I love my Thunderbird, but even with the Long Haul seat my wife is very uncomfortable after an hour or even less sometimes. I've actually been looking at new bikes that offer much improved passenger seating, such as the Harley Ultra Limited Low, but it seems more sensible to just get a really good new seat for both the rider and passenger. I'm looking for suggestions, and within reason, cost is not a concern. Also, how do you go about getting the new seat you recommend? Do you have to send them the current seat, which means not riding for what might be several weeks, or do they provide a totally new seat for you to just pop on the bike when received? Whatever seat I get has to have a passenger backrest for a feeling of security. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
My wife had never really complained about the long haul seat, but I would usually have a sore butt after about 3 hours in the saddle. Recently, before a long trip, I decided to try an Airhawk cushion after reading some great reviews. I got one for myself and the wife. Our trip was much more comfy with the cushion. My wife actually loved it.. even tho she never really complained before. She said it was much more comfy. They're relatively cheap.. so definitely worth a try.
I should have mentioned in the original post that I already have Airhawk 2 cushions on both my seat and the passenger seat. I think the passenger seat issue is, in part, just the size of the seat. I full seat that gives support underneath, both sides and behind just has to be more comfortable than a little rectangle to sit on, even with a seperate back rest as I already have. I guess I'm hoping that someone makes an aftermarket seat that offers similar comfort as does the stock seat on some big touring bikes.
In that case.. you should prob check out the Russell Day Long seats. Corbin (they suck) and Mustang are prob your only other options. I recently say a slightly used Russell Day Long seat listed on EBay. You should check to see if it's still available.
Sounds like you still have the stock set setup then. Yes, that little, rectangular brick of a seat isn't doing your passenger any favors. Suggestions would be the longhaul dual (either one-piece or two-piece, either one gets the same improved seat design) or a Mustang two-piece. The latter will be more expensive. That said, there's a seller at the "Other Site" that has them both for sale at great prices:
Mustang rider and passenger pillon. Purchased last year at Sturgis. - $350 for both
Triumph long haul rider and passenger pillon seats - $250 for both
I'd encourage you to pick one of these sets up...you and your wife will be very pleased (especially with the Mustang).
Thanks, Joey -- for some reason, I missed that in the original post. When I read "I think the passenger seat issue is, in part, just the size of the seat. . . . just has to be more comfortable than a little rectangle to sit on" -- I assumed he was talking about the stock passenger seat, the one we've termed The Brick. The longhaul passenger isn't a "little rectangle" (see below), so since I'm confused now at what the OP has, I'll just hold off any more advice (except for the suggestion to check out that cheap deal on a two-piece Mustang...can't believe that's still for sale).
Vito - not to dissuade you in your search to make the answer be the Bird, but we have been looking casually at two-up tourers. So far, stock comfort for her, we're impressed with the Road Glide Ultra and the Indian Roadmaster. We still need to get her on a Wing to look at that as well. There is only so much you can do, short of a completely custom base & seat build, for her on the Bird.
RC.. I saw that mustang deal too. I was tempted. I think the reason it hasn't sold yet is because it doesn't have the rider backrest option. I think most people who are interested in the Mustang.. will also want the rider backrest. I was tempted to buy one too until I tried the Airhawk. The Airhawk / Long Haul combo is pretty nice.
I replaced the longhaul with a corbin dual tour and she quit complaining, it's wider in the back and crazy money and corbin seats are hard, like leather wrapped over plywood hard but we liked it.
Yup. The passenger seat is less than desirable and the long haul passenger seat isn't much better. She has never been overly happy about the seat but is always happy to ride and just deal with the discomfort of it. Had I known about this product sooner, I would have ordered it. That being said, I just (minutes ago), ordered the ButtyBuddy seat for my 2013 Storm. I'll post a review for it once my girl and I get a good day of riding in. It's looking like rain Thursday - Monday. We're out of town for the wekend, so it will hopefully be next week sometime. As an added bonus, her birthday is this month so, I may have just inadvertently found one of her presents. The other part of her present will be a comfortable butt each time we go riding together.
I have the mustang front and back. A big difference for both of us.
The Russell would probably work well but wow...look at the price...$1000 or more. I could buy a rear belt drive replacement kit from Quiet Power Drive for that money!
I bought a T-Bird as a counterbalance to my Bonneville so that the wife and I can have fun on the bike. The Bonnie is cool, but for interstate travel...not so much. I know that this is 'the world according to Merikanskimoosh'..but I would strenuously suggest not to buy any cruiser that you intend to carry a passenger on without a $1000.00 budget for a Russel Day-Long Seat. It is a bitter pill to swallow because a grand buys a ton of accessories. But it's the difference between an occasionally uncomfortable passenger looking for a reason to get off and someone so relaxed that her helmet taps yours from falling asleep in the saddle.
I was veeeery fortunate to find one on EBay from a wrecked 2010 for $280.00 used! But I'm serious....I'd pay a grand for this thing. Check out the photos with the standard pillion seat and the long haul sitting on top of it. Aside from the obvious size difference, check out the 'soap dish' seating position. The long haul is a board. It is a bit wider and softer...but a board nonetheless.
Well, the Butty Buddy was a no go. My girl sat on it for about 2 minutes and said no. It put pressure on the back of her thighs and would definitely not work for her. Back to the drawing board. I'm not looking to spend a grand on a seat but that Russell Day Long Seat looks pretty nice.
We have the same issue here, long haul + Airhwak2 and still not comfortable. It did improve though, went from 20 minute rides max to 45 minutes.
That Russel Day-Long looks awesome but $1000 can buy me a ton of parts for my CB750 project.
TbirdPA, From what I understand, you have to send in your seat pans to Russell so they can use to make your seat. Since they are using the pans from your stock seat, the fit onto the Bird should be no hassle.
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