Seat Cushions

[suraklyn]

I think this is the best place for this post, but forgive me if not.  Be careful though; I might delete your account if you bitch at me.

So I'm looking at getting a seat cushion for long rides; I've read some good reviews on the AirHawk seat cushion by Roho.  I'm curious to know what some of you guys use, especially if you have used the AirHawk seat cushion.

[drewboid]

Don't know about the air cushions but I'm fairly happy with a
http://www.buttbuffer.com
Not too thick but it does releive some of the pressure points.
YMMV

[marcmax]

I have a Russell Daylong that was on my LS when I bought it. Most comfortable seat I ever rode but in my opinion the ugliest thing I have ever seen. It is now riding a shelf in the garage.

[montmil]

OK, I gotta ask this question. For those that are using a comfy aftermarket custom seat, are you big assed or small assed? Health problems? What? Don't mean to be rude, here.

I've ridden since I was thirteen years old and I'm now sixty-two, just under six-foot tall and 153 pounds buck nekkid. Personally, I would straddle a 2x4 to get to ride motorcycles. I've never had a sore butt even after riding a 1953 Triumph (spring rear hub) from Denton, Texas to the top of Pikes Peak, Colorado and back home over a three day weekend. That was a rush!

Maybe my nerve endings are dead... or Brain dead?       Monte      

[nhmaf]

Those Russell seats do work well, though they are not pleasant to look at.
I have an all leather Corbin seat on my Kawasaki Concours, which is very hard, wide and flatter than the original seat.  Generally, for  surviving multiple 600-mile days without contracting severe "Monkey Butt Syndrome", it helps to have a seat that:
1. Disperses your weight over wider area, generally supportive of buttocks and upper thighs and not just the interior pelvic bone ("sit bone") area that alot of stock seats do
2.  Allow you to move around somewhat - seats that you "sink" into alot restrict this movement and also
3. Allow some air circulation under there so that body moisture doesn't accumulate (trying to be genteel, here).

While I am not an iron butt rider, I can definitely tell that the wider, flatter, and indeed much harder Corbin seat that I have on the concours is MUCH better for racking up 500 mile days than the original stock seat in all the above respects.   I think that it is these characteristics that often differentiate the most successful seats.  Though the "bead seat" things satisfy the above criteria, I've never like sitting on them, despite what all the cabbies in NYC say.   I find that is is also VERY helpful to wear wicking, breathable polypropelene type underwear while touring - no seams and also promotes moisture evaporation and air circulation.

I am going to be trying to perform some "seat surgery" on my LS a bit later this spring - I've got some new types of foam materials and am hoping to recontour the seat enough to improve its long-distance comfort factor for me, while not  turning it into one of those Russell seats - fingers are crossed, wish me luck !  I'll photo-journal my experiments for future POSTERITY !!! (haha - I had to work that in somehow)
 

[NC Steve]

I just recently added an Airhawk to the Guzzi, after trying Saddleman gel pads, sheepskin covers, and WallyWorld waffle foam pads (not too bad actually). The Airhawk has made by far the greatest noticeable difference, and is much more comfortable than all these others combined.

Having said that, though, it's still not a $700 Russell, Maund, etc seat. I decided to try the cheapest Airhawk I could find, which turned out to be a used one in great shape, with a patch kit, cover and straps, that I picked up on Ebay for 50 bucks. I'm very happy with it, at least until I win the lottery and can buy a "real" seat.

Motorcycle Consumer News (July '08 issue) tested a similar new product, though, that actually outperformed the Airhawk, with newer, more modern technology, better ergonomic design, etc. It's the "Freedom Air", from Star Cushion Products, www.starcushion.com. I don't have a scanner, would be happy to copy and fax the test to you from work if you'd like. Both cushions are within a few bucks of each other, and if I was buying new would definitely try the new kid on the block. For now, though, I'm more than just a little  happy with my $50 Airhawk.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[TheLSKid]

My stock seat was redone by Sargent Cycle using their Atomic Foam upgrade. I learned from cycling that you need to get the right mix of density in the foam for long term seat comfort. Theirs is the best I've been on for long rides and cheap compared to Corbin and the like.