Best replacement seat Ultimate, Corbin or other

[shabelj]

Looking to buy a replacement seat on my '00.  Looking for some experience to give recommendations of where to drop my $$grand$$?

[Jess from VA]

Do you you like hard (forever) or medium (that softens up a little), and do you like a raised nose that keeps you back in the cockpit or flat?  And do you prefer leather or vinyl?

[f6john]

Like Jess suggests, it's different for everybody. I have had several Corbin's and several different Ultimates. My taste in seats changed as my weight changed over the years. Thankfully on a downward trend for a few years.

[Willow]

Find some friends that will let you try their saddles.  Different folks have different preferences.

I've had OEM, Ultimate and Corbin.  I've liked them all but the best looking one is the Ultimate.

[Valkorado]

I really, really like the Hartco seat that's on my Bullet.

[Serk]

I really, really like the Hartco seat that's on my Bullet.

As Willow mentioned, different seats for different butts...

But I'm also VERY fond of the Hartco. They don't stock anything, every seat is custom made. You call 'em up, tell 'em how tall you are, how fat you are, your inseam, how big your butt is, etc and they make a seat specifically for YOU.

(I've got two Valkyrie Hartco's, one of which is over 20 years old, and a newer one on my GL1800 'Wing)

[carolinarider09]

I just checked by 2003 Std and I have a Mustang seat.  Never had an issue, always seemed easy to sit on.   Only got about 80,000 miles on it but the other point is my wife likes it as well. 

Oh and its probably about 15 plus years old.  Think I got it at Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, but not sure.   

[msb]

Like others here suggest...different strokes for different folks. Depends on your stature, type of riding you'll do, solo or two-up, etc, etc. Pretty much have to physically try them to get a good idea what's best for you. I've had the stock seat briefly, my current Corbin seat which I purchased new in 2002, and have purchased and tried (and returned) a new Ultimate seat on my 99 Interstate I've had for going on 21 years. I'm probably  one of the few who prefers my old Corbin, which has stood up very well and kept its shape for 200,000 km. I prefer sitting/riding position and support over softness, and the Corbin with backrest is still perfect for me, my 65 year old butt & back, and my not yet 65 year old  Mrs who has been on most of my longer rides over the years in the co-pilot's seat.
And...contrary to what Willow says, the Corbin is without question the best looking of all seats on a 1500 Valk 

[h13man]

2019 I replaced my  20 yr. old 99' OEM with a new post 99' seat set like your OEM. Now from my experience the newer seats fit/feel very similar to the Mustang Wide Tourer I had on my VT1100C Spirit almost like there's not much difference including a touch forward and higher feel. I'm 5'11"/170 lbs. normal  build. I never had issue with the 99' seat style/comfort just wanted to update.

[Jess from VA]

Except if you want a drop in driver's backrest, you want the Mustang, not the post-'99 (and forward) OE seats.  Unless you want to cut it and add the Utopia backrest (which is a nice backrest).

I ran (wide vintage) Mustangs (with backrests) on most of my bikes before Valks, then Ultimate's (Lowboy and Bigboy).

I only ran one Corbin (a block of concrete covered in leather, with no discernible rider pocket you slid all over on).  Though they are the best looking seats made, if you want looks over comfort.  YMMV.  

And BTW, if you're looking at Ultimates, the site recommends Lowboys for most medium and smaller guys (me), and I got one and it's good.  But lots of medium and smaller guys like the Bigboy much better than the Lowboy, even though it's a taller seat.  At 5'9", I get my feet down fine on the Bigboy with standard 13" shocks too.  I like the Bigboy best.

[Serk]

Except if you want a drop in driver's backrest, you want the Mustang, not the post-'99 (and forward) OE seats.  Unless you want to cut it and add the Utopia backrest (which is a nice backrest).

You only need to cut the seat to add a Utopia on an Interstate. On a Standard or Tourer the backest can be added without cutting anything.....

(Getting on a tangent but if you put a Utopia on  Standard or Tourer make sure to KEEP the back seat or a luggage rack or something to act as a brace and don't JUST bolt the Utopia into the rear fender or you WILL leverage your rear fender open.... Been there, done that, how I got to know Daniel Meyer real well...)

[f6john]

We had a guest stop by at the Spring Fling who I met through Facebook market place. He currently owns 6 Valkyries and each one has a Corbin seat because he likes them so well. He has been all over the US on his bikes so in his mind they're not just for looks. I had a solo Corbin seat for sale and he drove all the way from Meridian, Mississippi to get it this past Winter. At any rate, one shouldn't totally discount a Corbin seat until you know it's not for you.

There are a lot of seats I haven't tried so there may be a lot of great fits out there, but for the time being all I have left is an Ultimate which I believe is a big boy. I started with a lowboy and somewhere down the line I traded with  another rider who wanted a lowboy and I thought maybe a different setup would work better for me.

[msb]

We had a guest stop by at the Spring Fling who I met through Facebook market place. He currently owns 6 Valkyries and each one has a Corbin seat because he likes them so well. He has been all over the US on his bikes so in his mind they're not just for looks. I had a solo Corbin seat for sale and he drove all the way from Meridian, Mississippi to get it this past Winter. At any rate, one shouldn't totally discount a Corbin seat until you know it's not for you.

The Corbin works so well for me  @ 6', 220 lbs because it is the perfect height and shape and it also allows me to shift my butt slightly forward when using the highway pegs, and also slightly back when sitting upright. Combined with Cobra floorboards which also allow for adjustments and the backrest, I get to change positions slightly during long rides, which extends the amount of time I can stay in the saddle. Even after all these years, multiple 500, 600 + mile days in a row are not an issue for me. When I purchased the Ultimate Big Boy, it locked me into one position which I didn't like, and the Mrs hated the co-pilot's seat. As far as being hard like Jess says, sure they're hard, but I'll take a stiffer seat with the right positioning over a plush seat that sets you up wrong any time. So yes, there are the odd ones out there like me and the fellow you met who still love their Corbins...for comfort as well as for looks 

[baldo]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Russell Day Long seat. I have one on my 99 and I love it. It's not the best looking seat on the market, but it is very comfortable. I would like it to be a little more 'scooped' to feel more like you're 'in' the seat instead of 'on' it. And if you're carrying a bit more weight than maybe you should, they offer a little more support by placing steel zig zag springs in the base of the foam.

They treat you well, Jay is the guy to talk to....

www.day-long.com

[rCube76]

I have a Corbin (currently) on mine, but had an opportunity to ride another Valk with a Mustang seat for about 500 miles or so over 2 days. Comparing both, I would say Mustang is a better seat !. Never felt like getting off the saddle at any time on long stretches on the Mustang and it was plush and well supported !

When my Corbin is ready to replace, it will be a Mustang.

Good luck !

[The emperor has no clothes]

What's the saying ? Opinions are like assholes ?


I like the Russell