Looking for new seat advice.

[handyrandy]

Hello, I have a gl1100 standard with the stock seat, and progressive air shocks on the rear. My wife has been complaining lately about the ride comfort, and wants me to improve it. We are both getting older, and cant take it light we used to. I was thinking about upgrading the seat. I was thinking about JC whitney because they are cheaper, but don't want to waste my money. Will a new seat be any softer and not a harsh on the bumps?

What about strap on gel pads and inserts?

Randy

 

[Tory]

Randy,
I put a new saddleman roadsofa with the gell inserts on my bike a little over a year ago.Although saddleman makes the seats for JCW they do not incorporate the same materials and features according to saddleman anyway.My wife has not been able to try it do to other reasons,but for me it is very much more suportive on longer rides.But becuase of that it IS NOT softer.Just the oppisite.its firmer,but you will be glad 100 miles down the road.

Prior to the new seat I did try a gel pad for the wife and she insisted it helped.But my stock seat was so soft that it didnt take long to feel the rivets on the bottom.Really

 

[bk2valve]

Hi Randy,
I have a Saddleman seat from JCW and it is ok..not great, but ok. I have had 7 different Corbin seats on various bikes and would like to have the same thing on this bike...actually I would like to have a solo tractor type seat but a comfy one....

In the meantime, what I do, is use this Thermarest Trail seat for a seat pad.

I put it inside a polarfleece cover I made for it and tie it to the bike so as not to lose it when I stand up to stretch my legs.

https://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rest-Trail- ... B000A8C5L4

Cheap, easy and comfy solution for now....I have put many, many miles on this set up....

Brian in NM

 

[handyrandy]

Thanks for the help. I was hoping to get a seat similar to a later model goldwing if possible. Is it possible to get my 1100 to ride close to a later model goldwing? She wants me to upgrade bikes, but if I spend that kind of money it will be to upgrade a car.

 

[slabghost]

You could get a seat from a newer bike and take it with your old seat to an upholsterer. Have him swap the seat cushion and cover to your old seat pan. Or you could try to do it yourself.

 

[Piper]

This seat was on mine when I bought it, so I don't know where it came from. The label on the bottom says Russell. The significant other and I have done a 150 mile leg, filled up with gas, and then another 150 mile leg with very little discomfort and we just love it. I even offered to buy her armrests but she said she was comfortable without them and declined the offer.
I haven't done any research on the price or even if they are still available though.

 

[WindNWing]

I haven't done any research on the price or even if they are still available though.

Great looking seat Piper. :good:
The one they offer now for the 1100 doesn't look as good in MHO, it has a large diamond pattern and they don't come cheap.
https://www.day-long.com/index.html

 

[bk2valve]

I like the seat too Piper....I had a friend just visit who had one on his BMW K1100LT. He does some pretty serious touring and likes it a lot.
They do seem pricey but that is about what anything aftermarket that is good is going to cost....IMHO

Unless of course you can find something used....keep watch on Craigslist and Ebay....and on the various Goldwing club sites.....
Brian

 

[bk2valve]

Has anyone come up with a good tractor style solo seat...kinda like the police harley seat?
Brian in NM

 

[Tory]

She wants me to upgrade bikes, but if I spend that kind of money it will be to upgrade a car.

:shock: Sounds like a major priority issue to me,you should seek help. :beg:

The russels day-longs are an excellant seat.A direction I would have gone other than the high price differance.

 

[handyrandy]

SADDLEMEN DELUXE BUCKET TOURING SEAT KIT From JC Whitney.

https://www.jcwhitney.com/deluxe-bucket- ... 027y1981j1

I can only find this one in a kit.

I dont know if it OK to post info from another forum, but here it is anyway. This is a good thread on JC Whitney seats.

https://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum1/71905-1.html


For some reason I never get post updates from this forum in my email. As far as I can tell I am subscribed and they are not in my junk mail.

 

[slabghost]

Looks very comfy.

 

[handyrandy]

Looks very comfy.

For $159 and I already have another seat pan. I have a hard time justifying over $500 for a new seat.

 

[slabghost]

I'm a bargain hunter (AKA tightwad) so I'd redo the seat either with the kit or buy a newer seat and put it on the old pan.

 

[rickyd]

check this out, 40 bucks more and you can have a complete new saddleman I have one of these i bought from this guy, very comfortable, brand new not a cover

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SADDLEME ... ccessories

 

[scdmarx]

check this out, 40 bucks more and you can have a complete new saddleman I have one of these i bought from this guy, very comfortable, brand new not a cover

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SADDLEME ... ccessories

I got one of those for my 82 Standard. It's a step up from the duct taped OEM it replaced, but it's still as hard as a brick.

 

[rickyd]

it's supose to be very firm, if you ever rode a soft seat, you would be feeling the rivets in the pan in no time, all touring seats are very firm, I have a corbin and it is firmer than this one.

 

[vtxcandyred]

For what its worth. I have an 02 VTX retro. The stock seat is a brick. THE MOST uncomfortable seat EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! I had it redone at a place called AMSShttps://www.americanasoftseats.com/It was better but not all that. I paid a buck and a half for that. I ended up buying an Ultimate four piece big boy seat. Paid close to a grand for that. EHHH what can I say. Its alright but still not a road traveling seat, for me anyway and the wife wasn't all that impressed either. I had and still use an Air Hawk cushion. https://www.therohostore.com/airhawk-motorcycle-seat-cushion-fit-chart.aspxI use it to this day. I put it on either bike. Take it with you for any seat. Going to a football game?????? use it. Most comfortable seat in the house. Best buck and a half I have EVER spent on a bike, and I've been known to go a bit nuts with that stuff!!!!!! Two pennies!!!!!!!

 

[bk2valve]

This JCW Saddleman is what I have too...I bought the foam and cover kit and while it is OK it is nothing like one of the nicer aftermarket seats...You really do get what you pay for with seats.......IMHO. I have 30-40K on it and it ain't what I would call a "touring" seat! :headscratch:

Brian in NM

 

[Tory]

I bought my SADDLEMAN direct from SADDLEMAN.The one they call the "ROADSOFA".Even with the gel inserts it is still a firm seat,and a 200% improvement from the soft warnout stock one.The soft seats are useless after 100 miles in my opinion.
Not only is it better for the long hauls,its roomier.Even on my 83,that already has more room than 82 and dowm,I had to relocate the trunk back 3 more inches.

Saddleman "claims"they reserve some features like tail bone relief ,higher grade materials and stiching for there roadsofa as compared to what they sell JCW,but did confirm that JCW is there product.They could be pulling my leg,its happened before.

I had it made in charcoal to macth my bike,with the saddle gel front and back,passenger pad cover and with the utopia backrest and the price was comparable to JCWs with similer options. I am very very satisfied.