Long ride, stock seat evaluation....

[CheckpointChcky]

I left Raleigh, NC this morning for a GWRRA trip to Va. Beach and then wound up in Colonial Williamsburg. After about 90 minutes I started getting uncomfortable. I had to keep changing position for the duration of the ride. 250 plus miles in the saddle was a tiring ride on this seat. I have had one Mustang seat and three Ultimate seats and I can state, hands down, that the Ultimate is exactly that, the Ultimate. I could ride 500 miles stopping only for gas and rest room and have no discomfort at all. I would like to get another Ultimate but right now that is cost prohibitive.

[opas ride]

Seems like we all have different butts...I have done 250+miles with stock seat and no issues for me...I quess the answer for you is the Ultimate when you can swing it...Too much "donero" for me also...I'm 74 and about 195lbs and don't take many more longer rides these days..I might go to the Mustang seat later this year as I like it being lower as I recently discovered I have some Arthritis issues in my left knee and it is getting more difficult to swing the old leg over the seat...Tried the foot-peg mounting deal and don't like it.....I know that years back Des, from Ultimate seats, made nice ones for the old Valkyrie's....

[CarolinaRider]

Last weekend I rode to Blowing Rock and my story is about the same, 90 miles and I started feeling it in the seat. 2-3 weeks and my Ultimate will be here. I bit the bullet and went all out with rider and passenger backrest. It was a big chunk of change but I figured since I LOVE this bike and dont plan of getting rid of it for a long time I might as well do it now rather than later.

[Scotrod]

"Butt before bling,,,"
:icon_wink:

[Steve 0080]

To each their own…might try squats as they put a little muscel back there is any seat would feel better…..

[bobbyf6b]

I earned this on a stock seat and without highway pegs. No issues with the seat. My shoulders and neck hurt but raising and pulling back the bars fixed that for me. :icon_cool:

5913

[CheckpointChcky]

I earned this on a stock seat and without highway pegs. No issues with the seat. My shoulders and neck hurt but raising and pulling back the bars fixed that for me. :icon_cool:

5913

I could never do it.

[motozeke]

I could never do it.

Never say never! I'm going to do one this year. I've done 700+ with no issue, I think the key is going to be not going in hot weather. So I'm planning it for the fall. The desert is really nice that time of year, though the days will be shorter. Springtime is probably a better choice frankly, but I want to do one in 2014.

[opas ride]

I would probably fall off the bike before I completed such a great feat, but congrats to those who made it....Year before last my son-in-law did his on a 99 Valkyrie Standard with stock seat and no windshield...He is 35 younger than me!!!

[smokinjoe187]

getting my new saddleman seat on monday...pretty excited about it too..the re did my stock seat at 500 miles because it just flat sucked..
will post pictures soon!!

[unsub]

As a general message from someone who has done some serious mileage in my day I would encourage anybody contemplating a new seat to consider their riding style first.

Touring is not an endurance race. Any long distance ride should be approached with preparation and planning for the body and mind. The body has to be fit first and then you need to plan for taking care of one's self along the way.

There are lots of vendors lined up to take your money for a new seat, but if one changes their approach to riding, the stock one may be all you need. If you're fit and prepared.

Oh yeah, and take the wallet out of your back pocket!!:icon_lol:

[unsub]

I earned this on a stock seat and without highway pegs. No issues with the seat. My shoulders and neck hurt but raising and pulling back the bars fixed that for me. :icon_cool:

5913

Congrats! Would be interesting to know your route.

[LX2]

Frisco Colorado to Dallas, Belaire Micihigan to Dallas, Montrose Colorado to Dallas, Johnson City Tennessee to Dallas on Valkyries and all but one trip was sitting on an Ultimate seat. They are a bit more money but comfortable. Another good thing I found out riding in the heat is keeping hydrated. I strapped a Camelbak on the passenger backrest with a modified drinking tube and it was quite refreshing taking a swallow of water during the long ride between fuel stops.
Actually I would rather ride in 100 degree plus any day of the week before riding in freezing cold.

[bobbyf6b]

Congrats! Would be interesting to know your route.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chevron+Station+Phoenix/35.178998,-111.6390341/35.0959954,-106.6329789/Hatch,+NM/Chevron+Station+Phoenix,+5002+E+Chandler+Blvd,+Pho enix,+AZ+85048/@33.761955,-109.3693449,8z/data=!4m22!4m21!1m5!1m1!1s0x0:0x492bc6c48341a78!2m 2!1d-111.975593!2d33.305754!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x86dfac3 7b8e3c689:0x4529aa57946febf8!2m2!1d-107.1530744!2d32.6653572!1m5!1m1!1s0x872b04eab1647 3f7:0x492bc6c48341a78!2m2!1d-111.975593!2d33.305754!3e0?hl=en

Finished in 16 hours with six stops for fuel and breaks.