Russel day long

[BobQ]

I have a Russel day long that I purchased through the group buy! THANKS! I have a problem with the fit, and am not sure why. The seat feels like I keep moving forward on it, and it also feels like there is not enought seat under me? It also seams to cut in on my thighs, not very comfortable at all? It is leather and the slipery part has worn off, but no help there, I have about 500 miles on it.

Any thoughts on what I should do? Russel is great and will take it back for a re-fit, but I don't know what to even tell them?

Thanks Bob

 

[wheatonFJR]

Maybe just start with what you told us and go from there...seemed pretty descriptive to me.

 

[Barabus]

I would send it back and get russel to fix. They took nine fittings for me to stop the forward slide.

 

[HuskyRider]

I would send it back and get russel to fix. They took nine fittings for me to stop the forward slide.

These posts are so informative, very happy to have this forum available before ordering a product. I have been looking for a comfortable seat for my 08, but haven’t read one thread where everyone is satisfied. If the seat is going to be hard, or have me sliding forward I’ll stay with the stock. I may try Yamaha’s factory gel seats, even if they’re not an improvement I’m only out half the cost of custom seats. Time to ride not ping-pong seats through the mail. Just my 2c..

 

[twowheelnut]

Try treating the seat with Lexol first. Not a permanent solution, but I'm guessing the seat has yet to 'break-in' and the Lexol will provide a certain amount of 'stick' in addition to conditioning the leather.

Edit: Cutting in on your thighs will require a refit.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I would send it back and get russel to fix. They took nine fittings for me to stop the forward slide.

These posts are so informative, very happy to have this forum available before ordering a product. I have been looking for a comfortable seat for my 08, but haven’t read one thread where everyone is satisfied. If the seat is going to be hard, or have me sliding forward I’ll stay with the stock. I may try Yamaha’s factory gel seats, even if they’re not an improvement I’m only out half the cost of custom seats. Time to ride not ping-pong seats through the mail. Just my 2c..

Your results may vary...no refit required for me. Now multi-day trips of significant mileage is possible without soreness...not possible with the stock seat. One day sure...not multi-day long days.

And I had the stock seat for 3 1/2 years and did about 660 miles max per day on it. Just couldn't do that much after a long day. I found that out on my trip to the Northeast in '05.

Now...the seat is not the determining factor for daily mileage on a trip.

 

[OhioFJR1300]

I would send it back and get russel to fix. They took nine fittings for me to stop the forward slide.

If you can ride in for an adjustment, that is great, but if you have to box it up and pay to ship it, nine fittings can cost more than a new seat :dribble: . I bought a Russell through the group buy and I'm not sure about mine at this point. But I only have 50 miles on it. I'll get 500 on it and see how it feels.

 

[panayoti]

I had some of the same issues you mentioned and was considering sending it back. Then at about 1700 miles I realized that it felt more comfortable.

 

[Geezer]

I was happy with my stock seat. I rode many long days, some of them more than 1k miles, on it. After hearing so many people talk about how great a good aftermarket seat is I bought a second hand Russell last year to give it a try. Obviously, it was custom fit for someone else's butt. I took the cover off and used a long saw blade to remove a wedge of foam out of both sides where it cut into my things and I took a piece out from the big hump in the front center. I did this a little at a time with a nice ride in between each try. I put the cover on with a couple of staples before each try. Once I was happy I used some spray glue to hold the foam together where I had cut it open, and to hold the cover onto the foam. At this point I'm not sure it's better than the stocker, but it is comfortable for the few short rides I've given it.

 

[madmike2]

I was able to ride in for mine. I had them "re-do" the pocket 3 or 4 times until it was deep enough to hold my "hinder parts". I can still slide forward when I want, but its my decision.

For me, the stock seat was good for 250-300 miles and then I was in pain. My fanny was improving and felt better on my ride home while sitting on the Russell.

IIRC, they suggest 1,000 miles to break in the seat, but I could be wrong. Also, mine does rub my thighs when I'm stopped with my legs down, not when riding the bike.

 

[vectervp1]

I road in for my appointment with Russell. I went through about 2 fittings and it seemed quite comfortable during the fittings. After they got the cover on, it seemed like it was 'cutting' into my thighs kind of like you describe. When I talked to them about it, they asked me if it was cutting into my thighs or supporting them. To me it felt like cutting into my thighs so I was concerned about it. They asked me to give it some time, so I decided I would and if by the time I got home it wasn't better, I would just send it back. I headed out to Skyway's house for the night (about 200 miles away I think) and by the time I got to his house, I really didn't notice it cutting into me anymore, and it wasn't bothering me at all.

Out of curiosity, what is the longest ride you've done on the seat so far? How long have you gone between actually touching your feet on the ground? Are you using highway pegs at all? Do you have your foot pegs lowered at all from stock?

 

[2006FJR]

I set up the Russell group buy earlier this year but I am going to give Bill Mayor a try. I have a ride in scheduled for next Friday.

 

[BobQ]

Thanks for all the helpfull advice, I just went out for a 50 miles ride doing some erends and here is what I have found. I feel like I am riding on a 2X4 on the 2in side, it runs from where the wings stop, up front, if that makes sence. So it is very easy to slide forward, and the rest of my but gets no support, so after about 30 min my legs start going numb. I also don't get any support forward of this line. I am tall so no problem with putting my feet down. I am going to get at leat 1000mi on it the way it is.

If after 1000mi it is still not right, I will send the seat back, but need to really figure out what is going on here, I am from the east so shipping is a PIA. I hope one time back can do it.

Thanks for the help!

Bob

 

[Solo]

If you end up sending your Russell back, I've been real pleased with my Sargent seat. It offers plenty of room to move around so you can change pressure points. It feels like a 2x4 at first sit, but as you get rolling you can instantly tell it's a big improvement over the stock seat, which burns my butt within 45 minutes. One difference is that the Sargent seat is a bit more angular at the edges, so it will dig into our thighs a bit with feet down. The stock seat is more rounded. My solution has been to use the stock seat around town, and when I'm going to put some miles on, on goes the Sargent seat.

 

[Bluestreek]

My Russell seat was not real comfy and it took about 2000 miles to break in good. Now I can ride 300 to 350 miles non stop ( With Fuel Cell ) Fill it up and do it again for 24 plus hours.

They told me to give the seat 1000 miles to break in. They also said that they would buy it back with in the first year as long as I gave them a chance to fix the problem.

 

[brazos parker]

If you end up sending your Russell back, I've been real pleased with my Sargent seat. It offers plenty of room to move around so you can change pressure points. It feels like a 2x4 at first sit, but as you get rolling you can instantly tell it's a big improvement over the stock seat, which burns my butt within 45 minutes. One difference is that the Sargent seat is a bit more angular at the edges, so it will dig into our thighs a bit with feet down. The stock seat is more rounded. My solution has been to use the stock seat around town, and when I'm going to put some miles on, on goes the Sargent seat.

I, too, am satisfied w/ my "off-the-shelf" Sargent seat. It's probably not the preferred seat for LD riders, but, for me, it is about a 600 mile/day seat. I've done 865 miles in one day on it and was somewhat uncomfortable during the last 100-200 miles...lots of "fidgiting and standing up on the pegs." Since I do LD, multiple day rides only once or twice each year, the sargent is great for my typical 200-300 mile/day rides.