Anyone have experience with gel or memory foam seats?

[bogan]

Time to redo my seat, but I'm not sure what the best foam to use is. I'm thinking some generic high density stuff for most of the shaping etc, with a gel pad or memory foam section for comfort. But I've heard gel and memory can be a bit temperature dependent.

I found this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/91952-Repair-rebuild-or-recover-your-seat-at-home) which explains the how to very well, so just need to figure out what to use.

[DrunkenMistake]

I would think that the original stuff used would be used for a reason, not cause its cheap and nasty, if they dont use Gel or memory foam in modern bikes then I would stick to the normal,
not saying I know anything about this stuff, its just IMO.

[nzspokes]

Great link. Im wanting to redo my seat as im fat and its a bit low. When I got my bike it came with a spare stuffed seat. Gives me a base. So intrested to hear on other materials to. Also where do you get the vinyl from?

[DrunkenMistake]

Great link. Im wanting to redo my seat as im fat and its a bit low. When I got my bike it came with a spare stuffed seat. Gives me a base. So intrested to hear on other materials to. Also where do you get the vinyl from?

Do you have a Spotlight?

I got like 1m x 1m for $5 its enough to do like 6 - 7 sports bike seats

[bogan]

I would think that the original stuff used would be used for a reason, not cause its cheap and nasty, if they dont use Gel or memory foam in modern bikes then I would stick to the normal,
not saying I know anything about this stuff, its just IMO.

The seat is from an SV, so I think it's a fair assumption it is cheap and nasty.

[DrunkenMistake]

The seat is from an SV, so I think it's a fair assumption it is cheap and nasty.

Touché .. I think a Gel seat would be awesome, wouldnt think it would be much good on a sports bike though, would be almost to soft maybe?

[Rhys]

No experience with memory foam but the gel seats are fantastic.
Never ridden in the snow but cold southerly s etc made no difference :scooter:

[nzspokes]

Do you have a Spotlight?

I got like 1m x 1m for $5 its enough to do like 6 - 7 sports bike seats

We do, sweet. Mine is one piece so even easier to do. Already got an idea of the shape I want.

[faredce]

great thread this is what im planning on doing...new paint job seat to match...figured being the handy man i am i could try it myself haha

memory foam is what im thinking cant be to differcult too source surely?

[bogan]

Probably overkill, but I ordered a gel pad off ebay last night, just under a hundy bucks once delivered, it's big enough to cover pretty much the whole seat, and half inch thick. It's a non-liquid gel too so I can cut it to shape a bit if needed. Will let you know how it goes once it arrives.

[Gremlin]

Came across impactgel (http://www.impactgel.com/) while in the States, and it seems to be a mighty impressive product. Got two seat pads coming, that I will play with.

[bogan]

Got my gel-pad today, not installed yet but works good on everything so far! Flat coffee tables turn comfy, comfy desk chair turns super comfy :D Bit weighty though, oh well, still lighter than the pies method of seat cushioning.

[nzspokes]

Kinda on topic, can you buy the non-slip covers?

[bogan]

Kinda on topic, can you buy the non-slip covers?

Non slip cover? a quick spray of 3M contact adhesive should do it.

[nzspokes]

Non slip cover? a quick spray of 3M contact adhesive should do it.

The gripper stuff, I did my seat and it looks good. I just slide forward and hit me nuts under hard braking. :shit::blink::sick:

[bogan]

The gripper stuff, I did my seat and it looks good. I just slide forward and hit me nuts under hard braking. :shit::blink::sick:

Grip with the knees! I like to move about a bit on the seat for corners so the semi gripper seat I have on at the moment is a bit annoying, standard vinyl cover plus some gripper pads and better leathers will be the go I reckon.

[nzspokes]

Grip with the knees! I like to move about a bit on the seat for corners so the semi gripper seat I have on at the moment is a bit annoying, standard vinyl cover plus some gripper pads and better leathers will be the go I reckon.

I got a very narrow tank, but will give it a shot.

[bogan]

I got a very narrow tank, but will give it a shot.

Yeh, mine is the same, only 12bloody liters, including reserve :facepalm:

[banditrider]

Let me know how the gel-pad goes. After 73k I'm actually thinking of doing something with the Connie's seat - it has done well hauling my butt around for so long (there got in before anyone else I hope).

[nzspokes]

Got my gel-pad today, not installed yet but works good on everything so far! Flat coffee tables turn comfy, comfy desk chair turns super comfy :D Bit weighty though, oh well, still lighter than the pies method of seat cushioning.

Stupid question time, does it go on top of your old seat? Our you put it under your cover?

[bogan]

Under the cover, if you want the stock shape you just take out some of the foam and glue it there, if you want it raised, you just glue it to the top part of the foam, and cover with new vinyl, or the old stuff again if you're a cheap ass!

[trumpy]

I have been importing and using "memory" foam for over 18 years and non liquid gel for a couple of years.

Memory foam is known as visco-elastic foam and is great stuff but does go quite firm when cold (If we need to grind small pieces to shape we sometimes chuck them in the freezer first) but will soften again pretty quickly with body heat. There are a couple of brands that say they don't go hard when cold, we've tried them but have found the difference to be so marginal as to be not worth changing suppliers.

Impact gel, and the like, is great stuff but can be quite cold on the bum. We tend to put a 12mm layer of visco-elastic foam over it to make it more comfortable temperaturewise.

Whether either of these is going to to be suitable depends on the type of bike you have and and what kind of riding you do. I have a naked sports bike which I use for back road scratching rather than long tours. I have tried both on my seat and have found them too soft for my needs. Instead I have used a firm base layer (much of it original seat foam) and an upper layer of high resilience, medium density urethane foam.
I never get a sore bum and I can still move around the seat easily. On this subject, particularly if you ride a sports bike, beware of grippy vinyls. They can make it damn near impossible to move on the seat when you want to. Great on a dirt bike but not good for a road bike.

We do have some sample pre-cut gel pads for motorcycle seats which we are evaluating as an agency. Details shortly.

[banditrider]

I have been importing and using "memory" foam for over 18 years and non liquid gel for a couple of years.

Memory foam is known as visco-elastic foam and is great stuff but does go quite firm when cold (If we need to grind small pieces to shape we sometimes chuck them in the freezer first) but will soften again pretty quickly with body heat. There are a couple of brands that say they don't go hard when cold, we've tried them but have found the difference to be so marginal as to be not worth changing suppliers.

Impact gel, and the like, is great stuff but can be quite cold on the bum. We tend to put a 12mm layer of visco-elastic foam over it to make it more comfortable temperaturewise.

Whether either of these is going to to be suitable depends on the type of bike you have and and what kind of riding you do. I have a naked sports bike which I use for back road scratching rather than long tours. I have tried both on my seat and have found them too soft for my needs. Instead I have used a firm base layer (much of it original seat foam) and an upper layer of high resilience, medium density urethane foam.
I never get a sore bum and I can still move around the seat easily. On this subject, particularly if you ride a sports bike, beware of grippy vinyls. They can make it damn near impossible to move on the seat when you want to. Great on a dirt bike but not good for a road bike.

We do have some sample pre-cut gel pads for motorcycle seats which we are evaluating as an agency. Details shortly.

Thanks for that, very interesting. I've always thought that a thin layer of soft to contour to the shape of ya butt with a firm layer underneath would be the go. Interested in having an experiment at some stage.

[bogan]

Made a start on it this arvo. Had to hack into the existing seat foam around the sides to the gel layer would stay flush with the bodywork, but with a gel layer on top, you don't have to go super smooth when cutting the foam! I lifted the front bit of the gel 12.5mm (+12.5mm of gel) for a 25mm raise at the front, and just the 12.5 at the rear. Should make braking nicer on me plums.

Still have to fabricate some extra bits for the front (seat doesn't quite line up how it needs to) so hopefully it'll plastic weld... Then put some foam on those bits, smooth it out, take some pics, add vinyl, done!

[bogan]

Got it installed today. Pic before grinding foam to shape, and one after putting vinyl on top.

<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll52/bogan229/P1010750.jpg" width=640 />

<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll52/bogan229/P1010752.jpg" width=640 />


Vinyl fit looks like arse (as opposed to the more desirable, vinyl fitting my arse), so will redo next time I'm at the parents, as Mum has a sewing machine so will make it out of three panels as it needs to be. Borrowed an almost usless stapler which didn't help my temper :innocent: bout half the time it lodged them in enough so I could bash them through with a hammer, made it hard to difficult to put much tension on the vinyl though.

[imdying]

Would it help to heat it gently is whilst you pull it taught, when you get your hands on another stapler?

[nzspokes]

But is it cumfy?

[bogan]

Would it help to heat it gently is whilst you pull it taught, when you get your hands on another stapler?

I reckon it'd help, but would still be marginal whether it could be done as one piece. If the stitching is done well, I quite like the look of multiple piece seats anyway.


But is it cumfy?

Hard to say without going for a long ride, but I think so.

[imdying]

I reckon it'd help, but would still be marginal whether it could be done as one piece. If the stitching is done well, I quite like the look of multiple piece seats anyway.Same, I went that way on the SV (but I cheated and fitted one of the OEM comfy seats).

[Ratti]

How is that seat working out? Have you had a chance to sort out the cover?

I got some of that foam/gel off trumpy. Maybe this winter I can get the blasted seat done.

[bogan]

Yeh, got mum to stitch some seams in it, looks heaps better now.

263645

On balance, I don't think the extra comfort is worth the extra weight/cost of the gel, over decent foam.