Ultimate Seat - A Review

[Stache]

As you may have seen in a previous thread, I have recently purchased and installed the 4 pc Ultimate Seat set + passenger armrests. The weather here sucks, but I've managed to get 300+ km in since the installation and I'm ready to share my results.

 

Customer Service / Delivery: I purchased from the website with no human contact necessary. Automated emails notified me of the completed purchase, and in due course, that the products had been shipped. There was a bobble by UPS during shipping when the parcel went astray in Moncton NB, but it was corrected and was still delivered ahead of the projected schedule. Definitely not the supplier's fault.

 

Packaging: Sturdy cardboard boxes, with each piece individually wrapped in bubble wrap. It would have taken a significant event to cause damage during shipping.

 

Fit and finish: No detectable flaws in the material, stitching, assembly etc.

 

Installation:

 

Wide backrest: one of the washers embedded in the back around the screw holes seperated. Pressed back in to position and it stayed. Fit and finish, including screw hole line up - perfect.

 

Rider backrest: Slotted in securely and easily. Wide range of adjustment for angle.

 

Backrest pouch: Not exactly sure what I'm going to use this for yet, but it's well made and fitted.

 

Passenger seat: The stock mount with 3 points of attachment had to be removed to be replaced by the supplied single point mount. There were contact pads that supported the front spread over the same area that the stock mount covered. Rear bracket was not quite in contact with the fender when originally placed in position but tightening the rear screw hand tight fixed that.

 

Riders seat: Rear bracket fitted securely into position. The front screw holes did not initially line up. I sat my 260 lbs on it and it shifted a bit. Got off and looked - yup - precisely in place.

 

Riding position: I'm about 1 1/2" higher, 1" forward. Not bad at all. Changed my arm angle slightly but not enough to matter, and I became accustomed to it quickly.

 

Comfort: Intially stiff, but this did not cause a worry as it had been reported by other reviewers. It's quickly molding to my shape and becoming more confortable every time I sit on it.

 

Riding: I'm not precisely sure why, but I find I feel more 'connected' to the bike. My confidence in low speed handling has improved. The one middle distance trip I've made with it was a real eyeopener. Km after km, it just felt right, like my leather recliner in the TV room. The stock seat would have had me wriggling after 20-30 minutes trying to ease the ache.

 

I do find that vibration may be moving the backrest adjustment screw as I ride. I'm going to give it a few more long runs until I'm sure exactly where I want the backrest positioned and then I'll loctite it.

 

Passenger: I've taken 3 of my children for rides with it. All agree that the wider backrest, more comfortable seat and arm rests allow them to sit back and enjoy the ride. My 9 year olds find that they cannot get their feet flat on the boards any more because the rider backrest is in their way. ( I expect they'll grow) My DW has sat on it and pronounced it 'comfortable' but she hasnt been on the road on it yet.

 

Price: There's a bit of sticker shock with this one, but if you can get past that I feel it's an extremely satisfactory solution to a very unsatisfactory stock seating set.

 

If anyone has any questions about the seat or installation, please feel free to PM.

[RandyR]

Glad you found a seat that's more comfortable for you. For myself, I wonder about the 1-1/2 higher seating position on a bike already top heavy. The extra seat height would put it out of my comfort zone in terms of leg length.

[StarFan]

Hi Spencer.

 

Any pictures in the pipeline ? Good article but pictures would make it perfect

Friendly regards,

Jonas / StarFan

[1joeranger]

Just past 30k on mine! BEST INVESTMENT EVER ON A BIKE! You are right about the sticker shock but that was 3 years ago for me and absolutely love mine. By the way, my seat has gotten wet in numerous downpours which really worried me at first! I have seen no ill effects, though, from the abuse!

[Scooter Bob]

Backrest pouch: Not exactly sure what I'm going to use this for yet, but it's well made and fitted.

 

Your Wife will find uses for it!

 

And, I put a locknut on the adjustment screw on my Utopia backrest, (cus I rode HD's for 18 years, and just assumed it needed one) and i keep a cheap 7/16" wrench in the pouch for adjustments.

 

Enjoy, Scooter Bob

[rumboogy]

The Ultimate seat is the best seat I have ever owned (I WISHED they made it for the RSV). I would PLOP down that $800 bucks in a NEW YORK MINUTE!!

 

I have been riding bikes since 1979...again, best seat I ever sat on, rode on, toured on...THE BEST.

 

I have asked Dez several times about doing a run of RSV seats...just not enough interest.