Sit On It! Touring Seats vs. Stock Seats
Jul 01 '07
The Bottom Line Picking the right seat for your seat is one of the fastest ways of getting the most enjoyment out of your motorcycle.
Having a passion for long distance motorcycle riding, the most often comment I hear is, "You rode that far on a motorcycle?” That comment is usually followed by something like, “I could never sit on that thing for that long!” After years of replies like, “It seemed more comfortable than pushing it,” and “it is too heavy to carry,” I have settled into just smiling and saying, “yes.”
What Comes Out Of The Box
Motorcycle manufacturers design their products for what is known as the “average” man. Sadly, I am not even sure if that is a typical man. Anyway, the typical production motorcycle is designed for a man who is 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighs around 175 pounds, has a 34-35 inch inseam, 34 inch sleeve length, and will likely never ride more than an hour and a half at a time. If you are the average man, both average build and a man, then you should be comfortable for that hour and a half riding day. If not, then you can either suck it up and take it, or buy a custom aftermarket seat.
BandAids, Or How To Sit On A Sheep!
An uncomfortable seat can be painful, but I doubt if you will need the kind of BandAids used for protecting a bleeding wound. There are part way measures that provide some level of comfort. The first sheep skin seat cushion. It does not have to be color matched to your gear or bike, and it does not even have to be form fitted. Laying the pad over the seat will allow some level of firm padding, along with a bit of drying air flow to the contact points. That drying action will slow down conditions commonly known as saddle sores, monkey butt, or diaper rash. Your riding day can lengthen and you can walk like a man. Others that I have seen very limited success with have been air cushions and even water or air filled pads. While they do provide a bit more cushioning, they try to conform to your shape and end up filling the void in between your buns. Preparation H becomes a very important part of your packing list!
Just Like Goldilocks
At first glance it would seem reasonable that a very soft seat would return the most comfort. Soft seats feel great for the first few miles, but the lack of support will allow too much of that conforming to go on, and then you are back at the local pharmacy. Too hard a seat will put way too much pressure on where the hip bones contact the muscles, bringing on the same pain you were trying to get away from. So how hard a seat do you need? Just like Goldilocks, it will depend on how much weight it will have to support and how much natural padding you carry around that part of your body. If you are not well versed in those necessary disciplines of engineering necessary to figure this out, you should either work with a truly knowledgeable seat maker, or try sitting on demonstration models. Remember, it can not be too soft or too hard, it has to be just right.
Tailbone Support
One key to endurance goes all the way back to the Wild West. Cowboy saddles had a lip around the back for the tailbone to lean against. Your touring seat should have one that is at least a couple of inches high. It does not have to be a back rest, you only need somewhere for the tailbone to rest.
Make Your Legs Longer!
Some shorter riders actually have boot soles so thick as to look like the platform shoes worn in the move Saturday Night Fever. I believe that a better option is to have the forward part of the seat as narrow as possible. The aftermarket seat I have on my BMW R1150RT is only a couple of inches narrower than stock, but by not spreading my legs as far apart at a stand-still, it makes them almost 2 inches longer! Being able to keep both feet flat on the ground at a traffic light means both comfort and safety.
But Where To Go?
The perfect seat for you can come from a number of places. Some bike manufacturers sell optional comfort touring seats. Most dealers stock products from aftermarket seat makers like Corbin, Sargent, Mayer, and Mustang. All make quality products that could be the right seat for your seat. Usually you can special order a semi-custom tailored version of their standard designs so as to cover any specific seat desires you may have. That will take a bit more time and a few more of your hard earned dollars, but could be well worth the effort over a few thousand miles. There are also a number of small businesses where a craftsman builds custom designs to your exact requirements. For my first truly custom touring seat I had to bring my motorcycle to the designer’s shop. That shop was near San Francisco and I lived right outside of Washington, DC! To this day I still believe it was well worth the trip!
Iron Butt
The world’s toughest motorcyclists are known as Iron Butt riders, but they are also known for stringing many 1000 mile days in a row. Enjoying the freedom and exhilaration of hundreds of motorcycle miles a day should not require that level of conditioning. Picking the right seat for your seat is one of the fastest ways of getting the most enjoyment out of your motorcycle.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.