Seat for a Boney Butt?

[idcrewdawg]

So I went for my first leg stretch on the new Valk today. 120 miles round trip. Figured I'd give myself a nice little jaunt to see exactly where my priorities would be for accessories.

#1 on the list?! A different seat! The OEM seat is okay for a daily commute or so, but for the distances I want to ride... OEM isn't going to cut the mustard. I've seen the Corbin seat mentioned in a few other threads, and it's a touch pricey, but if the comfort level is there for someone with a boney butt then I'm willing to fork out the dough.

Thoughts?!

[six2go #152]

The Russel Day Long seems to be the Gold Standard around here and they are good. I had one made for my V-Strom and it was great.
However, I found out about these guys and if I get a seat made for my F6B, I think I'm going to give them a try.

http://kontourseat.com/

[_Sheffjs_]

I had a Russell Day long on my 1500 Valk and I doubt that you can go wrong with Russell. Have the Corban now on the new 1800 Valk  and extremely pleased so far. I'll bet that Russell is better.

[goldstar903]

After checking out their site, they seem to be the best logically, and their warranty is unbeatable! In regards to the Kontour seat

[R J]

I had a Russell Day Long on MGM for like 19 years.

They refurbished it once for me and it was still going strong.

It had over 100,000 miles in the 2 builds and I wouldn't of been afraid to take a 10 day, 400 plus mile days and not have a butt burn.

[rogueleader_92]

People keep saying russell day long but when i check the website all I see are the goldwing and f6b seats, no valkyrie seats. Please explane.

[idcrewdawg]

People keep saying russell day long but when i check the website all I see are the goldwing and f6b seats, no valkyrie seats. Please explane.

I chaulked it up to the style is too new for us new model riders, and all the references to the Russell Day seats are for older Valks.

I looked at the Corbin, and the Kontour, and Corbin seems to be the only one making a seat for our model year.

[R J]

They have Gold Wing pans in stock.

Valkyrie they use your old pan.

Ya have to ask them how long, how much $$$ and what measurements they need.

Trying to remember. but it seems like mine took about 3 or 4 weeks.

[bscrive]

When I inquired on getting my seats done, they said that it was $600 for both seats.  I am getting mine done as soon as the riding season is over.  I will post pics at that time.

[_Sheffjs_]

People keep saying russell day long but when i check the website all I see are the goldwing and f6b seats, no valkyrie seats. Please explane.

I have called them. As soon as they do one it will be posted with a pic.

[ledany]

When I inquired on getting my seats done, they said that it was $600 for both seats.

I'm so glad to have an iron butt !

[_Sheffjs_]

When I inquired on getting my seats done, they said that it was $600 for both seats.

I'm so glad to have an iron butt !

I got the Corbin for the one that sits behind me, it was almost double that price!   

[goldstar903]

Ledany, it must be all those croissants that you eat!   

[hubcapsc]

None of y'all has discussed the OP's bony butt... 

I like my Corbin seat. There's a lot of good things to say
about its shape, the way is distributes your weight, the way
it looks... It is... stiff... though. Hard, even. Not a soft
cushy seat. After a tank of gas, I'm happy to be off the seat for a
bit. After a couple of tanks of gas, I'm happy the day is over... some long
days last longer than 400 miles (two tanks of gas)...

If I'm ever in a position to get a Russell, I'm tempted to give it a try.
Russell can install a backrest in (some?) driver's seat pans... I have
a Utopia (great backrest) driver's backrest on my OEM seat, but it
installs on the pillion seat pan. A draw for me would be if Russell
could install a backrest in the Valkyrie's rider seat pan, and then
we'd be able to run our bikes solo... I thought that
a Russell, especially with a backrest and with covering the
pillion (my wife likes the 1500 Valkyrie's Ultimate pillion much
more than the 1800's Corbin pillion), would be a lot more
than $600...

I read the Kontour web site, it seems interesting.

-Mike

[idcrewdawg]

None of y'all has discussed the OP's bony butt... 

I like my Corbin seat. There's a lot of good things to say
about its shape, the way is distributes your weight, the way
it looks... It is... stiff... though. Hard, even. Not a soft
cushy seat. After a tank of gas, I'm happy to be off the seat for a
bit. After a couple of tanks of gas, I'm happy the day is over... some long
days last longer than 400 miles (two tanks of gas)...

If I'm ever in a position to get a Russell, I'm tempted to give it a try.
Russell can install a backrest in (some?) driver's seat pans... I have
a Utopia (great backrest) driver's backrest on my OEM seat, but it
installs on the pillion seat pan. A draw for me would be if Russell
could install a backrest in the Valkyrie's rider seat pan, and then
we'd be able to run our bikes solo... I thought that
a Russell, especially with a backrest and with covering the
pillion (my wife likes the 1500 Valkyrie's Ultimate pillion much
more than the 1800's Corbin pillion), would be a lot more
than $600...

I read the Kontour web site, it seems interesting.

-Mike

Thanks Mike!

I've ordered a Corbin with a passenger backrest. I'll reply here with my thoughts on it after I get it installed and a few rides in.

I looked at Kontour, and they don't make backrests for their seat. They, much like Russell Day Long, need your seat pan to make a seat for you. My bike is my daily rider, as well as for fun rides, so giving up my seat pan for as much as a month isn't really an option for me.

Ride Safe,

Randy

[ledany]

Ledany, it must be all those croissants that you eat!   

I'm sorry it tell that though I like croissants, I'm slim ; not skinny, rather lightweight (66 kg) and I suppose it's the reason why the OEM seat is good enough for me 

[TallRider]

For a Russell seat you need to send yours in. The style is the way you design it. The general shape of the seat will be the wide back with a narrow horn. The key to the seat comfort is the support on your buns the seat is cut away to relieve the pressure on your thies when your legs are down supporting the bike at stops. My Corbin causes pressure and discomfort when I am at a stop after a long stretch stopping at a light and starting again causes cramps in my leg some times. The Russell seat does not do this and if you look at their design you will see that unique feature in their seats. The seat is cupped so you fit in it like a spoon. Not flat or contoured like most seats. Corbin significantly increased the padding for mine but the general shape is flat. I can drive longer but still have problems after about an hr or so. Stopping for a stretch helps and is much better than oem. I am 6'4" 225 lbs. The wide flat 6 makes you keep your legs more straight down and or stance wider to clear the foot pegs. V twins or in line you can keep your knees in and legs forward a much more natural stance. Some may keep there feet more to the rear. In either of these cases this pressure on your this causes stress on your hips. For me that causes a problem and cramping. Oh OK my age to I guess.  Best of luck on your choice. I have never seen a complaint on a Russel for comfort.

[_Sheffjs_]

I'm sure the Russell will be the one,  I am very anxious to see it on an 1800c

[ugelstad]

I'm still hoping Ultimate will make a seat for the new Valk.  Dez said he would re-evaluate making one in January.  I looked at the Corbin at Sturgis ($500) and didn't think it was enough of an improvement.  If Ultimate is a no go, I will have to consider a Russell Day Long.

[TallRider]

Ultimate may be comfortable. I've seen them on several used bikes when in the bike shops. To big and bulky, not much style for the most part. Did not think the Ultimate would fit the Valk looks.

[R J]

Ultimate may be comfortable. I've seen them on several used bikes when in the bike shops. To big and bulky, not much style for the most part. Did not think the Ultimate would fit the Valk looks.

Apparently it did for MGM as I had an Ultimate on it from the 1st batch of seats he build for them and it is still going strong.

Son owns the bike now and loves the seat.

[TallRider]

Talking about the 2014 model Valk. They look good on the cruiser style as well as the Goldwing. Not knocking the seat. It's a proven good product. As most aftermarkets. It boils down to taste and ultimately comfort.

[Robert]

Although Russel seats have always been a good seat and support quite a few here I agree that the size of the seat does not fit the looks of the new Valk. The Corbin is fine and actually comfortable and looks very good, for me it really didn't take long to break in and now I love it. If you use a preservative on the surface of the leather it helps to break it in faster and makes it more comfortable. I didnt have the backrest in this pic but now with the small oval backrest and the carbon fiber back its great to look at and great to ride. Its hard to see here but it fits the lines of the bike nicely.

[nerider2]

I called Mark Hart at Hartco Seats in Florida and he rebuilt the stock seat, and added a rider's backrest, so far so good. 

I have had Russell seats, Mustang seats, Hartco/Diamond seats, and Corbin seats on the 1500s.  All great seats, far better than stock, and you should be happy with any of these.  In order from firmness to softness, I would rank them, Corbin, Mustang, Hartco/Diamond, then Russell.  I have a slight preference to Hartco, my wife prefers Mustang.

I shied away from the Corbin because of the posts I read that it moves you back, away from the bars, and no easy way to move the bars back.

Both Ultimate seats and Mustang seats told me they would not be making seats for the 1800 Valkyrie.  I had not heard of Kontour seats until this post.