When Touratech released their line of DriRide seats I may have been one of the most skeptical consumers out there. I thought that the technology could not possibly be worth the price of admission and that it certainly wouldn’t be as comfortable as other aftermarket or custom seats, considering that these are the first seats Touratech has brought to market. I could not have been more wrong.

It was apparent from the first time I took a test ride on my KTM 690 that I was going to need an aftermarket seat. I had done copious amounts of research before I even took delivery of the bike and I just kept circling back to the Touratech DriRide seat because of all the claimed features.

With a busy summer riding season approaching I decided to “pull the trigger” on the most expensive upgrade to my bike thus far. Only one problem… there was a lot of talk and speculation about fitment issues on the 14’ and 15’ KTM 690. To find out for myself I visited the Touratech USA headquarters in Seattle where they bent over backwards to ensure that the seat fit my bike. (One of the perks of living in Seattle and Touratech having an awesome staff.)

I was in love at first ride, sounds so sappy but I instantly knew it was what I had been looking for in a seat. Easily more comfortable out of the box than any other aftermarket seat I had purchased in the past. Even with my bike being as narrow as it is they managed to shape the foam in such a way that you feel like you are sitting in a “dish” with even weight distribution instead of on an egg with all the pressure on the tail bone.

Touratech utilizes their Ergo-Response Long-Distance foam in all of the DriRide and Comfort seats. It reminds me a lot of a Temprapedic mattress with less sinking in. They claim “The longer you ride the better it feels” and I think it's true. What stood out to me immediately was that the seat absorbed a noticeable amount of vibration from the engine making highway travel much more enjoyable on my thumper.

I rode 1,830 miles in four days on my way to the Overland Expo West and I believe that this would not have been possible without this seat. I was able to enjoy the long days instead of dreading more saddle time as had been the case for me on previous long trips.

One of the main selling points for me on this seat was that it is waterproof. Nothing worse than crawling out of your tent first thing in the morning to find that it rained during the night and that you would now be spending a good part of the day with a cold and or wet hind section.

Touratech uses it’s Rain-Block fabric to make the DriRide seat completely waterproof while simultaneously allowing it to breath. Water droplets form and roll off the seat but air still gets through somehow. The technology seems pretty similar to that of Gor-Tex and that is what I equate it to. Even after 48 solid hours in heavy rain and snow, the seat was not saturated with water.

Quality control is phenomenal with precise attention to detail. Nothing short of what I would expect of an aftermarket seat at this price point. It has dealt with temperatures at both extremes of the weather spectrum with ease.

Performing exceedingly well in hot dusty conditions. (Imagine a nice breeze from the inside of your seat right where you need it the most!) The cover is a bit slippery but it suits my needs as a short rider with a tall bike having to slide off to find the ground. I never noticed this as an issue while riding in a seated or standing position off road though. It has held up well to my muddy boots, sharp keys and general abuse.

It might seem like an absurd amount of money to spend on a seat but if you really boil it down it’s about safety. When you are not comfortable on your motorcycle you aren’t focusing your full attention on riding or having fun for that matter.

I have been nothing but impressed with the Touratech DriRide seat. It makes grandiose promises that it gladly fulfills and allows me to really enjoy all of the time I spend on my motorcycle. If you are looking for an aftermarket seat that will last the life of your bike and thrive in any conditions while still being extremely comfortable then look no further.

It is clear to me now that Touratech isn’t trying to expand it’s brand for greater profits but because they legitimately have quality products and technology to offer. MSRP: $686.00 Touratech-USA.com 

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