Bill Mayer, Rick Mayer, or Russell? HELP!!!

[Reid]

:eek: I'm saddle shopping and could sure use some advice. I've narrowed my choices down to Bill Mayer, Rick Mayer, or Russell. Neither of the Mayer saddles offer a backrest option, but Russell does. I know everybody's body and butt are different, but overall is the backrest helpful on the Russell??? How much forward/backward movement does the Russell backrest offer? Are the Mayer seats so comfortable that a backrest is not necessary? Which Mayer is best? I'm 5'10" @ 200lbs and the OEM lowered seat is flat out killing me!!!

A lot of questions for sure; any advice sure would be appreciated. If I don't find a decent saddle for long rides I'll have to go back to Harley (gasp!!!)

[amarider]

You can go with any of the Three but I have had good luck with Rick and great customer service. I would also go with a Back Up Back rest, installs in under 5 minutes, and you can send the pad in to be covered like the seat.
BTW - RaffyK carries the Back UP.

[RonKMiller]

We currently have $100 off the BakUp back rest when you buy a set of seats.

Details available here: http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1948

[andy]

I can only repeat the statement that in my book you can;t go wrong with a Rick Mayer seat. He creates them to YOUR weight, to YOUR butt and the way YOU like 'em. One color, two tone, leather, vinyl, you name it.

I had a Rick Mayer seat on my '01 until it got cut in half (the bike that is) and I LOVED the seat. Have done many 1000 mile days and for me there is simply no comparison.

Now get this: After two years of owning my seat I got heavier, my wife had another back surgery and hence for optimal comfort our saddles had to be adjusted just a tad. Called up Rick, rode there and he did it. When it came to payment, he said with his boyish smile: "Nah, that's customer service"

I KNOW that my next LT and if I can afford it also my Burger will have Rick Mayer saddles. Oh, and I have no financial interest, just a VERY happy customer.

[Steve_R]

Reid,

I can't talk to any of the seats as I haven't gone that far yet, but putting the Bak Up backrest on my bike was the best thing I ever did. You can adjust it forward or backward to your own comfort. The best thing it did for me was to correct a slumping problem that caused my back to kill me on just a 200 mile trip. I did multiple 700 day rides to and from CCR in Wyoming this year. My butt may have ached some at the end of the day, but I had no issues with my back at all. :)

YMMV

[DaveDragon]

Rick Mayer is on the DragonFly and love it.

If I replace it, it will be with a RonKMiller Special :)

[Reid]

Reid,

I can't talk to any of the seats as I haven't gone that far yet, but putting the Bak Up backrest on my bike was the best thing I ever did. You can adjust it forward or backward to your own comfort. The best thing it did for me was to correct a slumping problem that caused my back to kill me on just a 200 mile trip. I did multiple 700 day rides to and from CCR in Wyoming this year. My butt may have ached some at the end of the day, but I had no issues with my back at all. :)

YMMV
I first started looking at backrests as a remedy for the problem I have staying in the saddle for a longride. Now I'm thinking a better seat will help more. Kontour seats look awesome and show the high pressure spots I'm experiencing. They're just a bit too hard on the budget right now, unfortunately. Thanks for the feedback. I see KA5MTE as ham op. My call is W0FVR.

[meese]

I'm very happy with my Rocky and a Bakup backrest. He does excellent work, and supports the LD community and CCR.

All of those three have excellent reputations and will do a great job. Ultimately, you gotta decide what you prefer. I like that there are no seams on top of Rocky's seat, both for water resistance and for comfort. Rick has many happy customers, though he does tend to get backlogged. Russell has the backrest, which is easily removable and folds down flat which makes it easier for a passenger to mount.

If you can do a ride in appointment, that is worth the extra trouble. If not, then just pick one of the guys and go for it. You'll be glad that you did.

[Bruce]

We currently have $100 off the BakUp back rest when you buy a set of seats.

Details available here: http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1948


I have a seat from Ron. At first until I got it broken it was a little hard. But now after break in it's one of the best seats that I have ever set my butt on. About a month ago, I rode for 6 straight days in the TX Hill Country averaging about 300 miles a day without any problems. Another benefit, is the air circulation up from under the seat. My seat is not heated because that's the way I wanted it. I purhcased a non-heated seat from a member and sent it to Ron to build a seat for me. I still have my heated OEM seat and a heated Corbin as well. I know several others on this board that have had Ron build a seat for them and they all enjoy them.

Just my 2 cents worth...

[Dave_in_Arizona]

Had a Russell . . . had a Corbin . . . HAVE a Rick Mayer! Great seat, great guy!! Add a BakUp and you'll be comfy. Photos available if you PM me.

[SilverBuffalo]

Do a search on the old site,
there was a seat manufacterer poll taken.
Use it to make an informed decision.
I bought a seat based on the reccomendations of some of the same members touting great seat, great service, etc.
Turns out almost 20% of his customers would not buy again.
I'm stuck with a seat I paid over $750 for and am not happy with, customer service was so poor and got so ugly,
(more than 3-1/2 months)
that I am not about to kiss his ass and ask him to redo the seat ... again.
If you want to know more pm me.

[StewC]

I just purchased a Rick Mayer seat for my R12RT and what a difference. My stock seat gave me monkey butt after 150 miles or so, which was a bummer cause I love riding the bike so much. I've just turned in several 500 mile plus days doing mostly back road twisties, ( 9 hours in the saddle) with NO DISCOMFORT. They say it'll get even more comfortable over time, I don't see how as this seat is awesome.

I also agree with a previous poster, the customer service was great. Rick called to answer questions I posed.

Just a nice experience.

[AKChuck]

Subject line says it for us!

[Ridesalot]

works great for us "big" boys

5'9" 280 lbs

4000 mile trip in april and it was great !!!!

[SilverBuffalo]

I've gotten a couple of PM's since this post was "revived" (from November 2005)
and "my words" have come back to haunt me, so I feel clarification is in order.

It's no secret that I was talking about Rick Mayer, I was very unhappy with his seat,
told him so and he just blew me off, that's poor customer service.

But there's a lot more to it than that.

My seat was the last one built before Rick ran the Iron Butt rally,
that's a once in a lifetime "really big deal" to anyone that has the courage/drive/resources to do this,
I understand "now" why his mind/heart wasn't into "the seat"

Does that excuse poor quality/customer service, well no actually (but read on)

I rode out to California and made a ride in appointment with Rick,
he completely re-did the seat, didn't charge me a dime was a charming gracious host,
gave us a tour of the Mayer estate and led us on a scenic ride outta there.

I rode in there with "a chip on my shoulder"
told my wife: he's either going to make it right or I'm gonna knock him on his ass!

I rode outta there feeling like an asshole for having badmouthed the guy,
(yes I'll own up to it when I'm wrong) he "made it right" and then some.
Now I understand why everybody "loves" the guy, "he's all that"

After he re-did the seat I was completely satisfied with it,
unfortunately I totaled the 2002 LT shortly after that.

The 2005 LT that I bought last summer came with a Rick Mayer seat also,
at first it was comfortable, but it's not anymore,
I'm going to send it back and have him re-do this one also,
only this time I don't have an attitude with him I know he'll do a good job.

So would I buy another RM seat? actually no,
but not because there's anything "wrong" with his seats/work.
I'm going to agree with the previous post.
For us "big guys" (I'm 265) a Russel works better.

[hallzee]

Love my Rick Mayer seat...

[drmajor]

I think you try to ride other people's bikes with different saddles.

I tried Russel and after 3 recuts...turned it back in. Many people swear by them.
I had Rick Mayer on my RT- didn't work for me.
Had Sargent on my RT- best RT seat I had.
Now have a Rocky Mayer on the LT. Had to recut once.
Tried a Corbin on a 03 RT- what a brick.. Wife couldn't stand more than 30 minutes.

Conclusions:

* Corbin is VERY hard, good looking and likes to make Harley riders happy.
* Rick Mayer is soft- from what I know, he uses a "Temper" foam as the top layers. This gives a very good fit.
* Sargent- makes their own pan and pattern. Good stuff, just the foam didn't hold up to my weight and they don't offer a tougher foam.
* Rock Mayer - Rocky believes in a firm [not hard] seat that will support you. He also tried to reduce pressure points- ie few/no seams under legs.

[STARFIGHTER]

Rick Mayer and Backup backrest..................................