Where are you guys getting those prices?
I'm seeing $577 for the two pieces, non-heated
on their site. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and expand the section for Yamaha. Still not inexpensive, but cheaper than Russell, same price as a Touratech seat (which doesn't say if theirs is just the rider or rider & pillion), Sargents range form $550 - $570 depending on the options for look & feel (rider & pillion).
$520 at Revzilla, too...
All prices are no-heat versions.
I have had Sargents on my FJR and Tenere and they are pretty much a day long saddle for me. But that Saddlemen has me wondering if I can do better...
Like the idea of those built in D-rings, though in fairness, you're really limited to whatever weight the latching mechanism can manage if you use them. Great for strapping down a helmet maybe, but not sure how much else.
These are al meant to be a step between stock (costs you 12 grand, but you get a bike with it) and full on custom like a Russell - say goodbye to about a thousand of your fondest friends. That said, Russells are in a different league and Sargent's, Saddlemen, Touratechs are simply meant for the buy-it-and-bolt-it riders, and the vast majority of them tend to find these are so much better than stock that they are just right.
Quick note about gel seats. It's been my experience that gel seats either are immediately comfortable for you, or not. If you expect a gel seats to break in like a foam seat, they do not. Foam seats will soften with use and provide cushion for years before needing a rework. Gel is soft and cushy at first, but tends to move a bit, leaving a bit less support over a few hours of riding. THAT loss of support is often enough for some people to move from "this rocks" to "not quite what I hoped".
I'm a non-gel person so far. I think gel seats are great on bikes not ridden for 8 hours a day, so if I plowed around town on a Ducati, a gel seat would probably feel very comfy for me - for maybe a couple hours. Everyone who sits on my Sargent says the same thing - its so hard. Yes, at first, but after 8 hours riding that "hard" you initially feel, that's "support" for the long run.
Obviously weight plays a role here, too. The pressure I exert on my seat whilst daintily wafting down the road differs from many of you, so seats remain a very personal choice. For me the Saddlemen fails due to the suede. I LOVE that look, but suede stays wet longer and tends to wick moisture through itself. Less than ideal in my opinion. That said, I know me...
If I could find one without suede, with blue accents and still under $570, I'd probably try the damn thing...LOL Easy enough to strap the Sargent to the back if I don't like the Saddlemen, and I can always resell, losing a few bucks for my experiment. Hmmm...I really have to stop buying stuff for this bike!!!
