Aqua-Aire Excells as a motorcycle Seat Cushion

Distance Riders love it

These are excerpts form the Goldwing motorcycle forum.

I have it and LOVE it. Have had it for 9 or 10 months.

I had an Air Hawk and did not like it. Felt it was over-rated and over-priced.

I believe that the guys who have had them and experienced problems have inadvertently over-filled them. There are two bladders. One air, and one water. The proper thing is to only fill each of them approximately
1/4 to 1/3rd full and not a bit more. It is the overfilling - coupled with a big man (I am 250) bouncing on them, that will cause the bladder to burst. It is almost natural to overfill them and if you follow my suggestion and fill it to 1/4 to 1/3rd full, you should not have any trouble. As I said, I have not.

You should know that they only cost about 30 bucks to buy directly from the company. For me it is a gift of comfort. At Cats-Cade this past Sunday I rode over 250 miles (on one of the most interesting and pretty routes you could ask for) and at the end of the day I could have gone another 250 easy. No discomfort what so ever. For 30 bucks, it's worth a shot. AND, they also fit very nicely in the passenger seat.
Pete
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FRISKY
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Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 994
Location: Mi, Rochester Hills

PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:56 pm

For the ride to and from Cats-cade I used one and liked it over the stock seat. For shorter rides I will do without because of the way it raises me and I have to slide forward when stopping.
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IB Mike

Joined: 22 Nov 2003
Posts: 1739
Location: CA Travis AFB

PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:36 pm

I used mine for 9 days and it was fantastic... on the 10th day, it sprung a leak. Oh, BTW, I guess I should mention that I rode about 9700 miles in those first 9 days! Twisted Evil

My stock seat had 78k on it when I started the ride... and I think it has broken down to the point of causing me ass-pain. The Aqua Aire cusion worked well and I had zero pain. And for "normal" riding, I guess if it lasts 9k+ miles, $30 is a pretty fair price!

Not sure if I filled it too full or what, but while it held up, I was very happy with it. It stays on the seat well too... I didn't have any problems with it sliding around or falling off.
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Mike B

Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 65
Location: So Cal

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:31 pm

I just used one on a California to Colorado ride last week and it worked well. Some day I'd like to get a custom seat, but untill then this will do.
As stated above - Do Not Overfill it! Experiement before your trip and find the fill amounts that keep you just above the actual seat.

FRISKY

Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 565
Location: New York City

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 4:44 pm

With Aqua Aire, less is more. Try 1/4 full for both air and water compartments. Chances are good you will never burst the thing and you will be a very happy guy. For about 30 bucks, give it a shot. Just barely fill it. I hold mine in place with double sided tape. If it burst tomorrow, I would buy another one.
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FRISKY

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 73
Location: Fort Myers, Fl.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:02 pm

I agree with Frisky about not over filling. I have had mine for about a month and love it. At first I did over fill, but found out that it was much more comfortable when I let a lot of the air and water out.
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Ready2go

2005 Blue GL1800A
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Smokyhiker

Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 221
Location: Southwestern Ohio

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
I would like to sit up higher in the seat. If you only fill the Aqua Air up about 1/4 of the way; would you actually go up? Or does it mainly give a softer feel for you backside?
Would I be better off with the Air Vent type seat pad for actual height?
Thanks Confused
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Pat

Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 16
Location: Charleston, SC

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:55 pm

I had one and used it from Charleston, SC to Daytona Fl. It made the trip down very comfortable but on the way back it started leaking. Had to pull over in Jacksonville and drain it out. I thought overall it was very comfortable but was disappointed that it leaked. I tested the seat for about a month in my truck before going on the long bike ride. Overall a waste of money to me. Just my opinion.
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2003 Silver Honda Gold Wing
HiYoSilver

Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 994
Location: Mi, Rochester Hills

PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:33 am

Frisky,

Just to clarify, it's my understanding that the air and water are in the same compartments, they just have separate holes for adding or subtracting.

Smokyhiker,

It does raise you about an inch which is why I don't like using it around town. Being vertically challenged I need that inch getting my feet firmly planted around town.

Frank
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FRISKY

Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 565
Location: New York City

PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject: Aqua Aire Reply with quote
Frank
Darn good question. I always figured there are two separate compartments -because- why would they have two separate fill valves. It only makes sense if there are two compartments. To me anyway.

I know the thing about being on my tip toes because that was what I was experiencing with the Aqua Aire and I did not like it. THEN I realized that I had the suspension jacked up to 25 ( like DUH) so then I brought it down to about 15 or 12 or something, and suddenly I can sit on the Aqua Aire and put my feet flat on the ground. I always was and still am a slow learner.

Once again, I think the problem with these things is that guys over fill them. In addition to the air and water part of the cushion - the bladder - the bladder goes inside of a rather substantial foam form that zips up and forms the overall cushion. So between that foam cushion and then the air and water bladder, you don't need to fill it up much at all. On reflection I would start with about 20-25%.

Most of us are pretty big guys (I am 250) and I think if you put the level at 40% or more, it is pretty understandable that the bladder will rupture. Maybe I am just lucky, but take luck anyday and don't overfill it. My level is about 20-25% and I have had it for several thousand miles and most of a year. On the last day of Cats-Cade we did a 250+ mile ride and at the end, I was not the least bit uncomfortable. NADA.

For about 30 bucks it's worth a shot.
Let me put it this way. The Aqua Aire is much more comfortable that the expensive Air Hawk someone stole off me. As I said before, if it burst tomorrow, I would order another one. And as I said earlier, they fit very nicely in the passenger seat. Double sided tape holds mine in.
Pete
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You never know how much is enough, until you know how much was more than enough.
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Bloodbought1

Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 221
Location: Saint Joseph,TN

Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 396
Location: St. Louis, MO

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:10 am

I bought one after reading what others thought, and so far has held up well for 3 months. I got it when my wife and I went to the Black Hills and was happy with it. I covered it with a shepskin type of material.

One of the downsides is that since it raised me up, my wife couldn't look over me to see what was ahead. All she could see was the sides. I let her use it on the back and she loved being able to see above me, but the buffeting was a bit worse.

My son rode his VStar 650 to Oklahoma and back using it and loved it. When he finally got there he didn't have the butt pain he's had the other times.

For $38 it has been worth it for us.
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tourit

Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 112
Location: Va, Viewtown

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:15 am

I've been happy with my Aqua-aire. 5K. mi. and 3mo. no leaks, drips or errors. As stated the trick is less is more when it comes to filling. It will raise the seating position about an inch - but helps with the leg position on the pegs. As a side benefit it smooths out the road surface, like riding on a waterbed. Took afew miles to get used to what feels like sitting on the bike instead of connnected to it. Well worth the $30. Have tried beads, sheepskin, and airhawk. The Aqua-aire seems to be the best for me. Tho still not prefect - worth the investment. Byron
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livy

Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Bloomington, Indiana

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:14 am

I bought two one for me and one for my wife. We both love them, they took time to get use to and you had to experiment with the amount of water and air, but after we figured it out they are great. I believe too many people put way to much air and water in them. It just takes a little of both.
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insdan

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 67
Location: St Charles, MO

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:48 am

Same here. We love them and we've tried all the rest from Corbins, Road Sofas, Air Vent, Air Hawk. I've got a stack in the garage that's probably worth in excess of $700 (not counting the Corbin or Road Sofa) of all the various cushsions. Anybody want to bid on them? Yes one of them sprung a leak. Just replaced the bladder and continue to be very comfortable.

Dan Moore

Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 565
Location: New York City

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:51 pm

So true about this product not being marketing properly, and their instructions suck. So trust this part fellas, 25-30% MAX fill and probably you could easily do 20-25% max fill. Think "Squishy".

I am quite certain the reason we all have had problems with leaks are because we unknowingly overfill this thing. The weight load on the cushion must peak dramatically when we go over a good bump, and that, coupled with over inflation, causes it to get a leak. For 30-35 bucks, it's worth a shot, and as I and others say, Less, Is More. I don't miss my Aire Hawk one bit.

And for those of you who may be having a problem with getting the right guy to contact to take advantage of the free life time replacement guarentee of the bladder, this was my exchange with the gentleman.
Note they have an email address. And if you want to buy one, you could go through this address or Amazon.com sells the product on a drop ship basis. As I said, for 35 bucks and a lifetime guarentee, it's worth a shot.
Pete
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Peter,

Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Coppell, TX -- Near Dallas

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:58 pm

I had several leaks and they were always tiny holes along one of the interior seams that appear to be heat-welded together so the cushion holds its shape.

I bought a tube of ACE hardware brand "flexible Vinyl Mender" and ran a small bead of it along the seam. Haven't had a leak since. I put the tube in the trunk in case it springs another leak but so far so good. Before doing this, I couldn't go more than a few hundred miles before getting a leak.

I haven't tried any other seat cushion but am very satisfied with this one now that the leak problem seems to be under control. Heading to Colorado in a few days and would hate to be without it.
bloozeharp

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 20
Location: longview,tx

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 4:57 am

So, where do you get one of these aqua-aires for $30? I went to the AA website and they list for $50. Also, they supposedely have a lifetime warranty-do they honor that?
mrbill21

Joined: 21 Oct 2004
Posts: 33
Location: Tulsa

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 6:24 am

My wife uses one and loves it. About 5000 miles in 3 months, she won't leave home without it now. It smooths out the bumps, raises her (to see beter), and is just more comfortable. I put 5 lbs of water in with small amount of air. No problems.
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'Tulsa Bill'

Joined: 23 Nov 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: GA, Duluth

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 6:51 am

About a year ago, I purchased my first Aqua-Aire pads. I really liked them but both pads developed leaks. It took a long time, but I finally did get a replacement pad...which promptly leaked. Now I know Frisky would tell me that I filled it to much, causing the leak. However, I had had enough and didn't want to bother with it any more.

Much to my surprise, Sherry Smith, Marketing Director, sent me an email asking how my third pad was doing. I replied that it has also leaked and that I had given up on Aqua-Aire. Imagine my surprise to find a new bladder in my mailbox today along with this letter:

Quote:
"We apologize for your inconvenience of your third leaking Aqu-Aire Cushion insert. We are gladly sending you a replacement insert at no charge. I have personally sealed the seams that may have caused the leakage. Please make sure that the valves are face DOWN when placed in the outer cover. If leakage occurs, you won't get wet. Also glue valve closed once you have the correct water level (35-45% water.)"

I used it all day yesterday on my Diamond Big Boy seat to get some extra height. It worked perfectly. I took Pete's suggestion about the 25% fill with water and blew a little air in. After riding it a while, I let a little air out. I sure hope this one lasts because it makes a big difference in all day riding.
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