Numb Buttocks!

[Raxus]

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?

[Tom MLC]

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.

[Steve]

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. \\/


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[Raxus]

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.

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!

[Billy Ricks]

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.

[DimitriT]

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.

[onchiman]

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!

[Roland]

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.

[bwringer]

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:


During:


After:


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.

[themess]

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

[Steve]

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-[


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[Raxus]

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

Tom,

I would be interested in that seat. I'll send ya a PM.

[gsgeezer]

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....

[Red Rocket GS1100]

There's these gels that sit on top of the original

Check out this link. Could be a quick and easy solution to your numbness

http://www.amspecialtiesusa.com/

[tconroy]

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!

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.