At OUI I snapped my kh seatbase so I had to buy a knew one and I figured since Darren was there why not pick up a nifty new KH street seat. So I bought it and generaly I was unimpressed. I liked the idea of the Gel, and the low profile but generaly I found it hard as a rock and not comfy at all. I have two other seats right now that use the KH 06 dual density foam and they are wayyy more comfy, and they still fit into your hand really well for seat out.
So today I desided why not take off the fusion cover and take a peek. I opened it up and I was surprised to find that it was pretty much the same as the old KH seat, just cut down. The Gel that is in there is a 2 by 4-5 inch piece of gel that is supposed to be in the middle of the seat. This makes a bit of sense (the placement) but mine is really far over to the left hand side of the seat. It isn’t centered at all which seems really dumb to me since the sides of a gel pad are far less comfy than the middle. I just reread the description on his website and it is advertised as a gel insert and not a gel seat, which is good because its definatly an insert, but I really don’t find it that effective.
Today I was out riding with some friends and I decided to compare the saddle comfort wise to my friends uni. He has a normal KH seat but with the KH foam cut down alot in the front and middle and a bit in the back. I actualy found his was a tiny bit more comfy. The but part was more comfy but the crotch area inbetween the but and the balls was still hard as hell, so both seats were about the same despite the gel pad.
I wasn’t sure whether to put this as a review or in rec.sport, but I figured its more of a rant than a review so I would put it here for more people to hear. hopefully something can be change with it. Right now I have enough seat bases and fusion covers to make two more seats so I’m thinking about ways I can mess with it.
Thats my thoughts on it too, they are O.K. for trials so long as you don’t sit on it. They are also too skinny in my hand I think.
I knew It was an insert, I knew it was in the middle, but it should be centered. Maybe it was not positioned properly in the mould? Perhaps you should talk to Bedford and see if it is under warranty?
Yup, you will also find that the UDC gel seat and probably the Koxx-one are also a foam base with gel insert. Those are thicker foam tho, so more cushy.
And, as you mentioned, DIY modification can be very nice too. I liked my DIY cut foam better than the KH street when I have compared them in the past (that was when I was using a KH seat)
Darren actualy asked me during the comp how I liked it and I told him I didn’t like it too much, he offered to try out a different one instead, but I told him I would prefer to try this one out some more. I’m not interested in getting my money back, I’m not trying to badmouth anyone. I think that its a great idea, and everyone has done a good job. I’m just saying that as far as I can tell it doesn’t work to well.
So far the best saddle I have ridden is the 06 dual density foam. I may actualy contact Darren in the near future and buy a crapload of the 06 seats (providing he has that many).
I still think though that the Kh seats are better than the Koxx one seats, but only because of the fact that they have the fusion cover. I see the foam as more of a DIY starter piece of foam that they give you almost as a free gift with a seat. It is the fusion cover and the seat base/handle and bumper that are the really good parts.