Saddlemen Step-Up Full Review - Harley Iron 883 Sportster

I've now put on a little more than 1000 miles on the Saddlemen Step-up for the Sportster. There is little reason to hide my love for this seat any longer.
Saddlemen Step-up at Amazon: amzn.to/2tfvCr5
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
➡Saddlemen Step-Up First Thoughts and Installation: • Saddlemen Step Up Inst...
➡Instagram: / great_egret
➡New Riders Start Here: • Playlist
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
*2017 Harley Iron 883 Olive Gold*
➡Sissybar: Burley Sissybar - amzn.to/2JNtJMt
➡Lindby Multibar for all XL models - amzn.to/2ylE4db
➡Exhaust: Vance and Hines Big Radius - amzn.to/2M5Ha6W
➡+DK Customs tank lift and Coil relocation
➡Saddlemen Step up seat - amzn.to/2tfvCr5
➡Kuryakyn Momentum Vegabond bag: amzn.to/2yo74RA
➡Arlen Ness Black Fusion Grips: amzn.to/2M2d70c
➡Biltwell Chumps: amzn.to/2MEMiAj
*1982 Honda GL500 Silverwing*
Currently building into a café racer
*Other Gear*
➡Boots: TCX X-Blend - amzn.to/2JPL07P
➡Helmet: Shoei Qwest - amzn.to/2I2Km0O
➡Jacket:
AGVSport
Scorpion Covert Motoflannel
Milwaukee Leathers: amzn.to/2JoGtFf
➡Pants: Scorpion Covert pro riding jeans - amzn.to/2MB8ATo or Rokker Red Selvage
➡Cortech Super 2.0 18 Liter Tankbag: amzn.to/2t8Lo6Z
Music:
KZbin Audio Library / audiolibrary

[@donhenderson5100]

Great review. Learned a lot about dimensions and how they work together.

[@ngmasson]

This seat as been sitting on my wish list for the last 3 months. Might be time to pull the tigger. Great review!

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks! It's a great seat! Hey, dude, I got your message through KZbin private message. I don't check there often, but I replied. I hope you got it. Thanks for your message, man!

[@ngmasson]

Great Egret Just found your response. I also don’t use the PM feature of youtube so it took some digging to find. Thanks for the reply!

[@Bader_K]

Great review, very helpful, it helped me make up my mind and purchase this seat for my Iron 1200 Sporty.

[@GreatEgret]

That's awesome man! It's going to look good on that bike, but more importantly it's going to be a seat that's super comfortable and last a long time.

[@saddlemenusa]

Thanks for the informed review , we appreciate you!

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks! And thanks for making such an amazing seat and some darn good luggage!

[@saddlemenusa]

@@GreatEgret Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We truly appreciate it.

[@vetter847]

Almost 500 subscribers... growing by leaps and bounds! I thought I’d need to change out my new ‘18 Heritage seat, but I’ve found it’s quite comfy so far. Glad that’s an expense I won’t have in the near future. 👍🏻

[@GreatEgret]

Dude, I never expected this when I first started. It's motivating and, believe or not, humbling. Keeps me honest as there ain't no hiding who you are on KZbin. You're not the first Softail owner to tell me they're keeping their seat. That's pretty sweet and something Harley should have focused on well before the new Softails came out. Our asses are important to us, dammit!! 😁

[@threestrees]

So I have been watching a few of your videos and Ima let you know I love your review style. Please review more things! Cheers from the Bay Area

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks! I put a lot of thought into reviews and what others might want to know or have questions about. It's really good to know that you like them.

[@martinharnois6468]

Looking for a new seat however I not sure if I will purchase Step up or Profiler... any thoughts about the Profiler ?

[@KD-pf9yi]

Until you ride and sit on one of these for over 2 hours you will become a believer. Amazing difference over stock its not even comparable.

[@GreatEgret]

I 100% agree! I put about 3000 miles on the Step-up with a half dozen long trips and it's just amazingly comfortable.

[@Ron_C]

Comfort in that area is a huge plus for longer rides!

[@GreatEgret]

It's made a huge difference and motocamping will be way more fun.

[@Spriterom]

How did you find the the Step Up seat vs the Stock seat that you had. Did the Step Up push you back or bring you forward or kept the same as the stock seat? I got forward controls on my iron 883 but I don't want to move back any further...

[@GreatEgret]

It put me back about an inch. The Step is worlds better than stock.

[@Spriterom]

@@GreatEgret thank you for your reply. I don't mind the look of it but I am worried I will be too far away from forward controls and mostly the bars.

[@GreatEgret]

Give Saddlemen a call. They have a really generous return policy on new seats. Also, check out the long-term review video I did on the Step-up.

[@EverydayDadTXCOWBY]

Great review. Looking forward to getting mine this Thursday. Got the same exact one.

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! I hope you like it as much as I do. It's going to be hard at first. Give it a little time, after a few hundred miles, it's going to be the most comfortable seat you'll ever own!

[@johnwhite8525]

Nice vid Egret. Looking forward to seeing you videos on the route.

[@GreatEgret]

Oh, man, it's going to be so fun to take the trip and share it with this community! Can't wait!

[@bcbsilverhawk8426]

New subscriber. Love the content. I purchased a 2019 Sport Glide on Sept 9th. After 1300 miles the stock seat has to go. The Saddlemen step-up is on the list. This video pushes it pretty much too the top. I know the new softail chassis is different than the Sportster. I'm a long distance rider. I like travelling 500-700 miles daily when time permits. The Sport Glide is pretty nice on the open road. Based on your review it appears as though the Step-up just may be the seat I'm looking for. I have an e-mail into Saddlemen currently with a few ?'s about long distance riding. Based on their response and this review I plan to order in the next couple days. Thank you.

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! Check out my latest video on this seat. I rode 4,500 miles on it in 28 days and give my thoughts on it with a good deal of attention to long distance. The video is from last February or so.

[@bcbsilverhawk8426]

@@GreatEgret Thanks for the reply. I contacted Saddlemen and they were very helpful. Based on 'you reviews in part I ordered my seat. Should be here om the 26th. I'm pretty excited to give it a try. I'm pretty confident it will be a huge improvement over stock. Thanks again.

[@FRVNK4]

I'm a new subscriber! I just love your style - keep at it! I am a care racer rider, and am getting an Iron 1200 soon. Very informational!

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! Cafe racer building is not easy, but I bet it was rewarding for you. I'm building one out of a 1982 Honda GL500. It's going to be awhile before it's done. Fun, though! Let me know what you think of the Iron 1200. That bike is one of the best decisions H-D has done in a long time. I'm planning on coverting my 883 to a 1275 this winter. Should be a really fun bike after that.

[@jeffn4325]

I was going to order the Saddlemen Step up from my store but they only have it in tuck and roll in stock i like the diamond stitch like yours but they are out of stock. Do you think the tuck and roll is ugly haha? And did you get the passenger side of the seat with gel inserts? i read some people got it added in. Would it be comfortable for the passenger without the gel? my store doesn't know if the gel inserts come with the passenger.

[@GreatEgret]

Ha! I do think the tuck and roll is ugly. The passenger side does have gel. There's a big bolt to hold the rear of the seat right below the passenger side around where your tail bone would sit. With foam alone that would wear down quickly and become uncomfortable for sure. Last I checked, RevZilla has them available or order directly from Saddlemen. Let me know what you think after you get it!

[@22cardsfan22]

I like your set up man! Thinking about putting a windshield and seat on mine. Is there anything you would do different to your bike?

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks! This setup definitely made the Route 66 trip possible. Two things I'd change: the switch blade footpegs and handlebars with knurling. Videos coming up on these soon.

[@brianminkc]

I went with the Harley Sundowner for half the price. Its very nice for Sportsters with a 4.5 gallon tank

[@GreatEgret]

Definitely a good option.

[@bobhog3969]

I’m 11k on my stock step up seat on the lowrider. Just ordered the step up from saddlemen, can’t wait til it comes

[@GreatEgret]

It's a great seat, man. You're going to love it.

[@bobhog3969]

Hell yeah I love the look and I hope I love the feel lol

[@bobhog3969]

Did you order direct?

[@cormschr]

I'm a new rider and am considering this seat to replace the stock one. Do you find yourself moved farther forward? My worry is that with the mid controls on the iron it could feel cramped if I was closer. I'm 5ft 9in so average height but am a little worried about longer rides.

[@GreatEgret]

It actually moves you back, not forward. I'm not sure how much, but it's noticable. I bought the Step-up specifically for the Route 66 trip series that you can watch on my channel now. It's perfect for long rides on a Sportster. I'll likely do another quick review of it soon to cover how it did over the 4,500 mies of the trip, but the quick answer is this seat was amazing for long rides.

[@cormschr]

@@GreatEgret Thanks for the fast reply! I just subscribed and find you videos fun to watch. Sounds like that's exactly the seat I'm looking for.

[@GreatEgret]

You're welcome, my friend! Thanks for subcribing. How long have you been riding? If you get the Step-up let me know how it works for you.

[@cormschr]

@@GreatEgret I've been riding since August. Rode 2000 miles before the first snow and my town started salting the roads. I really like your setup with the windshield and sissy bar. You channel has also encouraged me to keep the sporty for longer as opposed to trading in for something bigger for the purpose of longer trips.

[@GreatEgret]

It's a fun challenge to ride a Sporty long distance. I encourage everyone that owns one to set up their bike for it and get out on the road for at least a few days trip. It's a ton of fun. Keep me posted how you set up your bike. If you're near the Midwest next riding season, a bunch of us are planning some meet up rides.

[@tonycj7860]

Just curious, do you think you'll ever move up to the 1200? Or does the 883 meet all your needs?

[@GreatEgret]

My traveling days on a air-cooled motorcycle are over. A motorcycle that's better suited for travel than the Sportster is in my future. For the city and occasional country roads riding I do, the 883 is all I'll need.

[@tonycj7860]

@@GreatEgret What are you thinking of upgrading to? One of the softail frames?

[@trouty65]

Hi from the Uk Great in depth review :-) I have a 2018 Sportster Iron 1200 and am looking at this seat for me and my wife. Can you tell me if the seat pushes you forward at all, on the bike compared with stock? and also with the slope for the rear passenger seat, have you had any feedback from passengers as to how comfortable the seat is two up ? It sounds good the seat doesn't raise you up too much, height wise but i don't want a seat that puts me anymore forward on the bike from stock,. I am only 5'10' but feel just right at the moment, in the reach department, just don't want to be moved forward at all as it will feel cramped. Many Thanks, keep up the Great reviews man ! Regards Paul UK

[@GreatEgret]

It actually moves you back. I've had the Step-up on my bike for about 9K miles, so I don't remember how much. It's at least an inch. I still have my stock seat, so I'll measure one of these days. The passenger part of the seat slope is near parallel to the riders seat. Plus both rider and passenger parts have gel in them making both sections super comfortable. I've been getting a lot of questions on the seat since I got back from a 4,500-mile month-long trip on it, so I'll need to put together an updated video.

[@trouty65]

Cool Man thanks for the info I'm sold dude ;-) Take care, Ride safe Love the channel Bro !

[@John_shepard]

Love the stepup on my dyna my only gripe is that their black vinyl really isn’t black!

[@GreatEgret]

I love the way the Step-up looks on a Dyna! Yeah, not black. More like a dark charcoal.

[@cbr900son]

Does your throttle hand do ok on long trips with no cruise control?

[@GreatEgret]

I am shocked that this is the first time I have ever gotten this question. The lack of cruise control has never been an issue for me. I think for two reasons: I stay loose on the bike and because the tank is do small I'm forced to take a break after every 100 miles or so. That's my theory, anyway.

[@johnwhite8525]

What camping gear are you taking. Like to see you set up.

[@GreatEgret]

I'll have a series on motocamping starting next week, hopefully. My gear really depends on the location I'm headed, length of trip, if I'm solo or not, and a bunch of other factors. But, coming from a lot of experience in long distance bicycle touring, bikepacking, as well as backcountry camping (both work and pleasure), I'm of the philosophy that the less weight the better, but not eschewing comfort. That's a wide range depending on the individual, but it might give you a sense of what I use if you camp regularly. Seen packed on my bike in this video is a down sleeping bag (that I likely spent too much on), an MSR Hubba solo tent, a thermarest sleeping pad, and minimalist cooking supplies. Mostly aluminum, but there is a titanium spork in there as well. I'll have a video soon, hopefully.

[@ronwissinger2678]

I have the sundowner seat on my bike not really crazy about the look of it on the bike but it feels so good " would love to have the best of both worlds of funkshon and looks 🤔

[@ahmadsyafiqhaqimsarip2332]

Great vid bro! Does it sits u back further?

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks man! Yeah pushes me back about an inch.

[@WillFurner]

First comment! I love my stock Harley seat, but they made the 18's better then in the past.

[@GreatEgret]

I heard they really improved the seats on the '18s. The Fatbob seat has gel in it, doesn't it?

[@WillFurner]

Great Egret yeah, it has a gel in it. Plus that new shock under the seat helps with over all comfort.

[@truthstar8754]

1 more question: Does the seat push you too far forward w that lumbar?

[@GreatEgret]

"too far forward" is a relative measurement. Compared to what? If you mean the stock 2017 seat, it actually put me back about an inch.

[@truthstar8754]

@@GreatEgret Fair enough. Is your seat the LS or Tuck and Roll?

[@GreatEgret]

I have the LS diamond stitch.

[@nasomaz]

I have the mustang solo seat, its like sitting on a sofa! Highly recommend if 2up is not a concern

[@GreatEgret]

Which model mustang solo seat do you have?

[@VVoltz]

So what other modifications are you going to do to your bike for your Route 66 trip?

[@GreatEgret]

I'm going to put on really good crusing tires that will eat up the bumps, change the grips to something more vibration dampening, and maybe put on larger pegs (possibly floorboards, but I don't like the way they look)

[@TechwheelswithPat]

Nice seat, send me one lol. Nice video, ride safe

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, brother! You bet! Send me the €400 that it'll cost, plus €100 shipping, plus 15% finder's fee 😁

[@ronwissinger2678]

Like the sportster like your videos well done

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! I love the Sporty. I think I'll always own one.

[@rm4228]

Is it waterproof

[@GreatEgret]

The Step-up is made of marine grade vinyl, which hold up well in the elements. But if it rains and you don't cover the seat, your ass will get wet. I don't know of a single seat that is waterproof. If there is one, it's likely uncomfortable. You need cordura or ruber to make something waterproof. I don't think I'd like to spend more than 10 minutes riding on either.

[@rm4228]

@@GreatEgret thanks for the feedback. I'm also looking at the Luck Daves seat. Have heard good things about them

[@GreatEgret]

Lucky Daves makes a good seat, man! Let me know how you like it.

[@DCyclemoto]

Good video, brother!

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, D! I'm looking forward to seeing your next episode!

[@peacefulwarrior4078]

Wanted to do the saddlemen eliminator seat and fender kit for my 09 nightster and contacted them MULTIPLE TIMES and got NO RESPONSE out of them at all when I asked for instructions on doing the conversation on it !!! SMELLS REAL FISHY WHEN A COMPANY SELLS A PRODUCT THAT COMES WITH NO SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS AND NO REPLY !!! WTF !!!

[@GreatEgret]

I feel your pain, brother, but I doubt anyone will read this but me.

[@sjobas]

How tall are you m8 :)

[@GreatEgret]

I'm a mark on the doorframe shy of 179cm. If the ladies ask I'm a solid 180. 😎

[@GreatEgret]

Also, I have an long-term review of the Step-up that includes how it held up on a cross country ride. Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWeue62LgqZji8k