Review of Harper's Moto Guzzi police solo seat, pillion pad and luggage rack

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Created: 2012 April 26

Updated: 2012 April 26

I decided to write a few words about the police solo seat, pillion pad, and luggage rack that I purchased from Harper's Moto Guzzi (purchased 2012 April) and fit to a customer's Eldorado.

• The look - All three pieces look really nice. Both the solo seat and the pillion pad have Moto Guzzi lettering on the back and that looks really cool. The luggage rack is nicely constructed/welded and the black powder coated finish looks great.
• The price - The solo seat cost USD $349.00, the pillion pad cost USD $169.00, and the luggage rack cost USD $105.00. The total of USD $623.00 is not inexpensive, but the three pieces yield several appearance/functional configurations that a less expensive dual seat does not buy you.
• The quality -
  1. The pans of both the solo seat and the pillion pad are made of fiberglass and appear sturdy. Neither seemed to flex at all when I perched my 220 pound body them. Also, the two studs that secure the solo seat just above the tool boxes and the four studs that secure the pillion pad to the luggage rack seem well embedded and did not appear like they would strip out (though I did hear a little cracking sounds when I was gently - but securely - tightening the studs at the rear of the solo seat).
  2. The covers are vinyl and appear durable and up to the task. Stitching is used and rain will get into the holes if a cover is not used while riding in the rain.
  3. The studs in the bottom of the seat and the bottom of the pillion pad are not metric; rather they are ⁵⁄₁₆ inch × 18 TPI. Since a Moto Guzzi is a metric bike, I really expected metric fasteners.
  4. The studs in the bottom of the solo seat are way too long and contact the top of the rear crash bars before the seat bottoms out on the frame. To correct this fitment problem, I used my Dremel tool and cut off 14 mm from the end of each stud, then cleaned up my threads with a die - all the while hoping that I didn't slip with the Dremel tool or loosen the studs inside the fiberglass.
  5. The studs in the bottom of the pillion pad are also way too long. They didn't hit the top of the fender (so I didn't modify them), but they are much longer than what is required. Furthermore, these studs did not fit neatly into the corresponding holes in the rack. Instead, I had to pretty much jam them into place, scraping powder coat off of the luggage rack in the process.
  6. The U shaped piece at the front of the solo seat is way too wide for the frame tube around which it sets. I could never fully tighten the front bolt without completely and severely bending the U piece. So, I put six ³⁄₈ inch flat washers between the U piece and the frame tube: three on each side. But, once I had done that, one rear stud would not fit into it's hole. So, I ended up with two flat washers on the right and four flat washers on the left. Yes, the seat sets a bit cockeyed; but I was unwilling to go bending on the front U piece - potentially breaking the bond between it and the fiberglass seat pan. The long bolt supplied with the seat to go through the front is also not metric (12 mm is needed). Instead, it is ³⁄₈ inch. It is way too loose in the hole, but a 12 mm bolt wouldn't fit because the slots in the U piece do not line up properly with the corresponding hole in the frame.
  7. The tabs on the luggage rack fit the frame just fine. However, the tabs have very wide and long slots (not holes like the original). I'm fine with the slots being long as this helps overcome alignment issues. But the slots are so wide that a 6 mm flat washer will not work. Instead I needed to use a 6 mm fender washer and I still had trouble with them bending in the middle. 6 mm fasteners were supplied to secure the luggage rack to the frame.
• The comfort - While I've sat on this seat only briefly, I find this seat very comfortable. The foam seems sufficiently dense and the shape of the pan is nice. I think it would be a great seat for long trips.

In conclusion, Harper's police solo seat, pillion pad, and luggage rack look great and I believe they will function comfortably for a long time. Fitment issues amongst the three pieces and between the three pieces and the Moto Guzzi frame, however, leave a lot to be desired.