One of the quickest and easiest changes you can make to your bike is swapping out your seat. However, finding one with the right looks, comfort, and riding position for your needs can be a pain in the ass (no pun intended). The search for the perfect seat can really become a hassle for EFI Softail owners due to the electronics hidden under the seat. If you're the proud owner of a Deuce, your options are even more limited-unless you catch up with Rich of Bitchin' Seat Company, in Anaheim,CA.
Rich has been in the seat business for years and saw that there was a demand from Deuce owners big and small for a good-looking, comfortable, low-profile seat. Not one to miss an opportunity, Rich stepped up to the plate and came up with a Deuce seat kit that includes a new seat, compact battery, and an electronics relocation kit.
The first thing Rich did when we got there was point out the difference between the H-D Deuce two-up seat and his new two-up seat. When comparing the two seats it looks as though the stock seat is much thicker-but looks can be deceiving.
Notice the location of the ECM and Power Commander on the rear fender? By relocating them to the battery box, Rich was able to gain valuable seating space.
It's not that Rich's new seat is thinner or has less padding; what he's done is relocated the electronics-which are mounted to the fender under the stock seat. By doing this he was able to move the seating position back by about 2-1/2 inches and lower it about 1-1/2 inches. This lets taller riders stretch out, while shorter riders benefit from a lower center of gravity and narrower seat. Check out his backrest pad as well.
In order for the Power Commander and ECM to fit in their new locations, an SVR battery is included in the kit. Since the SVR battery has fewer cranking amps and less reserve, Rich suggests picking up a Battery Tender and hard wiring the plug into your bike. That way, when you're not riding your bike you can easily plug in the Battery Tender and always have a full charge. This is a good idea even if you have a stock battery.