New seat or new butt

[DUGG]

After our last long ride this past weekend I've come to the conclusion we either need a new seat or new butts if I'm going to convince the wife to keep go on trips. I see that Corbin and Saddle man both offer seats for my GL1100. I'm looking for feedback on these or any other seats that might be available.

[Track T 2411]

I have an older Saddleman (I bought it used from a member here) on my 1100. Best money I spent on the bike. There have been a couple of threads lately concerning other brands as well, and Corbin seats are discussed. Sagebrush posted a pretty good run down of the various brands he's experienced.

[mcgovern61]

I also have an older Travelcade/Saddleman Road Sofa on my '82. When I first started riding it, I needed to use a sheepskin because the seat was not broken in yet and made me sore. After about 8K miles of riding, it started to soften a bit and shape to fit me. After that, I could ride all day without a sheepskin commonly doing 700 miles in a day.

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Sheepskin.JPG (70.8 KiB) Viewed 284 times

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[Whiskerfish]

Never ridden on a new saddleman. Seems like all the ones I have tried were old and worn out. I spent the money and got Corbins on both my bikes. They take a long time to break in but are worth it in the long run I think.

[ritalz]

I bought a new Saddleman for the 1200 and it is very comfortable. Biggest problem I have is the summertime heat. Guess that is where the sheepskin or beads come in. You will find that it takes about 1000 miles to break in a new seat. Have never owned a Corbin.

[Sagebrush]

You don't break in a Corbin it breaks in your backside. Having said that I did have a Corbin touring saddle meant for a GL1000 mounted on a 1100. It's on the yellow bike in my signature. I found it to be very comfortable and could do long days on it without difficultly.

[todd54219]

I tried a Corbin gunfighter and found it un-comfortable. Corbin states you need to put several thousand miles on their seats to break them in. I ended up with a Hartco saddle and have been very pleased. It in not real pretty but it is comfortable. As most of us know, finding a comfortable seat for our older bikes is difficult. You cannot just run down to your local dealer and try one out. I took a gamble and paid $550 for mine sight unseen but it paid off. When I ride for distance I use the Hartco. For show, I use the stock seat. Looks great but kills my butt.

IMHO
Todd

[DUGG]

A couple thousand miles to break in? That would be a year or so of riding. I want relief now! I've noticed that the Saddlmans sell on ebay and are a lot less expensive than the Corbins. But if they are better/more comforable than I would have no problem spending the extra $.

[mcgovern61]

A couple thousand miles to break in? That would be a year or so of riding. I want relief now! I've noticed that the Saddlmans sell on ebay and are a lot less expensive than the Corbins. But if they are better/more comforable than I would have no problem spending the extra $.

My older Saddleman took about 8K miles and 2 years before I felt like it was broken in. At 5K miles, I was ready to change seats. The sheepskin bought me time for long distance rides, but now that it is broken in it is great!

[JSBail]

When I got my Saddleman for my 1100 I had 2 choices, either get a complete seat or get a kit that allowed me to use my existing seat pan and reupholster it myself. I was on a budget so I got the kit and reupholstered it myself and I'm satisfied with the results. Is it as comfortable as a Corbin? My bike never had a Corbin on it so I have no clue but it's definitely more comfortable than the original seat cover and padding which was actually too soft and had no support for my butt. The Saddleman is much firmer which at first you would think would be less comfortable but that wasn't the case. I wouldn't say it's out right comfortable but I can at least ride for a whole tank full of gas, refuel and get back on for another tank full where as the original seat cover and padding I could hardly make it 50 miles before having to get off and walk around.

[Old Fogey]

I had huge trouble on long trips with my skinny butt (the only bit of me that is!). But when we did the Smokey Mountains run in 2013 I had an Airhawke (https://airhawk.net/) on the saddle and a pair of Moto-skivvys (http://motoskiveez.com/about-us/). Near 7K miles in 6 weeks and I had no problems!

[DUGG]

The heat is a factor. Last year we did over 900 mi with two really long days in the saddle. The weather was much cooler, about seventy out. Our latest trip it was about ninty out. After about fifty miles we needed to get off and take breaks. I've seen the Moto underwear and wondered if they help. Maybe I'll order us some and try them out. I don't want to add any extra pad like the air hawk as that would sit me higher up and change the ergonomics for me. I've also thought of trying the wooded "butt beads" to get air circulation. Yes I believe the stock saddle is too soft and firmer would be better. I like the idea of a kit and reusing the stock pan, but on the other hand my saddle is in good condition and I might be able to sell it and recoupe some of my money

[Old Fogey]

With the Airhawke, you are only having sufficient air in it to 'float' your butt and thighs just above the saddle. It take a bit of experimenting to find your comfort spot, but believe me it is so worth it.

[JSBail]

I've seen the Moto underwear and wondered if they help. Maybe I'll order us some and try them out.

Or possibly Under Armour undershorts. I paid about $40 for 3 pairs of them on Amazon which isn't cheap for just 3 undershorts but they definitely do make a difference especially on a long ride. I had a friend give me an Airhawke that Old Fogey mentioned and my wife uses it on occasion and she says it does help but you do have to play with the air a bit to get it just right for you.

[DUGG]

I had huge trouble on long trips with my skinny butt (the only bit of me that is!). But when we did the Smokey Mountains run in 2013 I had an Airhawke (https://airhawk.net/) on the saddle and a pair of Moto-skivvys (http://motoskiveez.com/about-us/). Near 7K miles in 6 weeks and I had no problems!

Which style of Moto skivvys did you get? Cruiser or sport?