SHOTGUN SEAT FITTING
The Shotgun seat fits most modern analogue mountain bikes – including bikes with steep, sloping or tapered top tubes. It’s even suitable for carbon frames.
Will the shotgun seat fit my bike?
The shotgun seat fits most modern mountain bikes – including bikes with steep, sloping or tapered top tubes. It's even suitable for carbon frames.
The shotgun seat will not fit:
- Electric bikes (check out the Shotgun Pro if you're riding an electric bike)
- Road or gravel bikes (due to the lack of clearance between the front wheel and down tube)
- Cruiser or step-through bikes (due to the lack of clearance between the front wheel and down tube)
- Bikes with a single frame tube
- Some older bikes where the gear or brake cable runs along the top of the top tube (however cables that run elsewhere on the bike are fine)
Shotgun seat measurements
The shotgun seat has a range of adjustment to fit top tubes from 30 – 68mm wide, and down tubes from 30 – 100mm wide. Most modern analogue mountain bikes are within these specifications.
The Shotgun seat fits over the top of your top tube, and secures underneath your bottom tube. The max distance between the top tube and bottom tube of your bike where the shotgun seat mounts can not exceed 210mm.
FAQ
Are you sure the shotgun seat won't fit my e-mtb?
The shotgun seat doesn't fit e-mtb's because of the variance between the top tube and the down tube being too great. We have had a handful of customers who have modified their shotgun seat to fit their e-mtb, but that's not something we can recommend.
Can I use the shotgun seat on my carbon frame?
Yes, we have thousands of customers around the world using the shotgun seat on high-end carbon mountain bikes. The clamping force of the shotgun seat is minimal thanks to the load being shared across 5 points of contact, with each point having moulded rubber frame protection.
Will the shotgun seat damage or scratch my bike?
The shotgun seat contacts the frame in 5 places, with each one of these locations has full rubber-moulded frame protection. Sharing the load across these locations helps to minimise the clamping force required, and the rubber protection means your frame is safe from damage or scratching.
SHOTGUN SEAT INSTALLATION VIDEO
This video is a helpful guide for setting up the shotgun seat, which may help clarify some of the above points.
Shotgun seat installation questions
Q: How do I adjust the width of the shotgun seat, it won't fit my bike!
To adjust the width of the shotgun seat, you'll need to remove the saddle and loosen the bolt that's hidden inside the seat post. You'll only need to do this when you first setup the shotgun seat, see 0:13 in our installation video above.
Q: The shotgun seat is slipping back on my frame – help!
The shotgun seat fits all mountain bikes, even those with steep or sloping top tubes. If the seat is slipping back, then remove the saddle, the foot-pegs and the quick release – and be sure to firmly clamp the top at the same time as tightening the bolt inside the seat-post. You'll only need to do this when you first setup the shotgun seat, see 0:30 in our installation video above. If you're still having trouble, we recommend inserting the quick release into the top slot (rather than further down) as this helps to add more tension, stopping the seat from slipping back.
Q: The saddle of the shotgun seat is rotating – help!
If the saddle is twisting left and right, but the bolts that tighten the saddle itself are firmly tightened – it will actually be the silver seat post that is rotating. To fix this, remove the saddle, the foot-pegs and the quick release – and then ensure you firmly clamp the top at the same time as tightening the bolt inside the seat-post. You'll only need to do this when you first setup the shotgun seat, see 0:32 in our installation video above.
Have an installation question?
If you have a question about the installation or suitability of the shotgun seat for your bike, please contact our customer care team. Alternatively, you could ask our knowledgeable & helpful community of MTB parents over in our Kids Ride Shotgun Facebook group.