Hi

I recently purchased a Signature Series Seat with Rider Backrest - Deluxe Styling.  (Part number 54397-11) and thought I'd share my experience with others.

I have a 2015 FLSTN (Softail Deluxe) and the first point is that the seat does not fit!  The HD accessories manual says it does but if you think that you are going to get this home and simply fit it up, think again.  The installation instructions appear to have been written for a totally different set up so are not much use.

The seat is located at the front by a "tang" that slips into a square channel under the fuel tank.  The "tang" is too long and hits on the square nut that holds the tank down.  To get the seat to fit, I had to bend the tang down slightly and remove about 6mm from it's length.  Not a nice (or easy) thing to do on an $800 investment in comfort.  So, after some careful grinding with the seat wrapped in a blanket, and a little bending with a shifter, the seat was able to sit on the bike and I could get the retaining screw in at the rear.  I had no idea what to do with the 2 knurled nuts that were used to hold the original seat in place so I just screwed them back in place.  At least I would always remember where I left them.

I then took the bike for a run only to find that now, as the front of the seat is so much narrower than the original, the heat from the engine when stopped at lights and intersections is incredible.  I thought I had set my jeans on fire somehow at one stage!  I have orderd a set of Mid-Frame Deflectors which I'm hoping will sort this issue out for me. ($120 later!)

Hope that this might help someone else who is thinking of getting one of these seats.  Maybe HD will sort out the problems and there will be a new, upgraded, seat released that fits up without a problem.......maybe!

Signature_Series_Seat.pdf

I can understand your frustration. How does the seat feel though? Is it comfortable?

I can understand your frustration. How does the seat feel though? Is it comfortable?

Whenever I read these things I always wondered if you rang the store and told them? They'll be more likely to tell you wtf is going on. I don't see how they can sell hundreds of seats that don't fit and I sure as shit wouldn't be cutting anything on them.

I reckon it's more likely they sold you the wrong model seat (in the correct style though).

The dealer is aware as they had had one returned previously but couldnt remember why it wouldnt fit.  I tried it on my bike and it seemd to fit OK so orderd a new one.  When I got the new one home, I then realised what modifications had been done on  the one returned and, as I needed to get it fitted for a ride, did the same (As per the photos in the file).

It is the right seat according to the part number etc....  (I wonder if the fuel tank mount has changed in the '15 model and HD haven't changed the seat to suit?)

Should have just taken back and bought a Mustang Wide Vintage Touring seat with pillion seat. They also have riders fully adjustable back rest