Test: the Twin Air Complete Seat
It's been a while since Twin Air came out with a complete saddle of its own making. The saddle replaces the complete OEM saddle of the regular motocross and enduro brands.
We mounted a Twin Air Complete Seat on a brand new Yamaha YZ450F and put test rider Marco Briers on the machine for a test.
What is it?
The well-known manufacturer of air filters developed the Twin Air Complete Seat. It is a complete saddle with subframe, foam rubber and cover. So you buy a completely new saddle. This Complete Seat is an answer to the wishes of many drivers. The problem with OEM motocross saddles is that the density of the foam is too soft.
New from the store, the original saddle still feels comfortable, but after a month of racing it is softer than Veronique De Kock's behind. Even worse, some saddle designs are very thin in the back. The lack of foam combined with the softness of the foam results in bruises on your buttocks.
What does Twin Air say?
The brand new Twin Air Complete Seat is a replacement seat that includes the upholstery, high-density foam and plastic base. The saddle is waterproof, has a hard filling and a cover with extra grip. Motocross riders also want a durable saddle with foam that does not break down and break quickly. Twin Air knows everything about foam density through their years of experience with air filters. That's why they created a foam that won't break down or soften the more you ride. They also offer saddles that are 15 mm higher than the standard size.
testing
The Twin Air saddle for the Yamaha was a standard size. When our test rider climbed onto the machine he immediately felt there was a difference. Measuring is knowing and so we grabbed the tape measure to compare the seat height with the OEM saddle. At the lowest point of the saddle, the Twin Air saddle was about 15 mm higher. Wouldn't we have received a raised type after all? When we inquired with Twin Air, we learned that there are no raised types for Yamaha. It remains a tricky item for men with short legs. Test driver Marco went to Reusel and Genk for a thorough test with the Twin Air “sofa” under his derrière.
Our verdict
Whether it was Reusel or Genk, the saddle felt rock hard. After the first sessions, our test rider was even left with a sore backside. But maybe that is temporary and comparable to cycling for the first time after a long inactive winter. The extra height of 15 mm was only an issue for riders with short legs and then only when mounting. While driving you immediately notice that you can put more feeling into the engine.
Experienced riders partly steer their motorcycle with their buttocks and this worked much better with the Twin Air saddle. You can have more feeling in the corners and feel the motorcycle better because the saddle deforms less under your own body weight. Our test rider was very satisfied with the saddle while riding and that is ultimately the point. It seems that the saddle is a bit narrower at the top than the Yamaha original and that felt a bit more correct during the test. After several months of riding, the saddle remained as hard as before, so the density of the filling remains very stable.
The high-pressure cleaner is also no problem for this saddle, the cover does not let a drop through. The cover and the polyurethane foam are both waterproof, which is one of the reasons why the Twin Air seat foam is less likely to break down. The saddle has a padding with a lot of grip. We recommend that you buckle your pants extra, otherwise you will be showing off your construction worker cleavage after a few laps. The fit is perfectly adapted to the contours of the Yamaha.
The saddle costs around €140 at your local motocross dealer and is available in all colors as long as it is black. Available for all current motocross and enduro models.
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