Russell Day Long Seat?

[mrpete64]

Since all I have for a butt is "skin-over-bones" I am seriously considering a Russell seat. I also saw some comments about Seat Concepts. If you have either I would appreciate any insight(s) you might offer regarding these seats. I now use an air hawk over the stock seat. That seems to work well.

Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie

 

[fredz43]

I recently bought a Russell after riding my friends S10 with one. I am still going thru the break in and will send it back for free adjustment to lower it a bit.

 

[Bappo]

I guess it depends on what you want in a seat. 1000 mile day? 1000 miles day after day? A happy butt after any days ride and no complaining when you get back on the bike in the morning? Under 180 lbs in gear a Bill Mayer seat is an option otherwise a RDL.

Virtually every Ironbutt bike of most any make has a RDL and for a reason. There is a statement seen on the LDRider list where you spend more initially for a RDL or you spend less per seat until you finally end up on a RDL.

I bought my Tenere 8/5/2011, called Russell and got on the ride in waiting list the next Monday. I did the Ride In fit up September 9th and they gave me a fellow inmates seat to use for the day Not an issue since.

If or when I buy another bike I will get another RDL.

 

[richarddacat]

+1K on the Russell seat, best long distance seat on the market. Love mine on my FJR.

It may not be as attractive to some but you won't be squirming, burning and itching to get off for a while.

My only concern about this seat on a Tenere is the height. From my experience the Russell will be a bit higher and maybe by now the Russell team can reduce that height without taking away from the comfort. I'm interested in reading fredz43's impression after his seat is returned. ::017::

So for short legged riders this seat may be an issue. Of course lowering the suspension is another option in this case.

 

[fredz43]

My only concern about this seat on a Tenere is the height. From my experience the Russell will be a bit higher and maybe by now the Russell team can reduce that height without taking away from the comfort. I'm interested in reading fredz43's impression after his seat is returned. ::017::

So for short legged riders this seat may be an issue. Of course lowering the suspension is another option in this case.

I have a 30 inch inseam and the Russell does make it a bit tougher to plant both feet on the ground, but that isn't too much of a problem for me. What is more of a problem is that it sits me higher, so the riding position isn't as good as before. I have a MRA touring X Creen on my OEM screen on my 14 and it used to work very well without raising it very much when I had the OEM seat. Now, I have it as high as it will go and it doesn't work as well as with the OEM seat. I also rotated my bars forward a tad to raise them. With the stock configuration, I was very pleased with the ergos of the seat/bars/screen relationship, which I thought was better than my 12 with risers. I hope to get close to that after they have lowered it. In talking to my friend with a 12 S10 an a RDL that I test rode about this, he told me that he originally ordered a lower version. Also read a thread on ADV about these seats and someone with a S10 that recently got his back after having it lowered said it was now prefect. After I put another couple hundred miles on it, I will send it back. They do offer 2 free adjustments and if you are still not satisfied they will buy it back. I'm not sure how they would do the buy back, as it is built on my stock seat, but I believe they will get it right.

 

[richarddacat]

That's good to hear fred an another good point is that you can't beat Russell's customer service. ::012::

 

[snakebitten]

I'm not willing to admit that I am skin-over-bones yet.

It is one of the last hold-outs to admitting I'm an old man.
My butt on my OEM seat is paying the price for my last morsel of vanity.

I did just buy a +1 inch thicker Seat Concepts bench for the DRZ. But I was replacing a 12 year old sun fried plank.
I gotta admit it looks far more inviting.

Those RDL seats are quite the sofa.

 

[JRE]

I'm not willing to admit that I am skin-over-bones yet.

It is one of the last hold-outs to admitting I'm an old man.
My butt on my OEM seat is paying the price for my last morsel of vanity.

I did just buy a +1 inch thicker Seat Concepts bench for the DRZ. But I was replacing a 12 year old sun fried plank.
I gotta admit it looks far more inviting.

Those RDL seats are quite the sofa.

The seat concepts seat made little improvement on my DRZ but I did get the low version so probably less padding there. It still feels like riding a 2x4 minus the splinters.

 

[snakebitten]

Yea, no doubt that it is NOT going to be luxurious. But it is a drastic improvement, by all looks.
Nice and thick and tapered in the right places. (On their seat pan)

Won't know until I get it back together. Sent my Forks, shocks, and carb to Eddie Sisneros in Colorado.
Just got everything back. Gonna get it "plated" and off to Big Bend I go.

 

[offcamber]

I just had one made but since its winter I won't get to try it for a couple months

Sunbrella seat with vinyl sides...

 

[snakebitten]

I just had one made but since its winter I won't get to try it for a couple months

Sunbrella seat with vinyl sides...

Not true. You can go sit on it for HOURS now. Take a coffee pot with you. And a good book. Enjoy the new sofa.

 

[offcamber]

Not true. You can go sit on it for HOURS now. Take a coffee pot with you. And a good book. Enjoy the new sofa.

Bike it currently in a state of upgrades ;D besides its damn cold in that garage!

-15F this morning.....screw that F@(*ing ground hog!! ::010::

 

[snakebitten]

Oh, sorry. Didn't realize.

Ok, a pot of coffee, a good book, and a Parka. ^-^

 

[Derekj]

I love mine. You can comfortably ride all day every day and get off feeling ready for the next leg. Another advantage I find is when I stand, the back of my legs are supported by the wide part of the seat. Worth every $$

 

[mrpete64]

Thanks for your comments..

Thank all of you for taking the time to comment on the Russel seat.

Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie

 

[EricV]

+1 to most of what's been said. I'm one of those LD guys and have a Sunbrella w/vinyl sides RDL with about 40k on it. (no complaints, holding up well, but I'd probably go back to vinyl next time. The Sunbrella canvas stains over time and is more slippery than I really wanted.) Finished the IBR in '13 on that seat and I had a RDL on the FJR for 140k miles or so, (small squares, vinyl). Only reason I'm adding to the thread is that the only people I have every read or talked with that didn't like their RDL seats, were skinny guys with no butt.

I'm a fat guy, 240-260 w/o gear for the last 15 years or so, and have the heavyweight suspension in both RDLs. For big guys, there is no substitute. But for lighter guys, different foam densities work, and the RDL may be too much of a "tractor seat" to give comfort. Might be worth talking to Bill or Rocky Mayer too. For the lighter guys, under 225, they make good seats. If a customer comes to them over 225, they often just send them to Russell.

 

[snakebitten]

224 is the "lighter" guy now!!!
I love you man.

(I did hit 260 in 2012)

 

[TXTenere]

Might be worth talking to Bill or Rocky Mayer too. For the lighter guys, under 225, they make good seats. If a customer comes to them over 225, they often just send them to Russell.

Not to hijack the thread, so I will keep this short. I could not be LESS happy with my Rocky (aka: Bill) Mayer seat. I am far from the minority, from what I've read. Doesn't stand behind his work, and poor quality seat. Anyone is welcome to PM for more info.

 

[EricV]

Not to hijack the thread, so I will keep this short. I could not be LESS happy with my Rocky (aka: Bill) Mayer seat. I am far from the minority, from what I've read. Doesn't stand behind his work, and poor quality seat. Anyone is welcome to PM for more info.

Thanks for speaking up. ::008:: Direct input is always good. I meant to say Rick or Rocky/Bill Mayer, different operations, but I have no direct experience with either, only what I've heard/read.

 

[offcamber]

Before you order from Rick Mayer you may want to read this thread....

No dog in the fight just passing on info

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546066&highlight=Rick+Mayer