ULTIMATE...WOW!

[Jersey mike]

So, after almost 2 yrs of thinking about it, I ordered a complete set of Ultimate seats for my '98 Tourer.

They came in today and I was off to the garage like a flash and had them installed in 20 minutes.

After a quick sit, I decided to raise the stock shocks from 2 to 3 and out for a ride I went. I wasn't even off the driveway when I felt the difference and once out of the neighborhood and onto a nice straight road I opened the throttle and felt glued to the bike. A completely different feel in my seat, like it was a totally different bike. Now it feels like there's more to this bike than I was feeling before.

I just hope the shock adjustment doesn't change the handling/cornering too much because I liked the new setting.

It was a quick ride, about 20 minutes since the winds were real high and the roads were still damp in places from recent rains plus I wasn't really dressed for the temps.

All that being said, this was worth the wait but I should have did it last summer. The only thing that will really take a little more getting use to is the backrest, but once I get a few hours in the seat it shouldn't be a big deal.

BTW, the bike LOOKS completely different now too

[dpcarson]

Congrats on the new seats Mike.  We love ours too.  Wife particularly loves hers.  If you ride two up much, My wife would say to absolutely get the fold down arm rests!

[Jess from VA]

They're great seats.

However, a Mustang driver's backrest (stab mount) fits the Ultimate Seat slot perfectly, and for my 5'9" self, I like the fit and adjustment of the Mustang driver's backrest much better than the Ultimate.  It will sit right down flush with the top of an Ultimate driver's seat, and it is firmer and not spongy.  (Low or Big boy, not a King boy) YMMV

It's not a perfect match looks-wise, but 200 guys can look right at it and never see the difference. Looks doesn't matter when it comes to function.  I just happened to have one left over from an earlier bike.



The Ultimate will not adjust lower than this, and I need it flush with the top of the seat, for MY low back.  Taller, bigger guys probably it makes no difference for.


 

[pais]

  Well Jersey, you've went and done it now! I've been sitting on the seat fence since I bought my Valk, Sept. '14. I did  not ride it long before I determined the stock seat sucks!  I want to buy an Ultimate but seem to have a tough time pulling the trigger. You make it sound like a no brainer. I'm just worried I'll buy it and not like it.
   Wondering what seat you bought and what size are you? I am 5'11" and go 275 most days.

[Jess from VA]

Remember Ultimate lets you have a short window to try and return (full refund) if you don't like it.  Accordingly, one needs to order during riding season, not dead of winter.  Also, there are so many of us out there, it would seem very possible to hook up with an Ultimate rider and swap seats for a few hours riding sometime.  

Pais, I would think you'd want a Big Boy for your size.  Some bigger guys swear by the King though it is like 2" farther back. (think reach to the bars) 

The website says the lowboy is for me (at 5'9", 190), and that's what I got and I like it fine.  But when I got a 2d valk, it came with a Big Boy, and I like it better.  Not enough better to pay for a 2d one though, so I ride one of each (and with the turn of a key, I can have either on either bike).  They both are better than any Mustang, Corbin or any stock seat I ever had.  But all butts are not the same when talking seats.

[Jersey mike]

Pais,

I'm 5' 10"....155 lbs w a 33" inseam.

i had the same worries...what if I didn't like it and which is right for me.

Since my 50th is coming up soon i figure i'm not gonna get any taller and since my weight has been basically the same for the last 35yrs I'll go w/ the Lowrider.

One thing I was use to on the stock seat was being able to wiggle around as needed and I debated over going with the Big Boy for that purpose but in the long run I figured I might as well try what the pros recommend for my size,weight and inseam.

The bike has a new feel to it w/ this seat and I'm looking forward to a good long run to really test it.

Next week my daughter has a soccer tournament in Baltimore and if the weather cooperates I'll be riding down for at least one game. Right now she's home w/ her yearly bout of bronchitis and won't be back to school until this Friday, so I hope she's well enough for the tourney.

I know a complete set for the tourer is a big chunk of $$ but just from the quick ride I had last night it was worth it. The bike looks really nice and the feel in the seat of the pants for the bike was completely different and a new kind of fun feeling.

I moved my stock shocks up (#2 to #3) one notch because after I got the drivers seat on, it felt like I was positioned too low and the new setting seemed to level me out.

[Bighead]

I have tried to sit on a Bigboy and a King and neither were comfortable to me. Not enough "Nut Room" on both seats it was pushing the Boys up where they don't belong  so I will stick with My Mustang

[Tailgate Tommy]

I like my Ultimate Big Boy with a Utopia back rest a lot. I just removed the pivot bolt for the Ultimate back rest and installed the Utopia in it's place. Easy.

[dpcarson]

I got mine at the bike rally in Myrtle beach several years back. They let me ride them a day to make up my mind.  I tried both the big boy and the low rider.  I am 5'10" with 31 inseam and the lowrider definitely fit me better and sat me a little further toward to my extra inch of pullback riser really made things comfortable all the way around.  The big boy had more cushion and was a more comfortable seat.  However, I figure the seat will soften up with time.  I have some shoulder and neck problems left over from the military and needed comfort with reach and handlebars more so than with just cushion for the backside.  My wife absolutely loves her seat.  Much better than stock.

[Jess from VA]

And while we discuss the merits of the Low boy and Big boy, you should know, the Low Boy is advertised as one inch under stock seat height, and the Big Boy as one inch over stock seat height.  Now no stock seat in use today (for the age of our bikes) is still at stock height (unless they are still selling new stock seats).  So if your stock seat is is an original '98 (17yo), it is likely closer to the Low boy in height, and a new Big boy will likely be somewhat more than an inch taller than you are used to.

I only have a 29" inseam, and I still like the Big Boy better, but some people get real concerned with getting both feet down flat under all conditions.  I get both feet down fine, but not always perfectly flat on the Big Boy (and this is no problem at all for me).  And I only run 13" shocks on both bikes.  Those who regularly carry a passenger are generally more concerned with flat footing than always-solo guys like me.  

Besides comfort while riding, and fit to your bottom, this is also an issue to consider.

Finally, on the sore nuts issue, it seems about one in 15 or 20 get chronic sore nuts from the raised nose on the Low boy and (a bit less but still raised nose) on the Big boy.  There is no real way to explain this (leaving humor aside) other than the fact that all seats do not serve all people equally.  Perhaps they need to trade boxers for tighty whiteys (OK, some humor here.... but maybe not).  

I love the raised nose on these seats because it puts and holds you in the cockpit, and I do not like a flat seat I slide all over when cranking and banking and hard braking.  On my old CB750K with park bench seat, I ended up sitting on the tank a few times.

[Bighead]

Jess I didn't even ride with the seat just sat on them and after about 30 seconds I knew I couldn't ride any distance on one

[Jess from VA]

Well Big, like I said, there is no explaining it.  A small minority report the same issue, and I don't doubt them one bit.  Perhaps you guys have tennis balls, and the rest of us have normal peanuts.  

Same deal with Corbin seats.  My first IS came with a beautiful, new, extra tooled, studded, silver conchoed, all leather seat, backrest, trunk rest.  Prettiest seat I've ever seen, and I desperately wanted to like it.  But it was as hard as concrete, and after 150 OK miles, it was torture, and I would have given up top secret classified material to get off of it.  And it had no discernible pocket, and I slid all over the place on it. The receipt for it came with the bike and was over $1200.  I got $400 for it after several months of listing (other people apparently already knew about them).  Yet, some swear by them..... not very many.

FWIW, I ran Mustang seats on everything I rode for years and years, and I still think they are great seats.  What mainly sold me on Ultimate was shape and cockpit.  The Ultimate may be a little bit softer than Mustang new (Bigboy more than Lowboy), but they are really pretty close to the same comfort broken in. 

[Bighead]

I have had a Corbin and I liked the firmness Personally can ride longer in a firmer seat than a soft one.

[pais]

Remember Ultimate lets you have a short window to try and return (full refund) if you don't like it.  Accordingly, one needs to order during riding season, not dead of winter.  Also, there are so many of us out there, it would seem very possible to hook up with an Ultimate rider and swap seats for a few hours riding sometime.  

Pais, I would think you'd want a Big Boy for your size.  Some bigger guys swear by the King though it is like 2" farther back. (think reach to the bars) 

The website says the lowboy is for me (at 5'9", 190), and that's what I got and I like it fine.  But when I got a 2d valk, it came with a Big Boy, and I like it better.  Not enough better to pay for a 2d one though, so I ride one of each (and with the turn of a key, I can have either on either bike).  They both are better than any Mustang, Corbin or any stock seat I ever had.  But all butts are not the same when talking seats.

    Jess, Thanks for the advice. I was leaning towards the Ultimate King Big Boy. Have to admit I did not think of the reach to the bars issue. I am basically comfy on my bike now. About to put on a set of peg relocation brackets. Get my feet down a little and forward a skoash. Don't want to get into changing risers and such.
   I am curious about what exactly is the difference between the KBB and the Ult KBB?
   My other concern is as Jersey Mike mentioned, wiggle room.
   I'll have to do some more reading and listening.
     Thanks Gentleman!

[R J]

Remember Ultimate lets you have a short window to try and return (full refund) if you don't like it.  Accordingly, one needs to order during riding season, not dead of winter.  Also, there are so many of us out there, it would seem very possible to hook up with an Ultimate rider and swap seats for a few hours riding sometime.  

Pais, I would think you'd want a Big Boy for your size.  Some bigger guys swear by the King though it is like 2" farther back. (think reach to the bars) 

The website says the lowboy is for me (at 5'9", 190), and that's what I got and I like it fine.  But when I got a 2d valk, it came with a Big Boy, and I like it better.  Not enough better to pay for a 2d one though, so I ride one of each (and with the turn of a key, I can have either on either bike).  They both are better than any Mustang, Corbin or any stock seat I ever had.  But all butts are not the same when talking seats.

    Jess, Thanks for the advice. I was leaning towards the Ultimate King Big Boy. Have to admit I did not think of the reach to the bars issue. I am basically comfy on my bike now. About to put on a set of peg relocation brackets. Get my feet down a little and forward a skoash. Don't want to get into changing risers and such.
   I am curious about what exactly is the difference between the KBB and the Ult KBB?
   My other concern is as Jersey Mike mentioned, wiggle room.
   I'll have to do some more reading and listening.
     Thanks Gentleman!

Call Des and ask him.     He is a nice guy and will truthfully answer any question on his seats you ask.

[Stanley Steamer]

My Ultimate Lowboy was on the bike when I bought it in 2004....it's cracked now, and I need to replace it because it's supposedly too old to recover......I thought I wanted to step up to the BigBoy seat and thankfully,  Misfit was working the Ultimate booth at Inzane last summer and let me take a ride with the BigBoy seat.....glad he did because I didn't like it at all....I felt like I was sitting up on TOP of the bike instead of down IN it with my lowrider....not a good feeling for me....problem was, they had sold the last Lowboy one they had in stock.....I just haven't gotten around to ordering a new Lowboy one yet, but I will this year for sure.......bad thing is that the seat covering isn't the same as the other 3 parts of my old set.....

I'm 5'9" and 212lbs.....32" inseam

[G-Man]

And while we discuss the merits of the Low boy and Big boy, you should know, the Low Boy is advertised as one inch under stock seat height, and the Big Boy as one inch over stock seat height.  Now no stock seat in use today (for the age of our bikes) is still at stock height (unless they are still selling new stock seats).  So if your stock seat is is an original '98 (17yo), it is likely closer to the Low boy in height, and a new Big boy will likely be somewhat more than an inch taller than you are used to.

I only have a 29" inseam, and I still like the Big Boy better, but some people get real concerned with getting both feet down flat under all conditions.  I get both feet down fine, but not always perfectly flat on the Big Boy (and this is no problem at all for me).  And I only run 13" shocks on both bikes.  Those who regularly carry a passenger are generally more concerned with flat footing than always-solo guys like me.  

Besides comfort while riding, and fit to your bottom, this is also an issue to consider.

Finally, on the sore nuts issue, it seems about one in 15 or 20 get chronic sore nuts from the raised nose on the Low boy and (a bit less but still raised nose) on the Big boy.  There is no real way to explain this (leaving humor aside) other than the fact that all seats do not serve all people equally.  Perhaps they need to trade boxers for tighty whiteys (OK, some humor here.... but maybe not).  

I love the raised nose on these seats because it puts and holds you in the cockpit, and I do not like a flat seat I slide all over when cranking and banking and hard braking.  On my old CB750K with park bench seat, I ended up sitting on the tank a few times.

I have 2 stock seats, one of each (based on year) that are practically brand new.  I believe I studded both.  Then I saw the light after my a$$ went numb on the way to Johnson City.  It rained on us the last mile or so and as we pulled into the hotel's parking lot, the rainbow landed directly on the Ultimate semi and the angels sung.   

I ride the Kingboy but I would like some time on a Bigboy to see the difference.  Maybe Des will let me rent a Bigboy for a day in Spearfish.

[Jess from VA]

Jess, Thanks for the advice. I was leaning towards the Ultimate King Big Boy. Have to admit I did not think of the reach to the bars issue. I am basically comfy on my bike now. About to put on a set of peg relocation brackets. Get my feet down a little and forward a skoash. Don't want to get into changing risers and such.

Pais, I just can't speak at all to the King boy, since I never had one, sat/rode on one, or even closely looked at one.  All I recall is that they are 2" farther back, but perhaps about the same one inch higher than stock..... but you need to check this for yourself.

Dez is a really good guy, I've talked with him multiple times on the phone and in person.  But he (obviously) tends to follow the same advice he has on his website regarding seats-recommended-for-size.  And it's good sound advice, on average.  I still think you should make an effort to hook up with some fellow riders and try to swap seats (you don't have to swap bikes). Esp for the King boy.  

For my aging body/back and riding style, I want to be planted right back at the rear of my seat with a firm contact with the driver's backrest (which I keep practically vertical) and a perfect reach to the bars.  I think that's where most people should be.  If you can't be back there comfortably on a King, it's not the right seat for you.

But over the years, I have seen a fair number of Valk riders who, for various reasons, have decided to go up one size from Dez's recommendations (Lboy to Bboy, or Bboy to KBboy).  And I guess I'm one of them, having ridden both extensively, preferring the BigB over the LowB (though in the final analysis, riding both, it's not all that big a deal...... though of course, springing all that money for a new set, anyone is smart to get the best fit they can, the first time around.

On the peg relo kit, with our center control bikes, even my 29" inseam can seem a bit cramped with bent knees, so guys with 31-36 inseams must really be cramped. But I still drag boards (which hit just a bit sooner than pegs) on my 13" shocked bikes pretty regularly, and I would never give up that board/peg clearance.  Though with more sedate riding, this may rarely happen.  But remember, if you will likely get a Big boy or King, they may be around an inch and a half taller (brand new) than your older, worn stocker, and you probably should get your seat before you decide to add peg relocators, to save that clearance if you can.  I think you want the right seat, before you decide on the right foot location.

[G-Man]

I have the peg relocation kit.  Puts the pegs down 1" and forward 1".  That, with the Kingboy, and my 6'4" body is very happy for most of the day.  The bike can still be a bit tight so I added 13" apes, Kuryakyn 4050's, and the backrest and I'm good for 800 miles easy.

And I'm scraping pegs sooner that others due to the 1" lower thingie.  I'm used to it by now.