Just got home from a short ride on my newest and cheapest FJRkle, the Vetter/Iggy/FredW (he gets naming credit) Butt Boomerang! Some thoughts:
1. I think it works for what it's supposed to do, and that I'll like it. You know immediately that your weight is spread out over a larger area, and that it will reduce spot pressure where it's always been (I hate to use the word "ischium"). You don't feel the hard board under your butt, since you're not sitting on it. The weight of your thighs is on it, but just muscle--or flab--is resting there.
2. It will take some getting used to, especially positioning it. I fiddled with it quite a bit, looking to get it placed just so, etc. It just takes raising the butt up a little bit. Helped to have a throttle lock.
3. I'll definitely give it a chance and
try to get used to it. It's coming along on my next long haul for sure.
4. This one was eyeballed and free handed. It's not really symmetrical and not at all finished. It's still pretty good.
5. Being made from a cheap piece of scrap wood, it's no problem to monkey with it. It could be narrowed a little and the under-thigh sections could be shortened. This will make it easier to store on the bike and to maneuver into place, but shouldn't take away comfort. I might shorten the back some too. Right now I can feel the ridge under my butt. More shaping and sanding are in order so the edge is tapered as much as possible.
6. It's easy to move it out of the way when you're coming to a stop or into a town, etc. Just slides back away from the tank so it's less under your thighs.
7. Even if you don't move it, you (I, anyway) could still get my feet down before I stopped. It's a
little awkward but will be simple once I'm more used to it, and especially after I make the modifications I was talking about.
8. I put a rope on it and tied it to an anchor point so it wouldn't disappear somewhere in flight. Seems like a good idea, but the method could use some review.
My first shot at this thing. Needs more shaping and modification, but, like the Myth Busters, I'd classify it as "PLAUSIBLE."
On the bike; pretty much as Iggy's post and pics from the website show it. I don't know if the Bead Rider helped or was in the way. I'll have to try it both ways.
