ST 1300 seats, gel pads, cushions, lambs wool.

Joshoowa

Joshoowa

Joined
Oct 21, 2024
Messages
9
Age
62
Location
Philadelphia
Bike
St 1300
Should this 60 something year old man try a gel pad, lambs wool, a cushion or just replace the seat on my 2012 ST 1300?
Has anyone had any luck with adding to a seat or should I just bite the bullet and replace it?
 
Depends on your riding habits- will you be doing regular 600 mile days? Or the occasional 100 mile day trip?
I have used a sheepskin ( adds some comfort), bead rider ( home made from a car seat ( quite effective, and cool in summer heat), and a hexagonal “honeycomb” gel seat cover ( works great).
The alternative of course, is a spendy custom seat, which LD riders seem to favor, like an RDL, or Laam seat.
 
It really depends on your fundament. Skinny guys have less padding down there and can be intolerant of smaller or hard seats. Your best bet is to try as many different options as you can - by borrowing lambs wool, a bead rider, etc. from friends and fellow ST owners. Just know that custom seats are just that, and made to fit one individual. While some guys have bought used Russell Day Long seats and found them to be comfortable, others have ended up selling the used seat after trying it out.

You might ride to an ST owners event (a RTE or one of the weekend rallies) and try out solutions to the stock seat that others have found.
 
Looks like you live close, I have a few you can try. Sargent, Corbin, Gel, RDLs, Air hawk. As long as you're not flakey.
Joshoowa said:
Should this 60 something year old man try a gel pad, lambs wool, a cushion or just replace the seat on my 2012 ST 1300?
Has anyone had any luck with adding to a seat or should I just bite the bullet and replace it?
Click to expand...
 
I tried several different seats, from corbin, sargent, russell, mayers, etc. In the end, what worked for me was the STOCK seat (best shape/angle for me) and a $25 dollar pair of bicycle spandex shorts with built in gel inserts in the butt area. Cooler, no seams, 900 mile days without monkey butt, or discomfort etc.
But again, this will depend on your size/weight/riding postion etc.
This might be the cheapest and easiest solution to try before spending alot of money on a different seat.
 
Joshoowa said:
Should this 60 something year old man try a gel pad, lambs wool, a cushion or just replace the seat on my 2012 ST 1300?
Has anyone had any luck with adding to a seat or should I just bite the bullet and replace it?
Click to expand...

klaproth said:
Depends on your riding habits- will you be doing regular 600 mile days? Or the occasional 100 mile day trip?
I have used a sheepskin ( adds some comfort), bead rider ( home made from a car seat ( quite effective, and cool in summer heat), and a hexagonal “honeycomb” gel seat cover ( works great).
The alternative of course, is a spendy custom seat, which LD riders seem to favor, like an RDL, or Laam seat.
Click to expand...
Thanks.... I'll look into the honeycomb gel seat cover.
 
Willsmotorcycle said:
Looks like you live close, I have a few you can try. Sargent, Corbin, Gel, RDLs, Air hawk. As long as you're not flakey.
Click to expand...
Ha! That would be cool. I'm guessing they are not all for your ST but on different bikes. I'm not doing any mega rides at the moment but if I'm sore after a 100 or so miles, I'll need to figure something out for those multi day rides.
 
Igofar said:
I tried several different seats, from corbin, sargent, russell, mayers, etc. In the end, what worked for me was the STOCK seat (best shape/angle for me) and a $25 dollar pair of bicycle spandex shorts with built in gel inserts in the butt area. Cooler, no seams, 900 mile days without monkey butt, or discomfort etc.
But again, this will depend on your size/weight/riding postion etc.
This might be the cheapest and easiest solution to try before spending alot of money on a different seat.
Click to expand...
Another good idea!
 
Larry Fine said:
I would like to take you up on that offer. I'd like a seat (the RDL?) for longer legs.
Click to expand...
I would like some under mirror light brackets... you can ride up here and try any one you want Larry, no car, no trailer. I think the sport RDL is the tallest I have, on the bike now, tall enough I'm considering going back to ST foot pegs. Just to be clear, I'm not giving away seats, just a tryout.

For me the RDL non sport is the most comfortable, it was made for someone about my build. Lots of seat time? Go custom.
 
Joshoowa said:
Ha! That would be cool. I'm guessing they are not all for your ST but on different bikes. I'm not doing any mega rides at the moment but if I'm sore after a 100 or so miles, I'll need to figure something out for those multi day rides.
Click to expand...
They are sitting on a shelf waiting for you to try, did you buy that black 2012? Personally it takes hundreds of miles for me to see if I like a seat and use case definitely matters. I'm usually sore day 2 no matter what.

I rode on a stock seat with an air pad to Columbia, SC to get the Sargent, switched it and instantly hated it. Changed it back at the next fuel stop. A week or so later I decided to try it again, with an air hawk and in a different position. I ended up putting 30k plus on it. The Corbin is firm but have never done a multi-day with it, it looks the best though.
 
Willsmotorcycle said:
They are sitting on a shelf waiting for you to try, did you buy that black 2012? Personally it takes hundreds of miles for me to see if I like a seat and use case definitely matters. I'm usually sore day 2 no matter what.

I rode on a stock seat with an air pad to Columbia, SC to get the Sargent, switched it and instantly hated it. Changed it back at the next fuel stop. A week or so later I decided to try it again, with an air hawk and in a different position. I ended up putting 30k plus on it. The Corbin is firm but have never done a multi-day with it, it looks the best though.
Click to expand...
Yes.... I bought that black 2012 ST. Wow, you really are tapped in to the ST community! Both Kelley and I ride ST1300s. She has a 2006 and is looking for a new seat too. Her's is just plum warn out with 50k miles. Me? My body is broken and battered after an extreme life and I need help cushioning the rest of the ride. Let's set a time on your schedule to pick your brain and check out your seats.
 
Last edited:
Having tried pretty much most of the 'seat' options early on - gel, beads, sheepskin, air pads, etc. I went with Russell Daylong and never looked back.
If you plan on keeping the bike, you'll be glad you did.
There are few folks that the RDL didn't suit them, but the majority of folks are very satisfied with them.
I highly recommend a 'ride in' if you can work it out with your schedule and Russell.
BTW, I've got close to 400,000 miles on RDLs on my ST1100s. ;)
 
Uncle Phil said:
Having tried pretty much most of the 'seat' options early on - gel, beads, sheepskin, air pads, etc. I went with Russell Daylong and never looked back.
If you plan on keeping the bike, you'll be glad you did.
There are few folks that the RDL didn't suit them, but the majority of folks are very satisfied with them.
I highly recommend a 'ride in' if you can work it out with your schedule and Russell.
BTW, I've got close to 400,000 miles on RDLs on my ST1100s. ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks Uncle Phil! My dad always said, "If you buy quality, you'll only cry once."
 
Uncle Phil said:
Here's links to my two rideouts -



If you do a rideout, you are the only customer in the shop for that day.
Quite an interesting process for sure!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info and what a cool process and ride for you, but there is no way I will be riding cross country from Philly to California. I rode to Sturgis from CA and ended up trailering my bike back. That was 13 years ago and my beat up, broken body (26 broken bones) hasn't found the fountain of youth yet.
 
Joshoowa said:
Thanks for the info and what a cool process and ride for you, but there is no way I will be riding cross country from Philly to California. I rode to Sturgis from CA and ended up trailering my bike back. That was 13 years ago and my beat up, broken body (26 broken bones) hasn't found the fountain of youth yet.
Click to expand...
I understand that somewhat - I've had 17 orthopedic surgeries (4 of them total joint replacements) and 2 sets of busted ribs 6 months apart last year.
Old Arthur is a constant companion - just not a pleasant one. ;)
Russell does a great job with just pictures (my first one was done that way).
The nice thing about a rideout is they make any adjustments you want right on the spot before they upholster the seat.
But you can't do what your body won't let you do!
 
I bought a $20 air seat pad at amazon when I had my st1100. Worked well didn't need the straps to hold it in place. It had a no slip bottom and didn't loose air. Put it on for longer rides when needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom