The following press release from Indian Motorcycle describes the new ClimaCommand Classic Seat, which Indian claims brings unique heating and cooling seat technology to the motorcycle industry. Indian says the seat is already shipping to dealers, and available on its web site. 16 models (dating back to 2016) allow installation of the new seat. The price of the seat is $1,199.99. Here is the press release:
MINNEAPOLIS (June 22, 2020) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today announced a revolutionary new technology geared to improved rider comfort through a patent-pending system that delivers superior cooling for a more pleasant riding experience in warm weather.
The all-new ClimaCommand Classic Seat delivers both heating and cooling to riders and passengers and raises the bar for cooling thanks to three key elements:
- A proprietary thermoelectric module that pumps heat away from the rider
- A patent-pending ducting system for cooling the thermoelectric module
- Graphene, a highly conductive and flexible material that optimizes the distribution of heating or cooling while maintaining superior comfort
Indian Motorcycle’s thermoelectric technology is much more effective than the automotive market standard of HVAC convection systems. A critical performance benefit of the ClimaCommand technology is that it actually produces a surface that’s cold to the touch, rather than merely pushing cool air through perforations in the surface in the manner that HVAC system offerings operate.
“Despite advancements in heating and cooling for seats, we had yet to see a cooling technology that truly eliminated the discomfort of hot-weather, and with ClimaCommand, our engineering team has finally solved this problem,” said Ross Clifford, Vice President of Parts, Garments, and Accessories at Indian Motorcycle. “Our thermoelectric technology paired with graphene material is truly a game-changer, and another example of Indian Motorcycle bringing difference-making innovation to the market.”
To accomplish conduction heating and cooling, a thermoelectric module located within the seat directly regulates the temperature. Electricity is applied to a thermoelectric module, causing one side of the module to absorb heat and the opposing side to dissipate heat. By reversing electrical flow, the hot and cold temperatures alternate sides. A graphene material, which is a nanomaterial created from 100% carbon atoms, is then used to ensure the heating and cooling is dispersed throughout the entire seat.
The well-cushioned ClimaCommand Classic Seat delivers unprecedented comfort with Thunderstroke models. Independent rider and passenger controls (low, medium, high) allow the rider and passenger to remain in command of their heating and cooling levels. With no perforations, the seat’s vinyl cover is highly-durable and water and UV-resistant. Passengers can add more comfort with Armrest Pads and a Trunk Backrest Pad, both designed and developed to seamlessly pair with the new ClimaCommand Classic Seat.
It’s important to note that the ClimaCommand Classic Seat is not Ride Command-integrated. However, Ride Command-integrated versions of the ClimaCommand Seat will be available for the 2020 Chieftain and Roadmaster later this year.
The ClimaCommand Classic Seat is now shipping to dealers and available at IndianMotorcycle.com.
In addition to the all-new ClimaCommand Classic Seat, Indian Motorcycle is introducing an array of new parts and accessories for Scout and FTR 1200 models. New Semi-Rigid Scout Saddlebags allow Scout riders to pack for the long haul, while FTR 1200 riders can select from high or low mount carbon-fiber Akrapovič exhaust options, several new airbox tank cover options, new billet aluminum Rizoma mirrors, and a carbon fiber nacelle to enhance the high-performance design of the FTR 1200.
1. An online Motorcycle magazine took a test ride on one. The conclusion was that the cooling function doesn’t work great once heat soaked, and never feels cold.
2. Different riders live different places. If I lived in a place where the weather was over 100 degrees for extended periods, I’d pay more for a cooled ass.
3. Different people do different styles of riding. This seat makes sense for distance riders.
4. This cheapskate won’t be forking over $1200 for a seat. For a new used bike, yes, but not for a seat.
One thousand two hundred dollars for a motorcycle seat.. really.. that’s nuts. Maybe for someone with more money then brains. As a long term motorcycle rider from 1970 I believe we are watching the end of this fun sport for the working person.
Grover said it here.. “just get a Mazda Miata”. As for me I bought a used 2016 smart with the 898cc 3 cyl. turbo charged engine that has the 5 speed manual trans. Pure fun to drive.. trust me. I still like motorcycles.. but the manufactures need to build and price machines that people can afford.
And just like that, chaps finally make sense outside of the world of kink.
I Vibrider is only 129 bucks!
I’ve used evaporative cooling collars for years. Living in the desert, the fight against heat is serious business. Evap collars and vests work fine, but only last for a limited time before needing to be re-soaked. There are ice-pack vests, and phase-change vests, but I haven’t tried them. Probably less messy than the evaps, but more difficult to re-charge on longer bike trips.
I’d love to see a Peltier cooling vest, but couldn’t find any. Apparently the technical challenges of a Peltier vest are still a bit daunting. Did see some recirculating water vests.
Vests are inexpensive, and effective for specific settings, but it’s one more thing to pack, store, wear, etc.
For grins, I put on my riding gear and sat on a bag of frozen veggies to test the cool-seat theory. My buns felt the cooling effect, and actually got too cold for comfort in just a few minutes. The concept is viable, depending on whether the seat temp can be regulated. I’m not certain that enough heat can be dissipated in this manner to keep a rider fully comfortable in elevated temperatures, but it definitely should help.
Although the price is a bit steep for my budget, I think this is a great idea that will work well for a number of riders. Love the innovation!
“… the conspicuous consumer spends money to impress other people and to ensure that others are well aware of the spender’s socioeconomic status.” Thorstien Veblen
Conspicuous consumers are mostly people without any real wealth.
John Steinbeck had a young man helping him with some chores. Steinbeck asked the man to go to town for some supplies, and the man said he’ll change his dirty shirt first. Steinbeck was surprised and said to “Just go as you are!” Young man said “You got to be awful rich to dress as bad as you do.”
Who would buy a motorcycle seat to impress other people? Motorcycling is a solo adventure. You are sitting on the seat most of the time and people can’t see it. No one knows there is anything special about it unless you tell them there is something special about it.
Maybe it should come with a free t-shirt that says, “My goodies are more comfortable than yours!”
That may well be true, but somewhat inapplicable here. I really don’t expect Indian to slap big “COOL BUNS” logos all over the bikes equipped with these seats.
The bike itself might be “conspicuous”, but the seat won’t be.
Great invention but for much less you can get a Corbin manufactured with heat and cool all built to suit the riders height and weight https://www.corbin.com/indian/
When did motorcycle riders become such pansies? Most of you should just get cars, the wind bothers you, the buffeting bothers you, engine heat bothers you and the list goes on. Thought whole idea of a motorcycle was to be in the wind and of course it’s hot you got a motor between your legs duh!
Wow wtf has happened to pansy motorcycle riders?? Why not just get a car!
Some of you guys…good grief. I’m not sure there are many touring riders out there that haven’t heard of “Monkey Butt”. A cooled seat would be awesome. MANY people already pay >$1000 for a custom aftermarket touring seat. $600-900 for a Sargent semi-custom heated seat. The extra comfort of a cooled seat would certainly add a lot of value for a touring bike.
Personally, just running ambient air through it would have probably been good enough, but actively cooled would be awesome.
$1200 on a $25k-35K bike for such an accessory is a no brainer. If you’ve got the cash for the bike, that’s a reasonable price.
If it works, and you can definitely feel it through your riding gear, then I agree, a chilled seat is well worth the $$ on an already expensive bike. A heated seat is a no-brainer, and I already know those do the job.
Thing is, I have my doubts that the rider will be able to feel any cooling effect through his gear. I would definitely need to sample it first before plunking down the $$ for it.
You may be right. A cooled seat might be a real game-changer in terms of the dreaded Monkey Butt. I certainly know from experience that once my nether regions get sweaty (sorry to be so graphic lol), it’s hard to sit comfortably, regardless of what kind of riding pants I’m wearing, or what kind of riding shorts I’ve got on underneath.
I’d rather take the low tech route and spend a couple hundred bucks for an Alaska Leather Sheepskin seat cover. It will keep your butt warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
This is good. Those big Indians are nut roasters.
ClimaCommand Classic for the mass’s asses!
A $1200.00 seat for an adult tricycle? LOL at the wasted money on stupid accessories. If I am still riding when I’m old enough to buy a cruiser, I won’t need a cooling seat. I’ll just dampen my depends the old fashioned way.
A $1200 seat?
Designer handbag for cruisers.
$1,200? Clearly you don’t reconcile your accounts. Last handbag on our account was $3,000+
Good night. To me THAT is an example of conspicuous consumption.
I won’t be buying an Indian to get this seat, but I might buy a jacket to get this technology.
I’d be more interested in a small A/C unit with a well focused blower aimed at my chest and face. The behemoth bikes like Indian Roadmasters an H-D Ultras have more than enough power, either electrically or mechanically, to run an electric A/C or a belt/gear driven unit.
Add an optional block off plate with a tube fitting that can be pumped into a perforated jacket for days when you need to suit up. Even a tube to the helmet. Might be more applicable to the big adv beasts since they’re more apt to wear gear.
when the weather turns hot (90+) and you’re several hours from the barn, a cooling seat is worth it. Bravo Indian!
Have to agree with mickey. Heated gear, including heated seats, are great. No doubt. The cooling function of this seat? You won’t even notice it through normal riding gear. It doesn’t actually provide chilled air. It only purports to move warm air away.
That’s not enough. You won’t notice it, either at all, or enough to make a difference.
As it will work by conduction, removing heat from your body as long as you are firmly planted on it, I would assume Indian is catering to riders whose official riding gear is jeans, not a touring suit. So maybe it will be fine for them, but no value to anyone who gears-up.
Riders have adapted to methods over the year without the use of cooled/heated seats. After riding all day one can fill their helmets with ice and use a blue ice in their pants. Monkey Butt is a real threat to a long ride. Use medicated Chapstick to heal chapped skin. But apply rubbing alcohol to quickly heal broken skin. These suggestions are not professional advise but methods used by many over the years. Like everything else on this site, take with a grain a salt. LOL
As a year round rider, a heated seat would be nice. I enjoy the heck out of my Warm-n-Safe heated jacket liner and heated grips on the FJR (with covers…think Hippo Hands, only mine are by Kolpin) when it gets below 40 degrees. Riding well below freezing is not a problem, as long as there is no ice on the road.
Not sure I need an air conditioned seat, but I would give it a try if it came on the bike.
Disturbing use of graphene, and should of been a flat seat. I will keep my collection of light colored terry cloth towels.
Ima wanting a lightweight suit that heats and cools. Aerostich are you listening ?
Based on this technology, if it really works and how well it works, that would be a cool idea. I would think that Gore-Windstopper in the shell would be a requirement so that exterior wind temps would not add or remove heat when you are trying to do the opposite. Would be hot and humid as hell it the tech stops working though.
Based on my 20 year old experience with Aerostitch in Texas hurricane season though, I wouldn’t buy an Aerostitch again. So another brand that doesn’t leak through the Y zipper would be a requirement for me, like my current Rukka which is frog’s-ass water tight.
… and I thought my Corbin was expensive!
Now Indian is taking a page out of Harleys playbook. Vastly overpriced accessories. Additionally, who would even need this, and who would be idiotic enough to pay that much?
I ride in Oklahoma and across the south weather.
100 degree days are the easy ones. 105 degrees plus are tough days.
I need any and everything I can get to stay in the seat.
If this seat will pull body heat out of me it is a huge game changer.
If heat stroke does not kill you it will cost you a hell of a lot more than $1200.
I will have the new seat on my Chieftain very soon, I will let you know how it works.
Don’t be offended if I don’t have pants under my chaps.
I’ve ridden for several hours in indicated 120°F to 126°F across the desert areas of the Western U.S.A. and never felt the need for this type of seat. Having said that, it does not mean it won’t sell to someone just not to me.
And yes, I was miserably hot but the comfort of my ass was the least of my concerns. 🙂 I remember pulling into Vegas on my touring bike where it was only 116°F and thinking to myself, “For this kind of money I could’ve had a nice Miata with AC”…
I still don’t have a Miata but hey, there’s time for that.
Just get a Mazda Miata and be done with it. Sheesh!
Ed freakin’ Zachary, Well put, G man!
You know the older I get the more tempting that becomes…
Better have a Bluetooth app so I can pre-chill my seat before I finish last beer in the bar.
Shhhhh! Now you’ve gone and done it, you’ve ruined the surprise reveling. Sad thing is there are people out there that need this.
never in all my motorcycle riding, when i was either hot or cold, was it my *ss that felt it first. i like the heated seats in my car on a cold day, but i usually dont ride my bike in cold weather with out the proper cold riding gear, that isolates me from it all, at all my body parts. A cold seat on a hot day, cant see how that equates to 2k in money. imho
It’s perhaps more of a commuter thing. Sometimes you go to dinner after work, and it’s cold on the ride home… The heated seat on the RT, was really nice when they came out with it (I believe they were the first, and I thought it was gimmicky as well before experiencing it.)
It’s a bit like the heated grips everyone has now: If you know you are going to ride through Siberia in winter, you’ll dress up in heated winter gloves, so you don’t need them. But when it’s not really “cold”, but you are still a bit chilly, it’s nice to just push a button and get some heat.
Apparently you have never been stuck in traffic on a V-twin KTM or Ducati on a 90+ degree day. A CoolCover ($75) on the stock seat works great but only as long as you are moving. However, I would not pay $1200 for any motorcycle seat unless it came with a motorcycle attached to it.
The heated seat on my RT is a nice, but hardly earth-shaking addition. I could live without it. It would be better if the grips had more heat settings than “hot” and “really, really hot”.
I suppose the cooling feature could be nice just to cool your seat down after it’s been sitting in the sun.
lol the heated grips on the BMW R1200R I rented when I went to Europe also had 2 heat settings (1) I can’t feel it and (2) I can’t hold onto it
The ones on my FJR have 10 settings but you can only use 3 of those so I do 40% 60% and 80%, and only use the 80% when I’m wearing regular gloves without the Kolpin over mitts. On 40% & 60% with the mitts you can wear summer gloves and hands are toasty down into the teens. Like little heated caves for your hands.
“Despite advancements in heating and cooling for seats, we had yet to see a cooling technology that truly eliminated the discomfort of hot-weather”
So, Indian riders are a bunch of p@$$ies?
Time to rip out the AC in your car/truck, you bad@ss!
Or, “Heated grips are for p@$$ies”!
OK, would you buy a car/truck that didn’t have a heater?