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Numb Buttocks!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Raxus
  • Start date Start date
R

Raxus

Guest
Hey folks,

Been riding for about a week now. Bike runs great, shifting is smooth. Mechanically the bike is super. I go about 20 mins and my butt starts going numb. My hands do too but the more I ride the more my hands are getting adjusted. Not so with my buttocks. It's even worse for my wife. The seat is definately stock and I have no clue what-so-ever on doing seat upholstery. Any suggestions or am I doomed to 30 miles a day max?
 
Have you tried to sync the carbs? My GS1100 had terrible vibes in the handlebars & also the seat. All gone once I sync'ed the carbs.
 
To help eliminate the buzz in the bars, start with synchronizing the carbs. Then put some new foam grips on there, and enjoy.

As far as the numb-butt goes...would one of these interest you? Although your 650 is not listed, a 750 seat might fit well enough to work. This is a hunk of foam covered in upholstery, and uses your stock seat pan. The price through Saddlemen/Travelcade is almost impossible to get without calling them, but I seem to remember paying about $140 two years ago for my wife's Easy Chair for her 850L. The same thing is available through JC Whitney for $129 plus shipping.

Some may not care for that style of seat, but we have done some 600+ miles days in relative comfort. \\:D/


.
 
Tom MLC said:
Have you tried to sync the carbs? My GS1100 had terrible vibes in the handlebars & also the seat. All gone once I sync'ed the carbs.
Click to expand...

My bike runs smooth as silk. My prob is 1) I need to get used to bike riding again and 2) I hold on too tight. I am just really concerned about my seat. Gonna check out what Steve listed and see what they say. Thanks guys!
 
Go to an athletic store and check out some of the various underwear with built in padding. Sliding shorts for baseball and cycling shorts. You can probably find something that will help.
 
Try replacing the rubber pan cushions which the seat pan rests on. Anything made
out of rubber on these bikes will stiffen with time and transmit vibrations.
 
It's probably a case of the seat not being firm enough. After a while the foam gets soft and simply flattens. Your weight then is right on the pan and distributed to precisely the right spots that crunch nerves and cut off blood supply. With a firm seat, the weight gets distributed more evenly and results in less fatigue and hence a more comfortable ride. If the numbness was just caused by vibration, nobody could ride Harleys! :razz:I had my seat cover and foam re-done by Sargeant Cycle and it's night and day different. Much firmer cusion=more comfortable ride!
 
Ride Comfort

Ride Comfort

Hey Raxus,

I suspect after you get back to riding for a while you will loosen up and adjust yourself forward and backwards a bit while you ride. Just a little movement every 5 minutes or so makes a world of difference for me and my wife to keep the blood flowing and delay the numb-butt.

If you plan longer trips plan it so you stop about every hour or so for gas and a brief walk around. Not only will your buttocks thank you but your back will as well.
 
I ordered a slab of Supercell foam from Sargent (you have to call) and made an insert for my seat. Made an unbelievable difference.

The insert is glued in with spray adhesive. Rough shaping was done with an old electric knife from Goodwill, and final shaping was done by hand with a course sanding block.

The seat cover was from B&H: http://motorcycleseatcovers.com

Sargent's Web Site, so you can find their phone number:
http://www.sargentcycle.com/default2.html

The foam was about $40, and the seat cover was about $80 delivered.

These photos should illustrate the process:

Before:
before.jpg


During:
during.jpg


After:
after.jpg


I would add that the texture on my seat covers looks nice but it is perforated and is thus totally unsuitable for any bike except a trailer queen. Don't order yours in this material!

B&H balked at replacing the seat cover, so I tried to seal the holes with seam sealer. No problems in two years, but the seat cover became quite stiff with the sealer and it was very difficult to stretch and mount. It's still a little baggy in spots because of this.

B&H's craftsmanship, speed, and materials are otherwise impeccable. They just need to use a different patterned vinyl that does not have holes, and maybe work on their customer-satisfaction skills.
 
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Back when I had a GS650G I bought a "king and queen" seat for it from J.C. Whitney, and never installed it. I wasn't sure that it would properly fit the seat pan. The bike was totalled in a crash in 1997, and the seat is still in my garage. So it's been sitting in my garage for about 12 years. I'll send it for shipping if you're interested. But no guarantees that it will fit.

Tom
 
If Raxus in interested in the seat kit, I might even be able to deliver it next month.
We will be going across on I-74, which is not that far from themess, and we are going through Raxus' home town.
I can make sure there is room in the trailer, if needed. 8-[


.
 
themess said:
Back when I had a GS650G I bought a "king and queen" seat for it from J.C. Whitney, and never installed it. I wasn't sure that it would properly fit the seat pan. The bike was totalled in a crash in 1997, and the seat is still in my garage. So it's been sitting in my garage for about 12 years. I'll send it for shipping if you're interested. But no guarantees that it will fit.

Tom
Click to expand...

Tom,

I would be interested in that seat. I'll send ya a PM.
 
I have tried an Airhawk, pretty nice, but just go to an auto upholstery shop and they can install gel, or whatever foam you want and it doesn't cost much.
My bike is comfy all day, it cost $150 to get the seat completely customized, including different shape, cover and foam. Then you can also try the seat, before it is done and give them feedback on the shape, feel, looks, height, etc....
 
Raxus said:
My bike runs smooth as silk. My prob is 1) I need to get used to bike riding again and 2) I hold on too tight. I am just really concerned about my seat. Gonna check out what Steve listed and see what they say. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Get a gel pad seat that you just strap on from jc whitney or dennis kirk.Do a google search on motorcycle gel seats and see what happens.
 
Try a local uphostery shop.
I had my seat re-foamed with triple density foam for $125
Now my big fat buTt is happy
 
I am going to get my next motorcycle seat covered in wetsuit material with vinyl sides. A friend of mine did this on his Goldwing, and he swears by it. He makes 600+ mile trips several times a year. Almost completely eliminates "butt sweat" and is far more comfortable than vinyl or leather. Plus, sitting down on neoprene on a hot summer day is a lot easier than sitting on vinyl or leather. Waterproof, too, if you get the right stuff and it's installed right. I've seen it done on cruisers and crotch rockets and they all swear by it. Add some high-density foam with a layer of memory foam and you'll swear you're sitting in your recliner at home.

As far as the hand fatigue, I'd invest in some Kuryakyn ISO-grips or something similar and a throttle boss. Especially if you ride more than two hours at a time. Even the ISO-pegs make a world of difference. And no matter how well you tune a bike, some vibration is the nature of the beast.

And don't let them tell you that you can't get the ISO-pegs to fit your bike. I've gone through this many times. They sell different adapters and one is sure to fit your bike. They're expensive, but worth it if you're a long-hauler.
 
Vibs

Vibs

I run B12 Carb cleaner through my carbs and do a carb sync and Valve adjustment once a year. New foam grips will help the bar vibs. If you are still having trouble with the vibs, try wearing a pair of Bicycle shorts under your riding pants. That helps kill vibs that get to you.
 
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Even though you say the bike runs smooth as silk, have you checked the synch? You shouldn't have any vibes in your handlebars. One carb slightly out of synch can cause a lot of vibration... even though the bike runs great. Ask me how I know.....
 
Have you tried taking some Advil (ibuprofin) before and during your ride? I take two before I head out and two every other gas stop (50 miles or so if riding twisties, 100+ if riding highway).

The Advil helps do away with many annoying little pains that creep up while riding. Achy hands, butt, arms, etc. It's amazing how well it works and you'll wonder why you never used it before once you start! :)

~Adam
 
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