Gel seat for a Suzuki DRZ400sm - any suggestions?
 

Hi there,


I'm about to order a gel seat/ comfier seat for my DRZ for a trip in September and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of seats/ sites to order it from?

I've been looking to buy it from here:

Corbin DRZ400 Supermoto Seat

I just wanted to know, has anyone seen a better one, or the same one at a cheaper price? I'd prefer to buy brand new.

Or, are there any other tips for making the seat comfier? I've heard some add sheepskin on top or some simply strap a pillow on top!

Thanks guys.

OK, sorry for the bumping of this post but I've just found out it's going to cost about £332 including shipping to the UK, does anyone have any other ideas on a cheaper/ easier way of getting a more comfy ride on my bike?

I'm pretty desperate here.

I'm thinking of taking my bike to Saxon seats (west country). They quoted £160 for a re-sculpt and +£70 for gel inserts. Looks good, doesn't it?

KTM 690 enduro / SMC comfort seat UK OWNERS - ADVrider

Bike in question: Yamaha WR250R

Other makes:
http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk/
Rayz zadels - Voorbeelden

I have heard only good about Airhawk seats.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

..until now.
Don't get me wrong, I own an airhawk and it works well at reducing the harshness of a seat.

However, although they squish-down, they can give a rather unsettled/unstable feeling, especially on narrow seats (they also push-up against my 'two Veg.', which I don't like) They hold a lot of water if it's raining. Even the neoprene ones struggled with our trip from UK to CapeTown and had to be repaired constantly because the glue perished in the hot sun and constant abuse. When you fix them you need to strap'em down securely but the loops are on the stretchy outercase, not the inner neoprene bit so it's not perfect. Plus, you may need to find somewhere to store it when off the bike as they're pretty nickable (probably only for novelty value in the thief's eyes).

Otherwise good but I'm going for a rebuilt seat instead...

Thanks for the posts guys. I tried some of the links but there were none for Suzuki DRZs. The Rayz link is in German so I think it'll take too much time to contact them and get it ordered.

I'm a bit cautious of the airhawks idea. Again, I think there won't be enough time especially as I have to second guess the size I need it at.

I noticed Chris Bright didn't seem to use any such seat for his trip in Baja, but used some sort of sheepskin on top (and at the end, a hidden cushon). I've tried to contact him if he would recommend it.

:clap:
Well done. Thanks for the feedback. I have never used one but have friends who don't ride without them.
For myself, I have a couple of sheep skins I'm very happy with.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ

Seat
 

Hiya,
I may have a seat off a DRZ400S that has been re-done by a professional seat company complete with gel pad etc, I think this will fit your bike as well but please check (I am sure somebody on this site will know) if its of interest get in touch.
cheers jim

Hi there,

Yes I would still be interested so long as it isn't too much money and is in the UK. I'll be leaving on September 9th so not long at all though.
sorry if this is ignorant, but where do you buy sheep skins from? Is there a certain type that's more comfortable than others? How do you fit them on (do you just put them on top and hope they don't blow away/ fall off?)?

For gel seats try the very competent http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk.
I got them to work on my last 2 bikes' seats and I'm very happy with it.

Regarding 2d question, how to keep the sheep skin on the seat, the simplest way for me is a piece of elastic (from haberdashery shop- under a pound for a meter) around the seat and tuck the sheepskin under the elastic on both ends of the seat. If you see what I mean?

It is like that very easy to fit and remove.

A more sophisticated way is to use those suspender things (braces???), basically those things men used instead of a belt to keep their trousers up.
Anyhow, fit them under your seat, and use the metal "crocodile teeth" to fix the ship skin on and off.
Ok my explanation is not clear, would be easier in french.
Let me know if you do not understand!

Have fun!

Maria

Sheepskin
 

Sorry for not answering mate, I didn't see your last post. I get my sheepskins from a pet shop. Here in NZ they use the little offcuts and sew about a 1/2 dozen into an oval pad for a cat-sized bed, perfect for a bike seat. Only about NZ$20 or about 8 UK pounds. I then sew a long strip of curtain webbing (but any substantial strip or belt of fabric) across the underside and put a piece of Velcro at each end. Then it's and easy matter to flip up the seat, feed the strip under and press the Velcro ends together.
Easy to remove if the rain comes or to wrap around something on the bike to blow in the wind if they get wet.

Cheers bloke,

Nigel in NZ

hybrid!
 

I did a trip a few years ago on a klr650, and got the airhawk air seat, which was super comfy, then had a black sheepskin trimmed down with some scissors (skin bought online for about $25 US I think) and fashioned into a seat cover at a leather tailor's in california (I took the bike with me and just explained what I wanted -they loved the idea), and put it OVER the airhawk . The two together were a winning combination:cool4:

The skin just slipped on and off by the front part of the seat (the shop had made a tight fitting sheath out of the front part of the skin and some other durable material, and then they'd put 2 velcro points at the back (I attached small strips of opposing velcro to the back of the OEM seat, screwed into the underside of it and only just protruding from the sides)

The airhawk has elastic to hold it in place - i only used the front anchor point, which similar to the description above, slides between the metal of your tank and the front part of your seat, hugging the seat.

The airhawk is far more effective for me than a sheepskin for adding comfort, but the sheepskin made my bike look like an animal (I even left the hair a little longer down the middle strip when I trimmed it - like a beast's ridgeback); it probably added more comfort too, but I mainly like the way it held in place the airhawk, and looked tidy.

...................Just noticed the date of your post! Ah well.. For future info :)