Ergo-Fit Extended Reach Seat: Ride report

Angel-be-Good · April 22nd, 2018, 06:06 PM

For the Ninja 400, Kawasaki makes available an Ergo-Fit Extended Reach Seat (kawasaki.com). One of the YouTube reviews I was watching mentioned the availability of the seat, but didn't have the opportunity to test it.

I just got mine yesterday. The seat height of the 400 feels identical to the 250 I had, which is to say very comfortable and easy to ride, but definitely feeling a bit small. I'm not huge, just 5'10", but I do like the extra space of other bikes I've ridden. Loved loved the 36" seat height of the Yamaha WR250R I had for a while. I wasn't sure how much difference the Kawasaki Ergo-Fit seat would make, but I took the plunge.

Installing the seat is a breeze -- pull off the stock seat, and plug in the new one. The Ergo-Fit seat does ship with two small 2" x 0.25" adhesive pads that the instructions indicate should be affixed to the bike, where the bike's plastic and the seat meet. The instructions aren't clear about what the pads do, but my guess is that they cover up the sharp plastic edge of the under-seat compartment to avoid wearing on the seat upholstery 🤷*♀️

In terms of build / shape / material, it's nearly identical to the stock seat, but with an extra inch of foam padding. Same texture to the upholstery

Alright, what's it like to use? Today I took it for 150 miles of some of the best roads I know, from San Francisco to Bodega Bay and back. Some freeway, but mostly narrow backroads, almost none of which are perfectly paved.

The extra 1" of seat height makes a big difference in the perceived size of the bike. It now fits like a bigger bike -- longer reach to the ground, slightly reduced angle of knee bend, and the reach to the handlebars is a bit steeper. I'm a fan. Apart from the reach to the ground, consider it a trade between reducing knee bend and increasing back bend. If your back is the weak point in your endurance, the Ergo-Fit probably won't help. If your legs get sore first, you might like the seat.

Apart from geometry, I didn't expect improvement in comfort...but the extra padding on the Ergo-Fit is a huge benefit. I mentioned before, in my post about my first ride with the Ninja 400, that the suspension is surprisingly stiff. Better than bouncy, but it's not plush. The extra padding in the seat makes a big difference in comfort over rough pavement. It's a bit squidgy, the extra foam reduces the connection I feel to the bike through my butt. But when I'm riding hard, when I want all the connection and feel I can get, I'm not sitting in the seat anyway, I'm standing on the pegs. When I'm lazily cruising, my ass is enjoying the extra comfort.

I'll post some pictures later when I pull them off my camera. Should have a good before and after view, which may or may not be useful at all. I'm very satisfied with the purchase. The fact the Ninja 400 is a small bike that fits like a bigger bike, can be ridden fast like a slow bike but has all the power for passing and heavy winds, makes me want to call it daywalker -- all of the strengths of a small bike, none of the weaknesses.

Angel-be-Good · April 29th, 2018, 12:00 PM

Update: I made a dumb video.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Here's a before/after photo of me on the bike, not sure if it illustrates anything in particular but for the curious...

adouglas · April 29th, 2018, 05:49 PM

Do you ride with your elbows locked like that?

Angel-be-Good · April 29th, 2018, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adouglas

Do you ride with your elbows locked like that?

Always, that way I have maximum pressure pushing down the front wheel for maximum traction.

Wait.

Yes -- I mentioned I'm not especially tall, but I also should have mentioned that my arms ARE especially short.

Wait.

Nah, I don't.

DannoXYZ · April 30th, 2018, 08:46 AM

Seat looks like it's doing the job! In comparison pic, your thighs are aimed downwards a little with higher seat. Probably doesn't cramp up your legs as much on longer rides huh?

A lot of people just jack up ride-height to make bike feel bigger. But.. that's only when you've got feet on ground.

CC Cowboy · April 30th, 2018, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel-be-Good

Always, that way I have maximum pressure pushing down the front wheel for maximum traction.

Wait.

Yes -- I mentioned I'm not especially tall, but I also should have mentioned that my arms ARE especially short.

Wait.

Nah, I don't.

Great response! I have no idea what you mean but you were specific, to the point, and exact.

randycastell · May 11th, 2018, 07:42 AM

Thank you Ryan for your your great review and for the real nice video. I hope we meet someday soon: I'm also in San Franchisshy. It would be a pleasure to talk with you. —Randy.

DEFY · May 11th, 2018, 09:01 AM

"Up a lil more less high"

It's a good review, better than the Leonard from Community lol

Hopefully that seat gets easier to re-fit.

maverick9611 · May 11th, 2018, 12:27 PM

don't forget beadrider. i did a install recently. they work.

Angel-be-Good · May 11th, 2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randycastell

Thank you Ryan for your your great review and for the real nice video. I hope we meet someday soon: I'm also in San Franchisshy. It would be a pleasure to talk with you. —Randy.

I saw a white 300 with a slip-on go down 2nd Street yesterday...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEFY

Hopefully that seat gets easier to re-fit.

Yeah, it fits on and off super easy now -- just took some convincing the first time ✌️

NinjaBraap · July 16th, 2021, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel-be-Good

Always, that way I have maximum pressure pushing down the front wheel for maximum traction.

Wait.

Yes -- I mentioned I'm not especially tall, but I also should have mentioned that my arms ARE especially short.

Wait.

Nah, I don't.

I read this response like an old timey telegram

April 22nd, 2018, 06:06 PM	#1
Angel-be-Good ninjette.org guru Name: Ryan Location: San Francisco Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250, '11 Street Triple R Posts: 337	Ergo-Fit Extended Reach Seat: Ride report For the Ninja 400, Kawasaki makes available an Ergo-Fit Extended Reach Seat (kawasaki.com). One of the YouTube reviews I was watching mentioned the availability of the seat, but didn't have the opportunity to test it. I just got mine yesterday. The seat height of the 400 feels identical to the 250 I had, which is to say very comfortable and easy to ride, but definitely feeling a bit small. I'm not huge, just 5'10", but I do like the extra space of other bikes I've ridden. Loved loved the 36" seat height of the Yamaha WR250R I had for a while. I wasn't sure how much difference the Kawasaki Ergo-Fit seat would make, but I took the plunge. Installing the seat is a breeze -- pull off the stock seat, and plug in the new one. The Ergo-Fit seat does ship with two small 2" x 0.25" adhesive pads that the instructions indicate should be affixed to the bike, where the bike's plastic and the seat meet. The instructions aren't clear about what the pads do, but my guess is that they cover up the sharp plastic edge of the under-seat compartment to avoid wearing on the seat upholstery 🤷♀️ In terms of build / shape / material, it's nearly identical to the stock seat, but with an extra inch of foam padding. Same texture to the upholstery Alright, what's it like to use? Today I took it for 150 miles of some of the best roads I know, from San Francisco to Bodega Bay and back. Some freeway, but mostly narrow backroads, almost none of which are perfectly paved. The extra 1" of seat height makes a big difference in the perceived size of the bike. It now fits like a bigger bike -- longer reach to the ground, slightly reduced angle of knee bend, and the reach to the handlebars is a bit steeper. I'm a fan. Apart from the reach to the ground, consider it a trade between reducing knee bend and increasing back bend. If your back is the weak point in your endurance, the Ergo-Fit probably won't help. If your legs get sore first, you might like the seat. Apart from geometry, I didn't expect improvement in comfort...but the extra padding on the Ergo-Fit is a huge benefit. I mentioned before, in my post about my first ride with the Ninja 400, that the suspension is surprisingly stiff. Better than bouncy, but it's not plush. The extra padding in the seat makes a big difference in comfort over rough pavement. It's a bit squidgy, the extra foam reduces the connection I feel to the bike through my butt. But when I'm riding hard, when I want all the connection and feel I can get, I'm not sitting in the seat anyway, I'm standing on the pegs. When I'm lazily cruising, my ass is enjoying the extra comfort. I'll post some pictures later when I pull them off my camera. Should have a good before and after view, which may or may not be useful at all. I'm very satisfied with the purchase. The fact the Ninja 400 is a small bike that fits like a bigger bike, can be ridden fast like a slow bike but has all the power for passing and heavy winds, makes me want to call it daywalker -- all of the strengths of a small bike, none of the weaknesses. __________________________________________________ The Sunday Best* \| Current mileage: 50,000
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

April 29th, 2018, 05:49 PM	#3
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Do you ride with your elbows locked like that? __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

May 11th, 2018, 09:01 AM	#8
DEFY ᗧ•••ᗣ•ᗣᗣ•••ᗣ Name: Nick Location: NY Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R and 2014 Triumph 675R Posts: A lot.	"Up a lil more less high" It's a good review, better than the Leonard from Community lol Hopefully that seat gets easier to re-fit. __________________________________________________ Spoiler for topic: It might just be the [you] tag

May 11th, 2018, 12:27 PM	#9
maverick9611 "a legend in my own mind" Name: maverick9611 Location: Augusta,Georgia Join Date: May 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2015 moto guzzi norge,2020 aprilia dorsoduro, 2014 yamaha fjr, 85 yamaha fj 1100 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Feb '18	don't forget beadrider. i did a install recently. they work. __________________________________________________ "trying not to get old"

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April 30th, 2018, 08:46 AM	#5
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	Seat looks like it's doing the job! In comparison pic, your thighs are aimed downwards a little with higher seat. Probably doesn't cramp up your legs as much on longer rides huh? A lot of people just jack up ride-height to make bike feel bigger. But.. that's only when you've got feet on ground.

May 11th, 2018, 07:42 AM	#7
randycastell ninjette.org member Name: randy Location: S.F. Bay Area Join Date: Nov 2017 Motorcycle(s): '74 Honda CB450K, '87 Ducati Paso750, '17 Kawasaki EX300 Posts: 35	Thank you Ryan for your your great review and for the real nice video. I hope we meet someday soon: I'm also in San Franchisshy. It would be a pleasure to talk with you. —Randy.