Bead seat cover

[fudd]

Local parts guru let me use a beaded seat cover last Friday on solo ride. Took day off from work and was gonna spend day cruisin with no destination or time limits. Left at 6:00 in the morning and ended up home in the afternoon after 400 miles of fun. A couple of weeks earlier spent the afternoon on 250 mile ride and was less than comfortable on stock seat. Was skeptical of $30 seat cover when I left......but picked up another one yesterday for my wife to try. Anybody else have any good/bad reviews.......not a $500 aftermarket seat.......but seemed to work great.

[blowndodge]

I have one made for motorcycles on my Nomad. I find out in warmer weather to just leave it on all day and don't rotate it's use. I left it on the entire time for 2K miles to the Redwoods and didn't have to many butt issues.

[Top Cat]

At the National,Cliff (VulcanE) told me about the one he and Diane use.
It is made or endorsed by Harley. It is called Circulator seat pad. I bought one and it worked great. Cindy uses it now as I bought an Ultimate seat off Ebay.
Here is a link to the pad.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444877408 2&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309040862&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309040862&locale=en_US&locale=en_US&bmUID=1309786475641&bmLocale=en_US

[waterman]

I've been using a beaded seat cover for several years. Went to Walmart and found one for a car and cut and fit to the Nomad. Really like it. If I do decide to do something to the seat I will probably look into www.greatdaytoride.com. (http://www.greatdaytoride.com.)

[desertdog]

I tried the bead seat for a few hundred miles. It helped a little but not enough to make it worth keeping, so I returned it back to Great Day to Ride.

[ray2]

I have a bead seat cover that I have had for about 20 years. I use it every day. when I go on a trip I start out with it and when I stop to get gas I take it off then the next gas stop I put it back on and so on. Backside still gets sore but I think it does help.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Thanks for the reviews guys. And thanks to Tim and Joel for the links. I will definitely check them out.

[ringadingh]

Ive never tried one yet, perhaps I'll go to Walmart and make a car one fit. You really need to try them out on a all day ride to see if they work for you.

[Nubbs]

Went to Walmart and bought one from the auto section. Used a total of 2 hours. At first I thought it was great, I could feel the coolr air circulating and was comfortable. Made my first stop to top off the tank and the beads went in the trash. My cheeks were crying from being so uncomfortable.

[leadbelly]

Yep, I just got one recently and it works great. I use both a sheepskin & the beads, & alternate between the two.

[schoeney]

IMHO The best way to use a bead seat is just as a change of pace. I ride the stock seat for a tank, then my Costco gel pad for a tank, then my bead seat for a tank. then back to the stock seat.

If I had to ride on one all day it would be the gel pad ($14 @ Costco).
I haven't tried a sheepskin but I see a Day Long Russell in my future.

[skeeter]

used the beads. Auto parts model. I'm cheap. Had to use the beads for the tractor seat so for change of pace tried mesh pad on bike, the cheap auto parts model. Won't go back to the beads. I've never strapped the beads or the mesh cushion down. Once your on it, it doesn't move. The square mesh with springs inside is kind of awkward looking but I think if I strap it back and front it will look better. Don't use it in the winter. My Mustang seat is nice and warm in the winter.

PS.. I think it works best if the edges of the pad hang down sufficiently under leg to catch the wind. And up the back of the seat to allow air to flow.

[raftdog]

I have the beaded seat covers on my seat as well as the passenger..I like them and this is the second bike I have used them on...All those east Indian taxi drivers can't all be wrong.

[Idaho]

Leather mustang seat and my jeans. No beads, no sheepskin. Just callouses.

[kawgirl]

I have a beaded seat I picked up at Ron Ayers a few years back. I do like it in warm weather. Not so much when it gets cooler.

[usranger74]

http://www.therohostore.com/airhawk-motorcycle-seat-cushion-fit-chart.aspx

I tried a bead seat cover and did not like it. I now use an airhwak. Here lately I have started switching from one to another and that works to. If I were to buy just one, it would be the airhawk.