RDL Saddle type

Cunados

Cunados

STexan 1300
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
50
Location
Little Rock
Bike
2013 Yamaha XTZ1200
Having scoured the RDL website there appears to be several seat options for the ST1300. When I read recommendations in various posts for RDL there's never a model/type specified.

Having logged 6,000+ miles in the past two months I'm gonna bite the bullet.

The vast majority of my riding is solo w/ my Corbin Smuggler. Although when touring two up it's usually her posterior that dictates the distance between stops thus I had better address both seats ;-). Back rest(s), leather or vinyl, etc?

I'm 6-3 180#s having been married for 26+ yrs my passenger's stats shall remain confidential ;-).

Any experience and/or advice is greatly appreciated.
 
I think that the Russell seat was the best accessory I've purchased for the ST. They offer the Day Long and a "sport" model. The Day Long touring saddle is the traditional seat most of us have. It looks like they have more models because the bases vary for each bike, and the upholstery options affect appearance. I got the rectangles pattern. Their photo gallery will show all the options. They will make your seat to fit your height, inseam, weight, and riding position (and that of your passenger.) You'll need to send photos of the two of you on your bike. You also have the option of a backrest (I passed on this, but some folks swear by them) and a heated seat (which I also passed on.) I went with vinyl for the cover, which still looks good after a bunch of miles and several years. (Didn't want to take care of leather.) If you're riding an ST1300, I have a loaner seat you can use while yours is being modified. (It'll be back pretty soon.) Check out the website, and call the Russell folks with your questions. I found them to be very helpful. Call now, because there's a waiting list.

http://www.day-long.com/
 
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+1 on the Russell my wife can go 600+ miles on it with just a gas stop. Before that I had a Sargent and she was good for no more than 150-200 miles.
 
I went with all leather in a design that had fewer stitch holes (bigger pattern) to minimize the number of points of entry for water - & give me a look I prefer.. However if you choose vinyl you may want the small square pattern because its cooler. The leather maintenance isn't much and all leather has a quality look and feel about it that can't be beat IMO.

22,000 miles & counting on it this season. I'm real happy.

You saw the group buy thread ?
 
I have the Russell Day long with all leather with the minimum amount of stitching. I have almost 100,000 on that seat and ride it in all weather conditions with no problems. I do a very small amount of maintenance on the seat when I get home giving it a little Lexol leather treatment. I love my seat.
 
Mine is all leather and has the moon stitching style and I would make that same choice 1 year later. I treat it with NIKWAX and paid attention to getting it into the sewn areas so as to limit/prevent water intrusion. Russell has a parking cover that you pull over it if you want to keep water off when you're parked. I would have gone with the dual saddle if my wife rode with me, but my biking is all solo. I would strongly suggest getting the backrest. I just did a 16 day trip and the support for my lower back was well placed and appreciated. That support went a long way to making the 8~12 hours we spent riding each day enjoyable. Regards, Gordon
 
Cunados said:
What kind of material would you suppose that is?
Click to expand...

This is a quote from the guy who posted that pic on the Vulcan baggers site...

"The material is vinyl. The pattern is basket-weave. They do not show this option on the Russell website, but I saw a picture of one done like this on a BMW. When I called Russell and asked about it, they said they would do the basket-weave for no additional cost.

The seat does have a very nice "airflow"! "

Dennis
 
Here is what they call moon and how the all-leather looks.

IMG00297-20111011-1945_0.jpg


IMG00300-20111011-1946_0.jpg
 
I should have added that the backrest is adjustable. You can raise and lower the pad as well as forward and rearward with one hand - all while driving down the road using the 1.5" diameter knobs on the adjuster bolts. The up and down is probably 3" of adjustability while the forward/back is 2" and uses a wedge shaped slide that affects where the backrest stops. The pad itself is hinged so the adjustment has no affect on the angle of the pad and you'll get full support. They can add a pocket to the pad for passenger storage/access if you want it. I would make adjustments fore and aft periodically during the ride to suit my positioning at the time. Very well thought-out by the folks at Russell.

Regards, Gordon
 
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