A motorcycle saddle is a seat for carrying a rider and, possibly, a passenger, and which is attached to a motorcycle behind its fuel tank. In the early 20th century, saddles for horses were the inspiration for the design of saddles for motorcycles, and the term "saddle" was adopted wholesale for the latter purpose. There are several types of saddles used on motorcycles. Most common is the "dual saddle," which is used on the majority of motorcycles today. It allows both the rider and passenger to be seating fore and aft on a single saddle. Dual saddles, that is two saddles, are less common today, but were used extensively early in the 20th century. A recent innovation combines the two, as seen to the right on the R1200RT, where there are two saddles but they are installed adjacent to each other. The solo saddle is used on motorcycles that will not carry passengers. These include racing motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, and certain historic motorcycles.
