[msh1156]

...but my ass hurts!!

It was beautiful this weekend in the Charlotte, NC area and I must have spent over seven hours actual riding. I even passed another '03 750 on Sunday on Johnston Road (in case you are here).

The thing is the longer I rode the more I began to notice how really uncomfortable I was. A 24 mile commute is one thing, but the extended rides left me wondering what to do. (The boards and peg mounts from Chad have been ordered) I can't afford a Corbin, or even justify that cost; Mustangs are scarce as hen's teeth and the moment you hear about one someone else grabs it (still - wicked expensive); The Saddelmen Explorer is up for debate and it will be weeks before we get a report on it (again - expensive); I'm not confident in the least about rebuilding my own seat, and paying someone over 200 bucks to put new foam and gel in the thing won't make it wider or further back - not to mention while it's being done, I've got nothin'. At 6', 225 I'm not small, but I even think my handlebars may need some more pullback. Frankly, I'm a little pissed. I'm wondering if in my haste I bought the wrong bike.

 

[accord_guy]

Don't think you bought the wrong bike. ALL stock seats are really bad. Keep looking for a Mustang or go with something else. It's well worth the money.

 

[Jace Bror]

I have to agree with you. I am brokering a deal right now to get a mustang (with the wife mainly) But our height does seem to be a restriction on this bike. I have moved the bars around and can't find a spot I like. Thinkin bout apes, but thats pricey, plus that means a lot of stuff to replace, cables, hoses, wiring. But despite all that I still love this bike.

 

[hyperbuzzin]

I think I'm one of the few here who doesn't get too bothered by the stock seat.
I've done several weekend/1000mile + rides as well as many 300mile single day rides and never had too much of a problem.
Sure, sitting for extended periods gets to me, but no more so than if I were to be sitting in my Jeep for the same time.
But then again, I got into motorcycling on dirtbikes, so getting used to the even more uncomfortable feeling of a dirtbike seat kinda got me thinking the stock Vulcan seat is actually comfortable compared to a dirtbike seat.

Have you considered a seat cushion? AirHawk is often brought up here.

 

[wvshaneb]

I got a new(er) stock seat on ebay for about $80. It had one season of riding on it. It's much better than the one that came on my '99, but still not great. I can ride an hour or two now before my butt starts hurting as apposed to the 30 to 45 minutes before.

Like you, I can't justify Corbin prices and odds of finding a Mustang are only slightly better than winning the lottery, so I'm trying to redo my old seat. I'm trying to make it a little wider and sit a little lower in hopes to gain a little back support. I'm about $40 into it with the foam and spray adhesive. I'll probably have to pay someone to do a cover for it because I don't think the old one will fit when I'm done. At the rate I'm going though it will be several weeks before I'm done. Seems like the nice days I'm riding and the other days are too cold to work in the garage.:doh:

I found some good info at http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/ but I'm kinda just winging it too. If it turns out alright, I'll get some pictures up. If it turns out bad, I may put the pictures up anyway and maybe someone can tell me how I could do it better!!

 

[jabarry]

I decided to actually shell out for the Corbin last year and glad I did. I love it. All rear ends are different though. I am 5-11 and relatively athletic and trim.

 

[Jace Bror]

I am 5-11 and relatively athletic and trim.

braggart...

 

[msh1156]

All rear ends are different though. I am 5-11 and relatively athletic and trim.

Hmmm. What are you wearing?

 

[Hiker]

Yes...

I think I'm one of the few here who doesn't get too bothered by the stock seat.
I've done several weekend/1000mile + rides as well as many 300mile single day rides and never had too much of a problem.
Sure, sitting for extended periods gets to me, but no more so than if I were to be sitting in my Jeep for the same time.
But then again, I got into motorcycling on dirtbikes, so getting used to the even more uncomfortable feeling of a dirtbike seat kinda got me thinking the stock Vulcan seat is actually comfortable compared to a dirtbike seat.

I second that. I have no problem with the seat.

 

[msh1156]

Have you considered a seat cushion? AirHawk is often brought up here.

Yes I have. For an air pillow I thought it was just too much money, and I don't want to be raised up higher. I may try (believe it or not) a gel seat pad made for a Kayak, or even some wood beads. The sheepskin pad didn't work either.

 

[antiq]

My but hurts after a three hour ride in a caddilac!

 

[Knifemaker]

I'm not starting another seat thread....


Yes, it looks like you are. The options were pretty much discussed in the OTHER threads and your solution is likely to be found here:


http://www.vn750.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10251

The link for Spencers seat mods in my post is what you seemingly need. You can have your seat redone for about 100 bucks.

. Frankly, I'm a little pissed. I'm wondering if in my haste I bought the wrong bike.

No you got the right bike, just the wrong seat. You can of course spend more money for another bike with a nicer seat...but dollar wise, you come out ahead just buying a new seat or having your stock one redone.

So really, stop bitching about it and just do something.....



KM

 

[msh1156]

Yes, it looks like you are. So really, stop bitching about it and just do something..... KM

Bitching doesn't cost anything and that's all I was really doing.

 

[JWenhart]

The seat is the reason that the Vulcan 750 has such a small gas tank. You have to stop every so often and give your A$$ a rest from sitting on that seat.

On my long rides, when i stop for gas, I also make it a point to get a drink (soda, water, jucie, etc). The added time after filling up get the circulation back into my butt and legs, I get refreshed and have the energy to ride another tank of gas out.

Works perfectly for me. I almost think the engineers planned it that way when they put the midget tank on the bike.

 

[John Brisson]

I purchased a gel seat pad that had the memory foam padding and it made me sit higher and I was somewhat disappointed because I didn't notice that much of a difference execept my butt still hurt on those long rides.

 

[weh44att]

I tried the wood beads for a more comfortable ride and it really didn't help. It just keeps your butt a lot cooler on those really hot days,lets the air circulate under you.

 

[skalding]

I'm working on my seat as well. Having fit a lot of bicycles, I can say that the relationship (angles and distances) between feet/butt/hands are very important. On a motorcycle, your feet can take a lot of your weight, easing the ride. I'm planning on going "floor up" and putting boards on the bike. Once I have that, I can figure out how much I have to pad/cut the seat to make my sitting posture align with the pegs. Then I'll deal with the handlebars last.

Sometimes the solution isn't the seat, per se, but what the rest of your body is doing in relation to it.

**

And get the wood beads. Cut down a car seat one and use some twine/fishing line to thread the new seat closed. (actually thread the seat *then* cut away the rest.) You'll love it - no pressure points and air circulates under you. No more swamp-ass feel on hot days.

 

[Old Dog]

And get the wood beads. Cut down a car seat one and use some twine/fishing line to thread the new seat closed. (actually thread the seat *then* cut away the rest.) You'll love it - no pressure points and air circulates under you. No more swamp-ass feel on hot days.

Hmmmm...Very interesting, I have that problem and would like to hear more...
Thanks and have a good one...Old Dog...

 

[LibertyPilot]

Yeah, I'm the one waiting on the saddleman seat. I actually just e-mailed the guy yesterday and asked for an estimated ship date. He said everything in there production line is running smoothly so I should get the seat in the originally estimated time of 3 to 5 weeks from the date of order. Then he told me that to supply an estimated ship date would only be guess work on there part. Uhh, isn't that what an "estimation" is? C'mon dude.

Anyway, when the seat finally gets here, the review will be in the "equipment" section.

 

[skalding]

Hey O.Dog,

Here's my beaded seat theory. What we really need in a seat (IMOP) is something that:

1) puts your feet in an ergonomic position "under" you, where the feet can support some of your weight. Knees should not be parallel (or higher than) your sitbones.

2) distributes what weight there is left over a broad surface area with no pressure points (i.e., no buttons, ridges, etc.)

3) breathes well enough to keep you cool.

The first two are easy to do with basic seat mods. However, if you alter the seat to get more cradle, and/or pull the buttons and the thigh chafing ring, it ends up comfortable enough, but it's also like wearing a huge leather diaper. Older stock seats just get that way anyway as the foam starts to lose its compression and you sink into it.

Theoretically, you could get breatheability by perrforating the seat somehow. You'll notice that old tractor "bucket" seats have those perroforations, but it's Much harder to do with foam core seats.

The next option is to texture the top of the seat to allow airflow underneath you. The beads basically do that. (And sheepskin does as well I think, but I've never tried it.)

Think of the beads as a lot of small tubes. Air flows through and between the tubes. This cools you off and keeps your seat temp and humidity the same as your thighs or front area. (If you're drowning in non-breatheable pants, the beads aren't going to help much.)

To get airflow, you do have to make sure the beaded pad extends all around your sitting area on the seat. Imagine just putting a 2 inch square area under your butt. It wouldn't improve breatheability since the tubes can't connect to the outside air. If you've gelled the seat or if you're very heavy, the beads can "sink" into the foam/gel, then you've got the same problem - you're getting nothing with airflow. I'm not sure how those Walmart "waffle" pads work. I'd guess they'd be good at removing pressure points and spreading out weight, but I'd be a little worried about creating closed pockets of heat/humidity between the seat and myself. The point is to get air flowing through there.

If you do have the bead pad's leading edge catching air, you should get some flow under the pad. And while it's not like standing up and letting the wind cool you, it should be similiar to an extent.

I suppose if you cover a lot of surface area with your seat (how's that for diplomatic?), you could possibly cut away some of the foam to make some kind of air channel to run under the beads. Maybe a very shallow "Y" groove to catch air and funnel it back?

Here's an idea I've been toying with: how about an air scoop (between headlight and fairing?) with tubes leading out of it. You could run the tubes to anywhere you need airflow - say under a seatpad, or to the R+R. I don't think it's ultimately pratical, and I relocated my R+R anyway, but it's fun to brainstorm ideas. (Another wacky one was to use the same kind of "scoop" to power a charging system as a backup to the R+R - don't think it would make enough power for much though, so I was thinking of running that wind driven charger to an aux. battery and then running some accessories off it the battery?)

As far as the "softness" issue of the beads goes, there's a happy medium. On a stock seat the beads should depress enough to even out pressure points, but have enough "cushion" not to be uncomfortable. You don't want the beads sinking "into" the seat though, so if you've gelled or softened the seat somehow, you might want to consider firmer foam.

I've done long all day trips with and with out the beads. With the beads is completely better. No ache, no soreness, no dampness or chaffing.

More later maybe.