Seat Discussion

Johnwesley

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I don't think the description about Bill Mayer Saddles is quite correct. He's had the same seat builder (IIRC his name is Adrian) for decades and Rocky is still involved. Not a lot of personnel to turn over! I didn't see anything that looked like a production line when I was there, just a small craftsman's shop. There are pictures of Adrian all over their shop walls here in Ventura, Showing him building saddles at BMW rallies, on-site, 20+ years ago.

Bill's brother Rick also had a saddle company for a while after Bill Sr. passed, but Rick turned out to be a poor businessman and created a lot of bad blood by failing to fill orders and eventually went bust. Too bad BMS saddles is still trying to live some of that down. Rocky actually ended up honoring some of, if not all, of Rick's unfilled customer orders when Rick shunt down. I did a ride-in appointment with them and am very happy with my saddle. They sent me out 2-3 times to test ride the seat before finishing and covering it.

Of course saddles are a personal thing, but a custom ride-in can avoid the back and forth adjustments.

I had the same experience with a ride in for a triumph 955 tiger. Had me go ride the bike and let him know what I though. After 3 rides it was dialed in. I much prefer leather for the comfort. It molds to your butt better and breathers better than any synthetic seat I have had. Never had any issues with the leather Corbin uses nor the BMS saddles.
 

EricV

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What are you wearing for riding pants that the seat "breathers" better?
 

EricV

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Bmw riding pants
That doesn't really answer the question. City Jeans, Airflow pants, Venting pants, Rallye pants, etc? My point being that even most vented pants have solid seat areas for abrasion resistance in a get-off event. If the seat of the pants doesn't flow air, any breathability of the seat itself is entirely in the imagination of the rider.
 

Johnwesley

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That doesn't really answer the question. City Jeans, Airflow pants, Venting pants, Rallye pants, etc? My point being that even most vented pants have solid seat areas for abrasion resistance in a get-off event. If the seat of the pants doesn't flow air, any breathability of the seat itself is entirely in the imagination of the rider.
Breathability doesn’t mean that you feel air blowing around. It means that air can move to manage moisture. Plastic seats are sweaty when the temps are hot. Leathers seats not so much. Now if your wearing rain cheap rain paints than you are correct it doesn’t matter and if the pants you wear are so Regis they don’t have give to them then the molding process of leather doesn’t matter either.
 

EricV

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Lesson #1 - Answer the question you're asked, or all your previous comments are suspect.

You're not getting any more airflow to the seat you're sitting on regardless of material, (Kontour type seats excepted). The fantasy of people that believe leather breaths as a seat material comes from the concept of wearing leather, not sitting on a seat with a leather cover. If you're getting sweaty, it's not because of the seat cover, it's because of what you're wearing.

I have just a bit of riding experience in the desert, having spent a decade living in St George, UT and riding all over the US. Never mind the wonderful humidity of the South where I live now.

If you'd like to continue the conversation, answer the question you've been asked. Better yet, let's just keep this about seats and real information, not fantasy BS about breathing seat covers. There is not a single thing wrong with you liking leather for a seat cover. But don't make up excuses for it that frankly are not true in terms of the reality of a seat cover and what it can and can't do.

I asked about your pants to try and identify if you were wearing mesh or jeans or some other material that might impact how you perceived seat conditions.
 

Cycledude

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My experience a leather seat definitely contributes to sweaty butt less than vinyl no matter what I’m wearing. But then again sweaty butt Has very seldom been an issue for me to worry about, on the rare occasion that it does become a problem I just put a microfiber cloth on the seat and no more problem.
 

EricV

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I've been wearing LDComfort so long I can't remember having a sweaty butt since I rode in jeans on my '40 knucklehead chopper in the mid '80s. I've had plenty of vinyl seats since then too, (and the knuck's seat was leather, fwiw).

Buy leather if you like leather. Sniff your seat and admire the appearance all day, if that's your thing. Don't forget to care for that leather while you're at it.

I suggest that what ever your butt is feeling is mostly still about what you're wearing, not about what's covering the seat. Like the rider telling me how awesome his leather seat was, then showing me his bike, which had a beaded seat cover over his leather seat... But that leather was still awesome, according to him. And the custom seat was sooo comfortable, except that he added beads to stop his butt from hurting.... and get more airflow between his butt and the seat. o_O
 

WJBertrand

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My experience a leather seat definitely contributes to sweaty butt less than vinyl no matter what I’m wearing. But then again sweaty butt Has very seldom been an issue for me to worry about, on the rare occasion that it does become a problem I just put a microfiber cloth on the seat and no more problem.
I too find leather seats breathe better and sit cooler wearing my 'stich. However I went with vinyl anyway to save a few $$ and it resists water absorption better than leather. I had a Corbin leather seat on my ST1300 and they recommended covering it in the rain or when washing the bike. It was a very nice seat but showed some wear after a lot of miles.
 

Johnwesley

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I too find leather seats breathe better and sit cooler wearing my 'stich. However I went with vinyl anyway to save a few $$ and it resists water absorption better than leather. I had a Corbin leather seat on my ST1300 and they recommended covering it in the rain or when washing the bike. It was a very nice seat but showed some wear after a lot of miles.
ive never really followed the instructions on that. Don’t cover the seat when washing the bike never had any issue.
 

Johnwesley

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I've been wearing LDComfort so long I can't remember having a sweaty butt since I rode in jeans on my '40 knucklehead chopper in the mid '80s. I've had plenty of vinyl seats since then too, (and the knuck's seat was leather, fwiw).

Buy leather if you like leather. Sniff your seat and admire the appearance all day, if that's your thing. Don't forget to care for that leather while you're at it.

I suggest that what ever your butt is feeling is mostly still about what you're wearing, not about what's covering the seat. Like the rider telling me how awesome his leather seat was, then showing me his bike, which had a beaded seat cover over his leather seat... But that leather was still awesome, according to him. And the custom seat was sooo comfortable, except that he added beads to stop his butt from hurting.... and get more airflow between his butt and the seat. o_O
you seem to have issue seeing any other side of a story other than yours. Glad you so proud of your opinion it just doesn’t pan out for everyone.
 

Cycledude

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Lots of my friends swear by LD Comfort, I tried the stuff and didn’t like it at all.
Same with beads lots of my friends love beads I tried them and hated them.
Different strokes for different folks.
 
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ballisticexchris

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I just run my stock seat with AirHawk and Love Beads. I have always worn bicycle shorts as a layer between underwear and riding gear.
 

EricV

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you seem to have issue seeing any other side of a story other than yours. Glad you so proud of your opinion it just doesn’t pan out for everyone.
I am proud of my opinion, because it's based on my actual first hand experience under conditions I can identify and describe over the last 400k miles or so. You believe something, but have yet to actually describe what you're wearing or answer my questions. Pot, kettle.

There are so many clearly obvious reasons why the covering of a seat has zip to do with the temperature of your butt that it's humorous that people continue to argue otherwise. Get what you like, enjoy it, but don't try to argue it has mystery powers beyond covering the seat. It's a choice of aesthetics and function, in terms of material care, longevity, etc.
 

Johnwesley

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I am proud of my opinion, because it's based on my actual first hand experience under conditions I can identify and describe over the last 400k miles or so. You believe something, but have yet to actually describe what you're wearing or answer my questions. Pot, kettle.

There are so many clearly obvious reasons why the covering of a seat has zip to do with the temperature of your butt that it's humorous that people continue to argue otherwise. Get what you like, enjoy it, but don't try to argue it has mystery powers beyond covering the seat. It's a choice of aesthetics and function, in terms of material care, longevity, etc.
i have experienced of 32 years or touring myself and hold the same views but disagree with you. The big difference is I can see your preference even though it goes against my experience. Yet I do not make snide comment about choosing one material over the other as you do. Your inability to see the difference in others experience is the issue. I know others who are the same, stubborn about there views as if it devalues you as an individual for another to have differing views. I have never said anything about seat sniffing nor butt temperature yet those are points you bring up either to devalue other experiences or because you lack understanding, I do not know which, either way leather works best for me but I am not dogmatic about it. My Tenere has a plastic seat and it will most likely stay even though I prefer leather for the comfort of the cover which I have explained earlier. This is such a minor detail of life I really don’t understand why I even got in a discussion with you on it, though it was not my intent to argue over it, rather just to give my opinion based on years or touring.
 

EricV

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I have ridden the same bike, on the same day, wearing the same gear, at the same temperature, same speeds and conditions with both a custom leather covered seat and a custom vinyl covered seat and there was zero difference. Can you say that? How many times have you spent 20 hours in the saddle for days on end?

I have repeatedly said there is nothing wrong with leather, pick what ever anyone wants.

The point in this discussion is that you believe there is a difference in perceived comfort/seat heat with one choice over another when it comes to leather Vs vinyl. Clearly, I don't share that opinion, and believe it to be patently false and that it should be understood by anyone considering a custom seat.

I hold no animosity toward you. My comments are based on the countless times I've heard people say things like "I like the way it smells" or "I like how it looks" in regards to leather seat covers, w/o grasping that function is what's important if you're actually riding the bike all day, not appearance. Others have praised leather's ability to mold over time to a riders butt. Sure, that's great if you weren't paying for a custom seat to begin with and getting it shaped to fit correctly.

Everyone has a preference. That's fine, we're all different. But make an educated choice. Stating false impressions based on limited experience helps no one. And yes, I see your experience as limited, or you would have a different opinion.

How many custom seats have you ordered and used? A Corbin is not a custom seat, I'm talking about seats made for an individual.

Among the things that stand out about you is that you don't answer questions, you don't give specific responses and you offer years of experience instead of miles. I know many riders that have decades of riding experience that don't total in miles what others ride in a year. Which do you think will have more experience? I started riding on the street in '82, so I guess that makes me an old fart. Most of my miles were ridden after '04 though when I started doing endurance rallies and riding.

Your impression is that leather is cooler. My experience tells me different.
 
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ballisticexchris

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you seem to have issue seeing any other side of a story other than yours. Glad you so proud of your opinion it just doesn’t pan out for everyone.
How very true John. Everyone’s body is different and does not react the same to miles in the saddle regardless of accumulated miles over their life. Pretty much everyone is going to have special seating arrangement that works for them exclusively.

As I mentioned you might want to try bicycle shorts over your underwear. I also use dry spray deodorant in underwear during summer months.

I know mine is just an option that works for me. I think I qualify as much as anyone that has peeled off 700+ miles in a day.
 
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