I’d like some help choosing a new saddle for my KH24. Stock KH seats
would be fine, but I’m tired of replacing them after the bolts spin,
the cover tears, and the metal plate breaks. After mounting a brake
lever, I can really see how much my broken saddle flexes and I want a
new one!
So I think I have to either build a seat from parts or rebuild a stock
seat.
My first thought is to rebuild the KH with a carbon fiber base and new
cover. That’s assuming I can either convince unicycle.uk.com to ship
to the US or get a friendly UK unicyclist to broker the purchase. I’m
inclined to reuse the KH foam, which has been fine for the riding I’ve
been doing, rather than fiddling with an innertube to make an air
seat.
My other option seems to be some variation on the Miyata airseat theme
with either a GB4 Stiffener or carbon fiber base. The advantage here
is readily available replacement parts in the US. In addition to
worrying about getting the innertube just right, I’m worried that the
Miyata handle will pinch my fingers too much, as I’ve already had
pinches from a Miyata handle when jumping up curbs.
Specifically, has anyone in the US managed to get a CF KH style base
and seat cover? Am I looking at more trouble than it is worth trying
to import tests? Regarding air seats, am I overly worried about
getting the innertube properly situated? As to the Miyata, is the
Kinport replacement handle more finger friendly than the stock?
Lastly, can anyone point me to the air seat construction page (John
Childs’?) that has been mentioned - Now that I need it I can’t seem to
find it.
Thanks for helping me understand my options.
Ken
Try asking unicycle.com US if they will get the bases in for you from the UK. I asked Roger in the UK if he could get a Kinport rail adapter and voila he did! So I don’t see why the same wouldn’t be apply when ordering from the UK.
I found that patience is a virtue when fitting air seats. I used loads of different pics I found but just had to keep fiddling and fiddling til I got it right! Very frustrating, but worth it in the end.
And I highly recommend the KH CF bases if you can get one.
I’ve got details of my muni seat in my Airseat gallery. The pictures there show a Miyata front handle. I’ve now switched to a Kinport handle. I’ve been using the Kinport handle for over a year and I love it.
The Kinport handle that I have has the top area cut out so the fingers have more room and can grip all the way around the handle. The pictures at unicycle.com show an older design with a closed and boxed in area for the fingers. I think all the Kinport handles now come with the open cut out top design. I’ve got pictures of the Kinport handle on my muni in this thread.
My air seat makes for a very nice muni seat. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I would suggest using the carbon fiber seat base, but you could also use a Miyata seat base along with a GB4 stiffener plate. Add on a Kinport handle and a GB4 Front Handle Reinforcement Plate. The GB4 front handle reinforcement plate works well with the Kinport handles. It replaces the need to try to fit specially cut washers in there.
A nice thing about air seats is that you can tinker with them till you get something that suits you. Not everyone will like the same seat setup. The air seat allows you to tinker and get the seat to be comfortable for you.
The disadvantage for the air seat is that you have to tinker to get things just right. It will take time. I still tinker with mine a bit. I’m going to try the foam from a Viscount saddle soon just to see what it’s like.
Using the KH foam and eliminating the air option might also make for a comfortable muni seat. Lots of options out there for someone willing to tinker.