| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
Hey all- this time around, starting a thread, I've got a pretty important task ahead of me, and I always value the input I get on BW. I've started talks with a couple who own a manufacturing facility nearby that produces aftermarket MC seats of all kinds- they can go from simply reskinning a stock seat to building one from the ground up, actually custom fitting it to the individual and working with the pressure points found in the pelvis, coccyx, etc. Not only do they work with MC seats, but they can produce a seat for about any application- IIRC the venture began with them supplying seats for use in military helicopters. For the immediate future however, and given my experience to date, I'll be focusing on the applications relevant to motorcycles. My questions are these: Who here has purchased something to replace a stock seat on their motorcycle? What was that experience like? How was the product initially, and how did it perform over time? In terms of fitment, were there any medical/orthopedic issues to be addressed? How did your passenger(s) respond to the new seat? In a nutshell, I've essentially been given an opportunity to become their sales director... in the online community of MC enthusiasts, you guys are my "go-to" group, and I'm honored to call many of you my friend. So, friends, what say ye? I look forward to hearing from youn's! The companies that immediately come to mind are Corbin, Le Pera, Sargent, Mustang... | ||
| Thumper74 |
I got the Procycle seat for my DR650. Not a fan for long rides, the material seems to be a little too firm. I bought the foam and cover, then did the labor myself. It was pretty easy. I'm considering replacing it with something else soon, but with a stock tank, I need to stop every 100 miles anyway. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I had two different seats rebuilt by Sargent cycle seats in Jacksonville; one for my 1983 Honda VT500FT Ascot and the other for my 2000 Buell S3. They offer a list of customization options (better foam, reshaping, cover materials, color, etc.) with a price for each modification. Their turnaround time depends on the time of year (they're busy in the winter and less so during riding weather) and I believe there's a price reduction during the slow season. Sargent is good to work with and generally does very good work. For the Ascot seat, I had their "super cell" foam installed for the rider portion and had the seat recovered with a grippy vinyl covering on the seating surface and normal vinyl everywhere else. It turned out well and has held up well over ~12 years with one minor exception. They apparently covered the foam under the cover with material that had a wrinkle in it which now shows through the left side of the seat. I had similar work done to the S3 seat, but it didn't turn out quite as satisfactory. It looked great, but it had a line of beading across the seat at the back of the rider area. If I slipped back on the seat just a little, my butt was resting on this beading which wasn't very comfortable. This is probably just a consequence of specifying stuff over the internet and not knowing exactly how it's going to turn out until you get the seat and ride it for a while. Still, the seat looked nice and If I'd just known it could have been modified without this bead and it would have worked great. Buelltours bought my S3 with this seat and still has it as far as I know. In both cases, I was just trying to make the seat a little better for long-distance riding. The modifications were successful for that on both bikes. The one downside of the seat mods on the S3 is Sargent's "supercell" foam is a much better heat conductor than standard foam. I got a lot more heat from the oil tank after I put the modified seat on my S3. I was able to offset this largely by covering the underside of the seat with aluminum foil HVAC tape. My passenger (wife) didn't do a lot of time on either seat and I didn't really modify the passenger portion (other than a new cover) in either case. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I have the first version on this seat on my Geezer Glide. In stead of having the channel it has softer foam in that spot. It is the most comfortable seat I've sat on. Can ride all day, no hot spots no pain. http://www.rushracingproducts.com/cyclepedic.html | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks, guys... got a day's worth of riding ahead of me, gonna do the Gap and the Cherohala, stopping every so often to sketch out some ideas and outline my proposal. One idea, although not new, is to set up the capability for doing seats "while U wait"- the owner and I have already talked about setting up a mobile operation. Plus, his factory is JUST off one of the main highways heading in/out of town, ALWAYS see bikes rolling there. Keep the comments rolling here, I'd love to hear as many as I can...  | ||
| Pwnzor |
I need to get new padding in my Corbin... or a new seat altogether. I will NOT send it back to Corbin, they are complete dicks. Absolutely awful to deal with. I wonder what it would cost to get it redone with your guy? | ||
| 1st47 |
I built a pad for my wife using a fiberglass mold of the passenger section of the seat. I used Confer foam in 2 layers of medium and firm densities. Stuff ain't cheap but able to put many miles a day with no complaints ! | ||
| Strokizator |
I bought a Russell Day-Long seat for my FJR. Sitting on it feels weird with those side wings but after all day in the saddle I felt great. I wish they didn't need your seat for the mod because there are times I would have preferred my stocker. They are always backlogged this time of year so I think if you make a good seat, people will beat a path to your door. | ||
| Hughlysses |
One idea, although not new, is to set up the capability for doing seats "while U wait"- the owner and I have already talked about setting up a mobile operation. Russell and at least a couple of other guys offer the "while you wait" option, but IIRC you have to schedule an appointment well in advance and then ride to their shop. That does allow them to see you sit on the bike, talk to you about what you want done, take measurements, make preliminary mods, let you sit on the bike and try it, they make changes if necessary, then they finish the seat and make it look nice. The alternative is you take photos of yourself and passenger on the bike from the front and side, and send them in with the seat, some measurements, and a description of what you want done. I'd imagine the "while you wait" service results in a much better seat than ordering it over the internet. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
This is one of the best things ever when it comes to a seat cover. It just stretches over the existing seat cover. Put it on when its hot. Take it off when it gets cold...  Sit & Fly net seat cover. http://roeyamit.wix.com/sitandfly I have used a beaded seat cover for years. The Sit and Fly works ask good if not better. Keeps the backside cool and dry on those long, hot summer rides. When it becomes a wet ride. You dry out a lot faster. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
They even have a video | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Where you get that from Mark? Looks like a great idea. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I bought mine from Procycle. I don't know who else has them but I would think someone else would have them on the shelf. I just cant find them. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sounds like this is the first product Brad's guy should stock.  | ||
| Afsoc_commando |
I bought the largest sitandfly cover and it will Not fit my Uly XT seat. That was last year so I do not know if they have larger models since then. Buddy of mine has the DR650 with the SITandFLY cover and loves it over his bead rider, cheaper, dries quicker and sits lower on the seat while providing great air flow. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Alternatively get a large roll of nylon twine & a couple of welding rods, throw the lot at your granny & say "Get knitting" here's the pattern."  Just make sure you stop her in time or you might end up with something like this.  | ||
| 86129squids |
Fun stuff, Mark- I'll take a look at that after the sunset... Matthew, please stand by.  | ||
| Steveford |
I've always used Corbin but they're not the same company after Mike sold it. My last purchase was for my X1W and they put the mounting post hole in the wrong spot, they asked for photos compared to a stock seat and then told me that I needed to push the seat in further like I don't know how to mount a seat. I ended up having to relocate the seat latch in the rear sub frame. I won't use them ever again. | ||
| Glitch |
Good luck Brad! | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks Glitch! |
