Re: how much?
mpriestley said:
don't know what MH charged SE because they are all custom built to order and you can specify whatever style/colours/density etc you want but mine looks similar to SE's, has gel inserts front and rear and cost less than half the price of a Corbin....
That's a bit evasive!
Melvyn charges £135 for the "job" regardless of the fact he's doing two seat units and £35 per gel insert or £60 for two. So you can have your seat resculptured and recovered for as little as £135 or for as much as £195 if you want gel front and back.
Melvyn uses gel mesh rather than gel pockets. These are much better than gel pockets/pads. He also only uses vinyl as he won't work with leather and doesn't believe leather can ever be 100% waterproof. He has about three choices of black fabric (plain, basketweave, and hide). He can do coloured fabric if you want and he has beading colours to suit the colour of the bike. My seat is in basketweave with hide side panels. The basketweave also adds to the general comfort.
I had him widen the rear of the rider's seat on mine, raise the back to make it more level with the pillion seat, and raise the front to make the seat more horizontal than the OE (which noticeably slopes forwards). All-in-all (and I've got the seat on the high seting) it makes the seat sit an inch and a half higher than the standard seat on the high setting. With lowered footpegs as well I'm in seventh heaven in terms of comfort. The upright position (I've got 35mm bar risers as well) makes me steer more motorcross style than hanging-off knee-out and it works fantastically with Metzeler Tourances. I'm looking forward to WP suspension being fitted in the Spring to raise the back up another inch and then the only crims over 6'8" tall will be able to steal the thing!
The best mod Melvyn did for me was the widening of the seat at the rear so that my bum fits wholly on the seat and weight isn't centred on the coccsyx as with the standard seat. You'll notice in the picture above that the seat is clearly a tight fit betwen the pannier rails. Look at a standard seat and you'll see at least a 1 inch gap between the seat and the rails each side.
Anybody who wants to try out the seat is welcome to do so at any place where we meet up. We'll just swap 'em over and you can have a go.
Melvyn needs your seat(s) to do the job. If you can't be without your seat for a week, then I have spare standard seats to lend if anybody can collect and return.
BTW Just coz I'm a lanky git don't let that put you off. Melvyn actually specialises in seat-height reductions by cutting away excess foam, replacing it with higher density foam and gel and leaving you with a lower seat but still more comfortable.
