A rider should always feel comfortable while riding the bike. This comfort is ensured by parameters such as the rider's positioning and posture, the setup of the suspension, foot peg's placement and the seat. Back in the older days, bikes came pre-fitted with a single-seat, without any room for customizing. However, times have changed now. Motorcycles these days come with split seats, a setup that comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a detailed look at the debate of Split Seats vs Single Seats.
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ADVANTAGES
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The primary advantage of having a split seat layout on the bike is the exterior appearance. When looked at from far away, the motorcycle feels sportier and more rugged. An exception – If the bike in question is a daily commuter as well as an ADV. This aspect is a quite debatable topic, but the majority of the people will agree that having split seats improve the appearance of the bike as a whole.
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The split seat layout is comparatively more comfortable than single seats. This is primarily because the partition allows both the rider as well as the pillion to completely utilize the spaces assigned to them. The partition prevents the rider from slipping back into the pillion's space and vice versa.
Split seats allow the pillion to have a better view of the road ahead. Moreover, there is that ‘feel-good' factor involved. This point's credibility can only be understood if you are or have ever been a pillion.
DISADVANTAGES
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The only disadvantage of a split seat layout is the ease of usage. In case a bike has split seats, the rider would need to remove not one but two seats if they want to access the boot space below the seats. If the seats come with the functionality to get removed easily, this does not become a problem too.
ADVANTAGES
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The single-seat setup offers more space, mainly because there is no division present. The rider can adjust freely without any hassle. This kind of seating arrangement is seen on the adventure and tourer bikes as well as daily commuters.
Unlike split seats, a single-seat can easily be removed to reach for the boot space present below the seats. The storage space can be accessed without any hassle.
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This layout, if damaged, costs a little less to get replaced as compared to split seats. In case of minor damage too, these seats can get re-patched quite cheaply.
DISADVANTAGES
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Since there is no division, the pillion may bump into the rider when brakes are applied. This could prove to be a bit problematic during long road trips.
Most of the aspects here are subjective. It is mostly up to you to decide which type of seat layout satisfy your needs perfectly. If you are planning to purchase a new motorcycle, assess your expectations and choose one which fulfils all your seating requirements.
