Seats needed for Interstate and Tourer

[Tazman11]

Man o man these stock seats ate terrible. I have a VTS1100 and put Mustang seats on it. What an improvement. Going to put new seats on my two Valkyries over the winter, after I figure out what I want/need. I have been reading all of the posted comments and I don’t see a lot of consensus on what is best. I do like the look of the Ultimate seats but I have never had the opportunity to sit on them. I am planning on going to Inzane 2022 and may wait till after I have had a chance to do some test sitting, assuming the attendees will allow me the opportunity.

If anyone wants to chime in with their favorites, please do. Also, if anyone has a seat that they want to sell, let me know. Good seats are not cheap but they are certainly worth the cost if you ride any distance at all.

Thanks in advance.

David Sawyer
Star Idaho.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Russell Day Long 

[gordonv]

I think I've tried 4 different seats now for my IS and Goldwing 1500. Most I sat on before buying. But after putting 300 miles on them, they never worked for me. Only putting long consistent time in the seat made them tolerable.

Now I use an AirHawk, and it's no perfect either, but the best.

IS OEM, Corbin, Saddleman, and Ultimate Big Boy. I'm sure I'm forgetting one other.

I'm going to make my own. I got a Std/Tourer drivers seat. Which I will remove all the padding to the pan. A bag, fill it with spray foam, and sit on it on the pan to form a bowl of my buttocks. Shape and recover it. I've a Mustang rear for my passenger already, to complete the full seat for the IS.

This is to match the best seat I ever rode on, a Corbin for my Shadow ACE T. 8 hrs on a new to me seat, and it was fantastic. One reason I bought the IS Corbin (Shotgun?), but I barely drove it for 2 miles in the city before I changed it back.

[Tazman11]

Great idea on the custom. Certainly fitted to your backside. Who sewed it up for you?

[Tazman11]

Russell Day Long 

Those look fantastic. Thanks. I had not heard of them before.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Russell Day Long 

Those look fantastic. Thanks. I had not heard of them before.

In my opinion, they are the best. They will take a while to get built, and they aren’t cheap. But it’s the best money I’ve spent on my bike.

[Savage]

Also, if anyone has a seat that they want to sell, let me know. Good seats are not cheap but they are certainly worth the cost if you ride any distance at all.

Thanks in advance.

David Sawyer
Star Idaho.

I have a two Ultimate Big Boy Seat Sets - one for a Tourer, the other for an Interstate.
If you want to buy them, drop me a line!

[Jess from VA]

I have Ultimates on my Valks, but rode Mustangs for many years and bikes before that and they are good seats.  They are very similar in form and foam density to Ultimates, but Mustangs are flat, and Ultimates have a raised nose to keep you back in the cockpit.  (causing some testicle ache in some, not me)

One thing to keep in mind, Mustang is the only seat maker who does not make different seats for interstates and std/tourers.  So, you could get one set up, and move it back and forth between bikes. (not counting a sissy pad)

Now you can run interstate seats on standards and via versa, but the larger/bit longer std/tourer seats rub the interstate tank a bit.  And the other way leaves a bit of space from seat to tank.  

Swapping out driver's seats is super easy with a single key turn and snap down.  And the back is not much harder with a couple bolts.

[RonW]

'2000 and later Tourer seats are shaped better.

[Tazman11]

'2000 and later Tourer seats are shaped better.







A picture is worth 1000 words. I did not know the seat shape changed. Honda must have gotten feedback from owners. Both of mine are 1999s.

[..]

HARTCO!

I had one on my last tourer.

750 mile day. No problem. Like a Lazy Boy on a bike.

[RonW]

"A picture is worth 1000 words. I did not know the seat shape changed. Honda must have gotten feedback from owners. Both of mine are 1999s."


I'll mention that I'm able to sit on the high portion of the seat to see above the windshield when running into wet weather. Well, not for a hundred miles but for a reasonable miles.

[gordonv]

Great idea on the custom. Certainly fitted to your backside. Who sewed it up for you?

If you where asking me about who sewed it, I haven't made it yet. But to the best of my knowledge it's stapled onto the underside of the pad.



A pic of my Corbin on an ACE T. Notice how it's like a bowl, indented.

[Tazman11]

I have a two Ultimate Big Boy Seat Sets - one for a Tourer, the other for an Interstate.
If you want to buy them, drop me a line!
[/quote]

Email sent

[jdp]

I have a Corbin seat for an interstate if your interested,it’s blue with black trim and some sort of studs around the edge , I love the seat but it’s blue I like a black seat, i can send you pictures of you send me a phone number , I can’t figure out this photo on this website

[Valkorado]

HARTCO!

I had one on my last tourer.

750 mile day. No problem. Like a Lazy Boy on a bike.

+1 on Hartco.  Have one on my Bullet.  It's not the prettiest Valkyrie seat out there, but it is wide like a Russell and provides that same thigh support.  Very comfy!  

[VALKMAN]

I have a Mustang set with driver backrest that I took off of my interstate. Will entertain a fair offer with actual shipping cost for them. From previous owner, I am am just a fan of Ultimate.

[Tazman11]

I have a Mustang set with driver backrest that I took off of my interstate. Will entertain a fair offer with actual shipping cost for them. From previous owner, I am am just a fan of Ultimate.

Message sent

[Mtn Valk]

After 9 years, I finally upgraded my Corbin seat (IMHO) on my '97 R/W Tourer. New seat is an Ultimate Big Boy w/adjustable backrest, and all I can say is that it's a "new day". I haven't taken a long trip yet, but it does make an hours ride quite comfortable vs the Corbin. I also "stay put" instead of constantly sliding forward. I do have an Alaskan sheepskin cover that I've used for years on my Corbin and that made a tremendous difference on trips.

[MarkT]

Russell Day Long  

Those look fantastic. Thanks. I had not heard of them before.

In my opinion, they are the best. They will take a while to get built, and they aren’t cheap. But it’s the best money I’ve spent on my bike.

Ok Mark your calendar. Today is the day I agreed with something Meathead said.

I have a Russell DayLong on my 97 Tour Jade, set up for long distance touring.  Has over 50 convenience, safety and comfort mods - bling not so much.  (Here's a list of the mods - http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107621.msg1078206.html#msg1078206 )

 I have 4 Valks - 3 of them in my signature below.  The Russell is made for my weight, inseam and posture.  I sent them pics of me on a Valk, with co-rider, and it was built for me.  It actually has a suspension inside, sprung per my ergos.  No it wasn't cheap.  Prior to the Russell, I've had Stock, Modified stock (Rood Saddle Mod on my tech tips page) Mustang, Corbin, and Ultimate.  None cheap except the stock and the Rood wasn't $$ but involved labor.  The Russell is head and shoulders above them all - hands down.

I have done multiple Iron Butt rides (1150 miles under 24hrs) between near Denver and near Milwaukee on the Russell.  I could have continued for much longer if I hadn't arrived.

I should add, seats are very personal as we all have different butts, with different padding and other ergos.  What is great for one rider might suck for another.  One of the best ideas is to borrow a seat from a friend, snap it onto your bike and do a long day ride.  See if it's good for you.  Now the exception to this rule, is Russell.  It's made for you.  I have never heard - in 22 years - of a rider with a Russell made for him that didn't love it.  Now you might get lucky buying one used, if you have similar ergos.  Bruce (DDT) did.  He's on a used Russell now and loves it.  If you don't know, he's the Long Distance Rider Par Excellence in our community.  Retired, in his 70's, mostly rides to live and is approaching 700k on his Valk.  Which has never been overhauled.  He posts regularly usually on the general board.

Here's the best shot I've taken of the Russell.  I provided the graphics, and ran them thru "sew-art" for their embroidery machine.

[Tazman11]

Savage hooked me up with an Ultimate seat that he had available. I absolutely love the style and look of the seat. It is also the size that I was looking to order. I was considering the Russel Day Long seat and it’s price was not bad for the quality that you get. One negative with the Russel, in my opinion, is you have to send them your stock seat for RE manufacture . Probably not a negative for most of us but is is always nice to have the spare or for resale. Also, after buying a bike and a trike, 5 new tires, 2 new helmets, and a box of parts for winter projects, my wallet is getting a bit thin. Savage cut me a pretty attractive price and that was a big motivator at this time.

 I appreciate greatly all of the opinions that I got. Everyone loves their day-long and the company seems to be top notch. Most liked their ultimate seats and they are sized for the rider. I still need a seat for the International Trike and will see how I like the ultimate. If I love it, another will be purchased. If I don’t, I will give the Russel Day-Long a try.

Thanks again for the thoughtful comments and advice.