Airhawk cushion for £15

[ILMV]

Seriously awesome, will have to order a couple when I get some pennies.

Gave up on the sheepskins because they didn't do anything on their own, will cut them down a bit and strap them to the cushion :--)

 

[Melly Senior]

theyve sent me a lumber support by mistake

could be they thought you had a chopper

 

[Eoghan]

Well, thats mine just been ordered! could have done with it at the weekend.... went up to Alness to see the inlaws... my backside was sooooooo numb after 70 odd miles... hope to give this a good testing soon...

Well done to the OP and for the second link... a great bargain!

Eoghan

 

[Gordy23]

What a fantastic job. I cut out and glued a bit of non-slippy stuff to the underside (it was actually a bit of the matting you get to protect your paintwork when using a tankbag) and it seems to be the business. As a KTM rider, believe me, this is particularly good news.

 

[elevensies]

heres my £6.74 mounted

 

[phooey]

Review...

Have done a few rides with mine, one and 2 up with various degrees of inflation.

Its mounted under a sheepskin.

Result - Its deffo much comfier than the standard seat for long distance rides.

Its not so good when scratching as you move about a bit on the air cushion and lose the feedback from the tyres.
( Its easy to remove and stash in the topbox ).

But for big miles on motorways its a really good and cheap solution to an uncomfortable seat.

 

[MarkShelley]

I am now waiting expectantly to see who turns up on my doorstep first.
Mr Puttnam with a bunch of fivers or Mr Airhawk with a bunch of fives

 

[stolzy]

Just received mine from Putnam's, but it didn't inflate

However, a simple phone call and there's a replacement on the way - no issue about sending the old one back or proof of purchse, just 'We're very sorry, we'll send a new one ASAP'

Nice people.

Unfortunatly ASAP means January since every tosser in the world now has one and they can't keep them in stock.

 

[argee]

my tuppence....

I'm not knocking people for going for the cheaper alternative, but what I would say (at the risk of being a bore) is that the Airhawk is made by a company called ROHO, and it was originally designed as a pressure relieving device for wheelchair users. It therefore has to meet extremely high manufacturing standards for durability and infection control amongst others, which would account for part of the high cost of what is effectively re-branded medical equipment, ie the Airhawk.

Additionally, the ROHO design is patented because it cost an awful lot of money to develop, and it is hugely effective at reducing pressure areas in wheelchair users as a result.

From a clinical point of view, there are two main causes of pressure areas, uric acid (hopefully not a problem for a motorcyclist!) and sitting in a fixed position for an extended period, which is what any biker with a numb arse is experiencing.

The effect of the latter is to restrict blood flow to the area, creating a buildup of toxins in the cells, and causing the nerves to allow reduced feedback. Add into this shearing forces and vibration issues and you've got the perfect recipe for discomfort and ultimately, pressure areas, also called pressure ulcers.

I should add that I'm not affiliated to ROHO in any way, but I do manage an NHS wheelchair service (amongst other things) where I was also a clinician, once upon a time....

Point of all this being that even if you cure the numb bum, you are still sitting in a fixed position for extended periods, which is not ideal from a physical wellbeing point of view, and thats before we get onto our legs and what its doing to them.....

Little and often I reckon...

 

[Dickieboy]

my tuppence....

I'm not knocking people for going for the cheaper alternative, but what I would say (at the risk of being a bore) is that the Airhawk is made by a company called ROHO, and it was originally designed as a pressure relieving device for wheelchair users. It therefore has to meet extremely high manufacturing standards for durability and infection control amongst others, which would account for part of the high cost of what is effectively re-branded medical equipment, ie the Airhawk.

Additionally, the ROHO design is patented because it cost an awful lot of money to develop, and it is hugely effective at reducing pressure areas in wheelchair users as a result.

From a clinical point of view, there are two main causes of pressure areas, uric acid (hopefully not a problem for a motorcyclist!) and sitting in a fixed position for an extended period, which is what any biker with a numb arse is experiencing.

The effect of the latter is to restrict blood flow to the area, creating a buildup of toxins in the cells, and causing the nerves to allow reduced feedback. Add into this shearing forces and vibration issues and you've got the perfect recipe for discomfort and ultimately, pressure areas, also called pressure ulcers.

I should add that I'm not affiliated to ROHO in any way, but I do manage an NHS wheelchair service (amongst other things) where I was also a clinician, once upon a time....

Point of all this being that even if you cure the numb bum, you are still sitting in a fixed position for extended periods, which is not ideal from a physical wellbeing point of view, and thats before we get onto our legs and what its doing to them.....

Little and often I reckon...

The Putnams' is also a pressure relieving device built with similar individual air pocket design as the Airhawk. I'm only guessing but I imagine that any Patent that Roho hold on the Airhawk will be relevant to the inflation or deflation of the device, there is nothing radical about the cushion itself.
From my point of view it's a cost and functionality decision. The only advantage the Airhawk appears to have to me is it's fixing straps, something that can be overcome very cheaply and easily on the Putnams as has already been demonstrated.

At the end of the day I can by more than a dozen Putnams for the price of one Airhawk, it's a no brainer for me.

 

[argee]

The Putnams' is also a pressure relieving device built with similar individual air pocket design as the Airhawk. I'm only guessing but I imagine that any Patent that Roho hold on the Airhawk will be relevant to the inflation or deflation of the device, there is nothing radical about the cushion itself.
From my point of view it's a cost and functionality decision. The only advantage the Airhawk appears to have to me is it's fixing straps, something that can be overcome very cheaply and easily on the Putnams as has already been demonstrated.

At the end of the day I can by more than a dozen Putnams for the price of one Airhawk, it's a no brainer for me.

Weeeellllll, actually the design of the original ROHO is quite different to the Putnams jobbie as seen in the photos on this thread, but thats really not the point.

Everyone is of course entirely entitled to sit on whatever they wish, personally I don't use anything and take the hint from my nethers that I either need to move position a bit (beauty of a GS, any flavour, is that you have got a decent sized saddle to move around on, or that you can stand up on the pegs for a bit whilst actually looking even cooler), or that I need to stop for a coffee etc. The latter of course helps to ensure that ya brain doesnt go numb leading to potentially dire consequences!

Anyhoo, whatever you perch yer ass on, be safe and enjoy the ride (applies equally to.... oh, never mind!)

 

[D6]

Who has received one of these now?

I was just wondering how large it is because it looks quite wide.

The airhawks are narrow at the front and wide where your buttocks are but as that cushion is wide along its length it may not work well on smaller bikes with a narrow seat like an X-challenge

its fine on a drz, it goes round the sides, makes the seat a bit wider , but a lot better,,i jus slapped a bungy over it,

having compared an airhawk to one of these, theres no difference in comfort, the airhawk might be a bit better made but not enough to outlast the dozen or so from putnams ,,,
as said before, its a no brainer,
people will still buy airhawks cos of the name and the fact its overpriced so must be the best,,,,,ie, bmw/harley owners wi too much money

 

[obliquepanic]

darn it

anyway, Putnams are sold out of these 'stadium seats' - until January - with all these bikers snapping them up. However, my central heating boiler has just packed up this afternoon - so I am thinking about spending my money on other things at the moment.

 

[L'Escargot]

Dumb Ass Numb Ass !!

Bin a while since the last post regarding these Putnams Jobbies,any updates ?
I've just ordered one,now £7.64 inc postage.Looking forward to it.

As a group of GSers with such a following why hasnt someone come up with a stupid idea of getting together a petition and sending it to BUMW regarding the fecking useless standard seat !!
As mentioned in a Beakchat & Bollox thread,I've ridden a new Multistrada on demo for nearly 2 hours and although that aint long its enough to let my arse know that the seat is miles ahead in the comfort stakes ! Believe me boys and girls its the truth.
So,if Ducati can do it why the feck cant BUMW ?

I'd be interested to know what any of you think regarding this !
Charlie.

 

[Phluppe]

Couldn't ressist, ordered one too. Curious to see (and feel) how much of a difference it will make on the 800GS, since the seat of the 1150GSA is more than comfourtable enough for me.

Grtz, Philip!

 

[6821snape]

Couldn't ressist, ordered one too. Curious to see (and feel) how much of a difference it will make on the 800GS, since the seat of the 1150GSA is more than comfourtable enough for me.

Grtz, Philip!

Bought Putmans couple of months ago and fashioned it to fit my 800gs, eyelet kit of ebay 99p, 2 x 8mm eyelets each side then 1 small elastic loop on each eyelet,loop each elastic to plastic moulding under the seat ,by the screwdrider elastic at the rear and at the front to obvious lugs,will take photo and post if neccassary,tried to dye the cushion black,just gone bit darker,but for less than a tenner its worth it,not as good as airhawk but leave it on all the time and forget about if someone nicks ,so what just start again.

 

[SKON]

I havent even got my bike yet, (due in dealers next month) but just ordered the botty potty now after reading the thread!Top tip dude
After an all day test ride on the 800GS, the biggest disappointment was the rubbish seat and serious butt ache, so hopefully we have an effective,and for once CHEAP solution to the problem I have a feeling sorting out the screen and rather madiocre suspension issues wont be so wallet friendly
Still the bike that floats my boat right now though

 

[jailon]

just ordered a couple, may need this on the 7 hour run to cornwall in a couple of week............

 

[High-Tower]

I know peeps have already posted how well these work, but here's my tuppence worth. Had a run up to the Isle of Skye from Sheffield last week, about 475 miles by the chosen route to meet up with some mates who had more time off than me. Then came back from near John O'Groats in about 8 and a half hours when I had to get back for work (about 450).

Compared to the standard GSA seat I was way less numb in the gentlemans area/backside on both the run up and back home.

SWMBO is insisting I find a way to fit another one for her before our 3 week trip to Italy in August.

Towards the end (Newport Pagnell services) of our honeymoon trip to Corsica in 2008 she declared she couldn't get back on the bike. To be fair we had decided to come back from the Italian side of Mont Blanc tunnel in one day instead of the two we had planned. It was rather a long day. All credit to her, after I'd given her the choice of getting back on or waiting 3-4 hours for me to ride home then return in her car she (reluctantly) climbed back on the bike.

For how little these things cost, they do work wonders at relieving the pressure and we'll not be venturing out on any long trips without them in future.

 

[Twotter]

just ordered a couple..........

A wise plan

I have a displaced coccyx that causes me a lot of pain, and since my job requires a lot of time sat at a desk I used my airhawk for over a year and it helped a lot. Unfortunately it punctured a few weeks back and I was unable to repair it

Seeing this thread I bought a stadium seat and it lasted a day before also puncturing

Just waiting for a replacement now