What size Airhawk Seat?

Hi.

I have been reading a lot of threads about sore bums and backs following long distance riding, and I would like to know if anyone has fitted an Airhawk Seat pad to their SV.

I am hoping to do some middle distance touring round Scotland next year, but at the moment anything over 70 miles on my SV650S K3 is getting just too painful to be fun. I have looked at some of the other alternatives like Corbin and Bagsters, which all look very nice but very expensive. I have also looked at the Suzuki Gel Seat, but I just don't trust the guy at Suzuki in Milton Keynes as I think he is talking s***. He is convinced the Gel Seat for the K4 fits the K3, but everything I have read so far says they are not the same. I fancy the look of the Airhawk and a mate's brother says they are highly recommended.

If anyone has bought an Airhawk, what size and type did you get, where did you get it, what did you pay and what is it like. From the description it seems easy to fit, but I am not sure if it stays permanently on the bike or if you have to remove it every time you get off. If any of you have any other information on the Airhawk, I'd be very keen to hear it.

Thanks for the help.

Ride Safe (and comfortably)

Stradders.

Yeah get one! I got the small version for sports bikes, I used to take it on and off after a long journey, but these days I just leave it on. Never falls off, and it makes a HUGE difference to your comfort and hence endurance. The trick is to not overfill it with air, keep it nice and squidgey. They do lift you off the seat a little but this helps your knees too. Hugely helpful and you can keep it if you sell the bike.
There is no real alternative and you won't regret it. Cost around £100 tho

[JamesMio]

Where did you get one for £100? The only ones I've seen so far have been more like £160.

Skidmarx.

Thanks for the info. £100 sounds either very good value for a neoprene seat or very expensive for a plastic one.

Stradders

I got the suzuki gel seat from usa, for £88 quid delivered for my K7. Makes a world of difference, and to be honest someone could nick your airhawk one if you left it on the bike, is it not just strapped on? Seems like a hell of a hassle to take on and off too.

Phone another suzuki dealer for confirmation on the model that will fit yours, and if it doesn't, send it back.

I've had mine quite a while now, I got the neoprene version which probably did cost a bit more than 100 come to think if it, can't remember! Anyway you can unclip it easily if you wanna take it off, you wouldn't wanna leave it on overnight but I've never had any problems, and don't forget you can keep it if you sell your bike and get another!

[Littlepeahead]

I bought my husband the neoprene one for his BMW Dakar and he loves it - though my workmates did think I'd bought him a really fancy whoopee cushion for his birthday. He managed to lose one strap within a week, but the other holds it on OK. He does take it off every time he stops as it would be easy to steal. I have a custom seat on my SV which includes a gel pad, and that seems to stop me getting any numbness - or maybe it's just the cellulite.

As a cheap trial solution you could try wearing a pair of "cycle shorts" with either a light insert or gel insert or for winter use long pants that also give you the added benifit of wind resistance, the latter being my own choice for old bones. Aldi on occassion do a "cycling week" and are very cheap to try?
JOHN