Which seat

[Des Pearce]

I'm finding the Autostyle K12w seat uncomfortable so will be looking for a new seat ASAP, do people have any suggestions? I'm 5' 10" tall with a 36" waist, 44" chest and broad shoulders so need a wider seat with good lumbar support (or the ability to easily add some). I don't mind fixed back and would prefer side mount to allow adjustment of the angle of the back.

I've seen the Trak Racer Rally for a low price which looks about the right size, obviously can't try seats easily at any time and it's impossible right now.

 

[mrexcitement71]

Avoid the Trak racer seats , they are bloody horrible , uncomfortable , restrictive , I hated mine (came with a Trak racer rig) , couldn't wait to replaced it.

I replaced it with this: https://www.shopsaas.com/saas-saas-kombat-seat-dual-recline-blue-e1003

This was 1000 times better in all ways.

I would recommend a recliner as comfort is number one unless you have motion.

 

[protocolgeorge]

I personally have the Sim-Labs Speed3 and could not be happier. Its very comfortable (well padded) and supportive but also gives the feeling of a real racing seat...highly recommended.

SPEED3 - Sim bucket seat

sim-lab.eu

 

[markie44]

Tricky one this.

Buying a SIM seat is like buying shoes online. They might look good, but you have no idea if they will be feel right for YOU until you sit in it.

I sat in a few Sparco's at the NEC Motorsport show last year and found them incredibly uncomfortable. They looked very comfy, so it came as a surprise.

I bought a lusomotors 8KS-2S recently and fortunately its perfect (for me), but it was leap of faith as returning it would have been a hassle.

Probably worth clarifying the returns policy wherever you get it from before purchasing as it's not so easy to try before you buy now.

 

[AccAkut]

Any advice for someone with a hip width of around 45cm? And a lot of height? (I'm 2 meters tall with long legs).
Got this one (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0..._title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=racedep06-21) right now but it turned out too narrow, I can't comfortably "slot in" all the way back. Was told Sparco Evo L would fit me, but its price is a little too steep for my taste.

 

[Des Pearce]

Thanks for all of the replies. Trying is difficult at any time and many specialists make returns difficult (GSM are one, this current seat arrived in a battered box with marks on it and I was told to contact the courier as they wouldn't be held responsible for it arriving like that) so I'm not keen on using car sports seat specialists. I might try and find something on ebay or amazon with good returns policy and maybe even loik for very supportive reclining seats.

 

[TheNatural]

I'm ordering a seat from autostyle as well, but i'm not going with a bucket seat, i don't find them conducive to pure comfort and ease of getting in and out.

this is the one i plan on ordering https://www.autostyle.nl/en/sport-s...-reclinable-back-rest-incl-slides-ss-64z.html

the price on the seat is very good, it comes with a slide, has adjustable lumbar lumbar support, and the dimensions seem good for a larger person.

 

[Des Pearce]

I'm ordering a seat from autostyle as well, but i'm not going with a bucket seat, i don't find them conducive to pure comfort and ease of getting in and out.

this is the one i plan on ordering https://www.autostyle.nl/en/sport-s...-reclinable-back-rest-incl-slides-ss-64z.html

the price on the seat is very good, it comes with a slide, has adjustable lumbar lumbar support, and the dimensions seem good for a larger person.

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking recliner with lumbar support is the way to go

 

[John Bruno]

Just a heads up on recliners, with hard braking they will eventually squeak and creak after a while. I got rid of a Sparco R100, for me personally, the sound was very annoying. I went with the GS-5, I realize it may not be in everyone's budget however the Kirkey seat is very comfortable and roomy.

 

[stigs2cousin]

The more I think about it the more I'm thinking recliner with lumbar support is the way to go

This will be the right decision comfortwise. And most of use spend a lot of time in the rig

I think you should also take your pedals ( recent and maybe future purchases) into account.
If you are into stiff brake pedals this will put a lot of strain on your rig and seat.

A full bucket seat will be stiffer and a lot less prone to creaking and flexing.
An experience I´m making myself, but Chris haye spoke about it in his last pedal review:

I don´t know how the price of the seat factors into the rigidity, but it´s probably more of a problem with low end and used seats.
The Recaro I use is definitely not low end but very used (around 450.000 km).

On the other end the bolstering on a reclining seat is much better fitted for the bigger guys
( I´m a "big guy, too)
You don´t have to fit between the bolster but can rest your thighs and hips/shoulders half in/half on the bolsters without reduction in long time comfort.

Without the possibilty to testfit this doesn´t make things easier but maybe can avoid a surprise,

MFG Carsten

Edith says:

John was faster

 

[Des Pearce]

This will be the right decision comfortwise. And most of use spend a lot of time in the rig

I think you should also take your pedals ( recent and maybe future purchases) into account.
If you are into stiff brake pedals this will put a lot of strain on your rig and seat.

A full bucket seat will be stiffer and a lot less prone to creaking and flexing.
An experience I´m making myself, but Chris haye spoke about it in his last pedal review:

I don´t know how the price of the seat factors into the rigidity, but it´s probably more of a problem with low end and used seats.
The Recaro I use is definitely not low end but very used (around 450.000 km).

On the other end the bolstering on a reclining seat is much better fitted for the bigger guys
( I´m a "big guy, too)
You don´t have to fit between the bolster but can rest your thighs and hips/shoulders half in/half on the bolsters without reduction in long time comfort.

Without the possibilty to testfit this doesn´t make things easier but maybe can avoid a surprise,

MFG Carsten

Edith says:

John was faster

My pedals are heavy duty (100kg load cell brake, 20kg load cell for throttle and clutch, big pedals mounted on 25mm ply braced with steel plate) and I'm 90+kg who's spent 30 years riding pushbikes so I push hard without thinking.

I'm caught between recliner for comfort or better bucket seat for rigidity. I might mess with some foam to see if I can make this seat more comfy before making any decisions