Bike SEAT - GEL or FOAM???
 

Hi all!!

We're taking the VStrom far beyond!

We want to upgrade the seat as my a*se really hurts after a couple of hours in the stock saddle.

We'll get the sheepskin but I would need something more. The question is should we go for a higher spec FOAM or insert a gelpad?

HELP!
Andy

Gel Pads & Memory Foam
Found this! Any one used these?

Price is not an issue here! We want the best possible comfort.

Thanks a lot!
Andy

I have a gel/memory foam seat It's fantastic

I had Gel inserts put into the stock Wee Strom seat,this did help though I have discovered the joys of Sheepskin too now,still find I start to get a sore behind after a few hours though.
Andy (& Gosia strangely enough:cool4:)

I used Sheep skins over 20 years ago when touring on my BMW RS and GS. This turned out to be a "half-assed" solution if we are talking about true distance riding. Nor am I a fan of Gel pads or foam pads. Sure, they are soft and cushy for the first hour ... but what about after that? Nothing beats a custom seat.

A good seat needs to be firm, wide and properly supportive. Do it your self hackers rarely get it right. There is actually something to this ... that is why aftermarket seats are pretty expensive.

I don't know if you have good custom seat makers in the UK but certainly there must be somebody building touring seats or custom modifying a stock seat for touring?

If you are on a DL650, the first solution is to get the DL1000 seat. Fits straight on and much better than DL650 seat. I put over 70,000 miles on two DL1000's and never had a comfort issue, solo or two up, doing many 500 mile days, day after day. Best stock saddle I've owned. But a custom seat would be even better. I rode a Vstrom with a Corbin seat for a day and loved it.

There are probably half a dozen great custom seat companies in the USA who do Vstrom seats. Corbin does a nice one that I liked, as mentioned.
Many others too, do some searches and ask around on Vstrom boards.

Thanks a lot guys!

I'll do some research and get a custom made one I guess.

Andy

The DL did have a gel seat that can be ordered from the dealer, do not know if it is still so.
But I got one and then a sheep skin, good for me.

here are some seat makers that I have looked at.
Rich's Custom Seats
Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories | Cool Motorcycle Stuff since 1968 | 800-538-7035
Aftermarket Motorcycle Seat Aftermarket Custom Motorcycle Seats Aftermarket Mustang Seats Heated
Custom Motorcycle Seats and Touring Saddles - "Day-Long" Touring Saddles and Motorcycle Seats by Russell Cycle Products
Rick Mayer Cycle custom motorcycle seats

In the end I did not get a custom I do not care to do 1000 miles a day for weeks at a time. The OME gel with skin will get me by when I do need to do that range. Out of them all the daylong and the Rick Mayer have the best rep with the long range iron butt bunch. To get the seat right it can be a day long event you at the shop and you need to set up a time with them to do it.

You may try have the seat remade at home or at reupholster can save bunch and still get something nice out of the deal.

Thanks a lot for the info. I was actually looking at the Day-Long seats and they do seem appealing. Problem is it's all in the US - we're in the UK :(

I'll phone one of the custom seat manufacturers in UK and ask if they could do something like the Russell.

Cheers,
Andy

Plus One on the Russell Day Long seat. Probably best rep of them all. I rode a friends GS with one ... very nice. He described it like this:

" ... The Russell feels like the gentle hands of a 16 year old Virgin caressing your Butt" :smartass:

A cheaper option and one that has served me for over 260,000km now(90k of that through the Americas) is an Airhawk. This is the best for long term inho, especially with regards price.

My seat here in Oz was modified to take the airhawk bladder after the foam was removed, and a new cover put on, only $80 all up for the mod. I did not modify the US bike, just had the AH on the seat as normal, this lost me a bit of height but was workable.

Although I like the idea of a Day Long seat, I would prefer to test ride a $600 seat before I buy which is hard to do on a custom made seat. Have a look at the Vstrom forums and see how many custom seats are for sale, not many people return or sell an Airhawk. If you know someone with an AH, ask for a loan for a day or so, set it up right and ride, you will notice the difference, I went from 3/4hr max ride before numb bum, to 1200km days with no problems :)

Just my 10c worth :)

Cheers
TS

I find the Air Hawk pads allow me to move around too much in ways I can't control. Not good for me, in corners or under braking especially. I feel less than secure. I suppose one can adapt and I'm sure its good sitting stock still on a straight highway all day. But on twisty roads I found it distracting.

I like the idea of inserting the pad UNDER the leather cover. This sounds good. As long as it does not create any "Hot Spots" sounds OK.

BTW, most aftermarket seats being sold on Vstrom forums and others are mostly sold when owners are selling their bike and wisely sell off all farkels, putting bike back to stock. Farkels add little to re-sale ... at least in the USA.
290K kms is a lot of riding:thumbup1: Was that done all on one bike? How many aftermarket seats have you ridden on and on how many different bikes?

I do believe some arses are not cut out to be on bikes sometimes mind. I have tried a sheepskin on my Transalp and still was in agony after a days touring on a seat that some say is a fabulous seat as standard!! Then on my XR the standard plank just kills me, and a mate with the same bike says " ride it more you will get used to it" But after 10,000kms ... tosh.. it still kills. Im thinking I just dont like seats that have a natural forward slant, my arse skin stays in the position and my body weight moves forward.
the best I have found was an airhawk that allowed me to puff up the front perhaps making me more level

notice most people with gel seats also cover them?

i had the accessory gel seat on my triumph and it was a lot comfier than the original, but it got seriously hot if left in the sun, and stayed hot for a long time (like a medical back pad). most seats being black vinyl too doesnt help!

The AH should not be moving under you, but there should be a slight give into corners because you are riding on an air cushion after all.

Fair enough on the aftermarket sales on custom seats.

I never noticed any hotspots, but then I was always wearing riding pants so that my be why. Here is the thread where I posted a picture of the seat clicky
I did my riding on 3 different Vstroms and I have never ridden on an aftermarket seat, like I said, too expensive to get to try them where I live. If the seat has been custom made, then it would be no use me trying it anyway as it would not fit my bum. :)

I'm talking to a guy call Lee at Viking Vinyl and he reckons he'd be able to create a Russell Day Long styled seat for a lot less than the quoted 600 bucks. He uses gel and memory foam as well as other stiffer foams to give adequate support and spread the load evenly. I'm waiting for the last qoute and think we'll go with it. I like the idea of the Saddle like seat that you sit IN not ON.

If this won't be enough and Airhawk doesnt seem like a big expense and also covered by a sheepskin this would make the ride a pleasure :)

Is there a world record for the longest continuous ride on the bike? Hours? Miles? :):)

Just kidding! We're after the best possible comfort.

Thanks a lot for the info!
Andy