Ultimate Lowrider seat query

[Knapdog]

I am considering the Ultimate Lowrider seats, not just because they have great reviews but as they also come with the option of a backrest.
When I first sat on a Valkyrie in a dealership they had two bikes, one with standard seat and the other with an aftermarket seat.
This is the aftermarket seat on the actual bike....

Is this an Ultimate seat? ........  I hope not.



 
Worryingly,  I preferred the standard seat  because the above was so wide it was splaying out my legs and I didn't feel my legs were so well planted on the floor. It was very comfortable but I didn't feel comfortable with that wide part at the front. I have a 30" leg.
Do all aftermarket seats feel as if they're a bit on the wide side or is the Ultimate a bit different? Thank you.

[hubcapsc]

Two popular aftermarket seats that are very different are
Ultimate and Corbin.

There's three different kinds of Ultimate.

Your picture is an Ultimate.

There's two different kinds of OEM seats, the first
one was awful and the later one is pretty good.

-Mike

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

I have a Valk here at the moment (JJ's for a refurb) with a Ultimate and backrest. We can try it on yours see how you like it before spending. PM me if you like.

[Jess from VA]

I believe your picture is an ultimate lowboy (with studs).

The Ultimates are raised at the nose (more raised than wide); many like them for keeping you back in the pocket, but some don't.  I ride Ultimates on non lowered Valks with my 29.5" legs and have no trouble getting my feet down (and my balls don't ache).

An aftermarket backrest can be added to the stock seats (and later years are much better than early years), but I believe you have to cut the seat to add them.  Utopia backrests seem to be universally loved by those who have them.  https://www.utpr.com/hondalinks.html

Mustang Wide Vintage for Valkyrie is very similar to Ultimate, but they are flat and not raised at the nose, and if you buy one slotted for a driver's backrest, it will take a Mustang (or Ultimate) backrest (and visa versa).  I ride Untimates (bigboy and lowboy) but I prefer the Mustang driver's backrests with them.  Also, Mustang is the only aftermarket seat maker which does not sell different seats for Interstate vs Standard and Tourers (one size fits all).  This makes finding used Mustangs (with backrests) easier. Ultimates and Mustangs come new about equally firm, but both break in over time.

Corbin sells seats with backrests.  They are made of concrete and covered in leather, hard as a rock, never break in, and have no pocket (just a gradual slope up in the back), so you slide all over them while riding.  But they are probably the nicest looking aftermarket seats sold.  Some like them (but you can tell I don't).

[Chrisj CMA]

There’s a big difference between the Lowrider in your picture as opposed to say a big boy or The larger flatter models. If it felt real wide (the one you sat on) then I doubt it was a Lowrider. 

[Knapdog]

I have a Valk here at the moment (JJ's for a refurb) with a Ultimate and backrest. We can try it on yours see how you like it before spending. PM me if you like.

Just wondering where you're located, Steve.

Some great advice from members. Thank you.

[spurliner]

I believe your picture is an ultimate lowboy (with studs).

The Ultimates are raised at the nose (more raised than wide); many like them for keeping you back in the pocket, but some don't.  I ride Ultimates on non lowered Valks with my 29.5" legs and have no trouble getting my feet down (and my balls don't ache).

An aftermarket backrest can be added to the stock seats (and later years are much better than early years), but I believe you have to cut the seat to add them.  Utopia backrests seem to be universally loved by those who have them.  https://www.utpr.com/hondalinks.html

Mustang Wide Vintage for Valkyrie is very similar to Ultimate, but they are flat and not raised at the nose, and if you buy one slotted for a driver's backrest, it will take a Mustang (or Ultimate) backrest (and visa versa).  I ride Untimates (bigboy and lowboy) but I prefer the Mustang driver's backrests with them.  Also, Mustang is the only aftermarket seat maker which does not sell different seats for Interstate vs Standard and Tourers (one size fits all).  This makes finding used Mustangs (with backrests) easier. Ultimates and Mustangs come new about equally firm, but both break in over time.

Corbin sells seats with backrests.  They are made of concrete and covered in leather, hard as a rock, never break in, and have no pocket (just a gradual slope up in the back), so you slide all over them while riding.  But they are probably the nicest looking aftermarket seats sold.  Some like them (but you can tell I don

.....so are you saying that a mustang drivers backrest will fit in the ultimate seat?

[Jess from VA]

so are you saying that a mustang driver's backrest will fit in the ultimate seat?

That's what I said (and do).  Both have a stab/flat plate mount that goes in the same size slot.  (Not all seats may be made with backrest slots, if not ordered that way, so you have to be sure on any used ones.)

Now I can't be certain that every backrest they ever made in history is interchangeable (for instance the early first few years, the Ultimate backrests mounted with square tubing and square seat slots), but for many years they are interchangable.

Look them up on line and in pictures and you can see.

Ultimate slab mount (not for Valk, but they are all made the same). No choice in pad size.

 

Mustang slab mount (I use in my Ultimates); and Mustang makes a narrow and a wide back pad, and you want the wide, like this one.



The adjustment and design of the stab mount is a little different in each backrest, but both will work, and both will adjust in either seat.  My reason for Mustang preference is it will fit flush with the top of the seat back where I want it.  The Ultimates (for Valk) will not sit flush with the seat back, maybe an inch and quarter or a half space between backrest pad and seat back is a short as it goes.  And I  like the Mustang pad better (firmer).

[spurliner]

Okay. Thanks. I like it flush also .. and I’ve always had a mustang back rest.

[Ron in Buffalo]

I had Hartco seat made last year. Called they asked my and my wife’s measurements never had a better seat.  I guess they make seats for Goldwings.

[spurliner]

….something else to consider I guess.

[steveB (VRCC UK)]

I have a Valk here at the moment (JJ's for a refurb) with a Ultimate and backrest. We can try it on yours see how you like it before spending. PM me if you like.

Just wondering where you're located, Steve.

Some great advice from members. Thank you.

Just outside Abergavenny - Gilwern so maybe 35 miles from you. Here most days

[Knapdog]

Update:

Post 2000 standard oem seat now ordered. Thank you all for your help.

[Bagger John - #3785]

The only aftermarket seat I don't have at the moment is a Russell and I'm going to fix that eventually.

My Tourer has an Ultimate King Boy. There's also a Big Boy setup floating around in my stash, but that seat is in serious need of a re-foam. I've ridden the King Boy for 17 years now (Blondie bought it for me shortly after Des released them) and it's still doing its thing.

There are MANY memories associated with that saddle while it was on my first Interstate and then on my second Tourer. Some good, some not so good. I'll ride it until I can't ride.

My second (current) I/S has a Corbin Dual Tour. My lady friend absolutely loves its passenger seat, though I agree with Jess on the driver end of things. An Air Hawk or Butt Buffer seat pad really helps here.

I'd run a Rumble Seat or a Mustang w/ driver backrest on my current I/S before she started spending time on the back. Either definitely has its place. A Saddlemen Profiler (bought at one of the Ohio InZanes) occasionally got thrown on this I/S or my first Tourer when I wanted to solo for short to medium distances.

Also put a gazillion miles on the stock saddles (Standard/Tourer and I/S alike) though my preference is for something else.

YMMV. Mine's not that good because I keep my right hand in it.  

[SgtSausage78]

hello ..just bought a99 interstate super valk with the ultimate driver /passenger seat ..it came with a backrest but i did not like it at all . i found out the seat is the King size and possibly too big for me.. at 6’1 230 i rarely here that ..

i’m about to ride 4000 miles and need that comfort ..i talked to ultimate and they said the big boy would fit me better but that back rest would be the same as the king one i have albeit fit me better..but i’ve heard nothing but great things about the COMFORT utopia backrest ..i saw one guy one here had the big boy ultimate seat with the comfort utopia backrest and loved it..i messaged him but didn’t hear back

then a lot of guys love there mustangs ..without trying them for a hour each how the hell do i make this very expensive decision ?

i do actually think the king boy i have is kind of comfy but i’ve only done 200 mile days and it’s my back where the issue is mostly even with a kidney belt which helps ..

big boy ultimate with ultimate back rest 600$
big boy ultimate with UTOPia comfort back rest. 600$
mustang seat with mustang back rest ..800$
RUSSEL day long ..sheesh i’ll have to sell a kidney but if they’re the best maybe so1000$ plus

i will be selling my king with the backrest..only 30” inseam if that i reach a little when stopped


im in utah ..headed across south texas to miami ..then to south carolina and back to ohio in mid november

[Dirty Dave]

I have the Ultimate Big Boy seat but seldom use it. Makes my ass look big.....


I prefer, even for long rides, the post 2000 seat on my 97. Still have the original on a shelf somewhere.
The Ultimate is very comfy though.

[ridingron]

I prefer Russell seats myself. I'm on my 5th one. One I put over 100K miles and had it re-covered. I have a solo and a dual seats for my ST1100 and one for my Moto Guzzi. I also have a solo for my Valk. Never used a backrest. Most people are underwhelmed the first time they set on their seat. It is not a Lazy Boy comfort nor a Corbin covered slab of concrete. But after 300-400 miles you realize your butt doesn't hurt.

Some people say they are butt ugly but my butt says they are beautiful!