I couldn't agree more! You nailed all of the Pros and all of the Cons. I installed my Ultimate seat about three weeks ago and I've fallen in love with the Gold Wing all over again. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that the seat is SO much easier to install and remove is one of the best reasons to purchase it. The fact that it's beautiful and comfortable is just icing on the cake. I couldn't commit to sending off my seat pan for several days or weeks as the bike is my daily driver to/from work. Ultimate certainly checks all the check boxes for me!
OMG this seat is amazing! I don’t want to trash Corbins design, I love some Corbin products, however this Ultimate seat is on point! We bought the Corbin for the 2018 Goldwing and found it very disappointing driver especially, rider it was just ok. The Ultimate seat is fantastic they nailed it! Thank you for many more miles ! Lori Dunn
I bought an Ultimate seat for my '05 GW about 3 years ago, what an improvement. The rain cover was an extra and back rest were extra. I bought the standard black seat and passenger back rest which positions the passenger 15 degrees more upright that made my wife more comfortable. You need to be patient when putting the rain cover on as mine started to separate at the seam. I reinforced all the seams with Tenacious Tape. I have had a hip replacement that cuts into my saddle time comfort but I'm not ready to stop riding. If you are going to buy the Ultimate seat buy all the extras and save on extra shipping costs. Cruiseman, I always wear a back brace when riding. It really helps especially when going over a bump or pothole. Thanks for all the great videos!
I had a corbin on my SuperTenere and it never did break in. I was disappointed that it did not offer me much comfort beyond the OEM seat. It was rock hard.
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Corbin seats have never really worked for comfort. They are a cosmetic butt jewelry item. Russell Day Long saddles are the choice for many Iron Butt Riders and that is all the testimony I need.
I've had a Ultimate seat on my 2012 for about 5 yrs. One of the first things I did was seal the stitching with boot water proofing. I've ridden in hard rain and had it parked at the motel in the rain over night without the cover and have never had a problem. I had about $1800.00 in mine also because of the options, but after 5 yrs I still think it was one of the best things I did to my wing.
When I purchased my 2018 used, this seat and backrest were already on it. I didn't realize it wasn't stock for a while. I was glad the previous owner did the upgrade. That really explains why I had no issues driving it home from Ohio where I purchased it, to Virginia..565 miles. I split it in 2 days because my wife was driving the car back. Love the setup.
Just traded my 2007 GL1800 for a 2020. I removed my Ultimate seat and it is for sale. I ride 10 hour days and lost OEM burn. I’m ordering another for the new bike. I spayed Camp Dry on all the seams. I ride in the rain continuously without rain covering the seats. I live in S. Florida. Inspecting my seat after removal, everything appeared as new as the day it was installed. I’m a very satisfied Ultimate customer.
I'm installing an Ultimate seat on my 3rd different bike now (2021 Goldwing). Don't let that scare you away. I've ridden in the rain many times with Ultimate seats. They don't get "water logged" and they don't remain wet for extended periods.
Just a heads up for some of your viewers...I've owned 2 previous bikes and installed Ultimate seats on them and just ordered my third seat for my new 2021 Goldwing...That little flap that covers where the driver's backrest goes in, if you double it over as in your video that little flap will develop some "memory" and eventually the Velcro will no longer keep it flat and neat. When you slide the driver backrest into the slot hold that flap out of the way until it is all the way in then release it. That will keep it nice and straight.
@ Criuseman Your review was right on. I have had them on many of my bikes .I personally love Ultimate seats mainly for the comfort and looks. My wife and I went on a 6,000 mile trip out west averaging 500 miles a day, and a couple of times 18-24 hours straight with no butt burn. This was on a 2008 Goldwing. I think we're close in height as I'm 6'3. I just bought a 2023 DCRT Tour, and ordered my favorite seats (Ultimate) and had to return them. They were so comfortable But they set my knees up too high and felt like my knees were gonna hit my chin. My knees were not comfortable, especially my right as I had surgery back in the spring. So needless to say I am searching for a seat. Thanks for all your videos, you have been a great help!!
i've had one on my 2005 GL1800 and every minute i'm on it the comfort increases as the seat breaks in, love it and so does the wife as she always complained about the OEM seat not being comfortable. Great video Cruiseman, lots of information. thanks for the vid....
Great review as always. Looks like a wonderful seat but since long distance is my thing, I wouldn't want to have to think about the rain cover every time the weather turned. After watching your review the Wingsoft rebuild, I rode out to College Station from Virginia and took the plunge. It made a world of difference.....very happy!
Thank you Cruiseman for this review. Ultimate started out making seats for the Valkyrie. I have a 2001 tourer and have had my Ultimate Seat for 15+ years now and it is still in excellent condition. There are days where I have logged 500-700 miles in the saddle with no complaints. Just picked up my 2019 Goldwing Tourer DCT and like the Valkyrie the OEM seat is horrible. After 90 minutes I ready to start walking. Your Pro-Con list is correct. The back rest is terrific, and I would not consider buying this seat without it. Yes, rain covers are needed, but only take a few minutes to put on. I used the rain covers and my Valkyrie seat is still in great condition. Yes, they are expensive, but if you plan on keeping you bike for many years and do some serious touring, the cost per year vs. the comfort you will enjoy more than justifies the expense. I will be ordering my Goldwing seat tomorrow.
Another excellent video Cruiseman, I have been waiting for your mystery seat review and pleased that it was for Ultimate Seats, as I have been researching them for some time and waiting for their seat heat integration to the Honda OEM rider/passenger temperature control (which has taken some time). Thank you for creating these videos and I look forward to the next. Stay safe.
I owned an Ultimate King for my 2006 Wing, it was a good seat but it did not compare to the Russell Day-Long. I am an long distance rider. I put 350k on my 2000, 250k on my 2006 and have about 79k ion my 2009. The RDL seat has over 300k miles on it and is in great shape. It is covered in leather.
I never had a Russell Day Long and the important aspect of the Ultimate KING is it moves you back. I'm taller than John Cooper and weigh about the same. Never felt a need for anything else but an Ultimate since 2012.
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I have three bikes, all with RDL saddles. Pricey, but worth it. I can ride all day on any of my bikes with very little "monkey butt". Tank to tank, for as much as 500 miles per day, no pain in the tush.
First of all let me say that this is the best review of the of the Ultimate so far, I decided to go with the Ultimate seat for my 2018 Goldwing DCT. It is so much better than the stock seat. I did the Wingsoft upgrade which was a big improvement over the stock seat but I just wanted to go a step further and the Ultimate seat did that. After the Wingsoft upgrade I could manage to ride for about 300 miles but when I rode all day it started hurt and by the end of the day I was ready to get off. If it was a 300 mile day it worked, but more than that it was tough. I could only do about a 200 mile day on the stock seat before the upgrade. Now with the ultimate seat I can ride all day. Having to put on the rain cover is no problem I love the seat. Thank you Cruiseman for the review and thank you Ultimate for a great seat. Cruiseman stay blessed, stay safe and ride with pride.
another great review chris. have several riding buds that have had an ultimate said the same thing hard as a rock then it just went away n they would ride for hours..
I just installed the seat, driver backrest and Passenger backrest on my '19 DCT Tour. It went on way too easy. I took a ride around the block to get a feel for it and I am grateful for getting the Tallboy as I have a bit more leg room and it does not feel so wide around the upper thighs/crotch area. I had the heat turned on the seat to see if it worked, but I could not get a good feel for it. It is 106 degrees right now here in Gilbert, so hard to feel heat coming from the seat when there is more than enough heat around you. Will try the heat in early morning to see if it works. It is a pricey seat but not so much more that a Hartco/Diamond. I can tell the higher quality vinyl of this new seat compared to the stock seat.
I purchased a Ultimate seat for my 2000 GL 1500 several years ago. I struggle with pressure points and great discomfort on long rides. I bought the Ultimate seat to solve this issue; however, the seat failed to do that. The Ultimate seat was very well made and I like the looks of it on the Wing. I did receive a rain cover for the main seat and the passenger back rest. I have rode in some really heavy down pours with those seat covers installed and they worked well.I would recommend the Ultimate seat just on quality alone. I sold my 1500 last year and bought a 2012 GL 1800. I have purchased an air hawk now and trying it. Recently purchased your video’s to work on the 2012 myself. Thanks for the great informative video’s.
excellent review. few comments.....I have an Ultimate Seat for my VTX 1300 that I bought in 2006. It has allowed me to ride most of the day without the horrible pain the VTX stock seat gave me. It too a while to break in......months. It is not waterproof, so I used waterproofing polish for shoes on it. this has worked very well, tho it darkened the threads. I do believe it enhanced the looks of the bike, as it does on the Goldwing. I have had my 2019 GW Tour since Sept and have put just over 3,000 miles on it. I have tried riding without anything with extra padding and am able to do so, so far. for longer rides, I wear MotoSkiveez underwear which has extra padding built in and costs much less that a new seat......
I have always loved the GoldWing, have been a GoldWing rider for almost 40 years. I do not understand how anyone sing any sort of praise for a GoldWing that cost in the UK = to $42,000, then fork out almost $2,000 for a decent seat. To me it is a reflection of its overall quality
Great video Cruiseman. I had an Ultimate seat on my 13 Suzuki Boulevard C50C and I loved it. I'm going to do more research before I change out the seat on my 2020. I'll ride it for this year and see how I feel. I too am "boney" back there....maybe I should be doing more squats!?!? lol Ultimate does make a quality product! Thanks again!
Very concise review. Id like to add that they make a low seat, a regular seat & a 3rd for long legs. If you don't add custom design items your can get a seat w/ backrest for $ 945. Add $ 300 for heat. That is a cost comparable with other brands. They have a big following with Indian & Victory owners.
Sat on a friend's HD that had an ultimate seat. He was bragging about how much it cost and how comfortable it was. He offered me to try it out and my first impression was it was hard as a rock. But I just humored him.
Never used the rain covers on my 09. Seat has been in plenty of rain without any problems. 800 and 900+ mile days. 6’5”, 36” inseam, Ultimate King was the only seat for me.
That is a beautiful seat! The first thing I thought of was, what about rain. (It's got a cover) Ok, what about riding in the rain. (Sit on the cover) Ok, what about that passenger back rest. (bingo - no cover - that's a problem) As much as I like the way it looks, I don't think I could drop that kind of coin on it, even if it's super comfortable.
Hi Hogdriver88, Any aftermarket seat that has stitching is not waterproof. All of the aftermarket manufacturers sell rain covers. However, ours are the only ones that are custom fit for each seat we offer - and less like a shower cap (universal fit). Additionally on the passenger backrest - it’s not required as the passenger backrest is vertical and water isn’t able to pull on it. We only offer the raincover for the driver backrest so that it keeps the items in the driver backrest pouch protected from rain.
Thanks for the timely review Chris. On my 08 Goldwing I had a Hartco custom seat on it and absolutely loved it, it changed the whole bike, now on my 2018 Goldwing the stock seat is worse than prior years stock seats, so I've been looking at all options on replacing the seat,the Ultimate seat has a few mixed reviews and after talking to another seat manufacturer said the ultimate seats foam will compress over time and cause back pains to come back, being that came from another manufacturer I'd take that with a grain of salt. I decided to go with the Russel day long, rebuild my production date is in June so till then I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that this was the right decision
I wash my bike quite often, the seat not being waterproof is a deal breaker for me. I have no issues with the OEM seat it’s good enough for me. Nice video though Cruiseman
Hi Allen, Washing isn't an issue - it's only when water is allowed to pool in the stitch lines. Our premium marine grade vinyl is completely waterproof.
Thanks for anther great review. I especially like the way you separate the objective and the subjective observations. Many riders are surprised that a firmer seat can be more comfortable than softer seat.
A friend of mine thoroughly enjoys his Ultimate seat on his Indian. I agree the workmanship is top notch. I've always been afraid to buy a custom seat. You don't really know if you'll like it until you've put a few thousand miles on it. All seats have a break in period. I've always been afraid of spending big money then not liking it more than the stock seat. An Airhawk is relatively inexpensive and easily goes into you side bags or trunk. Take it off put it on adjust the air. Giving your butt some options on the long haul helps keep those pressure points from getting to cranky.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks, Cruiseman - yes - we have a 14 day trial period for our seats that we stock. We know it's a big investment and we want you to be happy.
Thanks for the review. I have a 2019 Tour and do not have 4K miles on it yet and the stock seat already has a small split in the seam. Yes I will have it replaced via warranty, bit I do not want to have to do this every 4K miles of my 7 yr warrant. I have had other custom seats on a '97 and a '10 GW and they were in the $12-13K range and that was 8 yrs ago. So to me, the Price is not a con to me. I will investigate and decide if this is for me. I like John below, ride my bike daily and also take -2 week tours each year so the cost is OK in relation to the time I spend on it.
I didn't like the look of the new Goldwing until I saw it with the Ultimate Seat. It looks beautiful. I've had the Ultimate Seat on my past 1500 and my present 1800. In both cases I was fortunate to get deals on eBay. Love it!. I wouldn't ride a bike without it.
I have been waiting a long time for you to review your new seat. It sounds like you like your ultimate seat. I was surprised at the cost. I decided in getting the Russell Day-Long seat from everything I have read. I had Bike Solutions modify my seat. However it still isn't comfortable enough unless I use an AirHawk pad with it. I am hoping the Russell seat will work. Will comment after my seat comes back from Russell and ridden a bit.
Here is my update on the RDL seat. I put on 6k miles on it. After 6k I didn't feel the seat was comfortable for me. I am use to cushy cruiser seats. So what did I do? I ending up getting some moto-skiveez shorts, a gel pad from Walmart, and I still have my Airhawk. I really like the look of the seat and the workmanship was impeccable. The seat height was no problem at all. I decided on a whim (since Russell does adjustments) to call Russell and see if anything could be done about the comfort of the seat. The builder of my seat was Cole who was my size 5'9" and he was 10lbs lighter than me at 150 lbs. I asked him if anything could be done to make the seat more comfortable. He said he could make it better as part of their guarantee. I spent the $100 and shipped it back to them. I got the seat back about 2 weeks later shipped and paid for by Russell. I did a short ride that day about 20 miles. I found the wings on the seat to be smaller and a bit softer, but not as soft as I wanted. The next day I did a ride about 165 miles with a lot of twisties. The seat was incredible in the twisties. I felt like I was part of the bike. No slipping or movements at all! I was totally impressed. The seat is still not as soft as I like. I will wear the gel shorts because I really don't think they can make it any softer. I am OK with that. It hurts having a boney butt. If you are use to a cushy seat then the RDL may be too stiff for you. Since these seats are expensive and I can't just drop 1k + on every seat, I wish there was a way of trying out these seats before purchasing them. In the meantime, I am happy with my RDL seat. As a side note I sat on a bike with a Ultimate seat. It felt stiff as a board. Cruiseman, can you elaborate a bit more why your Ultimate seat was comfortable for you?
I am on my 2nd Ultimate KING Seat for my 2012 Wing. My former 2004 Wing had the seat for 75,ooo miles. It really is the Ultimate seat, Service and Quality
Nailed it cruisman have 2012 goldwing with ultimate seat black with red inlay and back rest with heat top notch quality very comfortable 50k miles ride all day no problem also have 2018 goldwing stock seat 45 minutes have to stop and get off just installed ultimate seat full in lay drivers back rest with heat hope it’s as comfortable as my 2012 wing also had Yamaha Roadstar with mustang seat back rest did not like and changed to ultimate seat with back rest and loved it not sure how they make so comfortable and the back rest is in the perfect spot can’t be happier with ultimate seats never used the rain cover though I just spray on the Honda polish on them seams to seal them up a bit have not tried it I have heard some people used the water proofing spray that you put on a camping tent to seal them up
Hi Cruiseman:::it would be nice if you compare the ULTIMATE seat vs the Russel Day Long !!! I’m in the same market for a seat and money wise their very close. Wild Bill
Id have to say the only thing that would keep me from buying this seat is its not waterproof. For that type of money, It really should be. Great review as always cruise man. U r the best.
Hi cruiseman great job and a very nice informative video. How does the ultimate seat compares to the wing soft mod. seat in turns of comfort? It kind of look like the comfort level is close to the same 2hrs. plus riding time for the seats. $500.00 vs $1800
The look is stunning and the easy install/removal is a big plus. Did I see a pocket on the back of the riders backrest? I’ve always wanted that. But it’s the extended, uninterrupted riding time that interests me the most. I really feel the pain sitting on my 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT stock seat after 45 minutes or so. Thanks for the really informed review Cruiseman.
This video has been up for three months now. The biggest pre-sales complaint is the waterproof issue. For those of you that own the Ultimate, is the lack of waterproofing an issue?
I have one these on my Harley put about 60k on it. Max ride was I did was 900 miles in one day. Probably be even better on this bike. My next bike purchase .
Thank you, Cruiseman, for another excellent review. Two quick questions. Was the Ultimate significantly higher or wider than stock? Also, how would you compare it to your Wingsoft modified seat? I know the Ultimate is much better than OEM, but what is your subjective opinion of the seat compared to the Wingsoft you already use. Which would you select if you had a long trip? Thanks again.
Not higher, but a bit wider. I would say from a comfort standpoint, they were pretty close for me. But then again, I can only ride for a couple of hours anyway because of my back before having to get off and stretch my legs.
It looks like a great seat but I'm not sure I would spend the kind of money they're asking for it. Like everything else the cost of adding anything is just overpriced in my opinion.
Clifton Howard there actually one of the cheaper seat companies on the market as far as price goes. By far the most comfortable seat I’ve ever put on my bike I’ve tried Corbin, mustang, LD seat company and bitchin seats. Not to mention they’re one of the only companies out there that will let you test their seat for 14 days if you don’t like it you can send it back. Most companies as soon as you bolted to your bike it’s yours No returns.
As much as I would have liked to installed, I balked at the Ultimate seat for my 2014 GW - $1,700+ and not waterproof? After installing the Utopia backrest on the stock seat and knowing water must be getting into the foam due to routine washing and rain, I have yet to notice any visible or functional deterioration. Personally, if I can ride an entire day, taking time for rest stops every 2 hours, I'll do without an Ultimate or Russell and put that money towards Traxxion Dynamics suspension or other upgrades. Still, I understand we're talking about the 2018+ model, which is reported as being far less comfortable than the previous model.
Agreed. My Aerostich Darien's seams are *all* taped, and the suit is claimed to be waterproof. Perhaps they're concerned about the seam tape failing, what with the constant abrasion from the seat foam?
Hi Bernard, Any aftermarket seat that has stitching is not waterproof. All of the aftermarket manufacturers sell rain covers. However, ours are the only ones that are custom fit for each seat we offer - and less like a shower cap (universal fit).
@@TheUltimateSeats So is washing the bike a concern in regards to getting the seat wet? I mean how much water can the seat take before saturation causes a problem? Can you get some water on it?
@@TheUltimateSeats do you retain/add the waterproof plastic under the cover like the OEM to protect the foam from water saturation? Or can you just install the rain cover between the inner foam and outside cover to prevent foam from soaking up water. Stitches can absorb some water that’s fine if you have some water stripes on pants but lots of water soaking into foam can be a long lasting problem... also waterproof tape under cover on the seams could be an option. Just thinking out of the box.
I would like to how the Ultimate seat compares to the Russell day long, I have been using the Russell day long on my Honda ST1300 and I rode 1530 miles miles in 21 i/2 hours for the Burner Gold from the Ironbutt Association. I stop for gas every 280 miles. when I arrived in Norman OK, I didn't have a sore butt but my neck and shoulders were very stiff.
My stock seat ripped on on my 2018 on the seam behind the butt. Getting a new one via extended warranty. Mine was modified by WingSoft and i really liked it, but thought i might get an aftermarket seat instead of upgrading my new seat again by WingSoft. Is there a brand you would recommend? I know you liked the Ultimate.
I was going to purchase a RDL but several people stated you have to lean forward to plant your feet on the ground & I’m already vertically challenged on this bike with the stock seat. Those that purchased to RDL seem to love it.
Are there any products out there to help prevent water entering through the stitches or the material? I went online and not happy with the results that I have found. Otherwise then that awesome review and I really like your seat! Cruise on Cruiseman!
I took your advice got wing soft upgrade I use my bike for work on it up to 10 hours some days it helped a lot but I still have sore butt also with back problems. Thought this might help until you said it’s not waterproof I have to ride in rain a lot do not always have time to stop while on escort to cover up so it’s out. I bought a road sofa it was not much better than own not better than wing soft either thanks for all you videos
Our premium marine grade vinyl is completely waterproof. Also, we also use a mold prohibitor in our memory foam. Additionally, when rain appears suddenly - while you are riding - you are covering the stitch lines - so no issue there.
Cruseman. Update please. Are you still using the ultimate seat? How does it compare to the wing soft? Did you get the tall boy ultimate? I noticed that the stock seat has plastic under the cover. Does the ultimate retain that for water proofing the foam?
I left a comment about how the Wing Soft didn't solve all of my discomfort unfortunately I had to sell my 2018 Goldwing because of the seat. I loved the bike, but the seat was the deal breaker.
After much research, including your video review, we bought an Ultimate Tall Boy seat. After several thousand miles and many months we can still say we are very happy with the seat. I do have one question for you. When you mounted the passenger backrest on your bike did you notice any gap in the armrest fitting to the trunk lid. Ours has a little bit of play in it in that if you push straight down on the armrest from a standing position the armrest moves downward like it is not fully supported on the trunk lid. Did you happen to notice this? I have removed and remounted the backrest several times with no change in this issue. Thanks in advance for your help.
Cruiseman, I have noticed on your recent videos you no longer have the Ultimate seat on your bike and have gone back to the stock seat. Any reason why you have done that. I am thinking of ordering an Ultimate seat and was wondering why you did that. Thanks
Hello Chris After your review, I bought an Ultimate seat for my 2021 GW DCT Tour with Airbag. Before I buy, Ultimate told me their heated seat was exactly the same as the OEM one. Very happy with the comfort of both the seat and the driver backrest. However, after a while, I noticed that I lost the « start/stop » feature of the bike. After a few checks at the Honda dealer, I realized that the Ultimate seat was the reason(!) of this missing feature because it DOES NOT contain the DRIVER SENSOR used by the « start and stop » function. I can leave with that, but wonder if this driver sensor is used or not to arm or disarm the Airbag…much more problematic…!! Specially considering the price I paid for the seat and driver backrest only:1600€. The heated (I hope!) passenger backrest is not yet available due to the larger trunk of the 2021 model. I have a discussion open with Ultimate in order to know how they can solve this driver sensor issue, but no answer yet. Is this specific to the 2021 GW, or did you have other 2018+ customers raising this issue? Thank you for your feedback.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks Chris. Do you have other feedbacks from Ultimate seat owners about this issue? Do you have special relationship with Ultimate seat to question them about that? Thank you for your help.
Hello Chris, I just received the final answer regarding this issue with the ULTIMATE seat from Dave Frank, VP of operations. NO WAY to have the driver sensor installed as the OEM one, resulting in the definitive loss of the Start and Stop function of the GOLDWING 2021 (or any model having the Start and Stop function). I find odd that a company like ULTIMATE is misleading the prospects willing to buy a seat and saying their seats are 100% compatible with the OEM ones, especially at this price tag. I am surprised that other customers do not complain about that....
How come you don't have this seat on your goldwing anymore? I saw a new video released like 4 month ago where you went and met some dude on a red goldwing and he had the corbin fire and ice seat on his bike and when you went to your bike you had the wingsoft seat on. Why? Also any reviews on the fire and ice seat yet?
That’s actually relatively cheap for everything you received. I spent $1300 having a custom seat made. That wasn’t with a back rest or any of the extra bullshit you got with that seat. By the way there’s not a seat on the market that is water proof. If you want to try and waterproof their seat do what every other manufacturer does out there spray the sea with pledge it seals the stitching which is where the water goes through this is normal on every seat on the market not just theirs.
The one thing you did not mention in your video which I really thought you should have mention for a more in depth review did you think the ultimate seat was more comfortable and better than your remodeled seat from wing soft
Bought one for my 2022 non tour model and could not tell any difference between this seat and the original one. Sent it back and was refunded promptly. Please note that custom trims will not be refunded in all cases.
Chris, just got an ultimate seat in the mail and about to install it (26May22). My question is, did you end up keeping this seat? Or did you go back to the Wingsoft seat?
Matt, I went back to WingSoft only because one of my viewers really wanted my Ultimate seat, so I sold it to him. BUT, I kind of miss it. It was very comfortable and I loved the look.
Chris, the real question is, is the Ultimate still on your bike? i.e. did you like it enough to keep it/pay for it? Not sure how things work when a vendor sends you something cost free to test and review. Is it like, here ya go? Yours to keep? Or is it more like, "please review and if you want to keep it we'll give you a deep discount or just send it back?" I just put my order in for the seat (your review had a lot to do with it), I'm just curious as to whether this seat is now part of your setup. Just like the Garmin XT you reviewed, where I think you have now kept that as part of your setup because you liked it better than the original zumo you added to the bike. Again, just curious.
Looks like a bit complicated to remove the seat and passenger seat with the passenger backrest, I don’t have the tools for it and I believe i will brake it , can I order a new seat and passenger seat with the backrest from ultimate seat?
@cruisemansgarage thanks. If you have anymore comments, I am going to wait until next year to purchase. Looking at ultimate so I don't have to send my seat out.
another great video i understand the pricing.... i've had corbins on many bikes and you have to pay for quality HOWEVER..... NOT WATERPROOF..... that's ABSURD..... this is a motorcycle seat forget all those options.... give me a seat that won't ROT in the FLORIDA humidity, let alone rain horrible disappointing you are awesome... thanks for the education, as always
I would never buy a seat that isn't waterproof, I do too much long distance riding in all manner of weather. Dang shame because I like it otherwise, but wow is it expensive!
@@cruisemansgarage I guess the stitching is the key then. I had many aftermarket seats for my previous Harleys and they were all weather. I guess they were all one pc covers without stitching.
I have a Russel Day long seat that I got made in a waterproof material instead of leather. I know it is not waterproof in the true definition but if it is out in the rain, the padding underneath is not getting wet.
Hello my name is Jim. I’m looking at getting a new seat for my 2019 DCT tour. Have you heard anything about Hartco International custom seats? If you have could you please give me some feed back. Thank You!
For Canadian DCT Tour GoldWings that have the "Idle Stop" feature, forget about an Ultimate seat (or for that matter any aftermarket seat Like Corbin or Mustang ). The Canadian bikes have a rider sensor that senses a rider in the seat for safety reasons with the idle stop system. The aforementioned seat companies are not supporting seats for these bikes. Hopefully in the future.
@@leadfooty The company and seats are made in Daytona, Florida. You’re just looking at the website targeting the Canada market. . Since I posted my comment 9 months ago, Ultimate has posted a note on their website stating their seats will disable the “idle stop” function on Canadian bikes.
@@hr2pilot748 My seat definitely has a made in Canada sticker on it.. I called Ultimate in November about a new seat for my new bike and they said it would be made in Canada. Florida is just the show room
Great video, as always ... a few questions ... you mention that the backrest is 'fully adjustable', for us shorter folk can you clarify if it can adjust both up/down, as well as forward/backwards? And even more importantly, does this seat increase or decrease your leg reach to the ground? Thanks! Gary
Cruiseman have you ever heard of Hartco Internaional custom seats? If you have do you have a comment on them, likes or dislikes? They are kinda pricey, I have a 2019 DCT TOUR GOLD WING and it’s about $ 1500.
I couldn't agree more! You nailed all of the Pros and all of the Cons. I installed my Ultimate seat about three weeks ago and I've fallen in love with the Gold Wing all over again. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that the seat is SO much easier to install and remove is one of the best reasons to purchase it. The fact that it's beautiful and comfortable is just icing on the cake. I couldn't commit to sending off my seat pan for several days or weeks as the bike is my daily driver to/from work. Ultimate certainly checks all the check boxes for me!
OMG this seat is amazing! I don’t want to trash Corbins design, I love some Corbin products, however this Ultimate seat is on point! We bought the Corbin for the 2018 Goldwing and found it very disappointing driver especially, rider it was just ok. The Ultimate seat is fantastic they nailed it! Thank you for many more miles ! Lori Dunn
I bought an Ultimate seat for my '05 GW about 3 years ago, what an improvement. The rain cover was an extra and back rest were extra. I bought the standard black seat and passenger back rest which positions the passenger 15 degrees more upright that made my wife more comfortable. You need to be patient when putting the rain cover on as mine started to separate at the seam. I reinforced all the seams with Tenacious Tape. I have had a hip replacement that cuts into my saddle time comfort but I'm not ready to stop riding. If you are going to buy the Ultimate seat buy all the extras and save on extra shipping costs.
Cruiseman, I always wear a back brace when riding. It really helps especially when going over a bump or pothole.
Thanks for all the great videos!
I just sold my Corbin for my 2018 Goldwing, it was worse than the stock seat. I bought an Ultimate and it is really good. Very happy
Thank you, Steve!
TheUltimateSeats keep up the great work.
I had a corbin on my SuperTenere and it never did break in. I was disappointed that it did not offer me much comfort beyond the OEM seat. It was rock hard.
Corbin seats have never really worked for comfort. They are a cosmetic butt jewelry item. Russell Day Long saddles are the choice for many Iron Butt Riders and that is all the testimony I need.
@@rogervanoverbeek7105 I had a Corbin on my 2012 Goldwing and it was worse than the OEM seat. I'd never buy a Corbin again.
I've had a Ultimate seat on my 2012 for about 5 yrs. One of the first things I did was seal the stitching with boot water proofing. I've ridden in hard rain and had it parked at the motel in the rain over night without the cover and have never had a problem. I had about $1800.00 in mine also because of the options, but after 5 yrs I still think it was one of the best things I did to my wing.
Thank you for the tip using boot waterproofing. I just ordered the seat and will apply your technique once it arrives.
I keep mink oil on mine and has worked great for many years
When I purchased my 2018 used, this seat and backrest were already on it. I didn't realize it wasn't stock for a while. I was glad the previous owner did the upgrade. That really explains why I had no issues driving it home from Ohio where I purchased it, to Virginia..565 miles. I split it in 2 days because my wife was driving the car back. Love the setup.
Just traded my 2007 GL1800 for a 2020. I removed my Ultimate seat and it is for sale. I ride 10 hour days and lost OEM burn. I’m ordering another for the new bike. I spayed Camp Dry on all the seams. I ride in the rain continuously without rain covering the seats. I live in S. Florida. Inspecting my seat after removal, everything appeared as new as the day it was installed. I’m a very satisfied Ultimate customer.
Thanks, Ron.
I have purchased the Russel Day Long Saddle for the last three of my bikes. Russell Day Long is the choice of Iron Butt riders. Good enough for me.
Not waterproof is a deal killer. Thank you for the review, Chris. Excellent as always
I'm installing an Ultimate seat on my 3rd different bike now (2021 Goldwing). Don't let that scare you away. I've ridden in the rain many times with Ultimate seats. They don't get "water logged" and they don't remain wet for extended periods.
@volfan1nga does the 2018 seat fit on the 2021+ models? That way I just have to buy the passenger backrest when I upgrade
Just a heads up for some of your viewers...I've owned 2 previous bikes and installed Ultimate seats on them and just ordered my third seat for my new 2021 Goldwing...That little flap that covers where the driver's backrest goes in, if you double it over as in your video that little flap will develop some "memory" and eventually the Velcro will no longer keep it flat and neat. When you slide the driver backrest into the slot hold that flap out of the way until it is all the way in then release it. That will keep it nice and straight.
@ Criuseman Your review was right on. I have had them on many of my bikes .I personally love Ultimate seats mainly for the comfort and looks. My wife and I went on a 6,000 mile trip out west averaging 500 miles a day, and a couple of times 18-24 hours straight with no butt burn. This was on a 2008 Goldwing. I think we're close in height as I'm 6'3. I just bought a 2023 DCRT Tour, and ordered my favorite seats (Ultimate) and had to return them. They were so comfortable But they set my knees up too high and felt like my knees were gonna hit my chin. My knees were not comfortable, especially my right as I had surgery back in the spring. So needless to say I am searching for a seat. Thanks for all your videos, you have been a great help!!
i've had one on my 2005 GL1800 and every minute i'm on it the comfort increases as the seat breaks in, love it and so does the wife as she always complained about the OEM seat not being comfortable. Great video Cruiseman, lots of information. thanks for the vid....
Great review as always. Looks like a wonderful seat but since long distance is my thing, I wouldn't want to have to think about the rain cover every time the weather turned. After watching your review the Wingsoft rebuild, I rode out to College Station from Virginia and took the plunge. It made a world of difference.....very happy!
Thank you Cruiseman for this review. Ultimate started out making seats for the Valkyrie. I have a 2001 tourer and have had my Ultimate Seat for 15+ years now and it is still in excellent condition. There are days where I have logged 500-700 miles in the saddle with no complaints. Just picked up my 2019 Goldwing Tourer DCT and like the Valkyrie the OEM seat is horrible. After 90 minutes I ready to start walking. Your Pro-Con list is correct. The back rest is terrific, and I would not consider buying this seat without it. Yes, rain covers are needed, but only take a few minutes to put on. I used the rain covers and my Valkyrie seat is still in great condition. Yes, they are expensive, but if you plan on keeping you bike for many years and do some serious touring, the cost per year vs. the comfort you will enjoy more than justifies the expense. I will be ordering my Goldwing seat tomorrow.
Thanks, Steve. We appreciate it!
Another excellent video Cruiseman, I have been waiting for your mystery seat review and pleased that it was for Ultimate Seats, as I have been researching them for some time and waiting for their seat heat integration to the Honda OEM rider/passenger temperature control (which has taken some time). Thank you for creating these videos and I look forward to the next. Stay safe.
I owned an Ultimate King for my 2006 Wing, it was a good seat but it did not compare to the Russell Day-Long. I am an long distance rider. I put 350k on my 2000, 250k on my 2006 and have about 79k ion my 2009. The RDL seat has over 300k miles on it and is in great shape. It is covered in leather.
I never had a Russell Day Long and the important aspect of the Ultimate KING is it moves you back. I'm taller than John Cooper and weigh about the same. Never felt a need for anything else but an Ultimate since 2012.
I have three bikes, all with RDL saddles. Pricey, but worth it. I can ride all day on any of my bikes with very little "monkey butt". Tank to tank, for as much as 500 miles per day, no pain in the tush.
I bought an Ultimate seat for my GL1500 and I love it. I have had it 2 years and I am very pleased with my purchase.
First of all let me say that this is the best review of the of the Ultimate so far, I decided to go with the Ultimate seat for my 2018 Goldwing DCT. It is so much better than the stock seat. I did the Wingsoft upgrade which was a big improvement over the stock seat but I just wanted to go a step further and the Ultimate seat did that. After the Wingsoft upgrade I could manage to ride for about 300 miles but when I rode all day it started hurt and by the end of the day I was ready to get off. If it was a 300 mile day it worked, but more than that it was tough. I could only do about a 200 mile day on the stock seat before the upgrade. Now with the ultimate seat I can ride all day. Having to put on the rain cover is no problem I love the seat. Thank you Cruiseman for the review and thank you Ultimate for a great seat. Cruiseman stay blessed, stay safe and ride with pride.
Glad you are happy with your purchse.
another great review chris. have several riding buds that have had an ultimate said the same thing hard as a rock then it just went away n they would ride for hours..
I just installed the seat, driver backrest and Passenger backrest on my '19 DCT Tour. It went on way too easy. I took a ride around the block to get a feel for it and I am grateful for getting the Tallboy as I have a bit more leg room and it does not feel so wide around the upper thighs/crotch area. I had the heat turned on the seat to see if it worked, but I could not get a good feel for it. It is 106 degrees right now here in Gilbert, so hard to feel heat coming from the seat when there is more than enough heat around you. Will try the heat in early morning to see if it works. It is a pricey seat but not so much more that a Hartco/Diamond. I can tell the higher quality vinyl of this new seat compared to the stock seat.
I purchased a Ultimate seat for my 2000 GL 1500 several years ago. I struggle with pressure points and great discomfort on long rides. I bought the Ultimate seat to solve this issue; however, the seat failed to do that. The Ultimate seat was very well made and I like the looks of it on the Wing. I did receive a rain cover for the main seat and the passenger back rest. I have rode in some really heavy down pours with those seat covers installed and they worked well.I would recommend the Ultimate seat just on quality alone. I sold my 1500 last year and bought a 2012 GL 1800. I have purchased an air hawk now and trying it. Recently purchased your video’s to work on the 2012 myself. Thanks for the great informative video’s.
excellent review. few comments.....I have an Ultimate Seat for my VTX 1300 that I bought in 2006. It has allowed me to ride most of the day without the horrible pain the VTX stock seat gave me. It too a while to break in......months. It is not waterproof, so I used waterproofing polish for shoes on it. this has worked very well, tho it darkened the threads. I do believe it enhanced the looks of the bike, as it does on the Goldwing. I have had my 2019 GW Tour since Sept and have put just over 3,000 miles on it. I have tried riding without anything with extra padding and am able to do so, so far. for longer rides, I wear MotoSkiveez underwear which has extra padding built in and costs much less that a new seat......
I have always loved the GoldWing, have been a GoldWing rider for almost 40 years. I do not understand how anyone sing any sort of praise for a GoldWing that cost in the UK = to $42,000, then fork out almost $2,000 for a decent seat. To me it is a reflection of its overall quality
Very interesting ! What do you think about the CORBIN Seats ?
Great video Cruiseman. I had an Ultimate seat on my 13 Suzuki Boulevard C50C and I loved it. I'm going to do more research before I change out the seat on my 2020. I'll ride it for this year and see how I feel. I too am "boney" back there....maybe I should be doing more squats!?!? lol Ultimate does make a quality product! Thanks again!
Very concise review. Id like to add that they make a low seat, a regular seat & a 3rd for long legs. If you don't add custom design items your can get a seat w/ backrest for $ 945. Add $ 300 for heat. That is a cost comparable with other brands. They have a big following with Indian & Victory owners.
FYI, there is a waterproofing spray that people use for waterproofing the seams of their tents. Maybe that would work on the seat.
Sat on a friend's HD that had an ultimate seat. He was bragging about how much it cost and how comfortable it was. He offered me to try it out and my first impression was it was hard as a rock. But I just humored him.
Never used the rain covers on my 09. Seat has been in plenty of rain without any problems. 800 and 900+ mile days. 6’5”, 36” inseam, Ultimate King was the only seat for me.
Headed out right now to put it on
" Val"kyrie Freya! Thanks & Safe riding C-Man!
That is a beautiful seat! The first thing I thought of was, what about rain. (It's got a cover) Ok, what about riding in the rain. (Sit on the cover) Ok, what about that passenger back rest. (bingo - no cover - that's a problem) As much as I like the way it looks, I don't think I could drop that kind of coin on it, even if it's super comfortable.
Hi Hogdriver88,
Any aftermarket seat that has stitching is not waterproof. All of the aftermarket manufacturers sell rain covers. However, ours are the only ones that are custom fit for each seat we offer - and less like a shower cap (universal fit).
Additionally on the passenger backrest - it’s not required as the passenger backrest is vertical and water isn’t able to pull on it. We only offer the raincover for the driver backrest so that it keeps the items in the driver backrest pouch protected from rain.
@@TheUltimateSeats is the seat he’s reviewing a standard or Tallboy?
Thank you so much for your invaluable information, highly appreciate it, keep it up the outstanding job, have a great day.
Thanks for the timely review Chris. On my 08 Goldwing I had a Hartco custom seat on it and absolutely loved it, it changed the whole bike, now on my 2018 Goldwing the stock seat is worse than prior years stock seats, so I've been looking at all options on replacing the seat,the Ultimate seat has a few mixed reviews and after talking to another seat manufacturer said the ultimate seats foam will compress over time and cause back pains to come back, being that came from another manufacturer I'd take that with a grain of salt. I decided to go with the Russel day long, rebuild my production date is in June so till then I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that this was the right decision
Good to do research, but not sure I would rely on a competitor's opinion of the Ultimate seat. Better to talk to those who have owned/ridden on them.
love the ultimate review...been waiting for it for a long time!
It is a beautiful, comfortable seat.
I wash my bike quite often, the seat not being waterproof is a deal breaker for me. I have no issues with the OEM seat it’s good enough for me. Nice video though Cruiseman
Hi Allen,
Washing isn't an issue - it's only when water is allowed to pool in the stitch lines. Our premium marine grade vinyl is completely waterproof.
Beautiful seat. It looks very well made. I have heard very good things about Ultimate Seats.
Dear Cruisman!
Wonderful, perfect video.
Thanks for interesting information. All the best from Bavaria Germany.
Thanks for a great review Cruiseman. I may have to try this seat.
Thanks for anther great review. I especially like the way you separate the objective and the subjective observations. Many riders are surprised that a firmer seat can be more comfortable than softer seat.
A friend of mine thoroughly enjoys his Ultimate seat on his Indian. I agree the workmanship is top notch. I've always been afraid to buy a custom seat. You don't really know if you'll like it until you've put a few thousand miles on it. All seats have a break in period. I've always been afraid of spending big money then not liking it more than the stock seat. An Airhawk is relatively inexpensive and easily goes into you side bags or trunk. Take it off put it on adjust the air. Giving your butt some options on the long haul helps keep those pressure points from getting to cranky.
I think Ultimate does offer a "trial period" where you can return the seat if you are not satisfied.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks, Cruiseman - yes - we have a 14 day trial period for our seats that we stock. We know it's a big investment and we want you to be happy.
Thanks for the review. I have a 2019 Tour and do not have 4K miles on it yet and the stock seat already has a small split in the seam. Yes I will have it replaced via warranty, bit I do not want to have to do this every 4K miles of my 7 yr warrant. I have had other custom seats on a '97 and a '10 GW and they were in the $12-13K range and that was 8 yrs ago. So to me, the Price is not a con to me. I will investigate and decide if this is for me. I like John below, ride my bike daily and also take -2 week tours each year so the cost is OK in relation to the time I spend on it.
I didn't like the look of the new Goldwing until I saw it with the Ultimate Seat. It looks beautiful. I've had the Ultimate Seat on my past 1500 and my present 1800. In both cases I was fortunate to get deals on eBay. Love it!. I wouldn't ride a bike without it.
Thanks - we appreciate it!
I have been waiting a long time for you to review your new seat. It sounds like you like your ultimate seat. I was surprised at the cost. I decided in getting the Russell Day-Long seat from everything I have read. I had Bike Solutions modify my seat. However it still isn't comfortable enough unless I use an AirHawk pad with it. I am hoping the Russell seat will work. Will comment after my seat comes back from Russell and ridden a bit.
Here is my update on the RDL seat. I put on 6k miles on it. After 6k I didn't feel the seat was comfortable for me. I am use to cushy cruiser seats. So what did I do? I ending up getting some moto-skiveez shorts, a gel pad from Walmart, and I still have my Airhawk. I really like the look of the seat and the workmanship was impeccable. The seat height was no problem at all. I decided on a whim (since Russell does adjustments) to call Russell and see if anything could be done about the comfort of the seat. The builder of my seat was Cole who was my size 5'9" and he was 10lbs lighter than me at 150 lbs. I asked him if anything could be done to make the seat more comfortable. He said he could make it better as part of their guarantee. I spent the $100 and shipped it back to them. I got the seat back about 2 weeks later shipped and paid for by Russell. I did a short ride that day about 20 miles. I found the wings on the seat to be smaller and a bit softer, but not as soft as I wanted. The next day I did a ride about 165 miles with a lot of twisties. The seat was incredible in the twisties. I felt like I was part of the bike. No slipping or movements at all! I was totally impressed. The seat is still not as soft as I like. I will wear the gel shorts because I really don't think they can make it any softer. I am OK with that. It hurts having a boney butt. If you are use to a cushy seat then the RDL may be too stiff for you. Since these seats are expensive and I can't just drop 1k + on every seat, I wish there was a way of trying out these seats before purchasing them. In the meantime, I am happy with my RDL seat. As a side note I sat on a bike with a Ultimate seat. It felt stiff as a board. Cruiseman, can you elaborate a bit more why your Ultimate seat was comfortable for you?
I am on my 2nd Ultimate KING Seat for my 2012 Wing. My former 2004 Wing had the seat for 75,ooo miles. It really is the Ultimate seat, Service and Quality
Thank you, Russell!
Nailed it cruisman have 2012 goldwing with ultimate seat black with red inlay and back rest with heat top notch quality very comfortable 50k miles ride all day no problem also have 2018 goldwing stock seat 45 minutes have to stop and get off just installed ultimate seat full in lay drivers back rest with heat hope it’s as comfortable as my 2012 wing also had Yamaha Roadstar with mustang seat back rest did not like and changed to ultimate seat with back rest and loved it not sure how they make so comfortable and the back rest is in the perfect spot can’t be happier with ultimate seats never used the rain cover though I just spray on the Honda polish on them seams to seal them up a bit have not tried it I have heard some people used the water proofing spray that you put on a camping tent to seal them up
Thanks silveredition921
Ultimate seats is it okay to spray the seat down with water repellent
And another question is why don't you make the seat water resistant or waterproof I know in today's times as possible
Hi Cruiseman:::it would be nice if you compare the ULTIMATE seat vs the Russel Day Long !!! I’m in the same market for a seat and money wise their very close.
Wild Bill
Id have to say the only thing that would keep me from buying this seat is its not waterproof. For that type of money, It really should be. Great review as always cruise man. U r the best.
As I have said previously, I am not aware of a custom seat that's waterproof. If the seat has stitching, then water can get through.
Cruiseman's Garage Great point. The oem seat does not state whether or not rain will damage it?
Very thorough and valuable review
Hi cruiseman great job and a very nice informative video. How does the ultimate seat compares to the wing soft mod. seat in turns of comfort? It kind of look like the comfort level is close to the same 2hrs. plus riding time for the seats. $500.00 vs $1800
The look is stunning and the easy install/removal is a big plus. Did I see a pocket on the back of the riders backrest? I’ve always wanted that. But it’s the extended, uninterrupted riding time that interests me the most. I really feel the pain sitting on my 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT stock seat after 45 minutes or so. Thanks for the really informed review Cruiseman.
Don Smith yes. My wife likes that little pockets for her glasses and such.
Rickee keeps her tissues (women) and a small digital camera in that pocket!
I use a ¨Purple¨ sport seat with handles. I loop the seat handle on the driver's seat backrest base
. Cheaper than a new seat
This video has been up for three months now. The biggest pre-sales complaint is the waterproof issue. For those of you that own the Ultimate, is the lack of waterproofing an issue?
I just ordered the Ultimate Seat for my 2018 Tour. Hope I’m more comfortable on it versus the stock seat.
I know this is old, but tell us the difference in the Ultimate and the Wing Soft. I have 3 bikes with Ultimate seats and I agree they are the best.
Did the seat height change for the driver. Looks like a bit more for the passenger.
I have one these on my Harley put about 60k on it. Max ride was I did was 900 miles in one day. Probably be even better on this bike. My next bike purchase .
Thank you, Cruiseman, for another excellent review. Two quick questions. Was the Ultimate significantly higher or wider than stock? Also, how would you compare it to your Wingsoft modified seat? I know the Ultimate is much better than OEM, but what is your subjective opinion of the seat compared to the Wingsoft you already use. Which would you select if you had a long trip? Thanks again.
Not higher, but a bit wider. I would say from a comfort standpoint, they were pretty close for me. But then again, I can only ride for a couple of hours anyway because of my back before having to get off and stretch my legs.
@@cruisemansgarage did you go with the mid-rider or tall boy?
The best part of this seat is the driver backrest, awesome design compared to Corbin and others.
Agree.
Have you or are you going to compared the Russel Day Long seat?
How about a Russell Day-Long seat? Can you compare Ultimate with them?
It looks like a great seat but I'm not sure I would spend the kind of money they're asking for it. Like everything else the cost of adding anything is just overpriced in my opinion.
Clifton Howard there actually one of the cheaper seat companies on the market as far as price goes. By far the most comfortable seat I’ve ever put on my bike I’ve tried Corbin, mustang, LD seat company and bitchin seats. Not to mention they’re one of the only companies out there that will let you test their seat for 14 days if you don’t like it you can send it back. Most companies as soon as you bolted to your bike it’s yours No returns.
As much as I would have liked to installed, I balked at the Ultimate seat for my 2014 GW - $1,700+ and not waterproof? After installing the Utopia backrest on the stock seat and knowing water must be getting into the foam due to routine washing and rain, I have yet to notice any visible or functional deterioration.
Personally, if I can ride an entire day, taking time for rest stops every 2 hours, I'll do without an Ultimate or Russell and put that money towards Traxxion Dynamics suspension or other upgrades. Still, I understand we're talking about the 2018+ model, which is reported as being far less comfortable than the previous model.
I wonder if this 'Ultimate' lowers the center of gravity. I could go with an inch lower.
The pros seemed too good to be true. Once you got in to the cons, I don't want anything to do with it lol. Thank you for the video.
If clothing stitch lines are taped waterproof why not seats?
Agreed. My Aerostich Darien's seams are *all* taped, and the suit is claimed to be waterproof. Perhaps they're concerned about the seam tape failing, what with the constant abrasion from the seat foam?
I bought my Ultimate seat at Wing Ding for my 2018 Tour. I have heated seats, but I have to use a remote to turn it on. What am I missing?
Dan Gray you purchased the seat too soon. The new seat is integrated with the OEM controls.
The non waterproof would be a great concern up north. We do have a lot of rain. Kind of surprising they have not thought of that for the price tag
Hi Bernard,
Any aftermarket seat that has stitching is not waterproof. All of the aftermarket manufacturers sell rain covers. However, ours are the only ones that are custom fit for each seat we offer - and less like a shower cap (universal fit).
@@TheUltimateSeats So is washing the bike a concern in regards to getting the seat wet? I mean how much water can the seat take before saturation causes a problem? Can you get some water on it?
@@TheUltimateSeats do you retain/add the waterproof plastic under the cover like the OEM to protect the foam from water saturation? Or can you just install the rain cover between the inner foam and outside cover to prevent foam from soaking up water. Stitches can absorb some water that’s fine if you have some water stripes on pants but lots of water soaking into foam can be a long lasting problem... also waterproof tape under cover on the seams could be an option. Just thinking out of the box.
I would like to how the Ultimate seat compares to the Russell day long, I have been using the Russell day long on my Honda ST1300 and I rode 1530 miles miles in 21 i/2 hours for the Burner Gold from the Ironbutt Association. I stop for gas every 280 miles. when I arrived in Norman OK, I didn't have a sore butt but my neck and shoulders were very stiff.
My stock seat ripped on on my 2018 on the seam behind the butt. Getting a new one via extended warranty. Mine was modified by WingSoft and i really liked it, but thought i might get an aftermarket seat instead of upgrading my new seat again by WingSoft. Is there a brand you would recommend? I know you liked the Ultimate.
How would you compare it to a RDL? It takes a lot of thought to spend $1600, I need several peoples opinion.
I was going to purchase a RDL but several people stated you have to lean forward to plant your feet on the ground & I’m already vertically challenged on this bike with the stock seat. Those that purchased to RDL seem to love it.
Are there any products out there to help prevent water entering through the stitches or the material? I went online and not happy with the results that I have found.
Otherwise then that awesome review and I really like your seat! Cruise on Cruiseman!
I took your advice got wing soft upgrade I use my bike for work on it up to 10 hours some days it helped a lot but I still have sore butt also with back problems. Thought this might help until you said it’s not waterproof I have to ride in rain a lot do not always have time to stop while on escort to cover up so it’s out. I bought a road sofa it was not much better than own not better than wing soft either thanks for all you videos
Our premium marine grade vinyl is completely waterproof. Also, we also use a mold prohibitor in our memory foam. Additionally, when rain appears suddenly - while you are riding - you are covering the stitch lines - so no issue there.
cruiseman do you prefer the wingsoft seat you have rebuilt or the ultimate seat when riding your 2018 goldwing
Cruseman. Update please. Are you still using the ultimate seat? How does it compare to the wing soft? Did you get the tall boy ultimate? I noticed that the stock seat has plastic under the cover. Does the ultimate retain that for water proofing the foam?
I left a comment about how the Wing Soft didn't solve all of my discomfort unfortunately I had to sell my 2018 Goldwing because of the seat. I loved the bike, but the seat was the deal breaker.
After much research, including your video review, we bought an Ultimate Tall Boy seat. After several thousand miles and many months we can still say we are very happy with the seat. I do have one question for you. When you mounted the passenger backrest on your bike did you notice any gap in the armrest fitting to the trunk lid. Ours has a little bit of play in it in that if you push straight down on the armrest from a standing position the armrest moves downward like it is not fully supported on the trunk lid. Did you happen to notice this? I have removed and remounted the backrest several times with no change in this issue. Thanks in advance for your help.
I wonder if there is any rain proofing products out there you can purchase and apply like they have for tent seams?
You can absolutely do that.
Chris, would like to hear your thoughts on the Corbin Saddle for the 2018+
Cruiseman, I have noticed on your recent videos you no longer have the Ultimate seat on your bike and have gone back to the stock seat. Any reason why you have done that. I am thinking of ordering an Ultimate seat and was wondering why you did that. Thanks
Chris, are you still riding with this seat? How do you like it thus far? Thank you.
Hey Chris, do you still have this seat on your Goldwing? Tnx for great channel.
I do not. I sold it to a viewer who really wanted it for his bike.
I can tippy toe when I’m on the Goldwing. Does this seat give more clearance for shorter rider?
Hello Chris
After your review, I bought an Ultimate seat for my 2021 GW DCT Tour with Airbag.
Before I buy, Ultimate told me their heated seat was exactly the same as the OEM one.
Very happy with the comfort of both the seat and the driver backrest.
However, after a while, I noticed that I lost the « start/stop » feature of the bike.
After a few checks at the Honda dealer, I realized that the Ultimate seat was the reason(!) of this missing feature because it DOES NOT contain the DRIVER SENSOR used by the « start and stop » function.
I can leave with that, but wonder if this driver sensor is used or not to arm or disarm the Airbag…much more problematic…!!
Specially considering the price I paid for the seat and driver backrest only:1600€.
The heated (I hope!) passenger backrest is not yet available due to the larger trunk of the 2021 model.
I have a discussion open with Ultimate in order to know how they can solve this driver sensor issue, but no answer yet.
Is this specific to the 2021 GW, or did you have other 2018+ customers raising this issue?
Thank you for your feedback.
THAT is a VERY good question and one that needs to be dealt with.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks Chris. Do you have other feedbacks from Ultimate seat owners about this issue?
Do you have special relationship with Ultimate seat to question them about that?
Thank you for your help.
@@alainfloutier6466 I do not have a special relationship, but I do have a contact and will reach out to see what they have to say about it.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks Chris :):)
Hello Chris, I just received the final answer regarding this issue with the ULTIMATE seat from Dave Frank, VP of operations. NO WAY to have the driver sensor installed as the OEM one, resulting in the definitive loss of the Start and Stop function of the GOLDWING 2021 (or any model having the Start and Stop function). I find odd that a company like ULTIMATE is misleading the prospects willing to buy a seat and saying their seats are 100% compatible with the OEM ones, especially at this price tag. I am surprised that other customers do not complain about that....
How come you don't have this seat on your goldwing anymore? I saw a new video released like 4 month ago where you went and met some dude on a red goldwing and he had the corbin fire and ice seat on his bike and when you went to your bike you had the wingsoft seat on. Why?
Also any reviews on the fire and ice seat yet?
That’s actually relatively cheap for everything you received. I spent $1300 having a custom seat made. That wasn’t with a back rest or any of the extra bullshit you got with that seat. By the way there’s not a seat on the market that is water proof. If you want to try and waterproof their seat do what every other manufacturer does out there spray the sea with pledge it seals the stitching which is where the water goes through this is normal on every seat on the market not just theirs.
Chris, you first had your stock seat modified by WingSoft. How did that modified seat compare to the Ultimate?
The one thing you did not mention in your video which I really thought you should have mention for a more in depth review did you think the ultimate seat was more comfortable and better than your remodeled seat from wing soft
Bought one for my 2022 non tour model and could not tell any difference between this seat and the original one. Sent it back and was refunded promptly. Please note that custom trims will not be refunded in all cases.
Chris, just got an ultimate seat in the mail and about to install it (26May22). My question is, did you end up keeping this seat? Or did you go back to the Wingsoft seat?
Matt, I went back to WingSoft only because one of my viewers really wanted my Ultimate seat, so I sold it to him. BUT, I kind of miss it. It was very comfortable and I loved the look.
What do you think about Russell daylong vs altamat seat
Chris, the real question is, is the Ultimate still on your bike? i.e. did you like it enough to keep it/pay for it? Not sure how things work when a vendor sends you something cost free to test and review. Is it like, here ya go? Yours to keep? Or is it more like, "please review and if you want to keep it we'll give you a deep discount or just send it back?" I just put my order in for the seat (your review had a lot to do with it), I'm just curious as to whether this seat is now part of your setup. Just like the Garmin XT you reviewed, where I think you have now kept that as part of your setup because you liked it better than the original zumo you added to the bike. Again, just curious.
Looks like a bit complicated to remove the seat and passenger seat with the passenger backrest, I don’t have the tools for it and I believe i will brake it , can I order a new seat and passenger seat with the backrest from ultimate seat?
You have reviewed all the seats, wing soft , day and ultimate. Which is best for you?
I am back on Wingsoft right now. The Ultimate was better looking but comfort about the same, for me. I have not tried the Day Long.
@cruisemansgarage thanks. If you have anymore comments, I am going to wait until next year to purchase. Looking at ultimate so I don't have to send my seat out.
another great video
i understand the pricing.... i've had corbins on many bikes and you have to pay for quality
HOWEVER..... NOT WATERPROOF..... that's ABSURD..... this is a motorcycle seat
forget all those options.... give me a seat that won't ROT in the FLORIDA humidity, let alone rain
horrible disappointing
you are awesome... thanks for the education, as always
I would never buy a seat that isn't waterproof, I do too much long distance riding in all manner of weather. Dang shame because I like it otherwise, but wow is it expensive!
I am not aware of any custom seat that is "waterproof". If they have stitching, water can get through. That's why they all come with rain covers.
@@cruisemansgarage I guess the stitching is the key then. I had many aftermarket seats for my previous Harleys and they were all weather. I guess they were all one pc covers without stitching.
I have a Russel Day long seat that I got made in a waterproof material instead of leather. I know it is not waterproof in the true definition but if it is out in the rain, the padding underneath is not getting wet.
Hello my name is Jim. I’m looking at getting a new seat for my 2019 DCT tour. Have you heard anything about Hartco International custom seats? If you have could you please give me some feed back. Thank You!
For Canadian DCT Tour GoldWings that have the "Idle Stop" feature, forget about an Ultimate seat (or for that matter any aftermarket seat Like Corbin or Mustang ). The Canadian bikes have a rider sensor that senses a rider in the seat for safety reasons with the idle stop system. The aforementioned seat companies are not supporting seats for these bikes. Hopefully in the future.
That's interesting because the Ultimate Seat is made in Canada.
@@leadfooty The company and seats are made in Daytona, Florida. You’re just looking at the website targeting the Canada market. . Since I posted my comment 9 months ago, Ultimate has posted a note on their website stating their seats will disable the “idle stop” function on Canadian bikes.
@@hr2pilot748 My seat definitely has a made in Canada sticker on it.. I called Ultimate in November about a new seat for my new bike and they said it would be made in Canada. Florida is just the show room
@@leadfooty Very interesting…did not know that. Sorry for the misinformation then.
why don't you just review the comfort, style and rideabilry firsrt? then I can decide if I want to see how to install?
How can I get in touch with Ultimate Seat people?
Great video, as always ... a few questions ... you mention that the backrest is 'fully adjustable', for us shorter folk can you clarify if it can adjust both up/down, as well as forward/backwards? And even more importantly, does this seat increase or decrease your leg reach to the ground? Thanks! Gary
Yes, it can
Hi Gary,
The adjustment is really only forward and back over 2." It's not meant to be height adjustable.
Cruise man what is your first name I noticed they keep calling you Chris
Cruiseman have you ever heard of Hartco Internaional custom seats? If you have do you have a comment on them, likes or dislikes? They are kinda pricey, I have a 2019 DCT TOUR GOLD WING and it’s about $ 1500.