update on Mustang seat

[racinchef]

Now that it is the weekend and I have had the opportunity to put some miles on my new seat I can update my report.
The bike: a 2000 Nomad 1500 carberutted.
The seat: Mustang part#79233, studded wide touring seat w/driver backrest
Okay, at first the backrest was in the middle of my back, but as I started to mess around with the post it slid further down into the slot. Apparently I hadn't gotten it all the way in. I tried it out; exactly where I needed it to be. Great! The OEM seat is softer, but my butt would go numb because though it is roomier it is not completely flat and that is what causes the numbness after only 20-25 miles. The Mustang seat is flat, but not as roomy and it feels harder, but I can ride much longer and it is more comfortable in the long run; especially with the backrest. I rode about 120 miles today, but it was broken up with several stops. When I put my feet up on the highway pegs my butt is almost perfectly flat on the seat and it is the most comfortable. Tomorrow I will try riding 1-2 hours straight without a stop and see how that works out. I don't think I will need the offset backrest post. It definitely feels very different, and because it is harder and not as roomy, the first impression is that it won't be comfortable, but as you put on the miles your butt acclimates to the shape. After 20-30 miles of continous riding the numbness doesn't start up, so you keep on enjoying your ride and you don't slouch because your lower back is supported, then you realize that the Mustang seat is more comfortable and you are able to ride longer and enjoy your ride better. Also, you sit taller in the saddle and your reach to the handlebars is not as far because of the backrest

[skeeter]

Go ahead and break that thing in. 4-6 hours oughta do it.

[ringadingh]

That was a good report, it sounds like that may be the answer for me also, I find after an hour or so of steady riding I start to squirm around a fair bit. On 400-500 mile days Im sore . Ive hesitating buying one in case its not much better than what I have already. Let us know how it feels after a few hours in the saddle.

[racinchef]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

That was a good report, it sounds like that may be the answer for me also, I find after an hour or so of steady riding I start to squirm around a fair bit. On 400-500 mile days Im sore . Ive hesitating buying one in case its not much better than what I have already. Let us know how it feels after a few hours in the saddle.

I was on a Southern Cruiser's ride two weekends ago and the group leader had an '03 Nomad with the Mustang seat so I asked him if I could try sitting on it and that is what convinced me. I think that this winter I will take the OEM seat and send it in to Russell's Day Long Seats to be done up properly. Then I have will the Mustang for regular riding and the Russell for trips. After, my butt is worth it!

[chuckster131]

When I first bought my Nomad and made a few short trips the stock seat seemed to be ok. But when I set out for my first long trip, which was just shy of 2,000 miles in a week. I found the stock seat to be not comfortable after 300 miles or so. The third day into our ride, we were at the Kick stand lodge in N.C. Fred (RIP) had a Mustang seat on his Nomad, I sat on his bike and the difference to me was night and day.. For the record, after that trip I did make the purchase of a new Mustang seat and never will change back to stock. Fits me perfect and those long 350 / 500 mile day rides are much much better now. + 1 from me for Mustang

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by racinchef

Now that it is the weekend and I have had the opportunity to put some miles on my new seat I can update my report.
The bike: a 2000 Nomad 1500 carberutted.
The seat: Mustang part#79233, studded wide touring seat w/driver backrest
Okay, at first the backrest was in the middle of my back, but as I started to mess around with the post it slid further down into the slot. Apparently I hadn't gotten it all the way in. I tried it out; exactly where I needed it to be. Great! The OEM seat is softer, but my butt would go numb because though it is roomier it is not completely flat and that is what causes the numbness after only 20-25 miles. The Mustang seat is flat, but not as roomy and it feels harder, but I can ride much longer and it is more comfortable in the long run; especially with the backrest. I rode about 120 miles today, but it was broken up with several stops. When I put my feet up on the highway pegs my butt is almost perfectly flat on the seat and it is the most comfortable. Tomorrow I will try riding 1-2 hours straight without a stop and see how that works out. I don't think I will need the offset backrest post. It definitely feels very different, and because it is harder and not as roomy, the first impression is that it won't be comfortable, but as you put on the miles your butt acclimates to the shape. After 20-30 miles of continous riding the numbness doesn't start up, so you keep on enjoying your ride and you don't slouch because your lower back is supported, then you realize that the Mustang seat is more comfortable and you are able to ride longer and enjoy your ride better. Also, you sit taller in the saddle and your reach to the handlebars is not as far because of the backrest

That's pretty much my thoughts exactly on the mustang seat except that on the 1600, the mustang is a little wider in the back than the stocker was.