Had something of a small epiphany this weekend after doing our first 200 mile trip to the mountains on the '11 Wide Glide.

Like a few other HDForum brothers, I struggled a bit when trying to come up with a saddle that would be comfortable enough for my wife Debbie when doing longer stints in the saddle.
- The little 5" tissue box that came on the FXDWG wasn't going to hack it.
- The 8" 'Touring Pillion" saddle wasn't the answer.
- The H-D RallyRunner looked great but didn't seem to have enough padding.

We finally sucked-it-up and tried a H-D Barcalounger, aka., the Touring Saddle. It's a plush monster of a saddle that provided Debbie with 1/2 a foot of padding, making it the most comfortable saddle she'd tried to date (1st photo, below). I really didn't like the way it fit me for all but long-days in the saddle on the open road, so we had a C&C Sport Tour saddle made (2nd photo, below).

The C&C was wonderful, but Debbie was still getting a little sore after doing a couple hours on the bike or when riding on less than ideal roads. So, we somewhat accepted the fact that we'd simply need to make the right choice on saddles for certain rides, i.e., C&C for local rides or trailer-trips to riding destinations, and the Barcalounger for long day trips.

Well, under the heading of unintended benefits, after fitting a set of Öhlin's shocks to our Wide Glide tailored to our needs by Forum Sponsor Motorcycle Metal.com, Debbie did 200 hard miles in the saddle yesterday and said she never felt better! The saddle felt far more comfortable than it ever had and she could have stayed back there all day... noting it was about 5 hours in the saddle all told (3rd photo, below). I'm even told there's no longer any need for the H-D Touring saddle...

So, before dropping too many bucks searching for that perfect saddle or assuming you'll have to use something like a Sundowner or Touring saddle, you might want to consider making the investment in some Öhlin's or other equally-good shocks for your ride.

Big props to Howard at Motorcycle Metal for his commitment to developing and making professionally tuned, world-class performance suspension components like Ohlin's shocks available to H-D owners who know how a motorcycle with suspension 'should' feel and handle.

Hey, you'll never know how bad your shocks are until you ride good ones... and they'll pay dividends every time you swing your leg over by vastly improving the quality, comfort and safety of your ride.

 

Did you go with the 3-3? I talked to Howard today what a great guy..

 

Yes, #3-3...

Howard has forgotten more than I can remember about shocks.

 

Well said! If only they knew lol

 

im happy with my street glide air shocks with 10wt oil.

did 100 miles on them yesterday and could have done 100 more
if i didnt have to be home.

 

Good info, thanks OP.

 

This thread is about making a passenger happy and comfortable! It is easy for the rider, quite another thing for a passenger.

TandemGeek, well done and welcome to the Ohlins club. #3-3 here, on my Glide. I have advocated for some time on HDF that the road to improved comfort starts at the road! In other words a change of tyres can help, as well as better quality shocks. I use Avon Venoms as part of our comfort improvement package.

The final straw was when Mrs B and I did a 2,500 mile trip in 09, when she was so uncomfortable 3/4 way through we did what we could to shorten our riding days. The following year on a similar trip, with our Ohlins, she could not only travel longer days, still be comfortable, but when we got home was ready to carry on!

So the comfort Howard's Ohlins give has far reaching benefits that last a lot further than day trips.

 

ohhhh if thats the case then i guess i should have added that my wife was super happy too, said the ride now is like a baby carriage for her.

.....so you decide if you want the $100 or less HD pull off's or the uber expensive ohlins on your dyna based motorcycle.........

 

Some day I too will be a proud member of the "Ohlin club". That is, if my wife doesn't beat my *** first for throwing too many bucks at my scoot.

For now... I use a HD Sundowner for 2up riding and Progrssive shocks. She says "that's my lazyboy".

On a long ride, I make her place one hand on my shoulder. When I feel it sliding off...I know she's falling asleep and, reach back to give her a little slap on the butt...LOL.

Good thread...nice to know.

Best wishes...Tim(HT)

 

I don't find I need to do that. I can tell when her helmet hits the back of mine that's she's dozed off! It has occasionally happened within a few miles of starting out....