Ultimate seat comparo with Full Cut gel

[peregrine]

This is in no way a bash on Ultimate since they make a great high quality seat. Their service is great. I got the seat in 4 days since it was in stock from FL to CT. They extended the 14 day return policy since I would be away on vacation.

I wanted to compare the Ultimate to the Suzuki FC gel. The FC is great for me until about the 100 mile mark. I am 6ft tall and 300lbs (working on losing that)

Ulitmate with the backrest pushes me too far forward. Without the backrest it isn't bad, but I push back in the seat to get a better feel and I come up hard against the backrest bracket with my tailbone. They are aware of this and suggest some riders to forego the backrest and illuminate the bracket. The backrest pulls in and out easily. It has some adjustment forward and back and folds to allow passenger mounting.

I notice that I sit much farther back on the FC gel. I am sitting partially on the upper back portion since it is cup shaped and soft.

The Ultimate also has a high nose which pushes up at my balls and is uncomfortable. See pics below of high nose.

My impression is that if they moved the backrest bracket to the rear of the seat instead of inside they could cut the cushion down and I could move farther rearward. This might not be the best way to engineer the bracket since it comes up against the seat pan now and with my suggestion it would try and peel off the seat pan under hard push back. Look at the real estate behind the backrest, seems like a waste to me. Look at the last pic and make your own decision. Maybe I should keep the seat and modify it to my tastes since it is a really good start.

The Ultimate gives you more room front to back in the saddle before you hit the back portion, but the back portion is thicker. See tape measure.

I hope this helps people with their decision making process. I may stuff the gel seat and then get a grasshopper backrest. It would be less expensive and more tailored fit to me.

[Big-B]

That was exactly what I didn't like about the standard cut gel. It was too confining. Great write up and comparison though. You gonna keep the seat or send it back?

[Gamma]

I am 6ft tall and 300lbs (working on losing that)

You'll look much worse at 5ft and 300lbs, best stay at 6ft!

[peregrine]

That was exactly what I didn't like about the standard cut gel. It was too confining. Great write up and comparison though. You gonna keep the seat or send it back?

I guess I will send it back. It is worth more if I send it back and modify the stock or gel seat.

I can shape the foam all day long. I do not have a sewing machine to make a cover out of, but now that I think of it Joanne Fabrics does. I wonder if I could sew up my own. I know I can mount a cover. Hmmmm.....

[peregrine]

You'll look much worse at 5ft and 300lbs, best stay at 6ft!

Oh you Brits with your dry humor. Punch line would have been better in person. Especially with the accent.

[Big-B]

I guess I will send it back. It is worth more if I send it back and modify the stock or gel seat.

I can shape the foam all day long. I do not have a sewing machine to make a cover out of, but now that I think of it Joanne Fabrics does. I wonder if I could sew up my own. I know I can mount a cover. Hmmmm.....

You can always buy a pre made cover.

[peregrine]

You can always buy a pre made cover.

Yeah, but I am going to modify it enough that a stock cover probably won't fit. That is what I meant. I will cut and add enough foam to change the shape. I took my passenger seat apart and put it back together.

I thought about modifying it and then taking it to an upholsterer.

[KINGZM109R]

Great comparo! Thanks for posting. I wish corbin was available for comparison. It's down to modified stock vs corbin for me.

[Big-B]

Great comparo! Thanks for posting. I wish corbin was available for comparison. It's down to modified stock vs corbin for me.

No contest, Corbin hands down.

[KINGZM109R]

No contest, Corbin hands down.

I believe so too. Thanks for your confirmation.

[peregrine]

No contest, Corbin hands down.

I sat on the Corbin. I was not impressed. BigPapaM109 and Lostrider both have them. They are still hard seats. If you are a big guy they are not so great. I had one on my ZX-9 and it was so much better than stock, but it sure was hard and not something I could spend the day on. The one for the Busa I sold immediately. The stock Busa seat is gel like and wonderful compared to a Corbin.

I am not saying the Corbin is not good, but the FC gel is really good in comparison.
I would want to spend a day on one before I paid the coin for it.

[antmor69]

I sat on the Corbin. I was not impressed. BigPapaM109 and Lostrider both have them. They are still hard seats. If you are a big guy they are not so great. I had one on my ZX-9 and it was so much better than stock, but it sure was hard and not something I could spend the day on. The one for the Busa I sold immediately. The stock Busa seat is gel like and wonderful compared to a Corbin.

I am not saying the Corbin is not good, but the FC gel is really good in comparison.
I would want to spend a day on one before I paid the coin for it.

I can ride all day with my Corbin. 6'2" 250#

[Big-B]

I sat on the Corbin. I was not impressed. BigPapaM109 and Lostrider both have them. They are still hard seats. If you are a big guy they are not so great. I had one on my ZX-9 and it was so much better than stock, but it sure was hard and not something I could spend the day on. The one for the Busa I sold immediately. The stock Busa seat is gel like and wonderful compared to a Corbin.

I am not saying the Corbin is not good, but the FC gel is really good in comparison.
I would want to spend a day on one before I paid the coin for it.

You sat on it, did you actually ride w/ it? Big difference.
Not sure weight has anything to do w/ it. I can fluctuate anywhere from 260 to 300 and it still feels GRRRRRRate!

[BigpapaM109]

I sat on the Corbin. I was not impressed. BigPapaM109 and Lostrider both have them. They are still hard seats. If you are a big guy they are not so great. I had one on my ZX-9 and it was so much better than stock, but it sure was hard and not something I could spend the day on. The one for the Busa I sold immediately. The stock Busa seat is gel like and wonderful compared to a Corbin.

I am not saying the Corbin is not good, but the FC gel is really good in comparison.
I would want to spend a day on one before I paid the coin for it.

Unfortunately I believe that there is no perfect seat because of how our pan is. I hated the corbin before I bought it when testing it on a couple others. I can ride all day now with it and love it. Sorry you didn't like the ultimate seat but at lest you are exhausting all your options to find the comfort.

[peregrine]

You sat on it, did you actually ride w/ it? Big difference.
Not sure weight has anything to do w/ it. I can fluctuate anywhere from 260 to 300 and it still feels GRRRRRRate!

Sorry, but after owning 2 of them and 1 for over 12000 miles one sit was all I needed to know. Too hard for me.
260-300 what are you a body builder?
I am thinking Russell at this point.

[peregrine]

Unfortunately I believe that there is no perfect seat because of how our pan is. I hated the corbin before I bought it when testing it on a couple others. I can ride all day now with it and love it. Sorry you didn't like the ultimate seat but at lest you are exhausting all your options to find the comfort.

Yup, I am calling Russell tomorrow. See what they have to say.

[Schmoof]

If you ordered the Ultimate without the backrest bracket, would you be happy with it? I am 6' 2" 205-210 I believe (positive on the height lol) and was thinking of going with the Ultimate but having them leave out the backrest bracket.

I hear what you mean with the upward slant crushing the jewels... I already think the stock 9 seat is a little too high up front for comfort. I think seats should all have an indent for that very reason, but it would probably not look great and thus why nobody does it.

[peregrine]

If you ordered the Ultimate without the backrest bracket, would you be happy with it? I am 6' 2" 205-210 I believe (positive on the height lol) and was thinking of going with the Ultimate but having them leave out the backrest bracket.

I hear what you mean with the upward slant crushing the jewels... I already think the stock 9 seat is a little too high up front for comfort. I think seats should all have an indent for that very reason, but it would probably not look great and thus why nobody does it.

No. I thought of that since I rode it again this morning with out it. I hit back against the bracket hard, but otherwise I kind of liked it. I figured I would remove the bracket. I can easily do that. I took it for another ride this afternoon. The nose is just too high for my liking and when I am little hot and sweaty the stitching in the seat bothers me. I used to have an issue with Corbin because they have a tendency to do that with their seats. The seating surface should be one panel from the rear and down the sides in the front where you thighs go to prevent that feeling.
Your weight being about 90 lbs less than me may make a huge difference. My big issue is the money back guarantee will not be available in your case since you are ordering something not stock. Not backsies in that case. Try a full cut gel because it does not have that high nose. If you look at my pics again look at the gel. I sit further back than the crease in the cover. I am doing that now with the Ultimate with the backrest removed and if I shaved the nose, removed the backrest bracket, and put one panel over the seating area like the gel it would be a pretty damn good seat.

At this point I am seriously looking at the Russell day long. It is ugly, but so are windscreens and I just ordered one on eBay. I love the look of the 9, but I have to ride it too and right now getting another bike just to cruise further is not in the budget. I want to do over 300 mile days and I need to make changes to do this. So it loses some of it's curb appeal when parked. I can always throw the gel on when I am doing shorter hops. Just like my gel rear seat with the backrest mod. I can easily remove it and put the solo cowl on for looks. I think I am gonna order the Grasshopper backrest too.

[v8killer]

weight is not the issue, body type and muscle mass is when it comes to being comfortable on a seat.

a heavy guy with 30% body fat is gonna roll around letting his joints take all the punishment where as the same weight guy with half the body fat and more muscle mass will be comfortable all day long because his body has the ability to carry the weight .

so chiming in with which seat is better has a lot more to do with the above than just how much you weigh and how tall you are. 2 people can also be the same height but one will have much longer legs than the other.

[v8killer]

5'11 300 pounds vs 5'11 300 pounds







last picture is just funny not meant to compare the 2 lol.

[WIDE LOAD]

The Fact is the this seat just does not fit you or the opposite, Very few ultimate owners aren't happy with them but it does happen, You said that you could feel the stitching and it bothered you I have never felt the stitching through my jeans but hope you find one that makes you happy .

[WIDE LOAD]

Grasshopper backrest most members here like it but it did not work for me the bracket is very thin and bent when I leaned against it I gave it away .

[peregrine]

Grasshopper backrest most members here like it but it did not work for me the bracket is very thin and bent when I leaned against it I gave it away .

WOW...that sucks. I just ordered it. I will see how it goes.

[peregrine]

I sent the seat back to Ultimate. $29 to ship plus the $40 it cost to ship to me. So I lost $69 just to try it out, but at least I get my $580 back.
I ordered a Russell. The production dates are in September and then it takes 2 weeks to build and probably a week to ship from CA to CT so I will be lucky to have it on October. I mentioned that and their reply was that I have 18 months to be satisfied with my seat. I can send it back twice for adjustments in that time. I thought that was impressive. We shall see.

[Dommy]

Great comparo, Peregrine .

I'm using the measurements in your pics above to have my seat remade at a local seat maker where I live.
I'm trying to avoid shipping expenses, but especially importation fees from USA to Italy (quite high ).

My gut feeling is that the Ultimate seat would be great for me (I'm 5.48"), so I'm trying to have this local firm to replicate the Ultimate's seat size as good as I can.

I'd like to have also the measurement taken on the side of the seat, from its lowest edge to the sitting edge.
Please, would be so kind to write it as well?

That would be gorgeous

Thanks again.

Dommy.

[bwl60]

[QUOTE=peregrine;1672920
I ordered a Russell. The production dates are in September and then it takes 2 weeks to build and probably a week to ship from CA to CT so I will be lucky to have it on October. I mentioned that and their reply was that I have 18 months to be satisfied with my seat. I can send it back twice for adjustments in that time. I thought that was impressive. We shall see.[/QUOTE]

That is the seat I have been looking at. Very expensive too. Kinda funny looking but looks comfortable. Let us know.

[BigRed45]

I know everyone is a lil different Iam 6 ft 290 and I have the uitilmate seat and love it I now have about 8000 miles on it so I would say it is good and broke in ...love it Soo much better than the stock I can ride all day without any discomfort..just my ..2 cent

[peregrine]

I bought the Russell seat and the thread and pics are here
http://www.m109riders.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=161069

[peregrine]

Great comparo, Peregrine .

I'm using the measurements in your pics above to have my seat remade at a local seat maker where I live.
I'm trying to avoid shipping expenses, but especially importation fees from USA to Italy (quite high ).

My gut feeling is that the Ultimate seat would be great for me (I'm 5.48"), so I'm trying to have this local firm to replicate the Ultimate's seat size as good as I can.

I'd like to have also the measurement taken on the side of the seat, from its lowest edge to the sitting edge.
Please, would be so kind to write it as well?

That would be gorgeous

Thanks again.

Dommy.

Hi Dommy,
I returned the seat to Ultimate so I cannot comment on the measurements anymore. Sorry

[peregrine]

That is the seat I have been looking at. Very expensive too. Kinda funny looking but looks comfortable. Let us know.

INCREDIBLE!!!