??? For those who have added the Elka Shocks and Custom Seats

[saint999]

For those of you who have a custom seat and the Elka shocks. I am trying to prioritize and budget some upgrades for my RT Limited. I would like to replace the seat and go with the Elka shocks. Which would be your first priority to replace if you had to do one at a time?

[Fonz]

For those of you who have a custom seat and the Elka shocks. I am trying to prioritize and budget some upgrades for my RT Limited. I would like to replace the seat and go with the Elka shocks. Which would be your first priority to replace if you had to do one at a time?

Elkas, love the ride, and they make a big difference

[KCPete]

I've done both (Corbin seat and Elkas) and I think the order would depend on how you're ryding the most. I got the seat first, and followed up with the Elkas a couple weeks before Spyderfest last April. I was actually commuting 110 miles one way to a job for a couple months, and the heated seat was great on a few 25 degree mornings!! My commute was all interstate, and after I got the Elkas, I couldn't believe the difference in stability and handling...especially when getting buffeted behind a semi at 80 mph.
So, IMHO, if you do a lot of twisties more than highway, get the shocks and invest in a butt pad (AlaskaLeather.com) until you can swing the seat....if comfort is more important, and 'performance' handling can wait...set your factory shocks up to 5 and order the seat! Even with the Corbin, we picked up the butt pads from Alaskan Leather, just to give some extra ventilation if nothing else...and we love 'em!

Good Luck!

Pete

[NancysToy]

Depends on whether or not your butt hurts.

[Ride Master]

For those of you who have a custom seat and the Elka shocks. I am trying to prioritize and budget some upgrades for my RT Limited. I would like to replace the seat and go with the Elka shocks. Which would be your first priority to replace if you had to do one at a time?

If your Huevos Hurt, Get the seat and adjust your factory shocks to #5...........they are set at #3 from the factory....setting is adjustable from 1 to 5

This will help a lot until you can order the elka's. In the meantime you can start breaking in your seat. Sorry elka, it's a no brainer when the Huevos are concerned.

If your Huevos are ok...Get the elka's your twisties were never so fun.

Ride Master

[murphybrown]

Corbin...butt didn't hurt but got dang tired of having to unload my dry bag to fuel up with stock seat when traveling long distances....several months later at Spyderfest got the Elkas. Absolutely love both...

[Netminder]

Elkas defenitely change the ride, just had them installed a SITA last week. That would be my first mod and it improves the ride immensly!

[saint999]

Thanks all for your replies, just to provide some additional info as I think about what you replied. The Huevos/Butt can get sore but I am a little use to that from years of riding although it gets harder with age. Thank goodness no kids in my future.
The instability of steering at 65+ is a little unsettling. At times can be a lot unsettling and the mind wants to slow it way down because of trust. We are windy here in NC so add speed, wind, 18 wheelers and twisty at 70 can be a lil scary. I had my shocks set to 4 the min I bought the bike cause of this forum and it made a difference on curvy roads but thinking it may not be enough for highway. With all that said, What would you do?
Thanks for all your great help
Joe

[vrodrjs]

I just rode 200 miles down to Cowtown and then 200 miles back home with the elkas on. Hugh difference in the wind and thru the curves. I would get the elkas first.

[pro10is]

For comfort go with the seat, for performance go with the Elkas. Only you can prioritize what needs to be done first.

[soaring hawk]

Elkas, a no brainier safety and a great handling bike before comfort!

[dick574]

I got the Elkas at Spyderfest. Then the Ultimate seat. Both are great. But for me, I think the order was correct.

[SteveMac]

Elkas. Especially if you have unsettling feeling at 65+ mph as you described. See sponsor http://www.spyderelkadirect.com

[bo9roadking]

I have the Kontour Seat and Elkas. I love both, but I'd go with the Elkas first. You can always make temporary adjustments with your seat situation through periodic stops to stretch the legs or purchase some beads, a cushion, or a sheepskin cover to make due for a while.

It is hard to "fix" the uneasy feeling you get when you take a corner hard and the spyder feels like it is wallowing through or you get passed by an 18 wheeler or hit with a gust of wind and the spyder feels like it is not going to hold the line even with the shocks at their highest setting.

[bluestratos]

What year is your ride? If it is 2011 or newer you will not see that dramatic of improvement from the Elkas (basic model). Now that I have had the Elkas for a while I have to say I am actually disapointed in them a bit. Hopefully a performance sway bar will come out by Baja Ron soon, that will make the real deference in corning I am looking for.

[Bob Denman]

Depends on whether or not your butt hurts.

Scotty,
Talk about putting it succinctly!

[Arr MiHardies]

What year is your ride? If it is 2011 or newer you will not see that dramatic of improvement from the Elkas (basic model). Now that I have had the Elkas for a while I have to say I am actually disapointed in them a bit. Hopefully a performance sway bar will come out by Baja Ron soon, that will make the real deference in corning I am looking for.

Id have to disagree. Went from stock shocks on my 11 to Elkas. World of difference. Maybe not as huge as it would have been from the crummy shocks on the '10, but still a big difference in handling.

[Littlebadwolf]

Hands down Elkas...After driving in the Adirondacks after having them installed there and then over 800 miles home....absolutely no question...It was a pleasure flying past the semi's without the buffering.

[Dragonrider]

I have Works shocks, saved enough over the Elkas to buy the driver backrest for my Corbin seat.

[currin20fan]

I have the 2011 limited. I went with the Elka's first after much reading and talking. Since I am in the flat lands, it made a huge difference in the handling and on the interstates. I was beginning to think I had made a big mistake buying the spyder until I put the Elka's on. In the mean time, I borrowed an Airhawk from a friend. Then a few months later and a couple conversations with Lamont, I bought the Corbin with colored stitching and the Lamonster Cut. Now, I ride on comfort and not scared of that interstate. Life is good! Oh, and I still use an Airhawk on long trips. Keeps me dry..

[Dragonrider]

+1 for the Lamonster cut - a $35 beadrider works wonders to keep cool & dry.

You need to find other Spyders with various seats - few will like the same seat. Personally, I've had Russell, Mustang, Corbin, and most of the others - as well as a ton to stock seats (incl a group from the HD wish book, and I always end up with a Corbin. It just works for me.

[Yfactor]

Have Corbin and Elkas. Had seat first then shocks but if I had to I'd go for the Elkas first. As you mention being uncomfortable with the wind and speed it would seem the shocks would ba a first choice.

[Camdenlake]

Got seat and elkas at the same time but i would say elkas would be #1 seat a close 2nd.


Josh

[Lamonster]

I love my Elka's but I hated the stock seat so for me it would be the seat. I realize how much I hated it everytime I ride a RT with the stock seat. Both are worth the investment.

[saint999]

I have Works shocks, saved enough over the Elkas to buy the driver backrest for my Corbin seat.

Hmmm may have to look into those. Any specifics around what you bought from them?