Seats?

[XXTi]

What seats are you guys using?  My wife and I took a 200 mile ride today and our butts were aching before we got back home.  The stock seats are comfortable to start with, but they almost seem too soft after a while.  We may need to have the seats reworked or replace them with an aftermarket set.

I'll be interested in hearing what you guys find comfortable.

Thanks,

[BF]

Seats are like oil & filters.......there are about as many opinions as there are brands.  I myself, primarily use a Mustang, but rotate that out with a 2000 & up seat from time to time.  The Mustang gets used mostly 'round town (which is most of the time) and the 2000 & up for longer rides/trips.  Although it puts me more forward than I like, it is more cushy and comfy. 

[vanagon40]

I candidly admit that my wife and I have never ridden over 300 miles in a single day (and I have not made many miles over that solo).  That said, I challenge anyone to post a more comfortable passenger seat.  I made the passenger seat from a stock front seat from a pre-2000 Valkyrie.  My cost was less than $40.00.  The front seat is a Diamond seat I purchased second hand for about $60.00.  It's not really pretty, but both my wife and I find it very comfortable for about $100.00.

The Diamond seat is the same manufacturer as Hartco.

[Ghost]

I like the mustang alot, on a stock seat for the 98 model i could only ride about an hour and have to stop. With the mustang i can ride all day. I still would like to try the Ultimate but that will have to wait until i can get a good buy on one.

[Lyn-Del]

On my 1999 standard, I find the stock seat comfortable for over 500 miles a day.  On the 1999 interstate, I've ridden over 50000 miles on the stock seat in relative comfort, but am planning to try out an Ultimate at Inzane.   I have Ultimate seats on two other bikes, and Wizard has one on his.

We both found Corbin to be PAINFUL.  I've not tried any of the other brands.

[Quicksilver]

I have a 1997 Standard with stock seat. Bought the bike in April this year. Took my first 3 day ride and found it got very uncomfortable. Recently I pulled the cover off and found the plastic that covers the foam had shifted beneath the cover and bunched up near the nose of the seat. This plastic also prevents water from entering the foam, so the foam was damp. I put a 1/2" piece of foam ground mat I picked up at army surplus over the top of the foam seat cut to shape. I reattached the cover using a staple gun. This gives me a firmer seat and also helps to keep water from the foam underneath. I also got a slight increase in seat hieght. I'll be on a 4 day run this week and will see if the mod works for me, it seems to so far.I guess the bottom line is, if you don't like the seat
 you' re on, thay can be modified fairly simply without getting into a major purchase.

2 days into my run I found seat wasn't doing the job , so I went to Canadian tire and picked up a gel seat they have for cars. It fits the Valkyrie standard seat like it was made for it. I put it on right away and rode for 2 hours that evening. My but had been aching prior to that. The seat was like sitting on a cloud. Today I installed it on my seat inside the covering, so it looks like it belongs there rather than just on top. Best 46$ I've spent.
Quicksilver

[Willow]

The Ultimate seat is the ultimate seat.

[B]

What seats are you guys using?  My wife and I took a 200 mile ride today and our butts were aching before we got back home.  The stock seats are comfortable to start with, but they almost seem too soft after a while.  We may need to have the seats reworked or replace them with an aftermarket set.

I'll be interested in hearing what you guys find comfortable.

Thanks,

Ultimate seem to have a lot of support; I know a lot of guys riding them ... However, I found a deal I couldn't refuse on a Mustang in Like-New condition. The mustang is treating me well; I rode 3 out of 4 days 8-12 hours this weekend; each day we stopped for 1 meal and gas ... otherwise in the saddle.  Whatever you decide, for long days I would suggest purchasing a sheepskin pad; that will even add comfort to your stock seat $41 for the large model at ChromeWorld http://www.chromeworld.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=7666&categoryID=686

[Hef]

I agree with Willow on the Ultimate seats. I have ridden thousands of miles on various seats and the Ultimate is defintely the best. The only downside is they are not rain proof so you have to cover them when riding in rain. Good luck on whatever you choose. Ride Safe! Hef

[Lyn-Del]

Amen!  If you go with Ultimate (and I do highly recommend these seats!) get the "ride on rain cover" as well.  We didn't, at first, and Wizard's seat got soaked in an unexpected rain overnight.  When he sat on the seat, it squeezed water back out of the seams.

Now we have the ride on rain covers, just have to remember to put them on when the rain chances are there.

[JimL]

I have both Ultimate and Mustang saddles on my Valkyries.  They are both excellent saddles, and I think that an individuals preference may be dictated by ergonomics such as height weight.  My personal preference gives a very slight edge for comfort to the Mustang saddle (I do know that there are those that will vehemently disagree!!).  When it comes to seat height I give the edge to the Ultimate, since it does seem to set you a little closer to the ground.  You can't go wrong with either saddle.

I very much agree with Lyn-Del that the Corbin is the most uncomfortable of the seats I have used....however that may be due to my particular build.

Hope this helps....

[Lyn-Del]

I very much agree with Lyn-Del that the Corbin is the most uncomfortable of the seats I have used....however that may be due to my particular build.

I love it when folks agree with me!!!

It isn't just your particular build, I'm sure.  Wizard and I are most certainly not built alike, and neither of us found it really comfortable.  They told me it took 1000 miles to get the seat to conform to your a$$, I gave up after just over 800.  There's a limit to how much pain I willingly subject myself to.  I bought a stock I/S seat from someone and solved that problem.

[Blackduck KS]

I know what you mean my stock seats where great for town but on long trips not good
I know have ulimate low boy and once I got the back rest set for me it`s been great
but even after it gives me fits so I`m not there is any seats that are any better or worse
personall choice and how long you can stand it? I just make frequent stops to stretch like
setting on the coach at hone eventually I have to move and change positions.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Just another question to throw in the fray. Which aftermarket seats if any will allow you to still use the Utopia driver backrest ?? Thanks, Dave

[Ghost]

Just another question to throw in the fray. Which aftermarket seats if any will allow you to still use the Utopia driver backrest ?? Thanks, Dave

  Well if you are handie you can use it with any seat you want, i just did a little mod to mine and it works fine with the mustang.

[Hoser]

I candidly admit that my wife and I have never ridden over 300 miles in a single day (and I have not made many miles over that solo).  That said, I challenge anyone to post a more comfortable passenger seat.  I made the passenger seat from a stock front seat from a pre-2000 Valkyrie.  My cost was less than $40.00.  The front seat is a Diamond seat I purchased second hand for about $60.00.  It's not really pretty, but both my wife and I find it very comfortable for about $100.00.

The Diamond seat is the same manufacturer as Hartco.

PIc of the 2001 standard seat on my 99.  800 miles from Rapid City home in one day(and part of the night) last year.  No problem! 

[VALK57]

I had purchased a Mustang seat for my last bike and rode hundreds of miles a day with no problem. When I purchased my 99 standard I purchased another Mustang seat for it and have ridden over 700 miles in one day and never had to stop because it was uncomfortable. But that is just my opinion.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I candidly admit that my wife and I have never ridden over 300 miles in a single day (and I have not made many miles over that solo).  That said, I challenge anyone to post a more comfortable passenger seat.  I made the passenger seat from a stock front seat from a pre-2000 Valkyrie.  My cost was less than $40.00.  The front seat is a Diamond seat I purchased second hand for about $60.00.  It's not really pretty, but both my wife and I find it very comfortable for about $100.00.

The Diamond seat is the same manufacturer as Hartco.

PIc of the 2001 standard seat on my 99.  800 miles from Rapid City home in one day(and part of the night) last year.  No problem! 

You should be embarrassed at how clean that garage is.  

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Just another question to throw in the fray. Which aftermarket seats if any will allow you to still use the Utopia driver backrest ?? Thanks, Dave

  Well if you are handie you can use it with any seat you want, i just did a little mod to mine and it works fine with the mustang.

Well do tell. What was required to make it work?

[Ghost]

Just another question to throw in the fray. Which aftermarket seats if any will allow you to still use the Utopia driver backrest ?? Thanks, Dave

  Well if you are handie you can use it with any seat you want, i just did a little mod to mine and it works fine with the mustang.

  I used a torch and heated it and bent it where i wanted, a little sand paper and some gloss black paint. For me i took out the extra bracket to make it shorter.

Well do tell. What was required to make it work?

[Don07tncav]

I've got a Hartco that I had shaved a bit when he built it and it does quite well. Tried a Ultimate and it didn't work out at all for either me or my wife. The stock seat sat better than the Ultimate to us both. My next seat will probably be a Russel Daylong.

(Ultimate refunded our money which was excellent customer service, we returned the seat within his guarantee deadline though.)

[XXTi]

Are Interstate and Standard seats interchangeable?

[BudMan]

I have The Ultimate on my IS and have traded it back and forth with the stock seat to see if it is really that big a difference on long distance rides....  THAT is one test I will NEVER repeat!
Love that Ultimate!
Ride Safe  

[Stitch_in_La]

Standard and interstate seats are not the same.  I have the corbin two up on my interstate, ride it every day and fill up to fill up and am pleased with it.  Haven't had the opportunity to try any others but with my 30" inseam options probably limited anyway.

Charles

[XXTi]

That's good to know.  I thought the Interstate seat would fit on the standard and vice versa.

[Cattman]

The Ultimate seat is the ultimate seat.

DITTO!!  6-800 with no problem and 1200  a few times.