Travelcade Gel Dual-Sport Seat Kit

TRAVELCADE GEL DUAL-SPORT SEAT KIT

CW EVALUATION

Sure cure for saddle sores

SEATS OFTEN GET A BUM RAP. AFTER ALL, it’s virtually impossible to please everyone-or their backsides. Take off-road riders, for instance. Most motocrossers couldn’t care less if their seats are plank-hard or pillow-soft because they spend a lot of time standing on the footpegs. Trail riders and dual-purpose enthusiasts, however, may need something more forgiving, something that won’t leave them saddled with a painful case of “monkey butt” after a long ride.

For them, Travelcade (6325 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723; 310/6304522) offers the Gel Dual-Sport Seat Kit. For $ 160, the company takes your stock seat base (in our case, a Honda XR400), adds its foam, a layer of Jellolike silicone gel and a neoprene-andvinyl cover.

The result, we found, was broader, rounder and more deeply dished than stock. And more comfortable. Unlike most foams, the gel conforms quickly to the body, and it doesn’t crinkle or fold up over time. Another plus is reduced through-the-seat vibration, which improves hind-quarter circulation.

At first, we didn’t care for the seat’s overstuffed appearance. What looks wide, we assumed, must feel wide. Not so. Even on a motocross track, the seat didn’t get in the way, though its cover was a bit more slippery than we’d like. And on the trail, we really appreciate the additional surface area, which spreads loads and acts almost like supplemental suspension.

As for wear and tear, the marinegrade cover proved surprisingly durable. Surprising because its thin, stretchy character hardly seems suited to the rigors of off-road riding. As for the gel insert, Travelcade claims it’s unaffected by punctures or temperature changes. We couldn’t prove otherwise. Either way, we’re sold. The changes aren’t exactly cheap, but the results beat monkey butt every time. We give it a bottoms, er, thumbs up. □