Suggestions for hard seat problem

**magicfairy** · 5th November 2005, 12:31

I had a seat lowered by McDonalds and I was really pleased with the job they did.
Very quick , it was couried back the day after they got it, looked great and although the seat was now thinner, the superior foam made it much more comfortable.

**inlinefour** · 5th November 2005, 13:17

Originally Posted by Beemer

I've got a Suzuki Goose and the seat on it is incredibly thin and hard - it's basically a dense foam pad (not a vinyl covered foam one like most seats) that is only a couple of inches thick.

I've only had the bike six months and it's already created problems that required surgery - no bull! Female motorcyclists and cyclists suffer from cysts in delicate parts of our anatomy, caused solely by pressure from hard bike seats. As you can imagine, I don't want to experience this again but I also don't want to give up motorcycling or change the bike. My specialist suggested padded cycling shorts under my bike gear, but I have a big enough bum as it is without EXTRA padding, so I think changing the seat is a better option.

Any ideas on how to go about this? The seat seems to be attached by a single screw, but it's not a standard sort of seat and I doubt I'd be able to replace it with anything from another bike. Can a seat be made with better padding - and if so, who does them? I don't really want to use a sheepskin either, so any suggestions would be welcome.

Was not used to it at all. Rode it for a while and once I got more keen and got the riding pants out, all my sore arse troubles kinda ceased.

**Beemer** · 5th November 2005, 16:19

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Was not used to it at all. Rode it for a while and once I got more keen and got the riding pants out, all my sore arse troubles kinda ceased.

Sorry, but it's not a matter of "getting used to it" - I've just come out of hospital after being operated on for a cyst that was directly caused by the hard seat - so it stands to reason that the more I ride on this hard seat, the more likely I am to have a recurrance! At more than $2000 (private hospital), this is not a path I want to travel down again.

I have proper riding gear, it's a problem that only affects women, so a better padded seat is the only way to improve the situation.

**inlinefour** · 5th November 2005, 23:38

Originally Posted by Beemer

Sorry, but it's not a matter of "getting used to it" - I've just come out of hospital after being operated on for a cyst that was directly caused by the hard seat - so it stands to reason that the more I ride on this hard seat, the more likely I am to have a recurrance! At more than $2000 (private hospital), this is not a path I want to travel down again.

I have proper riding gear, it's a problem that only affects women, so a better padded seat is the only way to improve the situation.

I'm just voicing what helped for me. Our anatomy is somewhat different ahe. Seat modification could be a key, I also got my syspension changed on my bike to a softer ride. Dunno if it helped my arse, but it helped the overall ride. I do know that if I was experiencing the problems that you are facing, that I'd also look at what sort of bike I might need to change to. Oh, and I test piloted a bike up north for speedygirl. It had one of those sheepskin covers on it. Without a word of a lie, it was the most comfortable thing I have ever sat on

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 01:43

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Oh, and I test piloted a bike up north for speedygirl. It had one of those sheepskin covers on it. Without a word of a lie, it was the most comfortable thing I have ever sat on

It's a petty some folk cannot grasp that simple concept. Peer pressure sucks.

**inlinefour** · 6th November 2005, 09:08

Originally Posted by Bonez

It's a petty some folk cannot grasp that simple concept. Peer pressure sucks.

You mean people are making others not put a sheepskin onto their bike seat? Anyone is welcome to ride with me on the sprotbike, with accessories, on whatever bike of their choice. The only thing I really remember from my teenage years is being on the out with the "cool" crew. I was never good at doing what they said we should do, or anyone else for that matter. Not much has changed when I think about it...

**heavenly.talker** · 6th November 2005, 09:47

Originally Posted by Beemer

Thanks, but my arse has already been reshaped by McDonald's thanks very much!

This was going to be my suggestion grow a bigger arse for some more cushioning...lol

This is what I did in my case lol!

Reading that you have been working on this option and it's not giving you comfort I would suggest you go down to a upholsterer. They will take the seat, rip the covering off and reshape it to fit the ...um...forementioned area :-) This means it will still fit onto the bike with no problem.

You will then have as much comfort and support that you need to minimise any potential pressure spots :-)

Sometimes being a girl sucks huh!

It only costs a couple of hundred to get this done. Well worth it!

**FROSTY:Me** · 6th November 2005, 09:54

Beemer-try the sheepskin route. --Heres the secret though-get a BLACK sheepskin and dont use the long "hair" version -the best are short hair.
if the skin is black it doesnt get noticed and definitely makes a big difference to ride comfort.

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 10:33

Originally Posted by FROSTY

Beemer-try the sheepskin route. --Heres the secret though-get a BLACK sheepskin and dont use the long "hair" version -the best are short hair.
if the skin is black it doesnt get noticed and definitely makes a big difference to ride comfort.

Sheep skins also protect the m/c "seat" from harmfull UV rays. Shit that sounds like a sun lotion ad. Also easy on ya piles.

**FROSTY:Me** · 6th November 2005, 10:43

Thinking about it--Im kinda wondering if your goose has had the seat modified beemer.
Im sure the goose has a normal sprotbike seat--ie 30mm of foam with a Vynle cover

**Jackrat** · 6th November 2005, 16:51

I had this seat done by an upholsterer in Pukekohe.
It has velcro holding it in place and even though it's only about an inch thick it's very comfortable.
I just asked him to make me a comfy seat an came away very happy.

**Bonez** · 6th November 2005, 16:59

Originally Posted by Jackrat

I had this seat done by an upholsterer in Pukekohe.
It has velcro holding it in place and even though it's only about an inch thick it's very comfortable.
I just asked him to make me a comfy seat an came away very happy.

Looking good JR. Ace bars next is it?

**Jackrat** · 6th November 2005, 17:23

Originally Posted by Bonez

Looking good JR. Ace bars next is it?

Nope,I got em' already but they don't look right with the 16 inch back wheel.
Will go to an RD400 18inch back wheel once I get round to finding an paying for one.I've been dragging the chain on that because the RD set up is a disc rear and I'll have to change/add other things to make it all work.
And all that has to wait because I have no shed to do anything in anyway.
We're in a state of transition at the moment so everything is on hold for a while.

**Beemer** · 6th November 2005, 18:19

Originally Posted by FROSTY

Thinking about it--Im kinda wondering if your goose has had the seat modified beemer.
Im sure the goose has a normal sprotbike seat--ie 30mm of foam with a Vynle cover

Bought it new, stock standard. The seat has a tiny plastic bit that the bulk of the foam is attached to, and the rest of the foam (like on garden kneelers and bed rolls but heavier) sort of hangs off the edge of this and moulds itself to the shape of the bike - if that makes sense! No vinyl cover, which is why reshaping it with different foam isn't an easy option - there is nothing that covers it so a cover would need to be made.

May have to steal the cat's short-haired black lambskin off the husband - he's been using it!

**oldrider** · 17th November 2005, 09:26

So what has happened to the seat? Or is this just another one of those drift off into the ethos of threads with no outcome.
I really want to know what happened. Seriously, how did you solve the problem?:spudwhat:and how's your

Cheers John.