Help! I need seat advice. I purchase my first harley in March, a 2000 road king classic. I spent most of my rainy days tinkering and shining it up. Now that the weather is nicer I have had a chance to ride it. First false impressions when just sitting on the bike leads one to believe it is all day comfortable, that is coming from a sport bike, but unfortunately this is not true. With the stock bars by back hurt right between my shoulder blades. I swapped the stock handlebars for high road king bars and that helped considerable. My back is relatively straight now but my mid to lower back is hurting after about an hour in the saddle. I guess I need to change the seat next. I am an idealist and hate the idea of a rider backrest but maybe I have to get one. If I can't make the road king comfortable I am getting rid of it. I am 5'6 with a 30 inch inseam. I am interested in the corbin dual tour. Should I get the close version or the standard (I'm thinking close). Any suggestions other than corbin. I don't want one that is big and gawdy. Hate to spoil the beautiful lines of the bike.

Thanks for your help

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You could try doing a seat mod from mean city cycles. he is a forum sponser and I hear he does great work, and wont cost you a quarter of what a Corbin will. If you like the look of the stock seat, I would go with him. He can tell you what he can do as far as moving you up, back, up or down. I have talked to him through email and he sems to know his stuff. Once I get less irons in the fire, I would like to go his route. I really like the look of the stock seat on my rk custom. I added 18" apes and that really helped my back out.

You might also consider Mustang. Some here swear by them and they are not as costly as corbin, either. Just my $0.02

 

Bars didnt help me but the backrest did!!!

 

Not well known outside of Metrics, this company http://www.ultimateseats.ca/ is expanding to include Harley's. A friend will use nothing else and the seat for his new UC is being released the end of this month. You can try it out for two weeks and send it back for a full refund if you don't like it. They also offer quite a few modifcations to it, at least on the metrics. Just another option.
Gary

 

I hurt my back about 15 years ago and have been riding with a backrest ever since. They will take the pressure off of your back, even though they aren't all that pretty.

 

You're gonna get all kinds of replies here. So here's mine. Get the backrest and a Sundowner seat. I did just under 800 miles this weekend in total comfort. The Sundowner is as good/better that the others and you can have money left over for other goodies.

 

I had the same pain between my shoulders with my metric,andlead me beleive it was the bars (wide style beach bars) could never get comfortable, so SOLD the bike and went HD, 2004 Road King changed bars to Chubby beach and you know, the pain came back....well 1 year later back injury (5 herniated discs) figured well if I am going to continue riding I would need to get something to assist, tried a buddies Mustang solo, with the adjustable removable backrest and liked it so much got my own,,,its a nice seat and the backrest, pull it out and your done...easier than 1,2,3. and you know pain is gone, no more shoulder pain and the mid, lower back has support the backrest adjusts up & down (5 settings) and from 0 -1 in forward. and in addition it folds forward and covers your seat when your parked.
I got mine from BikerHaven, they also have e-bay store..very reasonably prices I paid $400 complete seat and B/rest, my buddy paid $600 from mustang.

I hear Allen @ Mean City does do good work, if you want them to personally alter your seat for you they can do it.

Celtic King
2004 Road King
Southern California

 

Pullbacks and a backrest, or find some reason to stop every hour just to get off and move around.

 

#1) BACKREST!!!

and if that don't work a different seat as HD OEM seats more or less suck - but remember everyone is built different and a seat that someone loves is not always the seat for you..

Handlebars - go to a local shop that has a seat\handlebar set-uo so you can try different combo\set-ups... Remember what feels good now does not always mean that will feel the same in 100 - 200 miles...