[Schooner44]

I bought my bike last September and after very little riding, I realized that the stock seat wasn't going to do it for me. I had a Mustang on my previous bike so I went and ordered one however it wasn't as comfortable on the X as it was on my 750 ACE. Last week I got the Ultimate (front seat only) on the 14 day trial period and yesterday I got out on about 150 mile ride. Since I figured there were few opportunities where someone would have all 3 seats present at the same time, I decided to take the opportunity and do a full comparison with pictures, measurements and comfort opinions.

Pictures (all front seat only)
Here is the stock seat:

side view

top view
Mustang:

side view

top view
Ultimate:

side view

top view

Measurements
I took 4 measurements of each seat. Measurement "A" is the distance from the center of the gas cap to the front edge of the seat, Measurement "B" is the distance from the center of the gas cap to the bottom edge of the lumbar support (where the horizontal part of the seat meets the vertical section), Measurement "C" is the distance from the center of the gas cap to the top edge of the lumbar support and lastly Measurement "D" is the distance from the ground straight up to the height of the seat where at the bottom edge of the lumbar support.

Stock (the stock seat curves from the horizontal section into the lumbar area so it was tough to get exact measurements):
A - 17.25"
B - 26.5"
C - 29"
D - 29"

Mustang:
A - 17"
B - 28"
C - 29"
D - 28.5"

Ultimate:
A - 17"
B - 28.75"
C - 30"
D - 29.5"

Apparences, Position & Comfort
Stock:
I actually like the sleek look of the stock seat but the ride is just plain terrible. I feel the need to mention that I know a guy with a VTX 1800 N and he likes the stock seat but he did sit on mine and mentioned right away that the lumbar support was much better.

Mustang:
First off, since day one I hated the way the mustang seat doesn't "hug" the tank like the stock seat did...it made it look very un-finished however the seat itself looks the best of the three in terms of appearance off the bike. The comfort is awesome (firm but not hard) on the Mustang and the lumbar support without a backrest is great. I never felt uncomfortable on the Mustang aside from the position it put me in. The big thing I didn't like was the positioning of it as I felt much to crammed towards the tank (Full disclosure here--I am 5'11" & 300 lbs). I also didn't like the inability to stretch my legs out as much as I wanted. Even as a kid, I bought bikes that were one size up so I could get extra room to extend my legs and always move the seat all the way back in vehicles so some may not find this as big of a deal as I did.

Ultimate:
The seat hugs the tank really flows with the lines of the bike although I'm not a huge fan of their stitch pattern. It is very cushy but doesn't give the impression of lack of support. The lumbar support is much better than stock but can't touch the Mustang. With a backrest, I'm sure the 2 will offer the same back support so this is kind of a moot point. The seat sits me back further and gives me the extra leg room I wanted yet didn't seem to have an effect on my distance from the bars. It also raises you up higher than the other two. When I first put it on, I didn't like the lack of "solid footing" when the bike was stopped but I also added some shorter shocks (.75" shorter) and that compensated the height difference. One user (I think it was WNGD) compared the Ultimate seat to sitting on a recliner and that's not a bad description as the seat is very soft and cushy yet still supportive. The best way I can describe it is that its like you don't even feel the seat under you while riding and not once during my 150 mile ride did I feel the need to get off because my butt was sore although my lower back did bother me a bit towards the end (insert backrest here).

Conclusions
The stock seat sucks, plain and simple. Unless you're using the bike for quick commutes to work and to the store, this won't suffice. The Mustang seat is great however because of my particular need to stretch my legs, it wasn't quite right for me. The Mustang folks really know their foam and I do believe it is the best out there (I've also had a Corbin seat) of all the manufacturers. The Ultimate seat is, well, "ultimate" as the name suggests. The height of it would've been a real issue (probably a deal breaker) but I got the shorter shocks which eliminated that concern.

Stock seat score: 3 out of 10
Mustang seat score: 7 out of 10
Ultimate seat score: 9 out of 10

If anyone has any questions, I'm more than happy to answer any.

 

[wngd]

That's a realistic comparison and great pics to show what you're talking about, thanks for taking the time to do this.
Basically, it shows that the Ultimate (at least the Big Boy) moves you slightly up and back. I'm only 1" taller than you but long legs and found the height just about perfect, still feeling "in" the bike.

The Mid Rider is better if you are 5'10" or shorter but the weight still means Big Boy for many (I'd say over 200 lbs)

I had a Mustang Wide Touring and the pseudo rear-seat-as-a-backrest is overblown to me; I still wanted a backrest for touring.

So now I have a solo reworked custom 2 tone stock seat for running around town and a 4 piece Ultimate set for ultimate comfort touring or 2-up.
- happy rider here.

I keep referring to a poll done here a few months ago where Ultimate won out 3 or 4 to one over Mustang. The only downside is price. If that's not the first consideration then Russell Day Long also deserves consideration imo

 

[sumdatx]

I have the Mustang wide vintage touring seat. You're right on, very comfy seat BUT: puts you too far forward and on top of the tank, is a little too wide making it difficult to put your feet down without spreading your legs wider than normal. Also, the add side panels rub the top of the side covers, leaving scrubbed places. I checked with www.meancitycycles.com and they can make adjustments to the Mustang seat, but not very big ones: 1 inch back, one inch down or .5 inch down and back for around $60.

 

[IndyBret]

It seems that the Mustang just doesn't shine on the X the way it does on other bikes.
But having just ordered shocks, backrest, bags, and fairing, I don't have $900.00 for a seat this year.
So, since I agree that the stock seat falls a bit short after about 250-300 miles, it's Mean City Cycles for me.
Awesome write up though. The measurements really help. Especially since everyone has a different @$$****, I mean opinion.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Schooner44]

I checked with www.meancitycycles.com and they can make adjustments to the Mustang seat, but not very big ones: 1 inch back, one inch down or .5 inch down and back for around $60.

I also checked with mean cycles but because I have the Mustang with the backrest, they cannot modify it to move you back at all.

 

[PaXman11]

The ultimate has the -option- of an adjustable backrest. It still wasn't right for me, I had to unbend the support bar to get it to fit me "just right".

 

[Donut]

Years ago I met a guy that did a lot of riding /traveling all over the U.S. and he was using a Mustsng seat and at a tech session in Detroit area and he tried my my Ultimate low rider and other midrider seats there and he was over 6' and he liked the lowrider better because he sat lower and back more. Like riding " in " the bike rather than " on it ". ,,,,, as soon as his new Lowrider arived his Mustang hit ebay.
I have had my Ultimate for 10 years now and it still looks good.
I'm 5'4 and 260.

Donut/Doug

 

[mooneydriver]

I love my "Ultimate" seat, I ride from fuel up to fuel up without needing to rest. Lot of comfort depends on how our body (rear end) fits the seats.

 

[Schooner44]

Just a little follow up. After deciding to keep the Ultimate seat and ordering the driver backrest & passenger seat, I had a couple of things to add.

1. I had ordered the driver seat with the Blinker Buddy. I found it to be useless. When at a stop, it buzzed so much it irritated the hell out of me but as soon as I rolled on the throttle, the rumble from the bike made it not noticeable. Ultimate allowed me to remove it from the seat and send it back for a return of just that piece which was nice.

2. The driver backrest is very soft /cushy but its not as comfortable as the Mustang (not even close). Its an OK design but it does lean more forward than I would like and that's with it adjusted back as much as possible.

3. The passenger looks VERY well designed in terms of comfort for the passenger's riding position but I don't like the way it mounts as much as the Mustang. The Ultimate mounts to the same bracket as the stock rear seat (using 2 screws at the bracket and one in the back) while the Mustang has a tongue that slides into a slot in the front seat. This tongue/slot design makes it really easy to put on or take off the seat as you only have to deal with the one screw in the back. If I want to go from 2-up to solo with my solo rack, I now have to bolt on the bracket then put the seat on with 3 more screws instead of 1 screw and done with the Mustang.

Anyway, hopefully this thread will serve others well in making their decision.

 

[sumdatx]

Get your "bfh" out and get to work on that rider backrest. Fran had to "adjust" his as well, and now he says it is good to go. At some point in the future, I have a perfect "R" model rear fender to put on and will look for a good used Ultimate low rider seat. The cost of a new seat makes this a lot more expensive project.
Good luck with your seat, I think either it or you will get used to the new feel :47b20s0:

 

[PaXman11]

Just a little follow up. After deciding to keep the Ultimate seat and ordering the driver backrest & passenger seat, I had a couple of things to add.

1. I had ordered the driver seat with the Blinker Buddy. I found it to be useless. When at a stop, it buzzed so much it irritated the hell out of me but as soon as I rolled on the throttle, the rumble from the bike made it not noticeable. Ultimate allowed me to remove it from the seat and send it back for a return of just that piece which was nice.

2. The driver backrest is very soft /cushy but its not as comfortable as the Mustang (not even close). Its an OK design but it does lean more forward than I would like and that's with it adjusted back as much as possible.

3. The passenger looks VERY well designed in terms of comfort for the passenger's riding position but I don't like the way it mounts as much as the Mustang. The Ultimate mounts to the same bracket as the stock rear seat (using 2 screws at the bracket and one in the back) while the Mustang has a tongue that slides into a slot in the front seat. This tongue/slot design makes it really easy to put on or take off the seat as you only have to deal with the one screw in the back. If I want to go from 2-up to solo with my solo rack, I now have to bolt on the bracket then put the seat on with 3 more screws instead of 1 screw and done with the Mustang.

Anyway, hopefully this thread will serve others well in making their decision.

Schooner, if you're not adverse to trying something, take the backrest off the bike. Disassemble the chrome plated support bar that slides down into the seat bottom. Notice this has about a 30* bend in it. Put the angled part into the jaws of a big bench vise, and crank away. I took all but a couple degrees out of mine, and after reassembly, found it to be much better than original.

 

[Schooner44]

Schooner, if you're not adverse to trying something, take the backrest off the bike. Disassemble the chrome plated support bar that slides down into the seat bottom. Notice this has about a 30* bend in it. Put the angled part into the jaws of a big bench vise, and crank away. I took all but a couple degrees out of mine, and after reassembly, found it to be much better than original.

That's what I figured I will do. Last night, I took it off to take a closer look and the adjustment screw felt like it was all the way out based on feel but when I looked, it was not. There must have been something on the threading making it tight at a certain point. I was able to back out the screw a little more and it seems better but if its not enough...off to the vise I go.

 

[PaXman11]

With the backrest the way it was, it forced my back more forward, and my hips and associated male body parts were jammed against the tank. UN-bending the bracket allowed my hips to sit fully back into the seat bottom, and the new backrest position felt great.

 

[theGhost]

Brotha what hard bags are those???

 

[Vinish]

theGhost, Who are you asking? It is possible that you will get a response. The OP, schooner44 was active on the VTX Cafe as recently as 2 months ago. However, realize that this thread is over 5 years old and may not be viewed by whoever you are asking. If you indicate which picture contains the bags of interest, others might be able to help you identify them.

 

[Justpics]

Jim the OP discussion would make a good sticky post. answers a lot of questions. PS. Merry Christmas to you and Jane

 

[Kentguy]

I bought my VTX 1300S new in 2004, the first thing I replaced was the seat in the winter in-between 04-05 with a 2-piece Mustang seat with a back rest and never looked back.

 

[eprince]

That's a realistic comparison and great pics to show what you're talking about, thanks for taking the time to do this.
Basically, it shows that the Ultimate (at least the Big Boy) moves you slightly up and back. I'm only 1" taller than you but long legs and found the height just about perfect, still feeling "in" the bike.

The Mid Rider is better if you are 5'10" or shorter but the weight still means Big Boy for many (I'd say over 200 lbs)

I had a Mustang Wide Touring and the pseudo rear-seat-as-a-backrest is overblown to me; I still wanted a backrest for touring.

So now I have a solo reworked custom 2 tone stock seat for running around town and a 4 piece Ultimate set for ultimate comfort touring or 2-up.
- happy rider here.

I keep referring to a poll done here a few months ago where Ultimate won out 3 or 4 to one over Mustang. The only downside is price. If that's not the first consideration then Russell Day Long also deserves consideration imo

you should give Diamond Custom seats a look.I chose it over saddlemen and mustang plus it was less expensive.
Custom meaning per rider.For me it was a good choice.give Mark a call at 800-722-9995. I'm very pleased with my solo seat I just wished I'd opted for the backrest.
OLD RIDERS RULE if they have a backrest!

 

[coolio]

Brotha what hard bags are those???

They are
Tsukayu Strong Hard bags, lined and with locks
I have a set on the bike I am selling. Awesome bags.

 

[unit505]

My 1300C came with a Mustang Wide Touring front and rear. The front was ok for me, but the back was too narrow for my wife and she couldn't handle long rides. I sent my Mustang to Russell Cycle Products and they built us a set of Wide, Heavy Duty Suspension Seats, I am AMAZED at the comfort and quality! They were very expensive, but worth it to get my wife back on the bike!