Kontour vs Mayer vs Russell

[bobaltic]

I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I've had a Bill Mayer on my last 2001 LT and a Russell on a 93 K11LT and 98 GoldWing. I loved the workmanship of Bill's, but the Russell was more comfortable for may be 200 more miles. Bill's seat was very firm. After 400 to 500 miles, my butt hurts regardless of the seat. However, the stock lasts about 100 miles, sooooo, has anyone had a Mayer or Russell and has a Kontour that can offer me their opinion on the differences in foam. Also, I ride all winter, so cold is a question. How quickly does the seat mold, or does it ever mold, in low temps, i.e. teens to 20's? Work nights and sometimes the temps drop more than predicted. I've got more 1000 mile days that I can count, and just assume my butt going to hurt, but the stock seat on my current 2001 has to go! Many thanks in advance to all. Best, Bob

[jzeiler]

All I can say is the visco-elastic foam that Ron uses is NOT visco NOR is it elastic at 29 degrees!!! (Bike was outside all night at the Iron Horse Lodge.) I warmed up the bike but forgot to turn on the seat heater. The seat felt hard as a rock until it warmed up. The ride just fine after that and all was well for the rest of the chilly ride.

[RonKMiller]

I know this subject has been beaten to death, but I've had a Bill Mayer on my last 2001 LT and a Russell on a 93 K11LT and 98 GoldWing. I loved the workmanship of Bill's, but the Russell was more comfortable for may be 200 more miles. Bill's seat was very firm. After 400 to 500 miles, my butt hurts regardless of the seat. However, the stock lasts about 100 miles, sooooo, has anyone had a Mayer or Russell and has a Kontour that can offer me their opinion on the differences in foam. Also, I ride all winter, so cold is a question. How quickly does the seat mold, or does it ever mold, in low temps, i.e. teens to 20's? Work nights and sometimes the temps drop more than predicted. I've got more 1000 mile days that I can count, and just assume my butt going to hurt, but the stock seat on my current 2001 has to go! Many thanks in advance to all. Best, Bob

No question our seat is going to feel like case hardened steel at 29F without supplemental heat!

The design is VERY biased towards warm to hot weather riding - the type of environment that 95% of riders operate in. I've even gone so far as NOT to recommend our seat for riders in Scandanavia and Northern climates who ride 12 months.

If you have heated seats all will be good in about 15 minutes with the heat turned on - even at 29F.

On the flip side, when it is 90F and your gonads are about to give up the ghost, you will REALLY appreciate the air flow. Kinda' like air conditioning for your bloodstream ;)

[bobaltic]

Thanks for the heads up Ron. I now wonder about getting a second seat for the 9 normal months since I don't have heated seat. I'll write you directly. Best, Bob



No question our seat is going to feel like case hardened steel at 29F without supplemental heat!

The design is VERY biased towards warm to hot weather riding - the type of environment that 95% of riders operate in. I've even gone so far as NOT to recommend our seat for riders in Scandanavia and Northern climates who ride 12 months.

If you have heated seats all will be good in about 15 minutes with the heat turned on - even at 29F.

On the flip side, when it is 90F and your gonads are about to give up the ghost, you will REALLY appreciate the air flow. Kinda' like air conditioning for your bloodstream ;)

[dmatson]

I have a KonTour (plus size) on the 05' LT and just did a 15 hr day last week. The temps were from 36 to 80 and it was a very comfortable ride. The first time Ron did my seat it was a "regular" but I thought it was to soft for my boney butt so he rebuilt it to plus specs and I am very pleased with it now.