VN900 & Saddlemen "King" gel seat

[rod2625]

I am considering a new saddle for my VN900. Like most here I had pretty much thought I would try the Mustang Vintage until I saw a post on VROC where a guy with the VN900 had installed a CW sissy bar and rack (which I also have). He got the Mustang and found it to fit snug against the backrest rails. The stock seat is about 10.5 inches wide but tapers at the end and extends between the rail with about 1/2 inch on each side. The Vintage as well as the Saddlemen Explorer are very wide at the end of the seat. I checked with Saddlemen and they thought I would have the same issue with their Explorer. They are now shipping their VN900 seats BTW. I then noticed their "King" seat which has a nice looking driver seat and a smaller P-Pad (8 in wide). When I asked about the rider positions here is what they said:

"King Seat- passenger seat width, about 8", probably slightly thicker in back than stock. Rider- same ride height, but different contours might make you think it's lower."

Here is a link to what the seat looks like. BTW saddlemen.com does not have any picts of these seats:

http://www.meancycles.com/Home.asp?P...er&CompanyID=0

So what is prompting this is last Sunday I got in about 110 miles and today about 150 miles on the bike. Probably the longest I sat was about 1.5 hrs and yes I was ready to for a stretch after that. Also this week I check my tire pressure it was 26/26, per Dunlop's webpage changed it to 36/40 and also moved my shock setting from 4 to 6 so yes when I hit some rough patches in the road I felt it quiet abit more than before....

So anybody with good/bad experiences with Saddelmen's?

[scrappy]

Yikes...With tax and all...$400.00 for a seat?? I'll stick with my stock one.....helluva lot more comfortable than the ones on my sportbikes anywayz!

[Lattimer]

$400 is pretty decent for a seat. Mustang and Corbin are both more expensive than that.

[scrappy]

I guess I'm just so used to riding for hours on practically a wooden plank Try doing an all day ride on a CBR 600RR, then jump on the Vulcan cruiser and you'll feel like you're riding on a couch compared to the CBR!! That's prolly why I personally can't see a need for an even more comfortable seat....Also, the fact that I'm a skinny, little feckker might help in that area

[aboogaard]

I bought my VN900 Classic in early Aug. The riding position is great, but my butt gets sore in the joints after only 15 minutes or so. I ordered a Mustang touring seat with the back rest like the one I had on my previous bike, Honda VT750. I loved it on the 750, but I do not like it on the Vulcan. It makes my butt hurt even more and the raised riding position makes the otherwise very stable 900 unstable by raising the center of gravity. I don't get the pleasure out of riding with the mustang seat that I get with the stock seat. I'm going to try the Kawasaki gel seat to see if that will relieve my pain.

Anyone out there want a Really new Mustang Touring seat with back rest?

[plasma blue]

Originally Posted by aboogaard

I bought my VN900 Classic in early Aug. The riding position is great, but my butt gets sore in the joints after only 15 minutes or so. I ordered a Mustang touring seat with the back rest like the one I had on my previous bike, Honda VT750. I loved it on the 750, but I do not like it on the Vulcan. It makes my butt hurt even more and the raised riding position makes the otherwise very stable 900 unstable by raising the center of gravity. I don't get the pleasure out of riding with the mustang seat that I get with the stock seat. I'm going to try the Kawasaki gel seat to see if that will relieve my pain.

Anyone out there want a Really new Mustang Touring seat with back rest?

Welcome to the forum!
Post in the for sale section you might get some interest, how much you asking?

[SleekStreak]

Originally Posted by scrappy

Yikes...With tax and all...$400.00 for a seat?? I'll stick with my stock one.....

That's pretty typical price range.

[aboogaard]

The actual cost for the Mustang seat with the back rest with studs is about $670 list or $580 on-line as mine was. If your comfortable with the stock seat, by all means, stick with it. But I got the feeling that the gel is a big improvement.

[plasma blue]

Originally Posted by aboogaard

The actual cost for the Mustang seat with the back rest with studs is about $670 list or $580 on-line as mine was. If your comfortable with the stock seat, by all means, stick with it. But I got the feeling that the gel is a big improvement.

The stock seat was the WORST, The KAWASAKI gel seat has been backordered for 9 weeks? ( I ordered it 8 weeks ago? Due in another week or so.)
In the mean time I made my own gel seat from a LT seat that is super nice. I have been riding happy with that untill the Gel seat comes.

[aboogaard]

Originally Posted by plasma blue

Welcome to the forum!
Post in the for sale section you might get some interest, how much you asking?

I don't want to loose too much on it. It is brand new. Had it on for less than a week. As I said, I paid $583.95 from Phatperformanceparts.com. I think $530 seems reasonable. Ah?

And thanks for the welcome.

[tcris52]

I just bought a Saddlemen Explorer for my 900. I paid $315 for it and don't see where there is that much difference from the stock seat. Luckily the place I bought it from has a good return policy.

I guess I might try the Mustang unless somebody has other thoughts or suggestions.

Tony

[Sonnie-Boy]

Originally Posted by plasma blue

The stock seat was the WORST, The KAWASAKI gel seat has been backordered for 9 weeks? ( I ordered it 8 weeks ago? Due in another week or so.)
In the mean time I made my own gel seat from a LT seat that is super nice. I have been riding happy with that untill the Gel seat comes.

Keep me posted on your gel seat. I ordered one too about 8 weeks ago. I called my dealer to check the status this morning and still no word on ETA. My @$$ and myself are getting anxious!

[CycleDude]

Originally Posted by plasma blue

The stock seat was the WORST, The KAWASAKI gel seat has been backordered for 9 weeks? ( I ordered it 8 weeks ago? Due in another week or so.)
In the mean time I made my own gel seat from a LT seat that is super nice. I have been riding happy with that untill the Gel seat comes.

If you wanna part with your home made gel seat when your new one comes, let me know? $$$ is tight these days!

[rod2625]

Since I orginally posted this thread I sold my Saddlemen's King (gel) and have gotten a Corbin Young Guns. So far I rate it better than the Saddlemen's, mostly from the fact that it has more support under you and the horn is longer. The passenger pad looks great but not intended for extended use. Corbin lowered their price on this seat from this summer from $449 to $369 currently. I ordered it through BTK and got a 15% discount off of the $369. It is a great seat for the bucks. It is a combination of leather in the driver seat and vinyl on the sides and p-pad. When you look at the saddle you cannot tell the difference between the two (I have the plain black). I only have about 500 miles on it and Corbin states that it takes about a thousand to get it broken it. But I must say that from the get go it is the best I have ridden on compared to the stock and the Saddlemen's King.

Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories | Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Motorcycles | 800-538-7035

Here are some pict of it on my bike:

Kawi VN900 album | Rod2625 | Fotki.com

[aboogaard]

Tony, if you interested in buying my Mustang seat, let me know.
Allen B.

[over50]

Hi, I,m new to this kind of thing but was looking for a little advice and hoping you all could help. I ride an 06 1500 Classic and my wife just bought a new 07 900 Classic. We are looking at seat options for her. I have a Mustang wide touring with backrest on mine. I have read lots of comments on this site but still have a few specific questions. I need something for her that won't put her any farther away form the controls. or any higher. Passengers aren't reallly an issue. I reaize that some risers may be in order to bring the bars back a bit.

Was wondering specifically why you sold the Saddlemen King? It looks like, based on your comments that it would keep her low and close to the tank. She is only 5'4" so it is a stretch already. I think the young guns probably would set her too far back. I am also considering just sending the stock seat to Mean City Cycles and for $90 letting him resculpt the seat with memory foam. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Scott

[rod2625]

Scott, I can't say for sure if there is any difference in how far you are sitting back between the Saddlemen's and the Corbin Young Guns. I did not notice any real difference. There are pics of both on my link below. Also it was after a 2k mile trip that I decided to get rid of the Saddlemen's. Good low back support but too narrow, not enough seat under my butt and it always felt like I was sitting on the edge of a chair. The YG's is much more comfortable. I know after I took that trip this summer the three things I wanted afterwards was some risers, Baron's BAK for a little more get up, and a different seat. I have about a 29 inch inseam and pretty short arms. I got the Phat I risers. The II's will give you an inch or so more height, less reach. I rated the Saddlemen's a 4 and the YG a 5 out of 5. To give you an idea of the reach, I measured from the mid point (top to bottom) of the YG built-in backrest to the closest point on the fork chrome covers on the tripletree and it was 40 inches. From that same point to the handlebars with the Phat I's is about 32 inches. I hope that helps.

[over50]

Originally Posted by rod2625

Scott, I can't say for sure if there is any difference in how far you are sitting back between the Saddlemen's and the Corbin Young Guns. I did not notice any real difference. There are pics of both on my link below. Also it was after a 2k mile trip that I decided to get rid of the Saddlemen's. Good low back support but too narrow, not enough seat under my butt and it always felt like I was sitting on the edge of a chair. The YG's is much more comfortable. I know after I took that trip this summer the three things I wanted afterwards was some risers, Baron's BAK for a little more get up, and a different seat. I have about a 29 inch inseam and pretty short arms. I got the Phat I risers. The II's will give you an inch or so more height, less reach. I rated the Saddlemen's a 4 and the YG a 5 out of 5. To give you an idea of the reach, I measured from the mid point (top to bottom) of the YG built-in backrest to the closest point on the fork chrome covers on the tripletree and it was 40 inches. From that same point to the handlebars with the Phat I's is about 32 inches. I hope that helps.

Thanks for the info Roger. That helps a lot. I guess I'll give it a little more thought before buying the King. I didn't realize it was that narrow. I have also been considering the Profiler from Saddlemen.

[rod2625]

Scott, the other thing I should mention on the King is that the saddlehorn is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch shorter than the stock, you could see the rub marks from the stock seat on the tank. I think that contributes to the whole design not being very supportive. Also the measurement from the seat to the handlebars was directly to the midpoint between the risers. Don't get me wrong, I think the King is a better seat than the stock, I could ride for hours, but for me the YG is even better.