Which Seat?

[John J]

I have a 2002 standard and find the seat a little hard for long trips. Is there a gel seat on the market for a Valk or can anyone recommend a seat that is softer but still wide like the original? Thanks for any input.

[MP]

Ultimate is good, Russell Day Long is best.

MP

[Cliff]

Ultimate is good, Russell Day Long is best.

MP

+1

[Jabba]

I have a 2002 standard and find the seat a little hard for long trips. Is there a gel seat on the market for a Valk or can anyone recommend a seat that is softer but still wide like the original? Thanks for any input.

TOO many opinions on this.  I am riding stock, 2002.  I had an Ultimate Big Boy, and I liked it, but not enough of a difference if you ask me, so I sold it for $375.  I'd like to TRY a king boy.  I'd like to try a Russell.  But those are a LOT of $$$.  I think MY problem is airflow, and monkey butt.  I keep intending to buy a beaded seat cushion first.

There is also an option of relieving the seat pan under the spots that are YOUR pressure points, making it a little softer in THOSE areas.  You can often buy a USED OEM seat for $50, and then have not a lot of fear of carving it up. 

I keep wanting to make my own seat out of memory foam, but just never seem to have the time.

Jabba 

[Walküre]

I keep wanting to make my own seat out of memory foam, but just never seem to have the time.

Jabba  

I was going to do that, also, but I keep forgetting it...

[Jabba]

If I run across a deal on enough to do 2... I'll split it with you!

Jabba

[Walküre]

If I run across a deal on enough to do 2... I'll split it with you!

Jabba

Great, but you'll have to remind me....

R

[BF]

I like my Mustang seat. 

So far, I've owned and tried a '97-'99 OEM seat, 2000 and up OEM seat, a Corbin stinger seat and the Mustang. 

Like the Mustang waaaay better than any of the others I've tried so far. 

It does give me monkey butt starting about 100 miles or so, but I need to get off for gas about then anyway. 

[doubletee]

If I run across a deal on enough to do 2... I'll split it with you!

Jabba

Great, but you'll have to remind me....

R

That was good, but I don't think he got it. 

[Jabba]

Oh... I got it.

Now...

Jabba

[G-Man]

Ultimate Kingboy here, and love it!

After a 660 mile ride I had 2 numb spots on my ass from the stock seat.  The numbness lasted for 3 days and I was really scared that I had done permanent damage.  Ultimate just happened to be a vendor at the rally and I agonized about shelling out the dough for the seat, especially without trying it or anything.  Bought the seat on day 4 and rode the 660 miles back home on day 5 and not a hint of numbness came back. 

I also reccommend boxer-briefs.  I tend to sit right on the edge seam of briefs and this causes a lot of discomfort.  Boxers have too much material that can fold on itself also causing discomfort.  The boxer-briefs take care of this.  Aaaand, take the wallet out of the back pocket.

[Foozle]

Before you drop big bucks on a new saddle, consider trying a good quality sheepskin on your 2002 OEM seat.  I found it made a huge difference on long hauls.  Terry

[sandy]

As Foozle said: I have an Alaskan Leather sheepskin. It makes a great difference on my Corbin seat.

[roboto65]

Now call me cheap LOL cause uhhh thats what I am !!!!
Heres my Sheepskin seat cover 

This is what it looks like before.

And after you cut the threads half way around.


And the under shot shows it is real Sheepskin

Of course this was a washmitt from the local Auto parts store!!

[KerryNolan]

I have a 2002 standard and find the seat a little hard for long trips. Is there a gel seat on the market for a Valk or can anyone recommend a seat that is softer but still wide like the original? Thanks for any input.

TOO many opinions on this.  I am riding stock, 2002.  I had an Ultimate Big Boy, and I liked it, but not enough of a difference if you ask me, so I sold it for $375.  I'd like to TRY a king boy.  I'd like to try a Russell.  But those are a LOT of $$$.  I think MY problem is airflow, and monkey butt.  I keep intending to buy a beaded seat cushion first.

There is also an option of relieving the seat pan under the spots that are YOUR pressure points, making it a little softer in THOSE areas.  You can often buy a USED OEM seat for $50, and then have not a lot of fear of carving it up. 

I keep wanting to make my own seat out of memory foam, but just never seem to have the time.

Jabba 

I think memory foam would not be bad idea. One of the main reasons for discomfort while riding, is that certain seats tend to lock you into one riding position (like highly dished out seats), and are difficult to shift positions on. Memory foam would exacerbate this problem, and also add the problem of being uncomfortably hot. Anyone who has tried to sleep on memory foam knows that it stores heat, and doesn't breath well. There's nothing comfortable about sinking into a hot seat, and not being able to shift your position around at all. I'm sure there's a good reason seat makers don't use the stuff.
Kerry

[John J]

Thanks a lot for the comments. I like the idea of trying a sheepskin (that hadn't even occurred to me) as I would only need it on the longer trips and could stick with the OEM on day to day stuff and a lot cheaper too. I'll certainly give it a try - thanks.

[Jabba]

I think memory foam would be bad idea. One of the main reasons for discomfort while riding, is that certain seats tend to lock you into one riding position (like highly dished out seats), and are difficult to shift positions on. Memory foam would exacerbate this problem, and also add the problem of being uncomfortably hot. Anyone who has tried to sleep on memory foam knows that it stores heat, and doesn't breath well. There's nothing comfortable about sinking into a hot seat, and not being able to shift your position around at all. I'm sure there's a good reason seat makers don't use the stuff.
Kerry

Well, I can blame the expense of it for WHY they don't use it.  CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP.

I don't think THICK memory foam would be good either.  And I think I still want to use beads for airflow.

But I agree with you.  It might suck, and would only be an experiment. 

There are a TON of things I want to TRY, but never seem to have time for...

 

Jabba

[RLD]

If you want to try the http://www.alaskaleatheronline.com/servlet/StoreFront, use "deadsheep" for a 10% discount. I do not use it on my Valk as my stock seat works fine for me, but it was a life "butt"  saver on my KLR. Actually preferred it over the Corbin that I bought, tried, and sold.

[bigdog99]

Before you drop big bucks on a new saddle, consider trying a good quality sheepskin on your 2002 OEM seat.  I found it made a huge difference on long hauls.  Terry

terry, do you have a link for what you got?