Ultimate Midrider Rider & Passenger seat for VL800

I am seriously considering buying an Ultimate Midrider seat from the USA. The main reason I am considering this seat is because I suffer from coccydynia (tail bone) pain. At present I have a stock seat and a Airhawk cushion.

I have researched loads of potential seats and consider this to be the best option. I am just wondering if anyone may have any suggestions re type of other optional seats I amy not have considered and any sort of good pain relief I could take. I presently take Gabapenton. 

I am also wondering if any one knows how import tax works and how to calculate any charges or could a shipment like this be be tax exempt or not. 

The cost of the seat is very expensive at around £500!! yipes, but I need some relief as I do a lot of touring and have already planned 2 weeks around Germany next year and will not be beaten re tail bone pain!!

Any/all suggestions gratefully received


http://ultimateseats.ca/suzuki-motorcycle-accessories/boulevard-c50-volusia-seats/3R-1240

A very nice looking seat.

Hi lepidge, I've no experience with the Ultimate seats but another option which is supposed to be very good is the Mustang seat, as for import duty? you'll usually pay it on anything over about £35 imported from outside the EU but it's in the lap of the gods on the amount?

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/overview

Had a look and they are NOT leather! a load of blurb regarding the marine vinyl they use, all bollox. You would pay a lot less finding a seat restorer/modifier. Have it shaped and padded with surgical gel and then covered in the leather of your choice.

I agree with Justin on this one - find a good seat recoverer who can pad it out for your specific needs, there's plenty around.  The import taxes are a mystery - I've imported a lot of stuff from The States over the years & there seems to be no set formula - if you're not careful, what seems like a bargain in the first place can end up saving you nothing - plus you have all the associated hassle if it's wrong

  with the cockney cross dresser, could be worth having your seat re manufactured with a cut out where the coccyx rests so your sat on thee butt cheeks without causing pain to the tail bone.

Google Tony Archer seats in Huddersfield, they'll help you for a quarter of the price!

http://www.tonyarcher.co.uk/index.html  Here you go had work done by him highly recommended.




Address
Unit 7d
Bradley Mills
Bradley Mills Road
Huddersfield
HD1 6PQ

Telephone
(01484) 536 832

Wow, thanks for all the advise from everyone There is a lot to think about, will let you know how it works out!

Eventually decided to opt for the Ultimate Seats as apposed to some good suggestions to modify a seat within the UK.

I am very happy with the seats and in my opinion look great. I am thinking about getting the stitching sealed with bees wax to allow me to have the seats waterproofed (shouldn`t need to bearing in mind the cost! although they did come with waterproof covers).

I paid the extra as suffering from coccydynia and so far so good with pain now at a minimum. Will report back after more miles in the saddle, happy days!

Damn that looks comfy 

Really comfy! as the makers say `you sit in the seat not on it`

Pillion Missus has just seen your pic and likes it a lot- so the burning question-  how much?

Are they heated? its the only improvement I can think of

John the seats costs an eye watering just under £600 incl their shipping charges, Can`t remember but there was also a customs & import duty to pay (bar-stewards!!).

I have over the years had had different bikes and tried different remedies for my butt pain and was at the point of possibly giving up riding, hence I was willing to take a chance & expense to give it a go!

I have to say although I still have some pain, the seat is the most comfortable one I have ever had. The added bonus is the rider backrest which is heaven as I can push back on it and raise my butt to give me instant pain release while riding. I am off to Europe again this year and would not even contemplate such a journey without the seat. So its `horses for courses` as to is it worth the cost. It is for me!

My missus also loves the seat as it is really comfy and in particular is wider than most stock seats on the market. I don`t think you can purchase the pillion sear without the rider seat tho.

Justin, no the seats are not heated but as I said to John the seats are in my opinion and for my needs well worth the `over inflated` price!

If any one else has any other queries I am more than happy to reply as I know this may be a bone of contention to some people re costs. `You pay your money you take your chances`

lepidge wrote:

I have to say although I still have some pain, the seat is the most comfortable one I have ever had. The added bonus is the rider backrest which is heaven as I can push back on it and raise my butt to give me instant pain release while riding I know this may be a bone of contention to some people re costs. `You pay your money you take your chances`

If it keeps you riding, it's a small price to pay    bike looks good too!

The seats look great love the colour of your bike, hope the seats do what you hope they would do for the pain you suffer.

lepidge wrote:

John the seats costs an eye watering just under £600

Indeed an eye watering price.  I don't suffer to much with an uncomfortable riding position, least not yet with the relatively short distances / time in the saddle experiences to date.  Maybe this years planned trips will tell differently.  I'll have to wait and see.  Maybe Pillion Missus will buy / us one for Christmas.  Comfy or otherwise its certainly looks well. 
It's  pity Suzuki don't make such seats as stock - volume would keep the price down!  Shame you've had to fork out so much to get the comfort you need.  At least you can get your monies worth by getting plenty of riding in.

When we had the Pan European I bought a pair of seats from 'DayLong' in the USA which needed me to send them a pair of seats, or the bases, & they then put there seat onto the base. Now this was not cheap either as I bought a pair of old seats & sent them as we needed the bike mobile & by the time they came back it had cost me nearly £700- but with them being rebuilt they did not cost me any import duty etc...
Very comfortable seats mind considering I have sciatica & find sitting for a long time impossible as they enabled us to do a full tank of fuel before we/I had to get off & walk around to get the feeling back.
The Tony Archer seats were considerably cheaper, £150-, & work a treat also & the back seat is now almost twice the original width & half as deep again as Rosie likes a bit of comfort.
Hope these seats do it for you as I can understand the pain point very well!

Thanks for all the reply's. 

Apart from the mad price both my wife and I are very happy with the seats. At least it gives us the best opportunity to continue riding, hence I would not even of considering buying and importing such expensive seats.

I really considered the Tony Archer seats but thought after loads of investigation and trawling many forums I went for the Ultimate Seats. Looking forwards to all my trips now!

peardrop3 wrote:

When we had the Pan European I bought a pair of seats from 'DayLong' in the USA which needed me to send them a pair of seats, or the bases, & they then put there seat onto the base. Now this was not cheap either as I bought a pair of old seats & sent them as we needed the bike mobile & by the time they came back it had cost me nearly £700- but with them being rebuilt they did not cost me any import duty etc...
Very comfortable seats mind considering I have sciatica & find sitting for a long time impossible as they enabled us to do a full tank of fuel before we/I had to get off & walk around to get the feeling back.
The Tony Archer seats were considerably cheaper, £150-, & work a treat also & the back seat is now almost twice the original width & half as deep again as Rosie likes a bit of comfort.
Hope these seats do it for you as I can understand the pain point very well!

peter have you got a pic anywhere of the pillion seat from tony archer for the vl  as my wife not impressed with stock one over longer distances mite be the way forward for me  thanks in advance if you can

ardie wrote:

peardrop3 wrote:

The Tony Archer seats were considerably cheaper, £150-, & work a treat also & the back seat is now almost twice the original width & half as deep again as Rosie likes a bit of comfort.
Hope these seats do it for you as I can understand the pain point very well!

peter have you got a pic anywhere of the pillion seat from tony archer for the vl  as my wife not impressed with stock one over longer distances mite be the way forward for me  thanks in advance if you can

Here ya go 

thank you sim now that's a pillion seat something for me to ponder thanks again

Ardie, as I said above it's about twice the width & about 1/2 as deep again than normal as the original was cutting Rosie in half nearly but she's covered several thousand miles & never made an adverse comment about it since it was done, in fact I think we added about 2" each side to make it better.
If you explain to Tony exactly what you want & remind him he's done them before he will supply a seat in about 3 days from receipt approximately, oh & mine has a gel pad & woven anti slip topping on it as has my seat, cost will be less that for a pair obviously so I estimate you'd pay about £60- + post.
My seat is just about stock size but had a gel pad added & the foam made to fit flush with he top so adding about 1/2" to 3/4" in depth & also has anti slip weave covering the seat area.

thank you peter that has  me thinking I am happy with riders seat as I have the back rest and it does make a difference for me but the pillion seat will be getting something done to it

Ardie just a word of warning, with the increase in width/height you may find pillion missus/girlfriend will mean she can see over your head at what speed you're doing   & also see that gap your going to squeeze through so be warned!
I nick named Rosie 'head n shoulders' now as she's head n shoulders higher than me
Mind you it can come in handy as she can spot tea bars & possible 4 wheel projectiles that I've not seen!

lol peter thanks for heads up she who must be obeyed is impressed on all accounts

hello lepidge first of all your bike is stunning love that colour. I VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A TANK BIB for a while now never seen one I liked that much until I seen yours can you give me a link as to where you got it.As for your seat its looks superb thank you in advance if you can

Hi Ardie

Thanks for your comments. I got the tank cover direct from a company in Germany called Hepco & Becker. I also got my sissy bar, detachable lockable panniers brackets & engine guards. All top notch! There is a youtube video that shows nearly all the gear I got from them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQEp3kb62hQ

Here are some other links appear not to have been included that might help!

https://www.hepco-shop.de/meinbike/suzuki/c-800-intruder/tankcover-buffalo.html

http://www.hepco-becker.bike/index.php/de/my-bike

thank you lepidge that's very helpful I like the broader ones that go out round the petrol cap came across this today   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191486299877?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT  so will prob go with this as money dos nt talk it roars in this house thank you again, that stuff does look  great quality

No Probs Ardie, The one I have does cover over the petrol cap but the one you quote on ebay looks the part too. Hope it looks great on your bike!

ordered now so will get some pics sorted when its on cheers