Passenger comfort questions

[Jeff Snook]

I'm looking to upgrade to something more fun to ride and is more comfortable to my passenger. I've whittled it down to a BMW R1200RT or a Honda ST1300, though we're leaning towards the Honda. Any comments on how comfortable it is for a passenger? Is an aftermarket seat worth the cost or is stock fine? How much buffeting is there for the passenger? Has anyone used a laminar lip and does that help the passenger? Further advice or comments geared towards the passenger would be appreciated.

[Elmo]

The stock seat has got to go... We have some members that like it, but I think I'm in the majority. I also went with the Heli risers. I go 6' 3" and 260 lbs. Love the bike!

I have the Givi V46 topbox with the soft backrest. My wife has done 500+ miles per day with me and does well. Not hardly as comfortable as our previous Valkyries, but OK.

Good luck with your choice!



Elmo

[msnyder755]

The only thing my wife has ever complained about is the buffetting at high speed with the windshield full down. I can adjust it just a little and she seems fine. (caution shes not one that ever really complains about anything). We did buy the backrest from Premier Cycle Accessories and she loves having it back there. The best thing about that is the connect disconnect time is about 2 minutes so you can take it off when your solo if you wish.

Hope that helps

[GOPHER]

I have a Honda top box on my '06 which my wife really likes. The biggest complaint she has about the bike is the amount of air she receives compared to bikes we've had in the past. Past bikes have been sportbikes, nakeds, and a V-Strom. On those bikes it seems the rider takes the brunt of the air, while on the ST the air is forced around the rider and dumped on the passenger. I would guess the BMW would have similar qualities but I haven't ridden one so I can't say. I'm running a Clearview shield btw.

[spd2918]

The stock seat is angled down towards the front- not good for passenger confidence. I will be running an aftermarket seat soon.

Otherwise my love loves the top box and the windshield all the way up.

[Fred]

Honda fairing deflector, +6" wide windscreen, laminar lip and a custom seat were all for her. 1000 mile days are now Ok. I do need to have the screen almost full up for her above 40 MPH.

[nm6r]

We always ride 2-up. My wife didn't mind the stock seat. I could barely walk after about 550 miles. A Sargent seat did the trick for me and my wife likes it's comfort even better. No real problems with the stock windshield. It's usually all the way down, only raising it a couple inches in the cold and/or wet. My wife never experiences any buffetting, but then again, she rides with me. Since she rides with me, she just as soon not have the top box on. It only gets used on long trips where the extra storage is really needed.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[STeve1300]

I'd bet Ray (above) and Hope have the most 2up miles on the board....ok maybe Steve (diggers1300) and Virginia tie... so I'd PM them if I had specific questions... One little hint... add one of the many highway peg options. You may feel you don't need them, but when you move your feet forward, your wife can easily streatch her legs and use your vacated pegs.

[UNTMatt]

We always ride 2-up. My wife didn't mind the stock seat. I could barely walk after about 550 miles. A Sargent seat did the trick for me and my wife likes it's comfort even better. No real problems with the stock windshield. It's usually all the way down, only raising it a couple inches in the cold and/or wet. My wife never experiences any buffetting, but then again, she rides with me. Since she rides with me, she just as soon not have the top box on. It only gets used on long trips where the extra storage is really needed.

Ray

+1

We added the Sargent seats as well. In lew of a top box we put on Turbo Tom's sport touring rack with passenger backrest (http://www.turbocity.com/product_info.php?cPath=64&products_id=556&osCsid=5b08f932d112256f2059502667c13b71). My wife does not notice any buffetting but, like Ray, she rides with me. It's almost like she isn't even on the bike.

[GRN]

Further advice or comments geared towards the passenger would be appreciated.

Maybe I should let Jbackthere answer, but I'm pretty sure I'll tell you the same.
4 things that significantly improved the pillion ride for us:
1. custom saddle, bettr shape, more stable
2. clearview med GT screen
3. back rest, ours is on a Givi box, but any flavor would do
4. a good com system

Few things in life better than a happy pillion :cool:

[STindy05]

My wife has no complaints about the bike. We have the Stock seat and I put 6500 miles on it last year and I did not have any problems. Many are having Spencer do a seat mod. that is much cheaper than alternatives and has had many good reviews. You might look at that option. Save the 5G and buy the best!

Landon

[Snoweyowl]

This is my first bike that my wife likes the comfort of the stock seat. Also added Honda top box for her to lean against. Windshield does up about halfway when she is aboard. She did have problem sliding forward which was solved with this: http://www.triboseat.com/ Ordered off e-bay and received in less than a week. About $26. I believe Spencer also said that the rear seat mod he does stops sliding as well.

[Machog]

I added extended passenger footpegs from MCL, my wife is 5'8" plus we have custom seats from Rich's (local Seattle guy). Getting a Honda topbox, from what I hear its a better option than Givi as a back rest.

[Pete]

Had to get rid of the stock seat. Also, my wife complained about buffeting at interstate speeds with the shield full down.

[STOnkin'aussie]

wife doesn't mind stock seat - although she will not ride longer than 90 mins without a break...I added the topbox with armrests and a fairing deflector kit which really reduced buffeting on her helmet. I ride with the screen almost all the way up when she is aboard (only time it gets raised) only because i am such a caring sort of guy..... :roll:

[bmcdonau]

My wife complains about wind buffeting her head. I added the fairing and mirror deflector and ordered a large clearview windshield. She likes the stock windshield full up at highway speeds which is odd because we don't have a windshield on any of our other bikes and she doesn't complain about them. Must be something about wind flow over the fairing I don't understand yet.

[Brighteyesue]

My wife complains about wind buffeting her head. I added the fairing and mirror deflector and ordered a large clearview windshield. She likes the stock windshield full up at highway speeds which is odd because we don't have a windshield on any of our other bikes and she doesn't complain about them. Must be something about wind flow over the fairing I don't understand yet.

Have you tried a laminar lip?

[FLSTRDR]

Of the 13 to 14,000 miles I ride a year my wife is on board 95% of that time. We take a 5700 mile 2 week vacation each summer. Some days 600 miles plus. What we found to be the best for us is: Clearview GT med or AeroFlow med shield (slight edge), Honda fairing wind deflectors, CalSci lower mirror wind deflectors, Givi E-52 top box, Rick Mayer leather seat ( 40,000 miles on it now), Ordered a Russell seat to try this year, AutoCom. Motolights, Throttlemeister, Tailbrights, Multivex mirrors, Powerlet rh power outlet, Garmin2610.
Sonny

[bcst1300]

My wife hated the stock seat and would not go any more tha 90 minutes. A sheepskin cover extended the distance between rests. Now we have a Seargent and all day comfort for her, with a Givi top box which works as a backrest. She is 5'4"and I hear a lot less noise from turbulent air over the intercom. She does not complain about the air back there but it is rougher than some.
The addition of the air deflectors and a Calsci windshield have made things quieter and smoother for her.

[bmcdonau]

Have you tried a laminar lip?no, I just installed a clearview GT large and that stopped a lot of it.