Mustang seat v stock

Hi guys
I've  had a look at the old threads regarding this subject but decided to start a new one.

When I went down to look at the new bike for the first time I was shocked at how hard the stock seat is. So the question is, does anybody manage to do 300+ miles a day in reasonable comfort on a stock seat? I am used to Mustang seats (I've had two on previous bikes) but with the US dollar exchange being so bad the price has gone up by £200 since I last bought one - and that's buying it direct from the states. Custom cruisers is showing one on the site at a reasonable price but it is for a pre 2009 bike.

If I get a Mustang seat it would be the 79620, studded wide tourer with a backrest. If anyone has one fitted to their bike I would be interested in a photo of how it looks. That way I might be able to convince the wife it would be a good investment!

Cheers

KeithW

It'd be a lot cheaper to have the stock seat rebuilt by a custom seat maker using different foam, maybe with a gel pad.  And at the same time, have it recovered in something more exclusive.  I had mine done in black leather with grey diamond stitching - cost about £80

I now know that I've got to do something about the seat. Options are, have the existing seat rebuilt, modify an existing mustang seat from a vtx1300s, or buy a new one. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has used a seat builder and what their experience was. I've been down the road of gel pads and added foam on a stock seat and it wasn't worth the effort, so l don't hold out much hope for that option - the seat pan has got to be changed. The vtx seat has hardly been used and if it can be modified to fit properly looks to be my cheapest option. Buying a new one is probably the quickest option but it is a lot of dosh and used seats are like hens teeth. It's got to be sorted by the end of March.

KeithW

Google Tony Archer seats at Huddersfield where I had my seats redone. Both seats were recovered, gel pads inserted & the passenger one was made wider & deeper than std as it was cutting Rosie in half, note I'm not saying she has a fat arse as the std seat is a cutting tool disquised as a seat!
Very quick job, dropped in on Monday & collected on Thursday for less than £100-, can't fault the improvements as I have sciatica & Rosie has bad hip & knee & the seat means we can ride all day now not just a 100 miles as we used to pre modding!

Thanks for the reply, Peter. I have spoken to Tony Archers and they won't alter the seat pan, they just alter the foam and insert gelpads. They wont touch the Mustang seat I've got either. I've also spoken to Motorbike seats.co.uk with the same result. Can't get a reply from Dragon seating or Saxon Seats! This is the same loop I got into in 2001 for my first Shadow and 2008 for the second. I do have some experiences of gelpads and refoaming and in the end it just added to the cost of getting my first Mustang seat! Whatever happens I much prefer to have a backrest and I'm not sure if I alter the seat pan that one of the "off the shelf" backrests will still fit. And I don't have much confidence in re foaming the original as it looks quite shallow.

I would be interested to look at some pictures of your riders seat if you have any. I'm not bothered about the rear seat. That's just there to look good with the saddlebags and protect the rear mudguard from my tent when it's loaded up. The wife hasn't been on the bike since she had her knees replaced.  

My main hope at the moment is that when Trump actually gets into office the US dollar will plummet and make the Mustang seat a much better deal!!

KeithW

Hi you can always get one of the seat back rests that are on e-bay & bolt it onto the seat base Keith? Only a thought obviously, or you could search out what fellow members have done on the forum search pages about seats?

Well, I've weakened and ordered the Mustang seat and it should arrive next week. I was, however, in a coma for a couple of days with "empty wallet" syndrome! I've bought whole working cars for less!
I looked at getting the seat re-upholstered and getting a backrest but that would cost around £250 and I wasn't sure that it would work for me. So, out came the malt to comfort my nerves while I thought about it and, in the end, decided I deserved it. So I bought it.

KeithW

KeithW wrote:

Well, I've weakened and ordered the Mustang seat and it should arrive next week. 

KeithW

Your bum will thank you for that! I've never heard a bad word about mustang seats, I'll look forward to hearing your opinion Keith   

Well, it was supposed to arrive between 25th Jan and Feb 3 and it arrived this afternoon! It is a much heavier arrangement than the stock seat, looks great and feels comfortable. I think it pushes me forward about an inch which is fine for me. the total weight of the stock seat is 6lbs and the mustang, without the backrest, is 16lbs.
I used ebay's Global shipping program for the first time and it's taken 12 days.The only criticism I have is that the tracking is haphazard at best and paypal rip you off in the currency exchange. Hopefully I won't have to buy from USA directly again.

I had a Mustang seat on my last bike so I knew what I was getting. The most I did on it in one day was 380 miles but most years I go into Europe and do 12 - 1500 miles in 7 or 8 days with no problem. I'm expecting this one to be much the same. If the rain stays away the inaugural ride will be on Saturday.

KeithW

Normal service has been resumed. A quick 120 mile round trip justifies the decision to get the seat. It also looks so much better than the stock seat so, all in all, a really good decision.

KeithW

That's good Keith    they're supposed to get comfier as they break in too, piccies when you get a minute 

Y

peardrop3 wrote:

Google Tony Archer seats at Huddersfield where I had my seats redone. Both seats were recovered, gel pads inserted & the passenger one was made wider & deeper than std as it was cutting Rosie in half ......  she has a fat arse and the std seat was like a cutting tool rather than a seat!
Very quick job, dropped in on Monday & collected on Thursday for less than £100-, can't fault the improvements as I have sciatica & Rosie has bad hip & knee & the seat means we can ride all day now not just a 100 miles as we used to pre modding!

Hey Rosie, have you seen what Peter's saying about your bottom ( see bold italics above ).       

I'm safe see cos she don't read the post I put up hear so ner ner Mick!

I've taken some pictures of my new seat and, if this works, they should appear below!!
















KeithW

Lovely looking - you must be well chuffed!

All matching  wow and that seat does look comfortable ..

 

I am pleased with it. It suits the bike and it is comfortable. Got to modify the rear rack bracket/support as it makes contact with the rear seat but that will be simple enough. 

KeithW

Doubt you'll be struggling for luggage room on the Jolly Boys trip Keith!  Love the BOSS - The 'All Black' look really suits it.

Damn that looks comfy! 

That's a nice looking set up Keith!

It's getting there. There is still a lot of work in progress going on but Ihave to say iI'm very pleased with the  change.

KeithW

Keith you had better get some kind of lock for that seat! Johnboss has light fingers

Keith where did you get the saddle bags from my I ask?

Looks great Keith, well matched with the rest of bike.

hawktheslayer wrote:

Keith you had better get some kind of lock for that seat! Johnboss has light fingers

Shhhh - had plans for that on the Jollys weekend!

I got the saddlebags off my mate so not sure of the exact place but they are the large Honda bags for the VTX 1300S that they sell in America.

KeithW

OK thanks for that Keith.
I'll have to drop in at Custom Cruisers in Alfreton to see if they have any solid bags for mine as mine have sagged under the weight of Rosie's packing technique!

I bought one.  It was like sitting on top of a concrete slab wrapped in leather.  

--Dave

simbo wrote:

they're supposed to get comfier as they break in too, piccies when you get a minute 

"Supposed to?"  They should already be comfortable when you buy them.  I had the foam worked on twice to no avail.  It was a seat you sit on top of, not down in. 

--Dave

Yamahog wrote:

simbo wrote:

they're supposed to get comfier as they break in too, piccies when you get a minute 

"Supposed to?"  They should already be comfortable when you buy them.  I had the foam worked on twice to no avail.  It was a seat you sit on top of, not down in. 

--Dave

OK, You seem tense? maybe it's the seat?