FlexyRacer
Be Seeing You
Well, I found out resistance was futile. I gave in and I did a "ride in" to Russell Day Long on Friday, 11/20/09. Rode up to Redding Thursday, hotel that night, then 0800-1635 hours at Russell. I tend to be resistant to rave reviews about most products and I was with the Russell. Now, having had a stock ST1300 seat, a Bill Mayer on my last ST1300, and now the Russell, the Russell is definitely in a class by itself. In this case, I wanted to look the owner in the eye and converse with he and his staff and be fitted in person. I got the heated dual leather inserts with vinyl sides. I am 6'5" and 245 pounds. I was concerned this would be another dead end venture to find riding comfort but with a big price tag.
My concerns are unwarranted so far. As soon as I left their shop, it was like being on a completely different bike! It was in the mid 30 degrees and I switched on the seat heater. WOW is all I can say. It was like sitting in front of my air tight wood stove back home. All my muscles relaxed, cozy as I rode back to the hotel during the chilly, and growing rush hour Redding traffic. Likewise as I rode from there to the San Mateo Cycle World show at 0530 the next morning. 36 degrees, FOG, and I was toasty warm, though without heated grips obtained as yet, my hands got really cold.
The return trip via the bike show totalled 432 miles. No fatigued butt at all! There was some slight chafing of my inner thighs. I am not sure if that was left over from my tortuous ride up or if the seat was tilted too far toward the tank. Chafing, per Russell, usually occurs if you continue slipping forward and having to push yourself backwards during a long ride. I have since readjusted the front of the seat up to full high and I will see how that goes. I was amazed at the lack of butt pain. It was like sitting in a fully broken in & cushy baseball mitt. I even feel like my shifts are smoother too. I sit higher than before so I am pretty sure I won't need peg lowers now. It will take 500-1000 miles to break in and maybe more per Russell but I doubt the 2k because of my size.
A great first impression. Hopefully, break in will prove even more beneficial. The wife and I rode two up for 41 miles today and she likes it so far too. Check out my album on the trip if you wish. There are a few decent pics and info there.
My concerns are unwarranted so far. As soon as I left their shop, it was like being on a completely different bike! It was in the mid 30 degrees and I switched on the seat heater. WOW is all I can say. It was like sitting in front of my air tight wood stove back home. All my muscles relaxed, cozy as I rode back to the hotel during the chilly, and growing rush hour Redding traffic. Likewise as I rode from there to the San Mateo Cycle World show at 0530 the next morning. 36 degrees, FOG, and I was toasty warm, though without heated grips obtained as yet, my hands got really cold.
The return trip via the bike show totalled 432 miles. No fatigued butt at all! There was some slight chafing of my inner thighs. I am not sure if that was left over from my tortuous ride up or if the seat was tilted too far toward the tank. Chafing, per Russell, usually occurs if you continue slipping forward and having to push yourself backwards during a long ride. I have since readjusted the front of the seat up to full high and I will see how that goes. I was amazed at the lack of butt pain. It was like sitting in a fully broken in & cushy baseball mitt. I even feel like my shifts are smoother too. I sit higher than before so I am pretty sure I won't need peg lowers now. It will take 500-1000 miles to break in and maybe more per Russell but I doubt the 2k because of my size.
A great first impression. Hopefully, break in will prove even more beneficial. The wife and I rode two up for 41 miles today and she likes it so far too. Check out my album on the trip if you wish. There are a few decent pics and info there.
Congrats on the purchase and I'm glad your happy with the seat
