Seat Options?

[jtsharps]

So I'm used to riding sportbikes (GSXR & KTM RC8) & I bought the FZ6 as a 2 up, more comfy option. Well what I'm finding is that my ass hurts about 25 minutes into the ride! I'm much more comfortable on my sportys. It's got the stock seat on it. I'm wondering what anyone can tell me about a nice, comfy seat that I can put some miles on??

 

[MattR302]

Click search button, type "seat", click "titles only". You'll find a million threads.

I just bought a Terry Adcox custom seat and it is great (you'll find my thread when you search)

 

[jtsharps]

Click search button, type "seat", click "titles only". You'll find a million threads.

I just bought a Terry Adcox custom seat and it is great (you'll find my thread when you search)

The search function kinda sucks on here but I found some posts dealing with seats. As per usual some people love certain ones while others hate those exact ones and there's no clear answer. lol Trial and error time. I did find your post about the Terry seat and that looks amazing!! The Corbin seat for example looks like it'd push the rider and passenger way up toward the front and looks terrible from the pics. The pics of your seat look awesome. I shall look into that option further.

 

[thisisbenji]

It usually has a lot to do with how you're sitting on the saddle and where you're placing your weight. That's different for everyone, thus everyone has a different opinion on which saddle is best.

 

[Water Bear]

I just got back to real life after a ~2000 mile trip. My stock seat had undergone a Spencer seat mod which as I understand it is mostly a re-foaming. Some forum members find this to be enough of a change, I did not. My tail bone got pretty sore after consecutive days in the saddle. I put an Airhawk inflatable seat cover on; That helped a bit, but the tail bone still was sore.

I am currently saving up for a Russel day-long saddle with back rest (day long saddles). The majority of people on this forum want to preserve the sporty look of their bikes, and that's where saddles like the Corbin come in. If you, like me, truly do not give a damn what your saddle looks like, then the Russel is probably the answer. At Barber vintage motorsports museum they have a few world-record long haul touring bikes on display that were all the actual machines used. They all had dished saddles similar to what you will see out of a Russel. Again I haven't tried it yet, but by all appearances if you want a saddle for all day comfort something like the Russel is what you want.

Others will likely have better suggestions if you are more concerned about appearances.

 

[Water Bear]

It usually has a lot to do with how you're sitting on the saddle and where you're placing your weight. That's different for everyone, thus everyone has a different opinion on which saddle is best.

Some seat manufacturers (Spencer's seat mods and Russel daylong saddles in particular) will base the construction of the seat off of pictures or descriptions of how you sit in your saddle. For example, at Russel they request you send some pictures of your normal riding position on the bike whereas Spencer requests you submit a description - up on the tank, back against the saddle, etc.

 

[FinalImpact]

OP can you clarify that it is not vibrations inducing this @ss ache?

This can be fixed, the vibes. The mechanical fit is up to you.

Often times it is both. The seat is not the greatest!

 

[thisisbenji]

I actually found a set of TechSpec tank grips was the absolute best thing I could do on my bike for comfort.

 

[jtsharps]

I just got back to real life after a ~2000 mile trip. My stock seat had undergone a Spencer seat mod which as I understand it is mostly a re-foaming. Some forum members find this to be enough of a change, I did not. My tail bone got pretty sore after consecutive days in the saddle. I put an Airhawk inflatable seat cover on; That helped a bit, but the tail bone still was sore.

I am currently saving up for a Russel day-long saddle with back rest (day long saddles). The majority of people on this forum want to preserve the sporty look of their bikes, and that's where saddles like the Corbin come in. If you, like me, truly do not give a damn what your saddle looks like, then the Russel is probably the answer. At Barber vintage motorsports museum they have a few world-record long haul touring bikes on display that were all the actual machines used. They all had dished saddles similar to what you will see out of a Russel. Again I haven't tried it yet, but by all appearances if you want a saddle for all day comfort something like the Russel is what you want.

Others will likely have better suggestions if you are more concerned about appearances.

I'm 100% with you when it comes to this bike, I don't care at all how it looks, I just want comfort. At this point however, there's no way I'm spending the kind of money that those Russel seats cost. If I make this my distance riding/traveling bike full time down the road, then I'd consider it. This bike to me at this point is my 3rd, cheapy, SUPPOSED to be comfy bike for riding 2up. I did come across that site when I was searching around. They look awesome but as soon as I saw the price, my mouse immediately hit the back button. I have also tried the Airhawk and another one like it because I hated the Airhawk, and it didn't do anything for me. My tail bone definitely still felt it not long into the ride.

Thanks for the input!!

 

[jtsharps]

OP can you clarify that it is not vibrations inducing this @ss ache?

This can be fixed, the vibes. The mechanical fit is up to you.

Often times it is both. The seat is not the greatest!

I can't say 100% that it's not vibration causing the not awesomeness but I don't at all feel like the bike vibrates all that much.

 

[jtsharps]

Click search button, type "seat", click "titles only". You'll find a million threads.

I just bought a Terry Adcox custom seat and it is great (you'll find my thread when you search)

Looks like you got a hell of a deal with your seat. I just heard back from Debi and she said it's $250 per seat so $500 + $25 for shipping for the whole seat. Ouch! I'm going to think on that though as it does seem like the best design I've seen yet.

 

[thisisbenji]

Just curious, what kind of pants/underwear do you guys wear for all day rides? I find that makes a YUUUUUGE (in Donald Trump voice) difference.

 

[MattR302]

Looks like you got a hell of a deal with your seat. I just heard back from Debi and she said it's $250 per seat so $500 + $25 for shipping for the whole seat. Ouch! I'm going to think on that though as it does seem like the best design I've seen yet.

You sure? I'm pretty sure for a 1-piece seat, it's 250 for a riders seat only, or 375 for both. For 500+, you're at Russell prices

 

[zixaq]

Just curious, what kind of pants/underwear do you guys wear for all day rides? I find that makes a YUUUUUGE (in Donald Trump voice) difference.

I've been a boxers guy since puberty, but I've been considering buying some bicycling/compression/heat-out type things for longer trips to see if it would help.

 

[jtsharps]

Just curious, what kind of pants/underwear do you guys wear for all day rides? I find that makes a YUUUUUGE (in Donald Trump voice) difference.

I was hearing the "YUUUUUUGE" in Bernie Sanders voice instead. LOL I have a couple of different riding pants that I wear when I'm strictly out riding. For undies I try to wear some comfy boxer briefs if I have some clean. That's not always the case though. I would say pants & under garments make a difference in the crotch area and being comfortable but not with my arse soreness issue on the FZ. My issue is actual sore spots, not general uncomfortable which I do have more when I'm on the sportbikes with non riding jeans and boxers on, like what you're suggesting.

 

[jtsharps]

You sure? I'm pretty sure for a 1-piece seat, it's 250 for a riders seat only, or 375 for both. For 500+, you're at Russell prices

Oh I'm positive, I can post the email if anyone would like me to. She did email me back and said she made a mistake, thinking it was a 2 piece seat. She said with the 1 piece it'd be $450. So really not much different, but a tad cheaper than the original quote I guess. Still quite high but from what I've seen, everyone else is higher than that yet.

 

[Water Bear]

Oh I'm positive, I can post the email if anyone would like me to. She did email me back and said she made a mistake, thinking it was a 2 piece seat. She said with the 1 piece it'd be $450. So really not much different, but a tad cheaper than the original quote I guess. Still quite high but from what I've seen, everyone else is higher than that yet.

FWIW the quote I got from Russel was $700 for just the driver's seat with an added backrest using vinyl, their cheapest option.

Seat mods ain't cheap it seems!

 

[bike10]

Russell seats are the best no doubt, but are usually cost prohibitive. I bought a Shad comfort seat and it is way better than stock and I didn't need a 2nd mortgage to buy it. Here is mine and an add I found today. The comparison picture shows you the difference. Much better for road trips, but not perfect.

 

[jtsharps]

Russell seats are the best no doubt, but are usually cost prohibitive. I bought a Shad comfort seat and it is way better than stock and I didn't need a 2nd mortgage to buy it. Here is mine and an add I found today. The comparison picture shows you the difference. Much better for road trips, but not perfect.

I saw that option too and was wondering about it. Maybe I'll tray that first, since it's a little cheaper and see how it does. Thanks for the input!

 

[Electric_monk]

If you're not that worried about looks then get a piece of sheepskin and strap it around the seat. There's nothing like it for all day comfort. I have used one for years on all my old bikes haven't tried it yet on the Fz6 yet because a Skwoosh seat pad came with the bike but I will this week. The Skwoosh is just to small if you need to move your position while riding.