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Airhawk Seat Cushions vs the Airhawk 2

15920 Views 21 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  bikerj
I went on a long ride this weekend, and one of the riders was using an Airhawk 2 Medium Seat cushion on his Ducati. He could not stop "Singing it's Praises". I searched the internet tonight and found there are 2 different versions differing in mainly the material used in the construction. The Airhawk 2 version uses a cheaper material while the regular Airhawk uses the higher end material. If anyone has any first hand experience with the Airhawk product line I'd really appreciate hearing your opinion



Thanks


Mother Goose
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I have the Airhawk & it does work very good. As for the Airhawk2 it seams to be less "durable". I've heard that the "air bladder" has been known to leak over time. No First hand experience with the "2", just what I've heard. I got mine used from a friend that he used for about 2 years & I've had it about 10 months & 10K miles.
I have one of the original Airhawks. It is about 15 years old. While I only use it on long rides (more than a day) it has held up very well. No leaks and only the cover shows wear. I like the older egg crate cushion better than the larger bladder ones, as it does a better job of massaging the tuckus, like little fingers. I don't believe you can get that type any more.

Ultra LT
I have an Airhawk, don't know which one, but I would recommend it. If I had bought the Airhawk first, I may not have bought the custom seat I have now.
rab1967 said:
I have an Airhawk, don't know which one, but I would recommend it. If I had bought the Airhawk first, I may not have bought the custom seat I have now.
Are you looking to sell your custom seat?
John,
I have a set of leather heated seats that Cee Baileys made for me a couple of years ago. I didn't like them because they were too hard for my boney behind. Also, I didn't like that the heating for both seats is controlled by one switch. If you will pay the shipping I will send them to you and let you try them as long as you want. If you want to keep them I will sell them to you for $300. I not, just send them back to me.
I bought an Air Hawk regular large for my LT. I liked it much better than the stock seat. I used it a lot until I bought a used Corbin from this site and due to the fact that it is so wide I haven't used the Air hawk with it, frankly I really haven't needed to.

If you don't want to spend the money on a stock seat, I would highly recommend the Air Hawk.

I don't have any experience with the AH2.
dthogey said:
I bought an Air Hawk regular large for my LT. I liked it much better than the stock seat.
Can you recommend a size for the pillion seat? My wife, after having a pelvic injury, has a tough time on longer rides - this may help!
The Airhawk website has a fitment chart that should help you out. I've enclosed their link: http://www.airhawkseatcushions.net

Mother Goose
With the 60 money back guarantee, I thought how could I go wrong. I sent away for the Air Hawk cushion instead of the Air Hawk II. It attached real easy to the seat, in fact it moved me forward about an inch due to the pronounced ridge on the rear of the driver's portion of the R1200R seat. I adjusted it just like they said to and it worked great. Monday I spent 8+ hours on the road covering 465 miles, it worked as advertised. I didn't have half the tail bone pain I usually do and moving an inch closer to the bars helped out with the back and shoulders too. Tuesday I spent visiting, and today I returned almost the same route with a twist that added another 8 - 10 miles. No Advil needed. I still want to use it some more, but at first impression, it did a lot more for my backside than the Mustang Seat I purchased for my Honda VTX 1300 (at 25% of the price too!) My thoughts are it sure is worth checking out compared to some of the higher priced options

Ride Note from Today: Most of the morning was spent in New Mexico with the temps between 50 thru 65 degrees. Crossed over the NM - AZ state border near Clifton AZ and temp soon zoomed to 85+. Approaching Tucson near Craycroft, digital thermometer on the bike said 105 degrees. Wow, a 50+ temp swing within 4 hours. I glad I packed my cool vest.



Skip
Sunny and Warm Tucson Arizona
"But its a Dry Heat" (but so is the inside of a pizza oven)
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I've been playing with an Airhawk2 for the past week or so and today rode around for about 4 hours and I'm pretty much sold on it.

It took a while to get the air just right and the nice thing is that on a long ride, it is very easy to add more if you wish.

I've previously used a beaded cover with a sheep skin covering that. They all seem ok and I might go back and forth, but for now, the AirHawk2 will probably be on the bike when I ride up to the CCR the end of August.
I now have approximately 1,800 miles driven with the Airhawk underneath me. I'm keeping it too! I now can see how they can offer the 60 day trial. I'm guessing not many get returned. Adjustment wasn't all that hard, I let out just enough air that my butt touched the seat, then let out a little bit more. If I move while sitting, I can feel the air transfer from cell to cell. It sure has made a believer out of me.

Skip
It's funny, there's almost universal praise for the Airhawk; I couldn't stand it and returned mine. I didn't care for the way it made me feel disconnected from the bike, and I didn't notice any comfort benefit at all. Different strokes, I suppose.
I guess that's why there are so many choices: beaded seats, sheep skin covers, airhawks, gel seats, custom seats from too many manufacturers to list, etc. Each one of our butts interface with the world (and seat) in a different way. I must admit however, having or needing a seat cushion for my seat just makes me feel old. Damn!! :wow:
I've had my Airhawk for about 1,500 miles and like. I've tried beads and sheetskin also. The biggest part about the Airhawk is getting the air adjusted right for you. Too much air and you no longer FEEL the bike. I feel it doesn't need much air to be comfortable.
I think the Airhawk 2 is a cheaper less rugged version of the Airhawk. I have had one for for 5 years, had one leak which I was able to repair using the (free) repair kit that Airhawk sent me (the leak was my fault not the seat's). Its great for long rides extends my riding time to 4 or 5 hours. Getting the pressure right is important I started too high, just enough that your butt doesn't touch - no more. It *does* disconnect you from the bike a bit, after all you are sitting on an air cushion, probably not idea for racing, but who races for 5 hours?
Geoff
I think the Airhawk 2 is a cheaper less rugged version of the Airhawk.
Geoff
This is my impression too. I have the original Airhawk on a 2010 RT and have about 15,000 miles on it. It is still in great shape. I am so impressed that it doesn't lose any air even from one year to the next. That's important because once you get the air pressure "just right" you don't want to mess with it. The least amount of pressure that works in the best.

It *does* disconnect you from the bike a bit, after all you are sitting on an air cushion, probably not idea for racing, but who races for 5 hours?
Geoff
I agree with this too. When I went to the Smoky Mtn area do do some more aggressive riding (e.g. Tail of the Dragon) I took the Airhawk pad off. That's one advantage it has over the other major comfort alternative: wide tractor-type seats like the Rick Mayer. I have no doubt these wide seats are comfortable - probably the best alternative for pure comfort - but they do not allow for sliding your rear around on more aggressive riding. The Airhawk pad, being removable, gives you options.
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So is the R model "one size fits all"? I have a 2015 R1200RT.....does anyone know how well the R fits that bike?
If you have a short inseam, the Airhawk may not be for you as it raises you up about an inch or more. I bought mine when my '05 LT was a solo bike and the height increase made me put it aside. But. . .I added a Hannigan sidecar in '09 and the Airhawk came out of mothballs and has been on board now for over 100K.
If you have a short inseam, the Airhawk may not be for you as it raises you up about an inch or more.
IMHO - I think you have a little too much air in the seat. It might be the way you like it, but it really isn't supposed to raise you up from the seat, only fill in the gaps and give you a slight pad.

I think my butt like variety and I seem to shift every few months or as the weather changes to beads ( I'm using them now) to sheepskin to the Air Hawk. I've used them all on long rides and probably prefer the Air Hawk to most.
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