Jury is still out on my new Airhawk - how hard is it to find the sweet spot?

[dlwilliams48]

I rode 200 miles today trying out the airhawk. Started to get a little "butt burn" around the first hour mark. Removed a little more air, but right now it doesn't seem to any more effective than my butt buffer. I'm going to give it a little more time before I decide whether or not to keep it. It feels pretty empty of air right now but since it is supposed to be fairly empty I'll keep playing with it. Just wondering how much you have to fiddle with it to get it to the sweet spot.

 

[ARtraveler]

Maybe a solution for your "problem" with the Airhawk.

Your are supposed to sit IN it and not ON it. It all has to do with the air pressure. Taking some of the air out like you posted should help. If you have it inflated to much, you are riding ON it.

I found that about half full of air was pretty good for me. You don't want to touch the seat below, but want to be suspended just above it.

Give that a try if you are not already doing it. I NEVER had butt burn once I figured out the proper air fill. :bowdown:

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Was the Butt Buffer not to your liking?
Just wondering, because I use the BB, and for me it's better than just the stock seat . It definitely keeps me in the saddle longer.

 

[dlwilliams48]

Maybe a solution for your "problem" with the Airhawk.

Your are supposed to sit IN it and not ON it. It all has to do with the air pressure. Taking some of the air out like you posted should help. If you have it inflated to much, you are riding ON it.

I found that about half full of air was pretty good for me. You don't want to touch the seat below, but want to be suspended just above it.

Give that a try if you are not already doing it. I NEVER had butt burn once I figured out the proper air fill. :bowdown:

I may not have enough air in it, actually. It's pretty flat, nowhere near half full. I'll keep adjusting for a bit more.

Was the Butt Buffer not to your liking?
Just wondering, because I use the BB, and for me it's better than just the stock seat . It definitely keeps me in the saddle longer.

Yes, I've had the BB for quite some time, used it on my Versys650 and it worked well. Just following some comments about the AH where some said it worked better for them than the BB (which I still have). I can always go back to the BB if the AH doesn't significantly improve the ride distance.

 

[Peteoz]

It should be empty enough that your backside is just touching the seat in the centre. This pushes the remaining air out under your thighs for support. It’s the same way a Daylong or Laam custom seat works, except the wings under your thighs on the Daylong/Laam are wider, which is what makes it all day comfortable (similar to a car seat)

Pete

 

[Woodswoman]

It should be empty enough that your backside is just touching the seat in the centre. This pushes the remaining air out under your thighs for support. It’s the same way a Daylong or Laam custom seat works, except the wings under your thighs on the Daylong/Laam are wider, which is what makes it all day comfortable (similar to a car seat)

Pete

This advice ^^ is spot on.

I find it easier to adjust an AirHawk cushion on a hard and flat seat, such as a kitchen chair or metal folding chair. As Pete advises, let out enough air so that your "sitz bones" actually touch the hard surface underneath you. Then transfer the cushion to your bike.

This method lets me dial in a new cushion much more accurately than doing it on my bike's seat. Somehow the padding in the stock seat, little though there might be, throws off the adjustments.

 

[Yabbadabbadoo]

Another technique I've used for all day comfort with the Airhawk is to start the ride with it more fully inflated and then periodically release air as the day goes on. This changes the pressure points from being in the same place all the time. But the most comfortable is with very little air in it.

 

[Slowpoke]

Which size do you recommend for the 2021 RTL?

Thank you, Bob

 

[Bangorbob]

Bob, I have 2 sizes. This is one that works the best for me. I also have a larger one. The larger seems to cut into the back of my thighs. As most have said: Getting the amount of air is critical. Good luck.

Bob



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A41OS84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Slowpoke]

Thank you for the help! Bob

 

[vito1943]

FWIW, I had one and never could find the right amount of air to be comfortable. Too little air and I felt I was just sitting on a sheet of plastic, too much air and I felt like I would fall off the pillow. I ended up giving the Airhawk to a friend and switched to the BeadRider seat covers. I was skeptical about sitting on a mat of hard beads but found that it really was comfortable and a good solution for me. It allows some airflow under your butt in hot weather, and when in the rain, it keeps your butt off the water that is running down the seat itself. I bought the BeadRider 3 bikes ago, and have just moved it to the new bike, including my RT since 2021. About $100 for rider and passenger BeadRider seat pads.

 

[BajaRon]

I like the beads as well. On a long ride I alternate between the beads and the seat. The beads allow air circulation which is nice. But on long rides, it's variation that makes the most difference to me. Highway pegs or some way to move your foot position radically is also a distance getter.

I've never ridden anything other than stock seats. Not against aftermarket seats. Some swear by them. I've just always been afraid of spending all that money and not getting what I'm looking for. Not necessarily logical. Just me!

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I like the beads as well. On a long ride I alternate between the beads and the seat. The beads allow air circulation which is nice. But on long rides, it's variation that makes the most difference to me. Highway pegs or some way to move your foot position radically is also a distance getter.

I've never ridden anything other than stock seats. Not against aftermarket seats. Some swear by them. I've just always been afraid of spending all that money and not getting what I'm looking for. Not necessarily logical. Just me!

I ride and feel the same way except I use the Butt Buffer.

 

[BajaRon]

I ride and feel the same way except I use the Butt Buffer.

I've tried the Airhawk but never the Butt Buffer. I might if I ever get to ride long distance again.

I liked the Airhawk OK. I just found the beads work better for me. I was surprised because they don't look comfortable at all! Looked more like a torture device to me. But hey! if it works! It works!

I don't believe there is any one universal solution. Whatever you try, I think you have to work with it and give it a fair chance to do the job.

 

[Quickdraw]

It should be empty enough that your backside is just touching the seat in the centre. This pushes the remaining air out under your thighs for support. It’s the same way a Daylong or Laam custom seat works, except the wings under your thighs on the Daylong/Laam are wider, which is what makes it all day comfortable (similar to a car seat)

Pete

My Corbin is the same way. The wings make a big difference in my opinion. The seat is comfortable as well. At least for me it is.