BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hey all,
I'll be doing some extended touring this summer, with my wife as a passenger. We have done long trips in the past, and have had no 'major' issues with the stock seat.

I am looking for some added comfort though.

Has anyone tried the wooden-beaded covers made by beadrider (beadrider.com)? Thier theory seems to make sense, claiming their covers allow air flow beneath your butt, distribute pressure points and also allow water to run off the seat instead of pooling in front of your crotch.

I was also looking at the fancy sheepskin covers offered by Aerostich.
I have seen the Airhawks, but for some reason they are not my first choice.

Any thoughts or experience with either?

My opinion of the beaded seat cover is not very good. I drive trucks for a living and spent my early years in non-airconditioned tractors. Within a week of getting in and out of the seat, the heavy "fishing line" that they use came apart and I continued to find "roaming" wooden beads throughout my truck for months. On the bike I use a natural sheepskin that I found in an Amish tack shop in Pennsylvania. You don't have to pay $100 plus dollars for one specifically made for a motorcycle. The two that I bought are for horse saddles. It has a wide elastic strap that goes around the seat and four heavy shoestring that also tie it on. I paid about $34 for each one. One for the rider and one for the passenger. They had them in natural, green, red, and black. Very nice and they add 100 plus miles of comfort to the stock seat. No more monkey butt.

I have a Beadrider, a sheepskin and an Airhawk. The best is the Airhawk, great comfort, big price ($150 or more). It does raise you up about an inch in the seat. The Beadrider is good in hot weather, not so good in the cold. There are no issues with quality as far as I'm concern. I've met the maker and he will replace any faulty merchandise, I'm sure of it. I like the Beadrider alot. My wife uses the sheepskin on her Roadster and she likes it. We paid under $50 from Alaskan Sheepskins, specifically made for a bike. There is no way these cost $100. If I were to choose between the sheepskin and the Beadrider I would go with the Beadrider, you can slide your butt around a little easier with it. We do long distance travel (two bikes) with all three and switch when we feel the urge.