Brawler Review. Suggestions?

[Knighty-Knight]

I'll start with my dimensions seeing as I think that hearing someone’s subjective view of a given seat with zero knowledge about the body sitting on it makes little sense to me.

Weight: 230
Height: 5'8"
Inseam: 31.5-32"ish depending on boots; 30" without boots on.
Thigh Measurement 4 inches down from top of inseam: 27.5"
Width of rump: 15"
Width of Shoulders: 23"
Length of Arm measured from where chest and shoulder meet: 20"

So, I'm a big boy, on the soft side but not all chub. I bring this up because I think there is a chance that someone with similar general dimensions who was more muscular would feel different on this seat. I'm providing arm length because some of my 'problems' with the seat could have to do with my Street Slammer Bars which I think pull me a bit forward and round my back a bit. It should be noted I also have forward controls on my bike.

The fit of the seat to the bike is flawless.
The finish of the seat is flawless.
The look of the seat is flawless.

As far as comfort is concerned though I have to say this seat offers none after 10-15minutes. The part of the seat where I'm supposed to sit, meaning the lowest part of the seat is the least comfortable because it squeezes the tenders. I've found that after 30minutes in the saddle I end up sitting more toward the rear of the seat trying to make for a better contact patch. After an hour in the saddle my extreme lower back is numb and I've noticed that I try and put more of my back on the seat, meaning I end up pushing my knees forward and 'attempting' to put more of my lower back on the seat. After an hour+ in the saddle I feel pinched between forward ‘wave’ of the seat and the back support. Nothing about this seat feels right to me.

A possible solution for me would be a seat with less of a valley in it. Le Pera stuff is absolutely out based on the sparseness of the seat. I’d like to stay within the HD family of seats if I can seeing as I have a 500 dollar credit with them, and I would also like to stay with a solo seat because no one including the O.L. will ever ride on the back of my bike.

I’ve been thinking about the Deluxe Solo Saddle as a replacement seeing as it is 17inches wide and my rump has a wide breadth, but am unsure of how the springs will affect ride quality transmitted through my body. I’m also thinking of the Diamond Back seeing as the valley of the seat doesn’t appear to be so large that I’d get numb in the saddle, however I’ve read several reviews on this site that say it is the most uncomfortable seat that HD has ever produced.

If it turns out that I can’t stay within the MoCo options, then I’m open to suggestions as to where I should look. I’m not scared of ‘break in time’, but want to make sure I make the right decision.

I’m also not opposed to handlebar suggestions if that is my problem seeing as my back rounds slightly mid to lower back with the OE Street Slammer Bars. I’m still leaning toward the seat being my problem though because my work station entails that I’m behind a computer crunching numbers all day and my back is rounded almost all day and I don’t get the respective numbness.

[Friedenfels]

Knighty,

Good review. I just bought a brawler off ebay just to experiment. Put in on the fatty and didn't like the lines.....back on ebay it goes.

Have also tried a Danny Gray, and it is also on ebay. Keeper so far is Mustang Fastback. Great look, excellent back support and all day comfort.

Also interested in your comment on the street sweepers; I have them setting in the garage waiting to put them on...the more I ride, the more I'm kinda liking the stock bars, but love the look of the sweepers. What bike do you have them on?

Oz

[Knighty-Knight]

Friedenfels, I've got the Street Slammers on a 2006 FXSTB.

For me, the thing is this; there isn't one optimal riding position. A solid riding position could be with the knees and hips bent at 90 degrees, with a vertical spine, or it could be the opposite with knees and hips bent acutely, and spine somewhat rounded.

I'm looking into the Corbin Solo, not the Hollywood version, mostly because I'm wide, even in good shape I have a 33-34inch waist, so the seat should support the breadth through my hips and provide a wider contact patch; so, I'll be supported through more than the small point of support given by the Brawler seat. I'm also looking into bars that have the same height, and width, but have more pull-back. I'll start with the seat though because if the seat drops my seat height significantly then I might not need to bring the bars back for the reasons I've given above.

Good Luck and let me know what direction you end up going.