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Shame-free note: Use this article as a starting point, not a scorecard. Take what helps, leave what does not, and come back to the parts that deserve more care.
I don’t know about you, but sex machines always intimidated me. In addition to seeming incredibly performative, I associated sex machines with people who knew more than me, or had more sex than I did. (Where did I get this idea? I have no idea.) Also, I always wanted to see a sex machine comparison chart, and couldn’t find one that wasn’t biased and made by one of the companies.
The further that I got into my sex therapy and educator career, the more curious I became about these machines. And, frankly, it started to feel irresponsible not to be able to speak to these from experience. How could I recommend something I didn’t understand? How could I know when something could help someone when I didn’t even know what it was like?
I had talked to folks who had used them, and I definitely saw my fair share of them in porn. I also heard them talked about on Howard Stern and around sex-positive circles. It was time to try one. But it wasn’t the time to not just try one, but rather the four primary sex machines on the market right now. And not just try them, but compare them, so you can know which one is right for you.
For this research, I had the pleasure (pun definitely intended) of trying four different machines.
Today, Sybian has become the Kleenex of the sex saddle/sex machine world. Even when folks are talking about other brands of sex machines — they call it a Sybian, similar to how folks refer to almost all facial tissues as Kleenex. Why is this? Well, Sybian is the original sex machine. Launched in 1987 by Dave Lampert, it’s still the most luxurious machine on the market. Sybian lets you choose from different leather colors and a solid design that just… works.
Before we get into each machine and compare them, let’s talk about what a sex saddle – aka a sex machine – aka a fuck machine – aka a riding vibrator is.
These machines typically consist of a main seat, a controller, and an attachment to sit on. Whoever is using the sex saddle can hop on top or pull it towards their body vertically. Once the machine is on, it will either twirl, rotate, or thrust (depending on the machine) and vibrate through your entire body (and floor). These machines will make most folks orgasm in a matter of minutes.
While they’re definitely large and can’t be put away in a bedside table like other sex toys, they’re very versatile. They’re all designed with many adjustable settings and attachments, making for truly an infinite number of pleasurable possibilities. With all of these machines, I recommend you put down a mat, towel, or place it on your mattress.
Here is a little bit about each machine and my experience with it — and then we’ll get into a side-by-side comparison to pick which unit (if any) is best for you!
Sybian
Named after the Ancient Greek city of Sybaris, a city of luxury and outrageous pleasure-seeking, this is the original sex machine. The first thing that stuck out to me about this machine is how nice it looks. “The Sybian looks like a half-barrel or riding saddle with a vibrating ridge on the top which can be fitted with a different dildo or clitoral stimulation attachments,” Aliyah Moore of SexualAlpha.com says. It’s a little smaller than the other units and has a really retro-looking controller attached.
Additionally, we got it with red leather, which makes it… so beautiful. The remote control has two knobs on it — one for rotation and one for vibration. While others have written about how much they love the rotation setting, it’s just not for me. In my body, it feels a little too much like someone is trying to create space inside my vagina like a mix-master or a whisk (I don’t need to be throthed, thank you!) But the vibrations are really lovely. A bit less intense than its counterparts, the Sybian comes in at 0.059 HP and 6,000 RPM (compared to the Motorbunny at 0.08 HP and 7,000 RPM).
You can find more comparisons on the chart below.
The Sybian is easy to use on your own and fun with a partner or during group play. You can use it flat on a bed or mat (it’s pretty loud, so you want something underneath to help distribute the vibration). It comes with 4 TPE attachments or two silicone attachments (Note: I will always recommend silicone over TPE for your ultimate health and safety). Here’s the deal: TPE can be softer than silicone, but it’s porous, so it can’t be thoroughly cleaned. Silicone, on the other hand, is not porous and can be cleaned thoroughly (hooray, silicone!). Also important to note: Sybian has six additional silicone attachments you can purchase in addition to the two that come with it. The Sybian also comes with a positioning stool, which helps you position yourself in various ways. (Bonus!)
OH! Fun fact… the Sybian and Motorbunny core designs are so similar that you can actually use the attachments on each of them. So, I recommend sticking with the silicone attachments for both.
Sybian offers a 45-day trial so you can try it out and see if it’s a good fit. (But wait to click any of these links until you read all the way down to our handy comparison chart!)
Motorbunny Buck
This was REALLY fun, very pleasurable, and fun to use alone and with a partner. Honestly, this one was kind of my favorite, but also the hardest to use solo. The thrusting piece of the Motorbunny BUCK, in addition to the vibration, is REALLY cool and has two options (one more of a traditional thrust & one is a g-thrust aiming right at the g-spot or p-spot). You can ride on top of the machine like the others, or you can put it on the angler. Doing this allows you to lie on your back (even better with the Liberator Wedge pillow) or on your hands and knees. If you’re using it on its side, it’s super helpful to have a partner angle it and push the machine towards your body.
It’s totally doable to use this solo, AND it was a lot of fun as a partner activity. (Thanks, babe!)
The vibration covers so much surface area and offers a deep and rumbly vibration that provides a very intense full-body orgasm. It comes with three attachments, one non-penetrative and three penetrative. They’re all delightful and made of high-quality, easy-to-clean silicone (so use WATER-BASED lube, like LeWand’s or System JO’s!). I really love that the machine has a controller AND can be controlled via an app. It also links to games, which, frankly, is just FUN. Anything that can make sex more fun, whether that is solo, partnered, or group, is just that… FUN!
It’s a very sexy machine, not gonna lie.
The Motorbunny website explains this and the difference between the BUCK and the original so well that I wanted to share the blurb.
Motorbunny exists to empower sexually creative experiences by providing high-performance products, tremendous value, and overdelivering on customer service expectations. Motorbunny Original is the most versatile power-vibrator in the world, combining powerful vibrations with rotating attachments. Motorbunny BUCK is the only power-vibrator with realistic thrusting motions. In short, a Motorbunny BUCK is a Motorbunny that thrusts instead of “twirls.”
Motorbunny Original
This twirling tech on the Motorbunny Original is similar to the Sybian; in fact, their attachments can be used with both machines (Motorbunny and Sybian) — pretty cool, huh?! While there are certainly differences between the two, they’re in the specs and pricing, not as much in the experience of using the machines, in my opinion. One of the most significant differences, however, is that the Motorbunny has four eyelets for BDSM play. If you love the forced orgasm or other BDSM play, it’s easy to clip a leash, collar, wrist restraints, or anything else you (safely) want to clip on.
In fact, here are some attachments by Motorbunny that are also compatible with Sybian.
Cowgirl
Last, but definitely not least, is the Cowgirl. I had the pleasure of trying the Cowgirl in its limited-edition Unicorn garb. Although the machinery itself is the same, regardless of whether it’s dressed up as a unicorn costume or not, it was fun to use this unicorn-themed situation. The company that makes the Cowgirl is COTR, Inc., which is the parent company of b-Vibe and LeWand, two of my favorite toy companies. I felt excited and intimidated trying this sex machine by myself, and it turned out to be so much easier and less intimidating than I thought it would be. The Cowgirl (traditional and unicorn) comes with a plug-in controller and can also be controlled via the app.
The vibrations are rumbly and deep and make for a very intense, full-body orgasmic experience.
One Reddit user anonymously posted a review that said, “I turned the dial to halfway, and I swear I could get off from the vibrations transmitting through the floor from just being next to it, never mind actually sitting on it.” The Cowgirl doesn’t have any eyelets (just like Sybian), and it comes with two silicone attachments (one penetrative and one non-penetrative), which makes choosing one a bit easier with less decision fatigue and offers six other styles you can purchase (all silicone, vs. the other companies that have a TPE option).
It comes with two different rod types that run between the unit and the attachment, helping transfer vibration and spin the toy. One is a firm plastic rod, and the other is a more flexible spring (the Sybian and Motorbunny Original also offer these options), which will provide variety in how the attachment feels. The Cowgirl is a bit wider than the other sex saddles, so if you have any trouble with your hips, it may be a bit intense (and for others, it’s the perfect fit). On the flip side of that same wider coin is the extra padding for comfort.
Side-by-Side Sex Machine Comparison
As one reviewer put it, “their most powerful settings will numb you fast and trick the orgasm out of you… But lower settings will be nicely massaging.” I didn’t get numb at all and thoroughly enjoyed all four of these toys. Here is a chart comparing the specs of each sex saddle to help you choose the best one for you. And please, please, stay away from the TPE attachments… please.
Where to Purchase
Sybian
Here is the link to purchase your very own Sybian.
Motorbunny
Here is the link to purchase your own Motorbunny Original or Motorbunny BUCK.
Cowgirl
Here is the link to buy your own Cowgirl.
If you want more writing like this, you can browse my posts on mental health and sex.
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