Why is my stock seat uncomfortable?

bobframe

bobframe

Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
514
Location
Toccoa, GA
Bike
1200RT, 1200GS
I am finally coming around to admitting that my stock (actually the PO claimed it had been Spencerized...who knows?) is really uncomfortable. I've ridden it a tad over 300 miles in a day, but I was truly ready to get off the thing...and that's after we'd made at least half dozen stops, including a 40 minute lunch break.

I am willing to spring for a new/custom made seat IF I can be reasonably sure that the discomfort will come to an end.

To get happy with this idea, I think it would be helpful if I could understand what it is about the stock seat that would be changed with a new/custom seat.

Is it:

1. The width of the seat that gets fixed?
2. Is it the nature of the foam/support system? Is it simply "more foam"?
3. Is it the vinyl vs. leather (I HATE sitting on vinyl anything)?
4. Is it a matter of toughening up my rear end?

Did any of you just finally get used to the stock seat after despising it for a period of time??

My good friend and highly experienced rider claims I won't be happy til I buy a Russell All Day seat. But he also suggested that I wait until I was sure I would commit to keeping the ST and not waste the money on a new seat if I was going to sell/trade the bike for something else. I think I am now happy with the ST and want to fix the seat issue.
 
Very important.... before getting a custom seat from X or Y, find someone who has one and try it out.

I recent sent my seat off to be "delux'd" and it came back worse than the stock seat and the answer was... "it happens", so I am off to buy another seat this weekend, but try before I buy.

And a few examples:
http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk/PAN%20EUROPEAN.htm (I am going for the "[FONT=&quot]BLADERUNNER STYLE" seat)[/FONT]

http://www.topsellerie.com/@EN-FR/H...ol-tank-covers-tank-bags-motorbike_5_102.html

http://www.sargentcycle.co.uk/acatalog/ST_1300_Front_Rear_Seats.html

http://www.corbin.com/honda/st1300.shtml
 
Cable said:
Very important.... before getting a custom seat from X or Y, find someone who has one and try it out.

I recent sent my seat off to be "delux'd" and it came back worse than the stock seat and the answer was... "it happens", so I am off to buy another seat this weekend, but try before I buy.
Click to expand...

That is very good advise!
I put 25K on my original stock seat before I said UNCLE. I ended up purchasing a Sargent, however, I would never tell anyone that the Sargent seat will take care of the problem.
Everyone's keester is different. What works for one rider may not be close for another. -JEP-
 
Cable said:
Very important.... before getting a custom seat from X or Y, find someone who has one and try it out.

I recent sent my seat off to be "delux'd" and it came back worse than the stock seat and the answer was... "it happens", so I am off to buy another seat this weekend, but try before I buy.

And a few examples:
http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk/PAN%20EUROPEAN.htm (I am going for the "[FONT=&quot]BLADERUNNER STYLE" seat)[/FONT]

http://www.topsellerie.com/@EN-FR/H...ol-tank-covers-tank-bags-motorbike_5_102.html

http://www.sargentcycle.co.uk/acatalog/ST_1300_Front_Rear_Seats.html

http://www.corbin.com/honda/st1300.shtml
Click to expand...

Yeah, all very nice looking seats, but I still don't know what I am trying to fix...guess I need some more miles before I can pinpoint what I want changed....though I suspect a wider seat, which provides more support across by butt and thighs would help. Also suspect than vinyl (won't breathe) is another cause for my discomfort...sounds like a wider, leather seat would be a good start, eh?

I need to try my buddy's Russell seat again, now that I have a bit more "educated arse".

As I looked at the links you provided, I had no idea what was different about these saddles..i.e., what was being modified and why.
 
Recently found my FJR stocker isn't very good for long distances, I could go about a 100 miles before a 5 min break though.

Find myself in the same boat as the OP. What would be better, and why? Quite a lot of expensive experimentation is possible here, which I need to avoid. My biggest problem *seemed* to be where my thighs hit the sides of the seat, and more so on one side...

But I can't do a russell day long as I like to slide off the seat sometimes (in the curvie roads).

Will be watching this thread to see what others have to say...
 
I'm with Cable. Unless you ride a seat before you buy it, you are going to be taking a shot in the dark. I have heard raves about Spencerizing, Russell's and Sargents as well as complaints. (more raves than complaints about Russells) I am biding my time before taking the leap. I put a lot of long miles on a Corbin when I was riding my Beemer, and though it started out seeming like an wood bench, I discovered that it never made my butt regret sitting on it, and that was after 500 miles plus. Still, I am hesitant to spend the money on another one for my ST after reading negatives from others in this forum. Perhaps it is a matter of TMI. Russell is just a few hours up the road, and they can do an on site custom job for me, so that seems like the best bet, but I sure like the looks of the Corbin. Of course, one doesn't look at the seat much when one has their keester planted on it.
I doubt if any of this has helped you to make a decision, but at least you can feel better about the dilemma while knowing you aren't the only one.
Wouldn't it be cool if we had a pool of loaner seats we could tap to test ride.

mike
 
IMHO, the butt ache comes from lack of support of the gluteus maximi. We don't get the same aches when riding in a car or sitting in the recliner watching TV and they don't resemble the basic stock MC seat. I have had Daylongs on two bikes now and both have increased the miles between breaks for me. I have a friend who has a GW and he is comfortable on it whereas he had to install a Russell on his former cruiser - the GW has a saddle with the side support like the Russell.
Note: I am still able to "hang off" the Russell during aggressive cornering.
 
Not sure if you have done a search of the topic yet, but there have been a number of threads on saddles! I rode my stock saddle over 1,200 miles one weekend and my :butt1: was really complaining by the time I got to the end of that ride! :(

A few weeks later my Russell came in and I have been a happy camper since! No :butt1: burn and I have been in the saddle for a some really long days. 12 - 13 hours with a few breaks here and there. As far as I'm concerned, for my :butt1:, a Russell is the way to go. Although as some have pointed out, everyone's :butt1: is different and therefore what works for one may not work for someone else.

One other point is I don't like vinyl, and I had gone with the velore which I loved, until it was so faded in three months that it looked white. So I had them recover it in leather. It's been that way now since December of 2006 and I have put on lots of miles on that saddle! :hat1:

Good luck in your search.
 
Listen to your buddy and buy the Russell.

The stock seat isn't as bad as some, but it's narrow (compared to my butt,) the padding is minimal, and it's shaped for looks rather than function.

The Russell spreads the load evenly over your backside, and farther out to the sides. There's an internal spring suspension system that equalizes the pressure. It's also made to fit you, specifically, rather than the mythical "average" rider.

As far as vinyl, the Russell vinyl is plenty comfortable. Leather costs more (not much of a consideration when you lay out the cost of a Russell,) and requires more care. I wanted low maintenance and went with the vinyl with no regrets. It's worth noting that the Russell vinyl is different than what's on your OEM seat.

If you decide to buy a Russell, it's built on your stock seat pan. There are some loaner seats here on the forum (mine's out at the moment, but should be back in a few weeks) that will allow you to keep riding while yours is worked on.

The Russell seat is probably the best farkle I've purchased. It's expensive, but you only pay once and get to live with the quality for a long time.
 
Check out the Kontour seat site and learn everything you ever wanted to know about why stock seats are uncomfortable.
http://kontourseat.com/

I'm not affiliated with Kontour in anyway and actually found the stock seat to be fine for me (and I'm a 1K in 24 hours type of rider). I like the Spenserized seats as well.

I do have a couple of friends who swear by the Kontour and, on their bikes, the Kontour made all the difference. One has a KLR and a BMW LT that he put Kontour seats on - what a difference! Another friend had a Shadow 750 that was so uncomfortable, even for me, that 20 minutes was about the max - the Kontour makes the bike rideable.

Not saying you should get a Kontour but reading their website might help you figure out what it is about your seat that feels uncomfortable and help you in your quest for the 'right' one for you.
 
You mentioned that the previous PO claimed to have had it Spencerized.
Just to check so you know if you have a spencer or a stock (i.e., you'll know where your starting from), take a gander at the photos in the attached link.
If the holes are present, then the odds are excellent that its been Spencerized. If no holes, then its stock and your options are wide open!

Ride safe.

http://www.tacticalturf.com/ST1300/Spencer.htm
 
Well I bit the bullet and went with a Bill Mayer, both rider and pillion in leather, currently in route. I currently have the stock that's been Spencerized, and it went from stock 30 minutes butt hurts to Spencerized 300 miles butt hurts. So the money spent was worth it I just wanted more. Russell's Day-long design patent and name was purchased from Bill Mayer Sr. So we will see how it work out .
 
So, has this saddle been Spencerized?

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg39/bobframe/IMG_3449.jpg

IMG_3449.jpg


IMG_3447.jpg
 
fnmag said:
Seats are very personal to each rider. What works for one might not work for another.
That's why Russell and a few others ask for measurements and other feedback.
How tall are you and what do you weigh? What is your inseam?
Click to expand...

Yep , as well as pics of you and your pillion on it and different view points of bottom contact..
 
fnmag said:
Seats are very personal to each rider. What works for one might not work for another.
That's why Russell and a few others ask for measurements and other feedback.
How tall are you and what do you weigh? What is your inseam?
Click to expand...

6'3", 230, 34".
 
Rick Gibson said:
I have found out that getting you back side in shape helps a ton.
Click to expand...

How do you do this?

I have done a lot of long distance cycling and in that world, spending hours on the saddle is what it takes..BUT, you have to have a saddle that fits your backside. This is something that can be measured and the guesswork taken out of it. In my early stages I was using a bicycle saddle that was just too narrow for my "sit bones" and it was NEVER going to be comfortable. Once I understood this, the hunt for a compatible saddle was much easier.

This is what I am trying to understand better with motorcycle seats...
 
When I was riding more often, the monkey butt was alot less. 100-150 miles per day. I have a Spencer seat, and a Corbin. I had a Russell, but sold it. I only use the Spencer seat now. When I was yound I could ride hundreds of miles on 175cc Kawasaki without a problem, but now all of my parts are 67 and half years old.
 
BTW, Spencer says, "Yes, the seat has definitely been done and in the last 18 months but I cannot tell from a photo if it is lowered, standard height, or the latest generation that was implemented about six months ago."

So, I'm wondering:

1. Do I simply need to give my butt time to toughen and to get used to sitting on ANY seat?
2. And maybe I'll fall in love with my Spencer seat. Or,
3. Am I one of the guys for whom a Spencer seat is not comfortable? And therefore,
4. I need to order a replacement seat? And if so,
5. Which replacement seat? And would it make sense to try to to buy a used Corbin? Or a used Sargent? Or,
6. Should I do as has been suggested and simply get out the checkbook, strap on my daddy's shoes and buy a Russell seat now?

Gawd, I am tormented with the choices.
 
Bob,

You purchased a used bike with a seat that was built for someone else. You gave no details on the PO in your e-mail, for all I know it was set up for a 5 ft, 90 lb lady rider :) There is another post with a rider who purchased a bike with a Russell that wasn't built for him and he doesn't like it. The best advise is to see if you can find other riders in your area who will let you try their seats, although you will never know what is going to work for you, and no one seat works for every rider, until you can spend some time with a seat. Many rider have a tough time as season gets started no matter what they are riding or what shape they think they are in. Riding, especially distance riding takes specific conditioning and for many having been off your bike for months makes the first few rides a challenge.

Good hunting, Spencer

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom