Trying out the latest seat heater, the GEL-ZAB Warm!

• CT125
• CT125 Hunter Cub

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EFFEX GEL-ZAB Warm Seat Cover

There has been an increase in seat heaters released for motorcycles in Japan since last year or so. Originally popular for automobiles, they are standard equipment especially in Europe and other areas with severe cold weather. They are one of the latest electric thermal protection items and make riding in winter more comfortable by warming the area of the body close to the torso.

The EFFEX brand has now released their latest seat heater, the GEL-ZAB Warm Seat Cover.

This seat heater has a highly durable upholstery and waterproof switch that has passed IP65 waterproofing standards. In addition, with a thorough focus on quality, it uses a film heater that is resistant to wire breakage and has passed a temperature rise test.

Can be used with GEL-ZAB R

As the name suggests, GEL-ZAB Warm can be used in combination with GEL-ZAB R. It is carefully tested and designed to keep the seat warm while maintaining the GEL-ZAB pressure dispersion effect. The combination of the GEL-ZAB's EXGEL material and an electric heater provides enveloping warmth.

This is what it looks like when attached at the same time as the GEL-ZAB R. By adding the functions of pressure dispersion and warmth to the seat, it makes riding in winter more comfortable.

GEL-ZAB Warm can also be used on its own

The GEL-ZAB Warm, when combined with the GEL-ZAB R, offers the best comfort, but it can also be used alone with the optional Velcro fasteners. For those who don't need extra seat cushioning or don't want to increase the seat height, we recommend installing the GEL-ZAB Warm by itself; it has passed 30,000 cycles of durability testing and is waterproof, making it a high-quality seat heater for warm riding.

The thickness of the GEL-ZAB Warm is about 5mm at the largest part, so the effect on footing is minimal if it is used alone. I will touch upon the details later.

USB conversion adapter for easy operation with no wiring required

To install the GEL-ZAB Warm, the included harness is connected to the battery or accessory wiring, but with the optional USB conversion adapter, a USB power supply can also be used. If you have a USB power outlet on your bike, you can use that, or you can connect it to a power bank.

In winter, you may have grip heaters or other electric heating equipment installed on your bike, and depending on the model, the power consumption of the additional equipment may be quite a concern. Especially for small bikes, the amount of electricity generated is already low. But with the GEL-ZAB Warm + USB adapter, such concerns can be eliminated.

Let's try installing it on a Hunter Cub (Trail 125)

Now, let's actually install the GEL-ZAB Warm + GEL-ZAB R on a Hunter Cub (Trail 125). First, we'll thread the GEL-ZAB R belts through the loops on the four corners of the GEL-ZAB Warm.

This is what it looks like when all four belts are threaded through. I also threaded the wire coming out of the GEL-ZAB Warm through one of the loops.

All that remains is to attach it to the bike with the GEL-ZAB R belts. The only thing to keep in mind is to make sure a belt is not in the way of the seat lock. You should be able to attach it without any particular problems.

The next step is connecting to the power supply. The installation itself, however, is very easy. Just connect the included harness to the battery (or accessory) positive and negative. The included harness looks like this. It is rather long, so it seems like it can be used with most bike models.

I was surprised by the clever design of this harness. The length of the wiring is just right, and the best part is that the middle of the wiring is connected with a bullet terminal. There is a fuse for when the round terminals are connected to the battery, and if you remove the transparent cover, you can use the bullet terminal to connect to an accessory power source.

I'm going to connect it directly to the battery with the round terminals. For the Hunter Cub, we'll open the battery lid and remove the battery cover. Then, remove the battery bolts and re-attach them together with the round terminals of the GEL-ZAB Warm. When disconnecting the wires, start with the negative first. When connecting them, do it positive first. This is very important.

Since the harness for the GEL-ZAB Warm is not that thick, I was able to route it through the gap behind the left side cover (air cleaner garnish). Generally, routing wires is quite difficult, but this was very easy.

The installation is completed by connecting the harness to the GEL-ZAB Warm. The connection part can be hidden under the seat. It may be possible to hide it behind another part of the bike's body, but considering that the seat may be lifted up when refueling, it should be installed with some leeway.

Installing the GEL-ZAB Warm alone

Above, I attached the GEL-ZAB R and GEL-ZAB Warm at the same time, but it is also possible to attach the GEL-ZAB Warm by itself. All that is required are two sets of stand-alone attachment conversion Velcro fasteners. Thread the Velcro fastener sets through the loops on the four corners of the GEL-ZAB Warm.

This is what it looks like with all four attached. Now all that is left is to attach it to the seat and connect the harness, just as you would when using it with the GEL-ZAB R.

Easy one-button operation

I've successfully completed the installation, so let's take a closer look at the product. First, let's take a look at the controls. There is a switch on the left side of the GEL-ZAB Warm, and all the controls can be done with this one button.

To turn on the power, press and hold the button. After that, you can adjust the temperature in three levels with each press of the button. The temperature level is indicated by the color of the button: Red = High (60°C ±5°C), White = Medium (53°C ±5°C), and Blue = Low (45°C ±5°C).

The maximum power consumption is 24W. It is quite warm in High mode, but the fact that it uses only 24W makes me feel that it is quite efficient. When I actually turned on the power and rode the bike, it was warm enough even at Low. Out of the various types of electric heating equipment out there, I think the power consumption is quite low.

Impression after test riding

This was my first experience with a motorcycle seat heater, and to be honest, it was warmer than I expected.

At first I ran it on High, but it was too warm and the Low setting was good enough. The day I tried it, it was a little chilly, but as soon as I turned on the GEL-ZAB Warm, I didn't feel the cold at all. Maybe it is because the heat source is close to the center of your body, but it worked great. I did a test run with the GEL-ZAB R on at the same time, and the ride was both warm and super comfortable. You can also push the switch to adjust the temperature when you are stopped.

Even though the maximum power consumption is only 24W, it is very warm. I think it is both very effective and very efficient for an electric heating product.

Comparing seat heights when installed

Lastly, let's take a look at the effect on seat height. I will test it out using a saddle type seat by Out-standing Motorcycles which I impulsively bought recently. Unlike the stock seat, it has a dip, so I thought it would be easier to see how it conforms to the seat shape.

The below photo is the Out-standing Saddle Seat. I chose this seat because the dip helps prevent me from sliding forward when applying the front brake on the descent of a mountain road. It is comfortable, has good hold and the feel is somewhat like a cruiser seat.

First is the GEL-ZAB Warm on its own. It is thin, so it conforms to the seat shape quite well and has almost no effect on the seat height when actually sitting on it. Although the seat has a large dip, I did not feel any impact on the comfort of the seat.

Next is the GEL-ZAB R only. (Speaking of GEL-ZAB products for the Cub, I also recommend GEL-ZAB C. That one is a seat cover type, so it looks nicer.) It has some thickness, but the gel sinks in when you actually sit on it, so it has less effect on the footing than it looks. More importantly, the improved seating comfort is amazing.

And lastly is the GEL-ZAB R + GEL-ZAB Warm. The seat height looks quite high, but that might be because the center part does not conform to the shape of the seat due to the anti-slip portion. Once you sit on it, it feels as high as with the GEL-ZAB R alone. The combination of GEL-ZAB and heater provides the best comfort. You won't need to be afraid of going on long tours in the winter.

Conclusion

GEL-ZAB Warm offers high quality and performance, and when combined with the GEL-ZAB R, it provides amazing comfort. It is the perfect item to fight the coldness of winter.