Bill Mayer Saddle questions

[cheeseyrider]

After a lot of research, I'm leaning towards a Bill Mayer saddle for my RT. I've acquired a used driver seat I can use while he refinishes mine, but haven't found a passenger seat (reasonably priced), so I'm thinking I'll just have him refinish the driver seat.

Has anybody else just done the driver seat?
How does it look on the bike with the oem passenger seat?
Any pictures?

I'm thinking I'll have it done in vinyl as this would likely match the oem cover on the passenger seat better.

If you have just the driver seat done, I'd love to see pics.

Thanks!

[STARFIGHTER]

I did have Rick Mayer do just the riders seat on my LT
In vinyl to match the passanger seat.......
pretty good match...never think about or notice it so must be good.
I don't know about Rocky (Bill Mayer Saddles) but with Rick a better fit is made with a ride in...........

[brick_haus]

I had Bill reshape only the riders seat on my RT. I had mine done in leather and for an additional $40 he covered the pillion seat with leather also. I'll try to take a pic and post it up for you soon. You'll love the seat! Super comfy.

[Jon_M]

Every time I see the prices these guys charge, I choke up. I'm not cheap and I'm not broke, but $400-$600 for a solo seat re-do just gets past my limit. Ridiculous! So far I haven't found anybody local who can do the same sort of work, so for now I'll keep the stock seat and complain.

[BMWphreak]

Every time I see the prices these guys charge, I choke up. I'm not cheap and I'm not broke, but $400-$600 for a solo seat re-do just gets past my limit. Ridiculous! So far I haven't found anybody local who can do the same sort of work, so for now I'll keep the stock seat and complain.


It really is not ridiculous to charge what they do given what it takes to build a seat and run a company to do so. But, you have done the right thing for you: buy nothing.

[brick_haus]

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/brick_haus/RT001.jpg

[tinmanrt]

I did what brick haus did as a "ride in." Leather for the rider and pillion seats, custom shaping for me. I takes almost four hours, lots of steps including test ride are involved. The seat is great and works for rides that go all day.

Mine looks like "brick's" - same bike color and all.

After the ride in and seat are complete, you get to "break it in" on Highway 33 and points North - perfect.

It is pricey (seems to be the same as everyone else) but my butt is worth it.

[Jon_M]

It really is not ridiculous to charge what they do given what it takes to build a seat and run a company to do so.

Respectfully beg to differ. Every time I buy a different bike, I go through this, and I am tired of paying the freight.

I had a Rick Mayer seat on my previous bike. It was a very good seat, but it cost a fortune and I had to send it back and forth until he got it right (his mistakes, not mine). When you do a ride-in, as I have done at Corbin, you can see that there is a lot of skill involved (which I appreciate) and some materials (a few bucks), but no more than three hours labor. People who have their seats rebuilt in local shops usually pay about half. Trouble for me is, I haven't found anybody local --but I'll keep looking.

[tinmanrt]

Jon,

Why didn't you go to Bill, not Rick, for a ride in? Ojai is local for you. When you say there were mistakes (his, not yours) - what sort of mistakes were there? I agree that a ride in or "local" shop is mandatory for success assuming the shop has the materials and techniques to make it all work. It is more than shaping - the seat has many foams of different characteristics in different areas that have to be dealt with.

I can't imagine not having the bike while the seat is off being worked on and in transit.

As for the local shops - since you mentioned the lower price - can't the people who told you about the local shops and prices tell you where the local shops are??

Let's face it, the bike stuff costs more than it should. If the masses were riding and the competition were there, things would ease up. Not going to happen, methinks.

[Jon_M]

Jon,

Why didn't you go to Bill, not Rick, for a ride in? Ojai is local for you. When you say there were mistakes (his, not yours) - what sort of mistakes were there? I agree that a ride in or "local" shop is mandatory for success assuming the shop has the materials and techniques to make it all work. It is more than shaping - the seat has many foams of different characteristics in different areas that have to be dealt with.

I can't imagine not having the bike while the seat is off being worked on and in transit.

As for the local shops - since you mentioned the lower price - can't the people who told you about the local shops and prices tell you where the local shops are??

Let's face it, the bike stuff costs more than it should. If the masses were riding and the competition were there, things would ease up. Not going to happen, methinks.
Several questions here. In order:

You are right, Ojai is close by, and I actually go through there fairly often, but I met Rick at a show and after talking to him decided to let him do the seat. I had a spare so was not off the road while he worked on the seat.

Remember, I said I liked the seat, but there were several problems that suggested poor management. He lost the original order, which slowed things down by a month. Then, he covered in vinyl when I had specified leather, so I had to pack it up and return it to him. When I shipped the seat, I just packed foam peanuts around it without using the plastic sack, and he wanted to charge me for the discoloration this caused (who knew?). I pointed out that the vinyl cover was going to be replaced and, presumably, discarded because of his mistake, so we got past that glitch. By the time I got the finished seat, somewhere between two and three months had passed. I rode on that seat for about three years and had no complaints at all about the finished product. It was nice, and the person who got the bike from me is probably still riding on it.

About materials, many of the seat makers suggest that their foam is special, but I simply don't find that plausible. And after watching the Corbin guy refashion the seat on my /2, I can appreciate the skill but don't compare it to neurosurgery.

About local shops, I've talked to people in San Diego and San Jose who had good luck, and I've seen forum posts from people all over the map, but so far I don't know of anyone who does good work in the LA area. I think there is one in Long Beach, but I haven't checked it out. Actually, I confess I haven't spent a lot of time looking, because my stock RT seat is just fine for anything less than all-day rides.

[tinmanrt]

Jon,
Sorry to hear about your problems with Rick. When I considered a custom seat, it was always with the "ride in" option. Rick and Russel being up near Shasta was doable but would have meant a two day event. With Bill in Ojai, it was the deciding factor.

In watching the process - they do a lot of RT's and have the leather seat cover pretty much pre-prepared, so they definitely have a plan in mind. They start with a foam seat of theirs, not the stocker foam you bring and then they add different foams in different places - adding, glueing, shaping, adding more, shaping.... I couldn't keep up. I think they make it look easier than it is and they have to have all the right materials and equipment to get it right.

That being said, I am with you, it could be a few hundred bucks cheaper.... (I am a cheapskate...)

There were three others there - two customers, one friend - all LA motor officers(these guys ride for a living!), one FJR, one an older RT. So the ride in can be an interesting social event also.

I got there at 6AM and was out after 10AM. It is the way to go if you have the option.

[ATDRS]

I had Rocky make a seat for my 05 and it was great the first try.
Went on a 3k ride as soon as I got the seat and only after I returned home did I ever think about the seat again. It was that comfortable.
I am 6'6" and 250#. I use the Suburban-Machinery bar risers and peg lowering kit and the RT is good to go.
I have been trying other bikes and this Wed. I will be picking up a used 07 RT again. It has a Cee-Bailey seat on it which I will try out for awhile.
Best of luck to you.

[renegade]

Does anybody consider to raise the handlebar after switching to a new and eventualy lower seat?
I am considering changing my stock seat to a Rick Mayer one but also to mount those handlebar risers. I feel that the stock windscreen a little bit too low. I am 6'3 and 220lb.
Does anyone made this change too?
Thank's!