How comfortable should a seat be?

[kevincook]

I rode to Boston this past weekend, about 6 hours each way. I have a stock seat and was wondering if a custom seats provides a 100% comfortable seat or are they just better than stock. The seat wasn't too bad but it wasn't perfect either. I stopped after about 3 hours to get fuel and stretch my legs for a few minutes. It probably took me 20 minutes to get going again and that was enough time to stretch my legs.

I could feel pressure in a few places after sitting for a couple of hours and was wondering if a customized seat would allow me to sit all day without any discomfort.

I've read a lot of the post about the customized seats but was just wondering how good is good?

Thanks,
Kevin

BTW, that was my first real trip on the bike and it ran great!

[ATFLT]

I only have had one custom seat. It was a Travelcade for a Yamaha Venture. I didn't have any problem with the original seat but the cover was starting to tear and I wanted a backrest. I got the Travelcade for it for a couple hundred dollars more than that work would have cost. Truthfully I couldn't tell any real difference between the seats except for the backrest part. I like the seat on the LT just fine so I know I won't get a custom for it.

[STARFIGHTER]

Good question..............
The custom seat on my RT allowed me to ride in perfect comfort all day.....
The custom seat on my LT allows 3 hrs of comfort then stretch then 3 hrs....
Both by the same vendor.......

[michman]

I have the original seat and also ride in long stretches.... tank full to tank empty and then stretch for 10-15 minutes. I would be curious what the actual advantage is....

I do also have the BakUp backrest and it does make a noticeable difference in comfort.

[kevincook]

OK all you LD riders I really need some feedback here :) .

How good is good?????

Thanks,
Kevin

[SmokinJoe]

I rode to Boston this past weekend, about 6 hours each way. I have a stock seat and was wondering if a custom seats provides a 100% comfortable seat or are they just better than stock. The seat wasn't too bad but it wasn't perfect either. I stopped after about 3 hours to get fuel and stretch my legs for a few minutes. It probably took me 20 minutes to get going again and that was enough time to stretch my legs.

I could feel pressure in a few places after sitting for a couple of hours and was wondering if a customized seat would allow me to sit all day without any discomfort.

I've read a lot of the post about the customized seats but was just wondering how good is good?

Thanks,
Kevin

BTW, that was my first real trip on the bike and it ran great!
Well this is my take...I had the 2006 'Soft Touch' comfort seat (w/ a Beadrider), it was OK for 6-8 hours or 500-900 miles BUT it is the NEXT DAY riding that was the difference for me, not able to go as long. The new Rick Mayer seat I purchased allows day after day riding without the gradual build up of discomfort or pain in the A$$ the following days.
So IMO if you only do long weekend rides or rarely go more than two days in a row the stock seat sounds like it may work for you.
BTW the new seat allowed me to enjoy the J-Pegs because the shifted weight is MUCH more evenly displaced than it was sitting on the LT's "FOOTBALL".

[grifscoots]

I like riding tank to tank on long trips. I think the beeg secret, no matter what seat you run, for LD trips is to keep the butt moving. In other words, don't sit in the same spot for long stretches. Kind of like being in a hospital bed for a long time, you'll get bedsores if not moving. Same applies to a seat, any seat. Move around some, do some leg pumps and stretches. Nothing in the manual says you have to be a statue on the bike.

[surfran]

Kevin,

I am no long distance rider, but my experience is that my stock (low version) of the seat would have me hurting within an hour. The stock regular version I bought was the same issue. Then came a used Corbin I bought from a forum member. I rode to Americade on it last year for the weekend and essentially did 1200 miles in 3 days and didn't have any real discomfort.

My issue with the Corbin is the width was a little tough to get used to as I could no longer flat foot sitting on the seat (I have 34" inseam). I have been told I can send back to Corbin and have it necked in, but haven't done it.

I am used to it now, but would still rather have it necked in, especially if the wife is riding with me.

I have thought about a Kontour as I really like the idea of a cooler seat, but would probably go with Russell if I did purchase anew one because adding the passenger seat is "more cost effective" with Russell and many swear by them as quality as well. I want the same look and more comfort for the wife, but she rarely rides so don't really want to drop full cost for that seat.

You are more than welcome to borrow mine for a couple of weeks to try it out if you like. I can install my low version for a couple of weeks of commuting to work. I think you would see a difference.

Let me know if your interested we can meet up somewhere.

Randy

[meese]

I did a Border-to-Border ride (Mexico to Canada) on my LT with a Bill Mayer seat and a Bakup back rest. 1,400 miles in 21 hours, with five fuel stops <10 minutes each and a 1/2 hour break in Yreka for dinner. The only comment I had about the seat was that I hadn't thought about it the whole ride. I also do 1,000+ miles days regularly, and several at 700+ miles day after day without any seat issues at all. My GT was ridden to Bill Mayer Saddles the day I bought it so Rocky could do my seat and so far it works just as well as my LT seat.

Everybody is a bit different, but a good seat maker knows that and will build to suit you rather than passing off a one-size-fits-all creation. Bill Mayer, Rick Mayer, Russell, etc. all have excellent reputations and many satisfied customers. For some folks it isn't worth the expense, but for me it was just a part of getting the new bike set up properly.

[Steve_R]

Nothing in the manual says you have to be a statue on the bike.It doesn't?? :confused: :D

[BobbyK]

Hello fellow beemerfiles; I've just completed a 2600 M trip atop a Sargent seat mounted on an 04 RT. It is the worst the old butt has felt on any rides. I'm searching the forum for any hints of relief. I find the RT tall even w/the seat in the lowest position (30" in-seam). I'm thinking about highway pegs before replacing the seat to if the difference in sitting angle does any good.

Any thoughts??

BobbyK

[wardenross]

I know that you guys are tired of my bragging about my Russell. However, I just finished a 1000 mile trip. The last day was 8 hours in the saddle.

My Russell keeps getting better! It seems to be breaking in more and more mile by mile! In fact, it's now so comfortable, that after 8 hours, I felt like I had been in the saddle only 20 minutes! No foolin'!

[axamax]

The straight answer is you shouldn't know it's there.

I done a Saddlesore 1000 on my Honda Deauville 650 on a stock seat, 900 miles was showing before I even remembered the seat! That is the way a stock seat should be. Yet on my R1150RT (04) while doing the BBG I HAD to get off after only 170 miles. The distances gradually reduced as I went on. BMW shouldn't be able to sell a touring bike with a seat that can't be used for touring.
I then fitted a Rick Mayer seat, what a difference! It took a week or two to bed in, but then I could do 800+ mile days with no problems. I had actually ordered the seat for the BBG but it arrived two days after I left. (International shipping).
In short, if you do the miles you'll appreciate the difference. Otherwise take more breaks.

[UncleRock]

OK all you LD riders I really need some feedback here :) .

How good is good?????

Thanks,
Kevin
I ride the stock seat , just replaced it last year with 2nd stock seat. The pressure points where you are in contact with the seat are what makes the difference between all day rides and torture.
Since you need to stop and stretch your legs and get blood flowing in the hip joints at fuel stops.
Change your seat, beads, no beads, sheep skin, raise/lower seat a notch.
You will be amazed at how just raising or dropping the seat moves the pressure points around, making the next 200 miles more comfortable.
Rock

[UncleRock]

I also wear compression shorts on LD rides, add 2oo miles to your day, for 20 bucks
Rock

[Duane_in_Florida]

OK...I've posted to a number of the seat threads and was 100% convinced that a custom seat was the way to go. With that in mind I bought a pre '05 seat off of this forum with the concept that it would make a better base for a custom seat from whoever and would eliminate my downtime on the bike when I sent the seat in. With that in mind I spent this morning pulling the left tupperware to get to the seat heater wiring and cut down the pre '05 seat bed to get it to "fit" (still need to do some more work here later). BTW, don't even think about getting that wire out without pulling the panel.

Reassembled the bike and took it out for a ride. What a difference. Let me start by saying that those on the list with pre 2005 bikes don't know what those with newer bikes are complaining about. The older seat is definitely more comfortable. Is it good enough without additional mods? Probably not, but it definitely reduces the pain. Also as BMW had the wisdom(?) to change the color when they change the seat shape, the rider's seat no longer matches the rest of the set-up.

I guess my main point here is that when we get into the subject of complaining about the stock seat, we need to remember that all stock is not the same. Some is weaker than others.

[kip]

ive got the bmw "comfort" seat and a drivers back rest.....on long trips i use one of those sheep skin seat covers which really helps as far as getting sweaty and all that.......i can ride all day with no seat/butt discomfort....altho i agree with whoever said moving around is a key....ill sit upright a while....then prop my feet up on the jpegs a while....alternating moving around like that....im relatively short so that helps too i think as far as legs being stretched out versus cramped up....for the most part, the longest days ive done are 500 miles or so.....but thats no problem with the seat on my LT

[dmatson]

One of the things I have noticed about the differences between a custom seat and the stocker is the next day and the day after that. When I had the stocker on my first long multi-day ride the second and following days were killers. I had two sheepskins with me and at times had both under me but no help. I got home and order a Kontour. The next multi-day trip the seat felt much better but what I really noticed was the next day when I got on the bike it felt like the first day and each day after was the same.

[MTGMAN]

I had ordered my 05-LT with a gel seat from BMW. It was OK but after 6-7+ hours I would squirm attempting to find a better position. I put on "J" pegs which helped, but I found it put a lot of pressure on my tail bone. But it did give me another hour or so, but still uncomfortable after that time.

I added the Mick-O-Pegs which helped a lot. These are a must. They allow me to stretch out (on straight sections) and it moves my weight forward. Like being in the stirrups of a saddle.

In the summer my butt would get hot and I tried polypropylene underwear, but still I sweated. So I also added the beads. They would work the 1st day but I was bruised and the subsequent days were miserable.

The BIG difference is my Kontour seat. This thing is the bomb. With the 3 different sets of pegs to change my position, (J pegs, Mick-O-pegs, stock pegs) and the air flow of the Kontour I can handle 11 hours without a hitch. In fact I earned my Saddle Sore with IBA and felt great.

I'll be taking a 1400 mile loop to Idaho from Modesto, CA this weekend. The forecast in Boise, ID is rain. So I don't know how the Kontour will do in wet weather. More to follow.

[pickerbiker]

I had the BMW "comfort" seat on my 2007 LT. I could not ride for more than 45 minutes without severe discomfort. When you think about it, the seat was a convex surface trying to support my butt, another convex surface. It felt like I was sitting on a pillow, which was on top of a log. After a lot of consideration, I went the custom seat route with Rich's in Seattle, WA. What a difference! I spent most of the day there, with Rich taking measurements with me on the seat. Took it for a test drive before the cover was added. It was a great experience and the seat is now 1000+ miles/day comfortable. Expensive, yes, but would I do it again...absolutely. Just sorry I waited 10,000 miles before taking the plunge, always thinking I just needed to break in the stock seat. As Nike says...just do it. You won't be sorry.

[frankmc]

Bought the LT in 07 with stock comfort seat. Went on a 4,000 mile trip through Canada and the stock seat was good for about 1 1/2 hours and then began to cause discomfort in my rear. The real issue was I felt the discomfort much faster the second and third days. After about 6,000 on the stock seat I went to Corbin in Hollister, Ca and had a custom seat made. It is much better. The bottom line is on long trips I stop about every hour to a hour and a half and walk around and stretch for a minute or two. With that process I can ride all day without any problems and feel fine the next day. I think seat comfort is determined by the individual. I don't think any seat would let me ride for more then an hour or two without some discomfort. Moving around on the seat helps and for me a little stretch now and then makes the difference.