The AirHawk Guy
admin on Mar 23 2008
After searching Australia I went to America and looked at all the big name custom seats. Besides size, shape and finish they offered a variety of foam. I also looked at gel pads and other inflatable seats but nothing came close to the Airhawk Motorcycle Cushions made by Roho.
I began introducing Australian Motorcyclists to Airhawk Cushions in September 2000 and have continued as Importer/Distributor since then. For the first 51/2 years we used and sold cushions with a bladder made from a soft, heavy rubber/neoprene compound. During this time we saw a number of changes and improvements including changes to cushion shapes and sizes and the introduction of the Medium Cruiser, which quickly became the most popular model by far.
Roho make matresses, wheelchair cushions and other products for long term care patients, using their patented Dry Floatation Technology, and sell these products into the Medical Industry in 65 countries around the world. It’s this same technology that makes Airhawk Motorcycle Cushions so comfortable and so effective.
By taking the weight away from the pressure points these cushions don’t just transform your seat into something more comfortable, they also improve circulation and help prevent numbness and soreness.
Another major feature is the Airhawk’s ability to absorb vibration, not only increasing comfort but also improving rider safety by reducing fatigue. As we all know, fatigue can be a major issue, especially for anyone covering longer distances and requiring increasing effort to stay alert.
In 2000 I received samples of the new Polyvinyl Airhawk Cushions with a degree of scepticism; we’d been riding all over Australia regularly for years using the existing Airhawks with great satisfaction, so why and how could you re-invent the wheel?
The old-style Neoprene Cushions are labor intensive to produce and therefore more expensive. The new cushions are able to be made at a lower cost and this is reflected in the price. They are made from a light weight industrial polyvinyl which is so strong the manufacturer assures us there is no weight limit for them, in fact they are guaranteed for 12 months against defects in materials or manufacturing.
As we began using the polyvinyl products we soon came to realise they are just as comfortable as the Neoprene Cushions and even have a couple of advantages. Aside from being cheaper, they are also lighter and easier to handle. This is really great for those times when you don’t want to leave your Airhawk on your bike and decide to tuck it away in a pannier or saddlebag where there is limited space, or when you want to put it in a bag you are carrying.
The strength of the Polyvinyl Cushions has been proven time and time again with friends and customers up to and over 130kg reporting no problems, just satisfaction. We use Polyvinyl Airhawks by choice here, I weigh 95kg and I regularly use a Polyvinyl Small Pillion (sideways) on day and overnight rides on my Superglide, when I don’t want to use the touring bike.