Heated seat question

[BrianK]

So I just sent my stock seat to Seth Laam for a much needed overhaul and my wife and I are debating whether to spend the extra to get heating elements installed. I have never had a bike with heated anything and was wondering how much of a difference it makes. You are riding in cold temps and you're feeling the chill right thru your gear does warming the seat bring you noticeable relief?

[tweeter55]

I don't have any experience with heated motorcycle seats, but I do love my heated leather car seats in the winter. I live in NE Iowa and my garage is unheated. The seats are starting to get warm before I reach the end of my block and it's nice.

[maxtog]

I have not been all that impressed with the heated seat concept.  Yeah, it is hot (usually too hot, so I had to put a variable controller on my Sargent) but butt warmth usually is lowest on my list of cold things in the winter.  Jacket and grips are VERY important.  Next most important is heated pants (which might includes butt, making the seat a waste).  I don't have heated pants, which is my main issue.  Perhaps someday.....

[BrianK]

I have not been all that impressed with the heated seat concept.  Yeah, it is hot (usually too hot, so I had to put a variable controller on my Sargent) but butt warmth usually is lowest on my list of cold things in the winter.  Jacket and grips are VERY important.  Next most important is heated pants (which might includes butt, making the seat a waste).  I don't have heated pants, which is my main issue.  Perhaps someday.....

This is kind of my thought process....I can't remember ever being too cold on my bike and thinking I wish I had something to warm my butt... usually it's my hands and feet that are suffering the most!

[maxtog]

This is kind of my thought process....I can't remember ever being too cold on my bike and thinking I wish I had something to warm my butt... usually it's my hands and feet that are suffering the most!

Since the C14 has heated grips- hands are always fine.  Core is usually fine with heated vest.  The place I get cold first right now are my outer thighs  (and the heated seat doesn't help that), then eventually face, then feet, then legs.  When I start getting too cold all over, I crank up my core temp with the vest and that can usually overcome the rest.  Usually.... but not always!

Oh, my neck would be immediate if I didn't have a padded nylon wrap around that tucks into my helmet.  Absolutely critical.

[DaddyFlip]

Since the C14 has heated grips- hands are always fine.  Core is usually fine with heated vest.  The place I get cold first right now are my outer thighs  (and the heated seat doesn't help that), then eventually face, then feet, then legs.  When I start getting too cold all over, I crank up my core temp with the vest and that can usually overcome the rest.  Usually.... but not always!

Oh, my neck would be immediate if I didn't have a padded nylon wrap around that tucks into my helmet.  Absolutely critical.

I had factory heated seat on last bike. Meh. I mean, you know it's on, but it's not a game changer to me. I don't know if the money is the same, but I would rather heated pants liners than heated seat. I would also rather heated gloves than grips, unless I had some of those handlebar mitts to cover your hands. In my opinion, and brief experience, heated grips are a fine idea, but with the wind, if you let go at all, it's hard for the grips to catch up once you put your hands back on. I'm talking riding below 40F.

Heated grips and seats are more convenient IF you don't plan on riding in the really cold for very long. If so, then you need heated clothing.

[Deziner]

I would give up my heated jacket before my heated pant liners. I had NO idea how important heated pants were until I had them.

[BrianK]

thanks guys for confirming my hunch....

[martin_14]

I'm late to the party, but I can confirm it as well: not worth it. Yeap, it's nice. About twice a year. So much so that after a year of having bought the bike I went out of my way to install it. 2 years later I changed the seat by and aftermarket one, and the manufacturer offered the heated seat option but I opted out. I simply didn't use it. I had a BMW RT before with heated seat and I also didn't use it. Wearing the right clothes does much more for your whole bod than a bit of warmth on your butt.

[zarticus]

My Russel Day Long has Heat & it's awsome !!. I use it on long trips even in the summer, It works almost like a massage in a soothing way. After about 6 hours riding my butt starts getting sore so I put on the heat for awhile & its refreshing & the soreness goes away. Think about how doctors reccomend a heating pad for sore muscles 

[BrianK]

My Russel Day Long has Heat & it's awsome !!. I use it on long trips even in the summer, It works almost like a massage in a soothing way. After about 6 hours riding my butt starts getting sore so I put on the heat for awhile & its refreshing & the soreness goes away. Think about how doctors reccomend a heating pad for sore muscles 

Interesting point...

[jimmymac]

I've got heated pant liners, and a heated seat. I don't really use my heated pant liners anymore, since I can use the seat. Just like I don't use my heated gloves since I have heated grips. I hate being bulky, and the seat and grips save me layers. It would be different if I was taking off on a long trip. But just commuting to work, or a short ride, I take the easy way out.

[DaddyFlip]

This is what I was saying; for light use on short trips in moderate temperatures, I would rather the convenience of grips and seats. But for longer trips, and especially if the temps are going to be in the 30's or below, then the clothing is better by far. So just have to decide what your riding style and conditions are. I see where the 2-up heated seat option is $300, so it is a pretty significant investment.

I just re-read the OP's actual question… does a heated seat make a difference if you are feeling the chill through your gear. I take that as ALL your gear… as in, "my core, arms, legs, hands, neck, feet, etc. or some portion of all of this is cold." The answer for me is NO. You might get a hot spot on your butt, but this is not going to carry to the rest of your body. The only thing that helps in that regard is a better, breathable wind blocking layer, heated clothing, or taking a warm break.

The heated seat on my ADV bike didn't do much good, but laying on the tank and putting my hands on the engine was pretty good. That bike had heated seat and grips. Didn't help me at all in 33F weather at 70mph.