortable touring design provides rider and passenger with the fullest, most comfortable seat possible with an extra 2” leg room

If you’re serious about touring and doing long trips away. You’re going to want to be sure that your seat is just as serious, and up for the ride ahead. The Mustang Super Touring seat is the perfect seat for those extra long rides as well as providing extra room for taller riders.

The seat is big and wide which is designed to hold up against even the most gruelling adventures. It offers up to 2 inches of additional leg room for the rider as well as raising you off the grounding a bit higher than the stock seat would. The seats are also wider than the stock seat with additional padding which offer superior comfort for both the rider and passenger. The adjustable back rest is really nice touch – especially for those taller riders like myself who suffer from lower back pain. Look to get more performance out of your Harley? These are the best Harley performance exhausts.

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4. Mustang Wide Tripper Seat

Now you can ride low, look cool and still be comfortable at the end of the days ride.

First Checkpoint

If you have problems with your legs and knees with the stock Harley Davidson seat, this could be a great option. It offers an additional 1” of legroom as the seat slides the rider back slightly. That being said it’s not the most legroom gained when compared to some of the other seats in the list, so this seat is ideal for taller riders but not for giants.

As one can expect, the build and finishing quality on any Mustang seat is phenomenal. It features highly detailed stitch work with a highly durable, synthetic glove-leather cover. This is a great solo seat with distinctive style focussing on rider comfort. The seat offers a 14” wide saddle with a diamond stitching pattern which provides. Important to note is that the Mustang Solo Wide Tripper Seat is not compatible with handrails. You’ll need to buy a separate, although matching, Wide Tripper Passenger Seat.

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5. Mustang Deluxe Touring Seat

The front seat sets the rider back 1.75″ compared to the stock seat plus it angles the body for long-distance comfort.

First Checkpoint

Many of the Harley Davidson touring fans will appreciate this seat. It has state of the art design quality and amazing stitching detail. The rear seat keeps offers the passenger an extra spacious seating area with a 14” padded seat across the full width and helps to keep the passenger in the comfort zone at all times.

The front bucket offers a drainage system for those unfortunate rainy days. Long distance riders will appreciate this, along with the 19” wide rider seat. In addition to the extra support, this seat gives the rider extra room by shifting the seating position backwards so that the rider sits 1-3/4″ further back than the stock seat – a big plus for taller riders.

A quick note, this seat is not compatible with Mustang or H-Dr frame-mounted backrest kits. However, the seat will fit with the handrail. The rider backrest can be purchased separately here.

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6. Saddlemen Road Sofa (Extended Reach)

Extended reach seating position moves the rider 2″ further back without compromising on comfort

First Checkpoint

If you’re looking for a step-up style seat that is ultra comfortable then this may be a good option. The extended reach really comes in handy for tall riders, pushing you back by about 2 inches – on the higher side of extended reach compared to the other options.

The unique split cushion style which separates the lumbar support from the seating cushion offers far more back support than most alternatives. This coupled with the built in SaddleGel relieves the majority of tailbone pressure by providing a firm yet comfortable seating platform.

This seat is extremely easy to install and can be done in a matter of minutes. While this seat is said to have a lengthy break in period of around 1000 miles, if you’re upgrading from the stock seat, you will love this one instantly.

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7. Saddlemen Dominator Solo Seat With Backrest Option

Designed to provide Harley Davidson riders with unparalleled comfort, control, higher seating and a modern style. Hands down one of the best touring seat for road glide

First Checkpoint

Saddlemen have basically adapted their sportbike technology and applied their neat tricks to a seat suited for Harley riders. Their technology is called GEL Channel (GC). This GC technology offers many benefits from helping to keep body temperature down in the seat via an airflow passage. The Dominator seat also offers added support for riders with lower back pain by increasing blood flow which helps to keep you comfortable in the seat for longer periods of time.

The seat is built with premium quality featuring. It’s created out of a carbon fibre weave and finished off with a nice smooth vinyl covering which is made from marine grade vinyl – so you know it’ll last. If you plan to do some two up riding you might want to buy the separate matching passenger seat or if you’re looking for that added back support, grab the matching backrest from Amazon.

While this seat doesn’t look like it’s built for longer touring adventures, you might be surprised to find that it actually has the comfort of full touring seats. Saddlemen have done this through the use of gel padding which offers extra foam support and vibration dampening technology.

The added benefit of the extra padding is that it helps taller riders by raising your seat from the ground by about an Inch. You might feel like you’re closer to the bars due to the contours of the cushions, although this ensures your spine is in the right position.

Compatibility:

8. Saddlemen Step Up Seat

A perfect blend of rider and passenger comfort combined with the ergonomics required you locked in place.

The Saddlemen Step Up seat has become one of the more popular options, thanks to the tricksters over at Unknown Industries. If you haven’t heard of them, you should definitely check out the crazy Harley Davidson fanatics at some of the Monster Energy rallies. This seat is ideal for anyone who is looking to get that bit of added lower back support that helps you lock into the bike a more of a fixed riding position.

The quality of this seat is superb. It features a beautiful cover which holds up to the wear and tear of daily riding thanks to the marine grade vinyl. The passenger area does also feature a bit of extra room that offers enough comfort to keep everyone happy.

Comfort is also high up on the scale with this seat thanks to the sturdy fiberglass seat pan upon which this seat is built. The Gel Core cushioning is what sets this seat apart from the others. Many riders find that once they try gel core seats they never look back.

Although this seat doesn’t provide much additional leg room for taller guys in terms of sliding your seating position further back. However, it does raise you up a little further from the ground

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Conclusion

While it might not seem like there are a lot of Harley Davidson seats for tall riders, I’ve done my best to cover all the key options from all the key angles. Hopefully you’ve found something in this list that will relieve you of the pain in your ass. As for my choice, if I had the money I’d definitely go with the Mustang Super Touring Vintage but for personal taste and style I might keep it simple with the Saddlemen Step Up seat. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave ‘em below in the comments.