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[ltank]

I was considering installing  a Gel insert on my seat myself. Sadleman, Comformax, Ultragel etc. I looked untill I just don't know what's best pick. I can get rivets with large heads to prevent tearing from Mustang for my Mustang seat. Anyone have a DIY seat project?  We're the results worth the time and money spent? What is the best internal pad for comfort and durability?  Do I need foam on top of the gel?
Thanks

[HOGMIKE]

I was considering installing  a Gel insert on my seat myself. Sadleman, Comformax, Ultragel etc. I looked untill I just don't know what's best pick. I can get rivets with large heads to prevent tearing from Mustang for my Mustang seat. Anyone have a DIY seat project?  We're the results worth the time and money spent? What is the best internal pad for comfort and durability?  Do I need foam on top of the gel?
Thanks

Local seat guy prefers memory foam over gel for his seat upgrades. He has good feedback from customers who have had both.
My buddy is in the process to mod his SG seat this way and it will be interesting to see his results.
I may do that to my spare seat soon.
 

[Ironhorse]

I have had gel inserts on seats before. My findings are that the negatives outweigh the positives.

Positive - Comfort

Negatives - When parked in the summer sun the gel gets HOT and can fry you! You should cover the seat with at least one or two towels to shield it from the sun. When riding across the desert the heat from the engine under the frame can heat the gel. To combat both of these issues I used a lambskin seat cover.

When parked overnight in cold temperatures the gel can become hard and cold, like one of those blue ice packs you keep in your freezer. A heated seat pad will help defrost it. Once again the lambskin seat cover works well for this.

I decided NOT to have gel on my latest seat, your milage may vary.

Mark

[akodust]

I got the "Air Hawk" Cruiser Large 18" by 14", with my new bike...You have to blow air into it. I am getting use to it. I am having a problem securing it to the seat when I get on and off. The ride is comfortable if you got the right amount of air in it. 

[ltank]

I think I have a plan. Dig out some foam to bury the Gel. Then put medium foam over everything and top it off with  a smoothing foam to cover any imperfections. This would prevent the gel from getting hot in summer and hard in winter. Thing is not to bury it too deep in foam and layers on top to prevent the gel from having any effect. There are alot of helpful sites online.
I will post pics and give a report of test Ride. Normally I hurt after 300 miles  or 2 fuel stops without any other breaks. Last year I Rode  800 miles  In a day. I will be 61 in a few months.  I am adding floorboards too!

[davidw221]

The majority of gel we hear about is an flat pad of sticky gel from 3/8 to 3/4 thick inserted right under the seat cover. Flat gels where designed to simulate body fat for wheel chair seating. You may see other column gels ie Soft bottoms, all of them have 1 inch square or larger columns.  Intelligel has columns 3 times smaller then other gels. Smaller columns provide the right amount of support and a  controlled collapse and rebound rate. Intelligel is very effective at dampening vibration. Then –  Foams, urethane, open cell , closed cell or memory foams are single hardness foam. All memory foams , except Sunmate, as fas as I know currently, are very temperature sensitive. Very hard when cold and very soft when hot.  Laminated Sunmate is a mix of seating quality foams. Starting firmer near the gel and getting progressively softer as the foam nears the rider. This allows your weight to be spread over a greater area than other foams.

[warnold78]

I have the air hawk medium on my 2014 road king, Put 1600 miles on it the week before last and no issues. Comfortable ride as stated above if you have the right amount of air in it. I do not have any issues keeping it on,  I can not unattached from the straps and reattach with our removing the seat. Overall for comfort as good choice for a seat cushion.

[D-N-D]

Air Hawk works well for long Rides.

[donald p]

H-D part# 51076 seat pad works great, your behind will not sweat or itch. 940 miles in one day.

[CVODON]

I have had a couple bikes with PRO-PAD gel inserts. They both were installed by Pro-Pad guys @ bike events. They scraped out the shape of the insert in both rider and passenger sections of the seats, installed the gel pads then coverd with foam. In over 60K on those two bikes, and I live in Florida, I NEVER experienced the hot gel situation described in posts above. Never covered a seat in the sun and I liked the gel and would have it again but I now have the suspension HD seat on new bike and it is pretty good as is. I am not a long distance guy but have done lots of 500 mile + days with gel and we like it.

[popsracing]

X3 on the Air Hawk cushion...works awesome for me and is adjustable...The mistake people make with these is using too much air...Start low and work your way up.

[Jswerve]

X3 on the Air Hawk cushion...works awesome for me and is adjustable...The mistake people make with these is using too much air...Start low and work your way up.

Hated that thing. Rode 650 miles with it and tried all kinds of settings made my butt burn. Not to mention you have to hide it every time you stop. Promptly returned it for a refund when I got home. Never again.

[Para Bellum]

X4 on the Air Hawk.  Can ride all day (600 miles) with it, compared to 200 without.  I weigh 195, and it requires almost no air.  That's the most important thing--very little air.  My BSR uses hers all the time.

I think I have a plan. Dig out some foam to bury the Gel. Then put medium foam over everything

I installed an Air Hawk cushion this way on my '08.  Can ride twice as far now.

Tried the gel pad with sheepskin cover.  Feels great to the hand, but not to the butt.

[Jswerve]

X4 on the Air Hawk.  Can ride all day (600 miles) with it, compared to 200 without.  I weigh 195, and it requires almost no air.  That's the most important thing--very little air.  My BSR uses hers all the time.
I installed an Air Hawk cushion this way on my '08.  Can ride twice as far now.

Tried the gel pad with sheepskin cover.  Feels great to the hand, but not to the butt.

Glad it worked for you. I hated it. No air, little air, didn't matter. I had memory foam installed in my seat I'm doing 650 mile days and way more comfy then I ever was with that rubber whoopy cushion.

Rubber side down.

Jesse

[Gnarl78]

H-D part# 51076 seat pad works great, your behind will not sweat or itch. 940 miles in one day.

+1, that's what helped me do an IronButt ride last year.