Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: gflint on July 02, 2011, 07:50:41 PM
-
I found a few pro comments on the Airhawk. Anybody have any negatives? It is in my price range while a $400 - $500 saddle is not. I did the Spencer mod last year. Better than stock but not by much. I use a Alaska Leather sheep pad so I do not have a moisture issue, just a skinny a$$ issue.
-
Negative comments? Well.... OK.
Airhawk cushions did not work well for me or my wife on a stock C-14 seat- too much radius in the saddle and the cushions turn into a beach- ball shape. They have also not proven durable in our use- we had two (one each) develop leaks well before the third year of use (but both out of the two year warranty period). Roho did warranty both cushions though after I explained my unhappiness (nicely and politely but directly). Also if you get an Airhawk soaked in the rain it will hold water for about three days- you have to take the bladder out of the cover, dry the bladder and hang the cover out to dry or you will have wet pants for the next week whenever you sit on the bike.
Still, in the end (no pun intended), Airhawks do exactly what they promise: they eliminate high pressure spots and spread the force out under your butt. It is simple physics really, you are floating on a thin cushion of air can <cannot> develop high pressure spots. I have tried some inexpensive air cushions and for several reasons they just do not work well as motorcycle seat cushions.
Roho (maker of Airhawk) used to offer a 30 day money- back guarantee. If you cannot eliminate a sore butt otherwise, maybe give them a try if that offer is still available. I bought mine from RL Aviation in FL for something like $130 if I remember correctly.
3132 miles in under 48 hours with not more than 30 minutes off of the saddle (I fuel sitting on the bike).... Airhawks do work.
Brian
I found a few pro comments on the Airhawk. Anybody have any negatives? It is in my price range while a $400 - $500 saddle is not. I did the Spencer mod last year. Better than stock but not by much. I use a Alaska Leather sheep pad so I do not have a moisture issue, just a skinny a$$ issue.
-
Brian, I'm a bit confused. First you say they didn't work for you and your wife, but then at the end you used them on your 50CC. That would seem to indicate that they DO work. I can't imagine sitting in one spot for 48+ hours.
-
I did not care for it on my stock or low sargent seat. I have found Beadrider to be very comfortable with the Sargent. It provide some air flow underneath you while allow the beads to spread the pressure a little more evenly.
I guess I just never liked the feeling of sitting on a thin layer of air (I tried many different setting with various different amount of air) but in the end, it just wasn't for me.
-David
Athens, GA
-
Yeah, let me elaborate so that makes sense. We found the stock seat was good for something like 3 hours. Then we tried Airhawks but they did not perform well on the stock saddle. Later on we tried a Corbin saddle as well as a Russell custom made saddle. When all of those failed to make us comfortable, the Airhawks came back and worked very well but only on the Corbin saddle. The Corbin has the best shape to support the Airhawk in our experience.
I did move around in the saddle, including sitting sortof' sidesaddle (one thigh on the saddle with everything esle hanging off). I do not believe I could have pulled off that run without an Airhawk under me. They are not perfect and I have some improvements in mind but for commercial products, a Corbin saddle and Airhawks front and back work for us.
Brian
Brian, I'm a bit confused. First you say they didn't work for you and your wife, but then at the end you used them on your 50CC. That would seem to indicate that they DO work. I can't imagine sitting in one spot for 48+ hours.
-
Brian, you said the Russell didn't work for you? You're one of the only people I've seen that wasn't happy with it (on strictly comfort issues--many complain about its visual esthetics). As this is the route I think I'm going, I was wondering what about it didn't work for you. So many people love it, I'd really like to know why you didn't.
-
I don't think the wings on the saddle were ever quite right for me. It seemed there was too much pressure on my legs and they would be come numb after a while. At first it was pretty uncomfortable but was better after being adjusted by Russell. It ended up being something that worked for a few hours but then became uncomfortable. The seating relationship between my wife and I on that saddle also didn't work well for us; we were too close and she was slightly higher than I and that was a terrible location for her. Higher or lower, relative to my seated height, would have been much better. The Corbin we currently use puts her much higher than me and that works well for us.
I don't think there was anything wrong with my Russell directly, just the overall shape and fit to us was the problem. The Russell itself was very high quality and very well made.
Brian
Brian, you said the Russell didn't work for you? You're one of the only people I've seen that wasn't happy with it (on strictly comfort issues--many complain about its visual esthetics). As this is the route I think I'm going, I was wondering what about it didn't work for you. So many people love it, I'd really like to know why you didn't.
-
Thanks, Brian. I appreciate the input.
-
I will put in my 2 cents.....Airhawks work, period! But, everyones butt is different. I have used the Airhawk on some of my other bikes and thought they were the best thing ever invented as I was able to ride pain free all day. Then I bought the Concours and absolutely LOVE the stock seat, for me it just works perfect. I no longer use the Airhawk and can ride all day (600 Miles) with no issues.
Moral of the story, what works for others may not be right for you so just pick something and give it a try.
Steve.
-
I bought the small cruiser AirHawk at Daytona Bike week, and they offered it at J&P cycles with a 120 day return.
It's great, and I use it on my Street Glide which has a solo Mustang seat on it, my Fatbob which has a Corbin solo on it, my Concours with the stock seat, & my KLR with the stock seat.
I haven't been on a all day rain with it, so I can't give an opinion in that area, but I roll it up and stick it in my saddlebag, when I need too.
Having more than one bike makes it economical, compared to getting aftermarket seats for all of them. I had the Mustang & Corbin before I bought the AirHawk.
-
I just tested a pair of Airhawk II seat pads on a 2500 mile trip. (The Airhawk II uses natural bubber instead of neoprene, they claim it works the same but is not quite as durable or puncture resistant. I paid $85 each for rider pillon) I bought more for insulation from the hot seat than the typical complaint of butt pain. I have never had much problem with butt pain on any of my last three road bikes, although I do have a lot of discomfort in my thighs.
I found that the airhawk II did not really help the heat issue much (and have ordered sheepskin pads form Alaska Leather) The Airhawk DOES provide a comfortable seat for my recently devloped tender butt compared to my long time favorite bead seat which is no longer comfortable due to my skin condition. But my main problem is heat in the butt and crotch area.
This is getting way to rambling so to sum up and shut up:
The Airhawk IS a comfortable solution if you can get the air pressure just right. For me that was very little air - not enough to provide significant extra leg room or insulation from the heat. But if a sort butt is your main complaint I would recommend it.
-
Two comments: the Airhawk II really is not as pliable or durable (as you mentioned) as the original Airhawk. My suggestion would generally be to stick with the original type unless you really ride the bike very little. The Airhawk II just do not seem to last long.
And you are 101% correct about the right amount of air- as little as possible to float your butt up off the seat. Certainly no more than 1/2". A very common problem seems to be overinflating these cushions and then they feel like sitting on a kid's birthday balloon and just don't work right. It takes a bit of effort and time to figure out what the right amount of air to use is though. Basically as soon as the sit bones (Ischium) are lifted off the saddle, the cushion has as much air in it as it should have.
Brian
I just tested a pair of Airhawk II seat pads on a 2500 mile trip. (The Airhawk II uses natural bubber instead of neoprene, they claim it works the same but is not quite as durable or puncture resistant. I paid $85 each for rider pillon) I bought more for insulation from the hot seat than the typical complaint of butt pain. I have never had much problem with butt pain on any of my last three road bikes, although I do have a lot of discomfort in my thighs.
I found that the airhawk II did not really help the heat issue much (and have ordered sheepskin pads form Alaska Leather) The Airhawk DOES provide a comfortable seat for my recently devloped tender butt compared to my long time favorite bead seat which is no longer comfortable due to my skin condition. But my main problem is heat in the butt and crotch area.
This is getting way to rambling so to sum up and shut up:
The Airhawk IS a comfortable solution if you can get the air pressure just right. For me that was very little air - not enough to provide significant extra leg room or insulation from the heat. But if a sort butt is your main complaint I would recommend it.
-
FYI, I posted on a few sites to get a used one (original AH, not the AH II), and got a nearly new one, in the original box, for $80 shipped. I didn't like it at first, but after I let almost all the air out of it, it worked OK, still need to adjust to it.
-
I found one in central Pa. on Craigslist that I got for $35.00. They are definitly out there, you just have to be patient and keep looking.
-
I bought one from my dealer yesterday - $152. I will try to hide it under the Alaska dead sheep. The sheep looks not bad; the Airhawk by itself looks bad. Although it would be hidden under my rear end the cool factor is a requirement. If I did not care if I looked cool I would have bought a BMW. I will be heading for Durango next week to give it a try. A couple of 500 mile days (or one 1000 mile day?) will give me an idea. Cannot lose with the guarantee.
-
It works. 14 hours in the saddle on the first day. I could have done more with no issues. On the way home things were getting uncomfortable after about 4 hours. I gave it a little air and no more problems. Another 14 hour day. It takes a little tinkering to get the air right but it is not an exact science and not hard to do. Well worth the money.