Visco-elastic polymer motorcycle seat pads improve riding comfort by molding to your body weight and spreading pressure evenly across the seat pan. Butt Buffer builds every cushion in our lineup, from the Pebble Polymer Series to the Air Flow Classic, around this dry visco-elastic polymer, a material engineered for hospital use to prevent bed sores and re-engineered by us to cut soreness, numbness, and pressure points on long motorcycle rides.
Key Takeaways
- Butt Buffer's visco-elastic polymer was originally engineered for hospital use to prevent bed sores in patients confined to one position for hours.
- Our Pebble Polymer cushions run from $87.50 for the Small 11x11 up to $122.50 for the Large 18x14.
- Air Flow Classic pads run from $72.50 to $107.50 and add channels built to move heat and air.
- Founded in 1994, Butt Buffer is family owned and built every cushion around this same polymer core.
How Does Visco-Elastic Polymer Reduce Pressure Points and Soreness?
Visco-elastic polymer is a dense, dry material that compresses under body weight, molds to your shape, and slowly returns to form. That gives it broad contact with your body, spreading weight evenly and keeping blood flowing to reduce numbness and ache in the lower back and tailbone.
That molding action is the whole point of the material. A stock motorcycle seat, even a well-padded one, tends to carry your weight on a few small contact points, mostly under the sit bones. Sit there for two hours and those points take the full load the entire time. Visco-elastic polymer spreads that same load over a much wider area of the pad, so no single point of skin or muscle carries it all. We've built our full product lineup around this same principle, in three sizes: 11x11, 16x12, and 18x14, so the effect scales to the seat you're actually riding on.
Why Was This Polymer Originally Developed for Hospitals?
The visco-elastic polymer inside every Butt Buffer cushion was engineered to prevent bed sores in hospital patients confined to one position for hours at a stretch. We re-engineered that same core material for motorcycle seats, where riders face a similar problem: sustained pressure on one area of skin and muscle for hours at a time.
Bed sores, medically known as pressure ulcers, form when tissue gets cut off from blood flow for too long in one spot. The polymer developed to prevent that in a hospital bed works on the same principle at highway speed. It eliminates concentrated pressure points and promotes circulation while you're seated, which is exactly what a rider needs on a six-hour stretch of interstate. The polymer also retains its shape ride after ride, rather than compressing flat the way cheaper foam inserts can over time.
Heat Transfer and Air Flow Prevent Numbness and Overheating
Sitting in one spot for hours doesn't just create pressure, it traps heat, and trapped heat against skin speeds up numbness and discomfort. Our Air Flow Classic line uses the same visco-elastic polymer core with a surface built to move heat away from the body and let air circulate underneath you as you ride.
The Air Flow Classic comes in Small (11x11, $72.50), Medium (16x12, $87.50), and Large (18x14, $107.50), each in black, red, blue, and silver. One rider who added the Air Flow Classic to a 2018 Tri Glide, after already running one on a 2011 Ultra Classic, put it this way:
"This is the second seat I have had done. The first was on a 2011 Ultra Classic and was a great improvement in ride comfort. I recently had the seat on my 2018 Tri Glide done with the new and improved gel. The ride quality improvement was immediate. Relieved the pain and pressure from arthritis and extended the ride time between rest stops. Highly recommended for anyone looking for that extra comfort." - Dean McDanel, in a Google review
Built to Outlast the Bike
A seat cushion only helps if it holds up. We engineer our polymer pads with top-grade materials so they outlast the bike they're mounted to, and they need virtually no upkeep to keep performing the same way five years in as they did on day one.
Fits on any motorcycle.
That's the design goal behind every size we make. Whether you're on a full dresser or a lighter touring bike, the polymer core doesn't care what frame it's bolted to. It flexes to the seat pan underneath it and does its job regardless of make or model. Butt Buffer has been family owned and operated since 1994, building seat cushions for riders who want the comfort without buying a whole new saddle. You can see the material in action across a few different bikes and rally stops on our videos page, and read more about how the company started on our company page.
Butt Buffer's Visco-Elastic Polymer Seat Cushion Lineup
Every product below uses the same dry visco-elastic polymer core, just in different sizes and surface finishes.
| Product | Size (inches) | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pebble Polymer Butt Buffer | 11 x 11 | $87.50 | 4.60 / 5 |
| Medium Pebble Polymer Butt Buffer | 16 x 12 | $102.50 | 5.00 / 5 |
| Large Pebble Polymer ButtBuffer | 18 x 14 | $122.50 | 5.00 / 5 |
| Small Air Flow Classic | 11 x 11 | $72.50 | |
| Medium Air Flow Classic | 16 x 12 | $87.50 | |
| Large Air Flow Classic | 18 x 14 | $107.50 |
The Pebble Polymer surface and the Air Flow Classic surface both sit over the same polymer core, so the comfort mechanism is identical. What changes is the top texture and the airflow channels built into the Air Flow line. All six come in black, red, blue, and silver. You'll find the full sizing options, plus our Military Style, Super Suede Series, and Maltese Cross styles, on the shop page, and more detail on how riders are using them on the Butt Buffer blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a visco-elastic polymer pad fit any motorcycle seat?
Yes. Our polymer pads are built to fit on any motorcycle, from full-dress tourers to lighter cruisers. The pad sits on top of your existing seat pan, so it works with the seat you already have rather than requiring a seat swap.
Do visco-elastic polymer seat pads need maintenance?
No regular maintenance is required. We engineer the polymer core and the surface materials to keep their shape and performance for years, so you're not adding another item to your bike's maintenance list alongside oil changes and tire checks.
What colors and styles does Butt Buffer offer in visco-elastic polymer?
Our Pebble Polymer and Air Flow Classic lines come in black, red, blue, and silver across all three sizes. Beyond those two lines, we also offer Military Style designs for every branch, the Super Suede Series, and the Maltese Cross Cushion in embroidered and sheepskin finishes.
Can I get a polymer pad for a passenger seat too?
Yes. Our lineup includes insert options sized for front-only setups as well as front and rear combinations, so a passenger riding behind you can get the same pressure relief you do on a long trip.
If you're trying to figure out which size or style fits your seat and your riding style, tell us about your bike and the rides you're planning in the form below, and we'll help you sort out the right visco-elastic polymer pad for it.
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