Seat comfort

[Bryn]

I seem to suffer with my coccyx when on a long ride, and most aftermarket seats I've tried have not made much difference..
I had a Saddlemen Adventure track seat on my last 1200GS that seemed to make a differnce due to the channel down the centre...it put the weight on the butt cheeks rather than the tail bone. Only thing against the seat was that water collected in the channel, and the suede finish seemed to hold water.

I've had an idea to get the standard S10 seat altered ....cover off, channel sculpted out doen the middle, cover back on....that should in theory reduce the tail bone pressure when seated.

Anyone done similar?

I tend to slouch when riding...I'm sure that doesn't help....already done the normal seat mod...
And found the high setting better than the low...despite at 5'9" being described by some as hobbit sized ;D
::003::

 

[Squibb]

Bryn - I seem to remember you mentioning this before. Did you ever try an Airhawk?

Seems a shame to attack the seat at this stage IMHO. You could try getting some of the sponge, from the likes of padded cycle shorts, & modify it to address the pressure point you are suffering. Either strap it to the seat, or stick it down you boxers/underpants. Indeed cycle shorts alone might do the trick - the likes of Cotwold Leisure have an amazing selection.

Are you nursing an old injury though? - my coccyx doesn't get near the seat; just the pelvis & backs of the thighs if the glutes give out, but I know the pain you talk of as I did manage to bash mine around years back falling on an ice rink. I have found a body belt useful to stop slouching, if the lower back is feeling delicate for any reason, so I try to work/excercise the core every day, which seems to help.

Ride Safe ................... KEN

 

[Bryn]

Hi Ken, thanks for the sugestions...yes I managed to injure it about 3 years back...I was at work getting some stuff off a shelf , standing on a 3 step ladder..stepped back down and forgot there was a dustbin full of old shovels and crow bars behinfpd me...and I landed on an upturned shovel blade... ??? I really thought I'd cut myself in half...but the only result was a tender coccyx...I think it is getting better slowly.....

Not keen on Airhawks ..had one and I'm not much for the feeling ......moto skiveez may be worth a try...cycle shorts I did try some time back but I may try again ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

Might be worth doing a small mod to the seat yourself. Unstaple the seat (very easy. lots of tutorials on youtube), get a couple of pieces of kidney or tear-drop shaped gel pads and insert onto the outer edges of the seat on the foam so they form channel in the middle. Re-staple and see how it goes, if it works well, get someone like Tony Archer to make a more professional permanent solution, and buy a used seat off fleabay in case you sell the bike on at a later date.

 

[Bryn]

Sounds like a plan ::008::

 

[Roge]

You could try rolling the bars forward a bit so as to take some weight on your arms and lean forward.

 

[SDFIREGUY]

Adventure Tour Seat $350.00 solved my comfort problem. ::002::

 

[OX-34]

Stand up more is my suggestion. Every 30 minutes or so just stand on the pegs and stretch out - calves and hamstrings, too.

I use an Airhawk if riding more than 24 hours non-stop, but otherwise standing gets me through.

Standing up while riding is cheaper, requires no modification to the seat, no trial and error of someone else's idea of a better seat, is more reliable, and transfers easily to almost any other bike.

 

[Bryn]

All good suggestions... I stand up regularly.. It does help. Not tried the bars further forward but I can see the logic in that.
Before I spend a wedge I'll look at the cheap options ::003::

 

[Rasher]

I have a similar issue at times, I also slouch when riding, especially on long boring mind numbing motorway sections.

My seat has been modified by Tony Archer and is a definite improvement, and he will do a custom job to your wishes, very cheap too (about £100 for both my seats)

Your not far away so if you wanted you could give mine a go some time.

 

[OX-34]

And new/modified seats may not stop the slouching.

Just like other aspects of riding - throttle control, braking in relation to corners, using the mirrors - better posture can be practiced.

That's free and transfers easily to other bikes, too.

 

[JRE]

I had issues with the stock seat and a sargent...the points of my pelvis (the correct anatomical name is pubic arches) would be the pressure point. I just got my Russell Day long last Friday...unfortunately, the weather here has been crappy and now I'm out of town so I haven't had a chance to get out and ride on it but it seems like it will work great.

I decided to quit nickel and dime-ing myself by trying all of the cheaper options and just get what should be a sure thing for a little more money. Only cost me $533 with cover (plus the shipping cost out).

 

[Bryn]

It seems a lot of the tried and tested seat options are stateside..hence the Saddlemen seat I had some success with...but bought pre loved in the UK.

I know I could train myself to slouch less....I've used Tony Archer in the UK before for a GS seat mod...and I'd probably use him if I want a proper mod doing.

Rasher (Robert) ....kind offer concerning letting me try your seat...I may take you up on that some time ::003::

 

[Squibb]

Hi again Bryn,

You may already have looked at the medical issues relating to the coccyx area, but I was interested to just check out Wiki on the subject, as this thread develops.

See this link < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccyx >

If you read the section relating to Function, it pretty well describes the symptoms you report. That is to say the pressure/discomfort comes on when you slouch or lean back. See what you think. Seems like padding may not be the answer; rather some way of making sure the torso is leant forward to take the strain off certain muscles & ligaments. Perhaps this is why you find the ride more comfortable with the seat in the high position, although that might seem counter-intuitive. Did you get the medics to check you out at the time, or soldier on to avoid embarrassment/H&S at work questions?

Just a thought, but I remember an old TZ racer mate from years back, carrying a few injuries like they do. Often needed help just to get on the bike if his sacrum way playing up. He padded the back of the tank, to make himself sit right to the back of the seat - he reckoned it not only protected his gentlemans area, but also corrected his posture on the bike, to the extent that he often felt better after a ride than before. It kept his back straight & stopped the sacrum popping out he reckoned. There are so many muscles & ligaments in this area, including the vestigial tail, that still seem to have more significance than one might ever imagine.

Anyway, hope you can get something sorted; maybe we have someone on the Forum who can comment from the medics perspective.

Cheers ............................ KEN

 

[Dogdaze]

Hey Squibb, that's an interesting read. But I believe Bryn's issue might also be from the accident and subsequent injuries. No consolation, but I too slouch when sitting on the bike, and have to remind myself to sit up straight.

 

[offcamber]

I went round and round with the seat..tried the air-hawk, it helped but not enough. Bar risers, changed the rubber mounts, etc etc....Ended you spending the money on a Russel Day Long....that did the trick. I would say just bite the bullet and get the Russel but everyone always wants to go through the cheaper options first....even though in the end you spend more money.

Good Luck

 

[Jeff Milleman]

I got a Seth Laam seat a love it , I can ride all day now !! You have to send him your seat ,he will call you and work out the details. Great Guy !!

 

[Dogdaze]

I think any custom seat made in the US, ordered by someone (in this case) the UK will cost around $1000 inc building, shipping, taxes and duties, so although works well for US guys, kind of useless for anyone outside of the US.

 

[Bryn]

Interesting read Ken.....and I think it is the case that if I was leaning a little more forward it would take the weight off the coccyx.... that was the reason I got rid of the Triumph Explorer and moved on to a GTR1400 ( Concours)... that did at the time seem to be more comfortable as there was less of a slouch and more of a reach. Getting a custom saddle from the USA as Dogdaze says is expensive, and due to that if it does not solve the issue it is a big wedge wasted..

I do think that over the past year or so it has eased, and I hope it will continue to get better slowly. I may go for a sheepskin as again it is the cheap option, or the channel removed from the foam, which again will not cost much. that and trying to sit up straight ...

Again thanks for all the comments and suggestions folks .. it's not going to stop me ::003::

 

[cromschild]

Hello all,

I know this is an older post, but I wanted to add my 2 cents to this discussion. I too, have tried a few different adjustments and seat options to find little or no relief to my tired butt after a long ride. So, like many others before me, I ordered a RDL and I am humbly waiting on my production date. From what I read on this forum and others, RDL seems to be a viable solution to long rides and fatigued behinds. I have tried Seat Concepts and Airhawk so far. Together, I probably could of saved 300 bucks and put it towards the RDL. Just my thoughts, but just bite the bullet and invest in one that works immediately.