When I sit on an 09 SG I am not even flat footed and I am 5'11", 32" inseam. That wide seat really makes a diffrence. My 03 felt like it was made for me from day one. I feel for your struggle to get it right and I don't envy the $$ you have spent so far.

Good luck on your quest and congrats on such a nice bike. I cannot get my wife to try a Sporty. I would never get her on something bigger.

spiz

 

I am 5'8" I had a Corbin Classic Close Solo on my '05 Road King and it was perfect fit. I dreaded riding 2 up using my HD Sundowner as it felt like I was siting on a stack of pillows. So I ordered a Corbin Close Solo for my '08 Streetglide custom fit for my height & inseam and it was unridable. I felt like I was sitting on the gas tank and was uncomfortable even for a short ride. The hump in the seat caused pressure on my tail bone. I returned it and got the (regular) Classic Solo and it is perfect. You being 4" shorter and having them custom fit your size might have better luck and I hope you do but my experience was that the Close Solo for the SG was not good yet the Close Solo on My Road King was good. Go figure.

 

Sounds like you've almost exhausted your seat options. Why don't you have your air shocks lowered? They totally rebuild them with new seals and such. That's what I did (1 1/2"), but they can lower them 2 1/2" if needed. Look at Phoenix Customs(Bitchin' Baggers) and it was way under $200.00 They got good testimonials too.

 

Lowered shocks/fork springs and a reduced height seat should solve your problem.

m.a.c.

 

tpmurray,

Unfortunately my findings match yours. To get me closer, they get you so close to the tank you have a hump up front on the seat. Uncomfortable for even a female. Was pretty comfortable riding though for about 60 miles. Once I did two hour ride, I didn't like it. And the regular model would have me too far from bars. So I listed it on e-bay tonight and will go back to my Reach Seat.

My reach seat actually has my heels flat on the ground and Corbin seat left me 1/4 to 1/2" from ground with platform Skecher boots (1" soles and 3" heels).

Odd thing was Corbin seat sit my butt lower and I looked through my windshield instead of over it. Butt was probably 2" lower, however, because of the hump off front that affected me when I tried to stand up at lights, I didn't have any better reach to the ground than I did with my Harley Reach seat. And because my butt was dropped down, I felt further from bars instead of closer.

I had removed my front lowering kit because I liked the handling better at stock heights but I may have it installed again before the next big trip. If it was going to be hard to back up even lowered, I just didn't see the point. Would rather have the best of riding while I'm going! But I will lower it for the best of safety next time I ride through the mountains or anywhere with more uneven terrain than West Texas.

 

Too bad you can't get a Corbin to fit because they are great seats. Its even worth putting up with their poor customer service IMO. If you are ever near their California or Florida stores on your bike I bet they could fit a seat to you.

 

So whats is the final verduct on what seat ya going to keep? I feel your pain I have the same inseam as you. Plus short arms this has me wondering what all I'm gona have to do when I trade in my Nightster for a 09 SG.

I have chatted with a guy on here that got the lowered shocks from Bitchin Baggers loves them said he should have started their instead of buying 3 or 4 seats.

Good Luck ride safe...

 

USA ,With the excess inventory that some dealers have try to look for an 08 SG , I think that the fitment of the bike to your size is more critical than what upgrades HD made. Also you should be able to negotiate very nicely on the price too!

 

Looks like my final set up will be:

Harley Reach Seat
Wild1inc.com bagger bars (about 1.5" closer to me and 1" higher where I have them adjusted)
Re-install front lowering kit
Add Harley adjustable back rest
Skecher boots with over 1" thick sole and 3" heels

The clutch cables Harley uses for the 2" pullback bars work with the bagger bars. I didn't have to change any other cables.

This set up will get me flat footed and I am a 5'4" female with a 29" inseam, 140 lbs. I also have narrow hips so my frame isn't as wide as the bikes' (thank God!) Actually I am flat footed without putting the front lowering kit back on.

If I have money later and want more reach I might install the Arnott Aldan air ride suspension. I like the flexibility of lowering it when I need it but riding at stock height. Best of both worlds.

I have checked out bitchen baggers but I prefer the stock height because I feel it turns lighter on high speed curves. Just depends on your preference...

On trips through the mountains and for uneven parking lots, I'd rather have the extra 1/2" reach for safety so I will put the front lowering kit I had on last fall back on before my next trip if I don't have Arnott air ride on yet.

The hard hump Corbin puts up front also made it very hard for me to reach kick stand. And the dropped butt area put me further away from bars than my Reach seat instead of closer so even if they could shave any more off the painful hump, now my bars are too far. Also made my 9 1/2" windshield too tall. Due to the way Corbin seat is mounted (there is a catch pin in hardware under that hump) there isn't much they can do to change this. I can see why others prefered their regular seat which doesn't sit you so close to the hump. If I remember, I'll take pictures of the bottom of seat later so you can see what I'm talking about.

Although the Corbin touring models' classic solo has more softeness than the model I had on my 2006 Heritage, I still found it firm and rubbing the backs of my legs after about an hour and a half. I've made a 600 mile trip with my Reach Seat without any discomfort at all. I will say the Corbin looks better especially with just the solo seat mounted. Solo seats look really good on the '09's.

If not for being far from the bars, I would love to try the Mustang seat but I'm pretty good with the Harley Reach. Mustang doesn't go up over your tank so they can get a lower riding position and seems to have a lot of happy customers on here. I've also been told the stock Road Glide seat has a narrow nose with a lower profile. But I need closer to the bars so those options are out for me.

Just to be clear - I have no issues at my height riding or handling this bike. The only problem I have is trying to back it up and like most, I prefer to be flat footed at stop signs especially when loaded or during windy days. I don't think most men with a 29" or longer inseam that weigh more than me will have much problems with the bike.

The more I ride it, the more I get used to it and I bought it for highway speeds so I'm not going to fret about it being a little harder to back up. There is so much about it I love compared to my 2006 Heritage and that was a pretty sweet ride for a Heritage (see my photo gallery)

Hope this helps some of you.

 

My wife is 5' 6" and she does not like the stock seat on the 08 SG and finds the spread to make her balance on the ground to be too far apart. She rode the 89 Decker stock seating and it was fine despite being a taller ride. 500 + rides were easy on the 89.

Tried the Reach also and though comfortable sitting it was not good for any longer rides as it pushed her too far foward and she had trouble moving around with her feet on the boards as her legs were also pushed forward.

So we are looking at other seats as well.

Checking out a Saddleman next with the Memory foam in it but read it does not do well in rain...? Not too sure about that as it was only from one person.

Put on a riders backrest and she likes that so far it seems to be helping the seating position for her but still the seat has too much spread. Has more than my decker?