What makes a motorcycle seat comfortable?: Sprockets forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Jan. 23, 2012 8:14 a.m. PHeller Dork

So this is adding to my "modifying non-rare motorcycle frames" post.

If I were to remove the stock seat hinges and locking mechanism on my XS650, I'd be left with a pretty narrow frame area for the seat. About 6-8 inches wide. With the hinges and locking mechanism it makes the total seat width about 10-12 inches wide.

I'm a life-long mountain bike rider. I've ridden big seats and small seats. My current Specialized Phenom is really comfortable and it looks like a diamond shaped plank. The key on a bicycle is the distance betwene sit bones. I've got a wide rear at 180mm, but some people have really narrow sit bones at 150mm. I've sat on really wide seats that generally very uncomfortable because you need to ride the seat very low in order to not rub your thighs on the seat during every pedal stroke.

A motorcycle is different. Or is it? Your not pedalling, but foam can conform to put pressure on areas that isn't comfortable, regardless of how wide the seat is. Corbin notoriously makes aftermarket seats for sport bikes that are actually more stiff than their stock counterparts, but they are also more comfortable.

My question is this: If I remove the stock seat hinges and lock and I'm left with a narrow frame to attach the seat, can I make a 1000 mile seat?
Jan. 23, 2012 8:44 a.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

Dual density foam is #1, as in: start with a rigid foam as the main bottom layer (next to the seat pad). Then use a layer of less dense foam so the seat will conform. To get even better comfort, use a gel pad on top of that, like the dual sport guys do. The crowning touch is air circulation 'round the bum. Don't laugh, heat buildup can greatly contribute to discomfort. That last is why choice of riding gear is a big factor.
Jan. 23, 2012 9:51 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

Don't laugh....but... http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/index.php

I have a garden kneeling pad (gellish memory foam) that I bought from Lowes built into my seat. Huge difference on a 500 mile day.

This one in fact.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_9371-70484-89202_?PL=1&productId=3306598

cut and contoured to my seat and liking.
Jan. 23, 2012 10:36 a.m. PHeller Dork

Anyone have any opinion on width of the seat and comfort?
Jan. 23, 2012 11:07 a.m. 44Dwarf Dork

I've got both narrow and wide seats that are cumfy and both that are horrid. Seems foam and angle of the thighs is the most important. My C50 seat was just to plan low add a 1 inch foam topper and no more pain, but for my wife the stock seat is right hight if i decide to ride my Harley she take the c50.
Jan. 23, 2012 12:20 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

PHeller wrote:

Anyone have any opinion on width of the seat and comfort?

That will depend somewhat on how long your legs are - I used to have a 650 Yamaha and I thought the stock seat was pretty comfortable, but my legs are long enough that my thighs were more or less horizontal when sitting on it. A narrower seat would have only provided less support.
Jan. 24, 2012 5:45 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

Tractor seats are some of the most comfortable seats going. Most of them are iron or steel. Yet you can sit in them all day long, day in and day out.

Shape. That really seems to be where comfort is. Followed by angle, ventilation, handlebar height, handlebar reach, footpeg height, footpeg reach, ventilation, and padding.
Jan. 25, 2012 11:54 p.m. skierd Dork

I have found width to be very important in comfort. My WR250R's stock seat was ok for maybe 100 miles, but the simple addition of a sheepskin cover gave me maybe 1" more padding and 1" total more width, but is comfortable for twice as long. I have a new seat foam and cover from Seat Concepts in the basement that I'm going to install before spring hits that should really make the seat more comfortable as its wider and thicker foam (that also isn't worn out from having me sit on it for the last 30k miles).

Another huge factor in comfort is the ability to move around and change your seating position. A bike that forces you to sit in one place for a long time is going to suck after an hour, no matter what. Gotta have some wiggle around room imo.
March 24, 2012 5:34 a.m. CLNSC3 Reader

The seat is everything on a bike, after all your ass will be on it all the time. Ever since the first time I had a seat custom made I haven't gone back. Only custom made seats for me from now on. They are fairly affordable too....