Questions About Recaro Sportster CS Seats

[Bry5on]

I’m the same size as you are and these seats are an absolute perfect fit. For me, just as effective support as the SPG XL I had in a prior car, and I never did fit in seats like pole positions. If you want to be able to recline and move forward/aft, even with the issues, I still think these are the best option.

I took some measurements today and it looks like a custom bracket could bring the seats down ~1/2” below stock height. After a day with the seats installed, I may actually just live with these. My car is a wagon (taller sedan roof line) so I’ve got more than 1.5” clearance to the roof still.

If you don’t care about being able to recline or fold, I’d go with the nogaros. They were a no go for me due to the recline constraint as my car is a DD.

[WestBankM4]

Another follow up. In the lowest setting (no spacers), with the Brey Krause mounts, the seat is 1/2” HIGHER than stock seats low setting. There is clearance to drop the seat 3/4” straight down before the motor would interfere with the seat buckets. More clearance if you also scoot the seat rearward on the rails.

Additionally, I’m 6’3” and the design of the Brey Krause brackets means the seat rails are locked in the furthest rearward position for my seating position. The seats are positioned much farther forward on the rails than the stock ones were, which limits their travel. They should be mounted around 2” farther back.

Overall, I can’t say I’d recommend these brackets. Looks like I’ll be designing and cutting/bending my own replacements soon.

I've had to in the past, design my own seat mount using steel/aluminum purchased at Home Depot. Luckily the OEM brackets from my 1986 Toyota Corolla mounted to my custom base to fit some Brides. I'm a bit worried I'll be doing the same because I am also looking at the CS's and thus far being 6'2, 200lbs, 34" waist, there doesn't seem to be a good solution.

Besides custom building a set Bry5on, you don't have any other leads? May be leaning toward the Nogaro's if push comes to shove which would be a shame because I just love Recaro's and used them in a lot of my previous builds.

[Bry5on]

Another follow up. In the lowest setting (no spacers), with the Brey Krause mounts, the seat is 1/2” HIGHER than stock seats low setting. There is clearance to drop the seat 3/4” straight down before the motor would interfere with the seat buckets. More clearance if you also scoot the seat rearward on the rails.

Additionally, I’m 6’3” and the design of the Brey Krause brackets means the seat rails are locked in the furthest rearward position for my seating position. The seats are positioned much farther forward on the rails than the stock ones were, which limits their travel. They should be mounted around 2” farther back.

Overall, I can’t say I’d recommend these brackets. Looks like I’ll be designing and cutting/bending my own replacements soon.

[Bry5on]

For anyone reading later - the four fasteners needed to mount each (that makes 8 total) sportster cs seat to the Brey Krause mounts are M8x1.25. I’m using 16mm bolts for the short spacer or no spacer, and 30mm bolts for the tall spacer. They’ll need to be hex head as there’s not a lot of room to install using an Allen or torx setup. Combo wrench required.

Hope that helps someone!

[Obioban]

100% agreed. Finding a way to sit in seats before buying is key.

[DoubleSidedTape]

Looking at sizing, the sportster is hard to tell how wide the hips section of the seat is.
pole positions and negaros look like they are about 15inches, or 390mm. I’m worried that’s too narrow for my fat ass, I’m a 38 waste and I think I need 16 inches of space and that’ll be snug. In fact I might be out of luck with buckets and 3point support.

anyone have a measurement on these in the hips area?

You really need to go sit in some seats, either in a car or at a store that sells them. 30 seconds sitting in a Nogaro and I was sold on them but there are plenty of other seats that I knew immediately wouldn’t work.

[TheElite///M3]

just installed mine, i measured the smallest-to-largest area and its 13" to 16" (measuring width from center to bolster). Hope that helps. I hear the Pole Positions are wider

[rkneeshaw]

Looking at sizing, the sportster is hard to tell how wide the hips section of the seat is.
pole positions and negaros look like they are about 15inches, or 390mm. I’m worried that’s too narrow for my fat ass, I’m a 38 waste and I think I need 16 inches of space and that’ll be snug. In fact I might be out of luck with buckets and 3point support.

anyone have a measurement on these in the hips area?

[Obioban]

Fair point, and I imagine the seat mounting hardware is much easier accessed with BK mounts or otherwise. Not a realistic for loading kids into the back though. Good to know the CS has a tilt forward feature, thanks.

The tilt forward on the CS is just a backrest release-- doesn't pivot the base forward, like the stock seat.

My wife can get in the back with the Nogaro if she's not wearing a dress, so I don't think my kid will be a problem, once she's old enough to buckle herself.

[Albino09]

They do have a tilt forward feature.

… it’s only 4 bolts and one plug to remove a seat. I just pull a seat to load/unload tires for the track. Takes 2-3 minutes, and much reduced odds of scuffing up the interior.

Much easier with a 25 lb seat assembly than the stock 60 lb seat assembly 🤣

Fair point, and I imagine the seat mounting hardware is much easier accessed with BK mounts or otherwise. Not a realistic for loading kids into the back though. Good to know the CS has a tilt forward feature, thanks.

[Obioban]

Do the CS's have a quick release forward tilt similar to the stock seat mechanism? Or are you forced to crank the knob at the base 1/8" of tilt at a time? If so, hardly seems worth it versus a fixed back because in practice they are no more useful. Currently I use my back seat to transport my track wheels when I autocross, so I really use the quick release tilt (also for kiddos riding in the back as well).

They do have a tilt forward feature.

… it’s only 4 bolts and one plug to remove a seat. I just pull a seat to load/unload tires for the track. Takes 2-3 minutes, and much reduced odds of scuffing up the interior.

Much easier with a 25 lb seat assembly than the stock 60 lb seat assembly 🤣

[Albino09]

Do the CS's have a quick release forward tilt similar to the stock seat mechanism? Or are you forced to crank the knob at the base 1/8" of tilt at a time? If so, hardly seems worth it versus a fixed back because in practice they are no more useful. Currently I use my back seat to transport my track wheels when I autocross, so I really use the quick release tilt (also for kiddos riding in the back as well).

[Obioban]

Better? Yes. Similar to pole positions? No.

I've always thought sportsters were a bit meh in terms of performance. Look nice though.

100% agreed. They're slighter better than stock (slightly lighter, slightly more supportive) and much better looking.

If you want zero compromises, the CS's are that. But, if the stock seats aren't supportive enough for you, or if you're looking for real weight savings, or if you want to be able to use harnesses properly... they're not that.

[Thoglan]

I need a seat that holds me better on track days. But I still daily the car in the summer. Will these sportsters hold me in better than oem seats? Similar to pole positions maybe? Or no?

Better? Yes. Similar to pole positions? No.

I've always thought sportsters were a bit meh in terms of performance. Look nice though.

[lvm3sm46]

I need a seat that holds me better on track days. But I still daily the car in the summer. Will these sportsters hold me in better than oem seats? Similar to pole positions maybe? Or no?

Best seat for that is the Cobra Nogaro