Rick Mayer saddle ride-in experience

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Toecutter

What would DoG do?
Joined
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Location
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As if we might forget, someone from there called the day before to confirm our intent to make our appointment. She then called back a few minutes later to inform me that the 8:00am appointment had canceled and we could arrive earlier if we wanted. I let her know that we could not, as we planned to leave that morning and had a 5-1/2 hour ride before our noon appointment time. The first 190 miles of our ride were through mostly foggy conditions, a lovely start to the adventure. :angry: :angry: But then we popped out into the Northern California sun and after a fuel/coffee/warmup stop, were happily on our way and on schedule. :) :)

We arrived and were guided into the driveway and onto a tirestand, where Seth photographed us on our stock seat. Rick was down the road, borrowing a tractor to complete some work on the electrical supply to his new shop building, and he was along a few minutes later to greet us, offer refreshments, and give us a tour of his home, where we were invited to make ourselves comfortable while he worked on our saddle. He then asked a few questions about our discomfort with the stock seat, and I told him I would like to go up about an inch or so to relieve some knee strain. I chose to go vinyl with basketweave inserts, which seemed like a good choice since I am almost always suited up in the air mesh kevlar. Of course, I wanted to hang around the shop and watch the work while Brenda sat in the swing bench and read a book she brought along. There was another visitor there, who shared stories and maps with me and the time passed fairly quickly. Before long, our saddle was ready for test sitting. I had Rick make an adjustment to ease some pressure in the testicular area and then it felt pretty comfortable. Brenda was happy with her half right away. We paid our balance, said our goodbyes and suited up to leave. Rick is a great guy and invited me to return and ride with him sometime.

Then the biggest problem of our trip occurred. For some reason, my speakers gave up the ghost and I couldn't hear Brenda over the intercom, but she could hear me. Our new Softline was being delivered back home as we didn't speak, talk about bad timing. We had planned to do Hwy 36 the next morning and ride through Fort Bragg down the coast to S.F. but without communication we decided to scrap the journey and head back home, after a hotel stay in Chico with some great Thai food for Saturday's dinner.

As for the saddle, I haven't been on it for more than 2-1/2 hours at one time since we got it, but it's way better than stock or the Corbin that was on the bike when I got it. I am going to contact Rick about sending the front half back for another minor adjustment, to relieve some peritineum pressure (the kind that can cripple you in a way Viagra can't help) like the more modern bicycle saddles are designed. I guess I could have thought of it earlier but I hadn't noticed on the stock seat, as there was just too much general discomfort to pin anything down. With the addition of the saddle, I really think I have the bike to where it is going to be as comfortable as possible. Moving myself up made me lean on the bars a bit, but is a good trade-off to relieve the stress on hip & knee joints. Bottom line, two more satisfied RMC customers! :) :)

 
Bob - thanks for the write-up. I got word that Lorie's and my seat is going to ship this Friday. It does make a difference to know you're dealing with decent folks - especially when you send gobs of money for something sight unseen - one reason I buy my riding gear (and Lorie's) from New Enough. Thanks again. Jim

 
Good news to hear. Mine is scheduled to be made today. Unfortunately, I can't ride down to have it made, but I'm looking forward to that bad boy being shipped just in time for cool season riding.

 
Toe,

Thanks for the thorough Meyers seat report. I met up with Alan (Ionbeam) this weekend and I swapped my stocker with his buttery soft yet supportive Rick Meyers seat. Enjoyed a nice 45 or so minute ride on it. Reluctantly I gave it back to him. I must say I think I'll be giving Santa Claus ordering info and pictures to send to Rick.

Russ

 
So Bob - I'm still waiting for Lorie's and my seat to arrive (hopefully today) - what's the verdict now that you both have had some saddle time?

 
Toe,

Glad to hear your Rick Mayer experience was a good one and that you are happy with your seat.

I am going to have to send mine back as I am not totally happy with it. I am not sure what to make of it, frankly. Just when I decided it was actually worse than the stock seat, I rode 1600+ miles in 24 hours during the SPANK rally in relative comfort. I thought, yeah!!! The seat has finally broken in?!?!?!?! But then, on the 300 mile return trip the next day, I was getting discomfort after 200 miles. Go figure! I really don't know what to make of the situation. The seat seems to have broken in to a degree, and is better than when it was brand new, but I still seem to slide forward a little, and at times feels like I am sitting on the edge of a wooden bench.

 
Toe,
Glad to hear your Rick Mayer experience was a good one and that you are happy with your seat.

I am going to have to send mine back as I am not totally happy with it. I am not sure what to make of it, frankly. Just when I decided it was actually worse than the stock seat, I rode 1600+ miles in 24 hours during the SPANK rally in relative comfort. I thought, yeah!!! The seat has finally broken in?!?!?!?! But then, on the 300 mile return trip the next day, I was getting discomfort after 200 miles. Go figure! I really don't know what to make of the situation. The seat seems to have broken in to a degree, and is better than when it was brand new, but I still seem to slide forward a little, and at times feels like I am sitting on the edge of a wooden bench.
Skooter,

Did you do a ride-in or mail-in fitting?

 
Me thinks brother Bill does a better job at fitting from the various posts in the various forums. Too bad, that sucks that you have to send it back.

 
My order is in, for a build date of January 11th... sucks to have to wait, but the man is busy... at least I'll have it in time for the Ride the Rio trip in February...

 
Got my saddles via FexEx Fri night. Did have a little build/shipping mix-up. Email said my build date was 11 Nov - emailed Rick around the 26th or so asking what the status was. Told seats were built but for some reason didn't ship. I ordered under the free shipping/rain cover deal and Rick picked up the extra charge to "2-day Fedex" the saddles.

Saddles are well built and look good on the bike. I have the Givi V46 and the pillion fit between the handholds is tight, but ok. Takes some effort to get the front seat to lock - but again, ok. The seats look great on the bike!

Took my first ride Sat AM at 21 degrees (did I say my new Dual Star grip warmers work great - and, didn't see a single )! It's like anything else on this bike, when I change something I find I have to ride it awhile to adjust to it and to break it in. Very comfortable seat - I'm still shifting around trying to establish where my butt will eventually "mold" to the seat. The leather is more slippery than the stock vinyl seat and that takes getting used to also. Also find I'm using my legs to grip the tank more than before - again, I'm sure I'll settle in eventually. I did mink oil the seats last night, when I did that with my winter gloves I found they didn't slip as much as before - unfortunately with gloves that's not the best thing. Hope this will help de-slick the seats a little.

Yesterday it warmed up to about 55 degrees and when I was collecting leaves I heard all the hot house flower Harley guys revving up and driving up and down the street. My beautiful wife suggested we take a ride after collecting leaves - did I say what a great wife I have? Even though it was a short ride, she said the seat was more comfortable than the stock. Also had our first experience with a pick-up truck drivin' dimwit (should that be dim wit, or dim-wit?) taking half of our lane going around a curve - fortunately I start from the far right on left had curves for that very reason. Also hit a couple of stones on another curve - Lorie did great both times, but did mention them when we got home.

Only have about a hundred or so miles on the seats, but I expect they'll get better the more I ride. Snow is coming today/tomorrow, but I'm hoping this weekend will be clear. I actually find that I like riding in the cold much more than in the damn heat. Must be that Marine in me.

 
Thanks - reminds me I have to renew my MCN subscription. Appreciate the information. I was actually trying to reduce the slickness of the saddle; it did that on my gloves and I was hoping it would on my saddles. Next time I'll try one of the MCN recommended conditioners (Lexol). Thanks again.

 
Just stumbled onto this thread and have to add my .03. I have two Rick Mayer seats now, very happy with both, and am planning on having the third done this winter sometime. The only problem that most folks have with Rick is promptness of delivery. I think it is because he tries to hard to please everyone and makes promises he cant keep. I find that just keeping after him will get the job done (and done right in my cases). I have no experience with Rocky's seats but I did have one of their dad's and Rick's seat looks and feels very similar. I kinda suspect Rick puts more personal time into his seats than Rocky does but it is just my suspicion from what I've seen and heard.

 
I have a build date set for 01/19/06 for my FJR. I am going to have mine done a little different than what Rick normally offers. I really didn't want to use leather because of the extra care leather would take and I don't like the basketweave vinyl that he uses so I ordered a BMW vinyl that looks perforated but is actually called embossed. I just recieved the vinyl today and it looks great, It looks a lot like leather, it should, it cost $45.00 for one yard.

He is going to do the seat area in the embossed with smooth sides. I am really looking forward to getting this done. I hope I will be as happy with mine as some of the responses I have read about.

 
I really didn't want to use leather because of the extra care leather would take

???? Hmmmm. All I do is, instead of washing the vinyl and then drying it is simply apply Lexol. Takes the same amount of time. Course, I favor linked brakes and cheese, too. ;)

 
Toe cutter,

the last time I looked at the Rick Mayer web sight, the instructions that he recomends in caring for a leather seat are completly different than caring for a vinyl seat. He actually recomends and sells a cover for the leather seat and says if the seat is going to be in the direct sun that you should cover it with a towel. He also says that leather shouldn't be allowed to get wet. Since I ride my bike in the sun and rain I figured vinyl would be the best for me.

I like linked brakes and I love cheese, I work for Kraft.

 
Well, my Rick Mayer seat arrived today. I had sent it back for a re-do a couple weeks ago.

I can see that he definitely built up the front portion of the seat quite a bit more. Hopefully that will stop the sliding forward I was still getting.

Unfortunately, it willl be quite a while before I can draw any conclusions about the re-do's effectiveness. My FJR is still in the shop due to a valve job gone bad, and even after I get it back, I don't have any long rides planned for a while.

Looking forward to trying it out though.

 
Looks like I'll be right behind you. I think he's shipping my seat with built up front this weak and I'll have it to look forward to when I get back from Tucson.

...maybe the snow will be melted by then.....

 
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