Why is my stock seat uncomfortable?

After a nice long ride yesterday I focused carefully on my discomfort. I used a Walmart car seat pad (only $20 and it came well recommended). I was quite comfy until I was about 150-170 miles into the ride. At that point I began feeling as though the skin at the top and back of my thighs was being stretched and was the primary source of pain. I could make it go away by lifting off the seat, but within minutes it was back. I concluded that the seat is both too narrow and too soft and I am simply not getting the support I need. Time to man up and order a new saddle. Based on a nearly unanimous chorus of approval, I've decided to order a Russell Day-Long in leather.

Now the wait begins. Thanks to all who've responded and offered help. It has made the selection process much simpler.

Thanks guys!
 
I have been wondering the same thing for quite some time so this was a very interesting thread to read. I have recently acquired a new bike and hate the seat that is currently on it. With all the experimentation from various members....is anyone looking to get rid of their Russell seat??? :mcrider: ha ha ha ha
 
I am planning to borrow a stock seat from a STOC member who found a second hand Russell seat...so don't despair, it can be done. OTOH, the Russell folks do make some effort to build a seat to meet your specific needs (doubt that you could really consider them "custom made"...I'd think that would involve an butt mold wouldn't it??)...so a used seat would be something of a gamble. But it seems to me that a new seat is a gamble too.
 
Unless they've changed their policies recently, Russell does offer a money-back guarantee. And I believe they're the only "custom" seat company that does. So while it's a gamble, if worst comes to worst you're only out the shipping costs.
 
I have the same problem with a Corbin or with the stocker. I tried an airhawk but it didn't fit the contour of the Corbin...so I bought a beadrider to go on the corbin and I've use that for the past 80k miles. It still hurts when I get beyond about 200 miles but I can still walk at the end of a long day.
 
Has anyone tried a Cee Bailey seat? I just found a link on Ebay for Cee Bailey seats. Never heard of them before other than windscreens. The pics show a seat with wings ala Russell but not as prominent. I have a Corbin which is a vast inprovement over stock for me; but I miss the adjustment option so have been perusing the blogs. One thing that really extends my miles before monkey butt (MBMB) is UNDER ARMOUR thigh length compression type shorts. Never leave home w/out 'em. Not on a long ride (>150m) anyway.
 
I have an idea for this seat problem. Yesterday I rode my old snapper mower over an hour while mowing the lawn. After I finished, it occured to to me that my derriere was not sore. That is very different from the stock seat on the ST. Has anyone tried fitting one of these seats on an ST? Pics? The mower seat already has mounting bolts on the bottom. Seems like I could drill four holes in the stock bottom or just make a bracket of some kind on the bike.
 
I wish E Z Berg was stil making seats. I had one of his on an old Gold Wing for 169,000 comfortable miles. I don't think he's still with us, but somebody must have inherited the molds and the technology, but a search turns up nothing.

John
 
Real answer as to why the stocker is so uncomfy .
1. Its, to soft, nice in the show room ,not so nice on long rides !
2. Too rounded of a profile , not enough support were it counts, under thighs and under the rear buttocks !
3. Too much forward slope , always sliding forward ! Good for moving around for handling , not so good on a long ride !
4. Never can find a sweet spot , always moving around trying to get comfy to no avail, down rite unbearible on a long hot ride !
5. Kind of a slippery material at times, but sticky when hot ?

Sargent solved it for me , Stockers are boxed up for storage !
:slv13: MIKE
 
I bought the best mod Spencer had to offer. I bought a Russell Day Long about 4 weeks later. Another vote for "listen to your friend". He knows of what he speaks. Russell Day Long saddles on both of my bikes.

Raymond
 
I have russell on my st, sent it back last sept,put 200 miles in the last 2 days.So far seat is worse than last year,i hope that mileage will correct this.It would be great to live close to russell,and get a ride in,i'm sure my problems would be solved.It is $60 shipping and 20 days with out a seat every time i ship it back.
 
stmike1300 said:
I have russell on my st, sent it back last sept,put 200 miles in the last 2 days.So far seat is worse than last year,i hope that mileage will correct this.It would be great to live close to russell,and get a ride in,i'm sure my problems would be solved.It is $60 shipping and 20 days with out a seat every time i ship it back.
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Man, I hate hearing stories like this. It really goes to my original question. Until you know why the seat is causing discomfort (and is it, in fact, the seat that's the problem and not what I'm wearing??), how do you know what needs to be fixed? Its still a mystery to me and I am simply choosing to buy a Russell because people around my say it fixed THEIR problem. Whether or not it fixes MY problem (really the only one I care about) remains to be seen.
 
I have a Russell, front and rear in leather. I like it a lot. But, I am happy to get off the seat after a few hours and excercise my "Tuckus". There is no utopia in seat comfort. If you purchase a Russell and if the fit is not what you like, you can send back to them for adjustments, free of charge. You will have to pay for the shipping to and fro. The best would be to make any appt. at Russell and have it made while you wait and get the correct fit. Even that is a crap shoot. I have ridden 750 mi in one day in my Russell, south Dallas to Denver, 15 hours, 8 in the rain. Was I beat when I got home...yes, I was. Plus, I am 70, so that adds to the wear and tear. Dave B. Denver
 
Another thing you can do for seat comfort is purchased a gel pad for the seat or "real" sheepskin. Wally World sells a reasonable cost seat gel pad that works ok. I did try one on my Russell, did not seem to make a lot more comfortable. Standing in the pegs every 30-45 mins and rubbing the tuckus a bit helps with the circulation. Almost all riders have seat discomfort to some degree. DAve B. Denver
 
Just get a Russell and be done with it. Like others have said, ride 600 miles and other stuff might hurt, but it won't be your butt.
 
Hi
I have done hundred of custom seats in my many years of making custom seats and your numbers 1-2-3 are all correct
depending on your physical make up you may have a seat that is to wide or not wide enough that is easily altered,
the foam is a big factor, some stock as well as aftermarket seats are just HARD the foam is injected into a mold under pressure
like filling a tire with air the more pressure the harder the ride,
The cover material can make a difference but not much depending what it is.
for the best seat mod. you need to sit on your bike and see if you are flat footed or close to it, if not and you are on your tip toes
it is to high cut it down and make it narrower if it is to short make it higher using a medium density foam.
for a nicer seat to sit on all day install GEL with memory foam into the seat and put the cover on over it so they don't steal it like the
kind you strap on top. You do not have to go to some fancy custom seat maker to have any of the above done just find a GOOD
automotive upholstery shop and tell them what you want they will work with you until you are happy because they want you business
more than the big guys. it they don't have the GEL get it your self at J.C Whitney or at www.daves vcu.com or where ever you like and take it
to them to install..
Hopes this helps out
Motorcycle Dave :bk11:
 
If I sit 15 hours in my recliner, with ice tea and the remote I'm gonna be sore. Dang. Trying to go past 9 or 10 hours doing anything in one spot is gonna put the butt in a bit of a fix, doncha think.
 
My stock seat is a recipe for monkey butt after about two hours. I'm going to peel the cover off, cut down the stock foam and add some softer closed cell foam along with about 1/2 inch of open cell foam. I've read a lot about reshaping seats and I'm going to do it myself and save hundreds in the process. Worst case scenario is I have to re-do it until I'm happy, but it's better than spending money I can't spare on an aftermarcket seat that may or may not do the trick.
 
motorpsycho said:
My stock seat is a recipe for monkey butt after about two hours. I'm going to peel the cover off, cut down the stock foam and add some softer closed cell foam along with about 1/2 inch of open cell foam. I've read a lot about reshaping seats and I'm going to do it myself and save hundreds in the process. Worst case scenario is I have to re-do it until I'm happy, but it's better than spending money I can't spare on an aftermarcket seat that may or may not do the trick.
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Interesting. Why don't you photograph your process so we can all learn from you?
 
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