So, I'm looking to buy a seat, could can I get some advice on what is the best seat for high miles? What are the seats everyone uses on these iron butt rides?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Well said!People never seem to like it when I express my opinion on this but I have found that my all day comfort on the bike is way more related to my core and general fitness than what I'm sitting on. I'm not an iron butt rider but I've done 900 mile days and 400-500 mile days are pretty common on my multi-day rides. I've never felt the need to swap out the OEM seat on my any of my BMWs ('12 K1600GT, '16 R1200GS, '13 S1000RR) and the only seat change I've made on my dual sport and dirt bikes is to swap for a lower seat height due to my short legs.
More important to my all-day comfort is the rider triangle. Even though I've got short legs I enjoy more leg room on the bike so I've been happy with my standard height GS seat. It's a reach to the ground but I like the leg room for my old guy knees.
I'm leaving next week from Annapolis for Calgary - about 2,500 miles. I'm allowing 8 days for goofing around and side excursions but will likely spend 400-500 miles in the saddle most days. I'm objectively in the best physical condition turning 65 this summer that I've enjoyed in the last decade and on days when I'm not with my trainer, I'm doing planks, sit ups, push ups, leg lifts, etc and my wife is happy that I'm fitting in all my skinny clothes.
I'm not saying any of that to brag or be preachy and maybe some of you guys looking for seat comfort are lean fit people. Consider this a PSA to say that if you are the kind of person that would really enjoy long multi-day motorcycle trips you would be much happier with the result if you focused on your own fitness than collecting motorcycle seats that just don't do it for you.
Just thought of another thing - I put Rox pivoting risers on my bars when I was doing a lot of enduro style riding off road in the woods on my GS. Now that those days are in my rear view mirror and most of my miles are not standing on the pegs, I've removed the risers. Without the risers, the GS ergonomics puts me in a more athletic, slightly forward lean in my torso that engages my core muscles and puts my weight a little more on my thighs instead of all on my glutes. It just naturally forces me to engage my core to keep the weight off my hands and wrists and I have more stamina in that position than sitting up straight or slouched back.
Well, it was really cool hearing from everyone. I appreciate everyone's input. I have decided to go with Sargent they are running a summer heat special, so I got a 100 off. I just purchased it today because of what everyone said. So, I will post up in about a month and give real facts if I wasted my money? The one thing also that helped me was my stock seat has heat and Sargent will include that also. Enjoy your ride talk to you soon!
Here is my journey with seatsWell, it was really cool hearing from everyone. I appreciate everyone's input. I have decided to go with Sargent they are running a summer heat special, so I got a 100 off. I just purchased it today because of what everyone said. So, I will post up in about a month and give real facts if I wasted my money? The one thing also that helped me was my stock seat has heat and Sargent will include that also. Enjoy your ride talk to you soon!
Thank you most insightful. I’ve had 1 Corbin seat on the 08 kawa 1400 concourse, comfy af and the 2 inch plus bar risers +seat did the trick 4 me. Any seat is better than stock on klr650 and drz400s enduros. Food 4 thought. Has anybody tried the gel over the Seat pad or the round bead pad?Here is my journey with seats
Bike came with a rallye seat...used it and then went for a BMW stock low seat....used it then went for the Corbon seat....used it then went for a Sargent regular height.....used it then went for a Sargent low....used it and now am on a Wunderlich seat.
Ive finally realised the seats are ok its my Butt that seems to be an issue. As someone said and would be the best advise....move around the bike, stretch, take breaks and work on your fitness.
There is no seat which can beat fitness and fatigue.
I second that...Russell Day Long, the one that looks like a saddle. 1200+ miles non-stop from Banff, AB to SF, CA and Dallas to Toronto (different years mind youOthers say Russell Day Long, or Saddleman with the cutout if your tailbone is prone to getting sore.
Unfortunately there is no best until you put your rear in the seat for a day with all of them to know which foam density and design works for you best.
Hey Beard, thanks much for the tip on how to do this. While all agree the stock seat leaves much to be desired, it’s durable and useful for most day rides. I too kept an Air Hawk from my cruiser days, because no foam works a well as an air cushion for those 6-8hr days! First time I tried it on the GS I didn’t like it at all, it was too high and slippery due to fit and inflation. I am going to try your procedure and see if that works better for me!I fooled around with an Air Hawk on a couple of long rides. I found the trick to that was to inflate it, sit on it, and while sitting on it deflate it until my butt was in contact with the OEM seat. That way it fills in the gaps but no longer feels like you're riding sitting on a beachball. I ultimately decided that the only reason I had it on there was the thinking that if I'm spending 12-14 hour days on the bike I should need something. For the last several long trips, the only time I do anything to the seat is when I'm riding in stinking hot weather and then I add on the Windrider cover:
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Cool Motorcycle Seat Covers
Wind Rider Seat Covers™ have been designed and manufactured especially for hot climates. A cool seat cover design for motorcycles , scooters and ATV’s.windriderseatcovers.com
It increases my seat height a bit and it was noticeable the first time I rode the bike with it but having air circulating between me and the seat is pretty nice on a very hot day when I have several hundred miles to go.
SARGENT FOR NORMAL MONEY HAD GOOD LUCK WITH CORBIN ON OTHER BIKE SSo, I'm looking to buy a seat, could can I get some advice on what is the best seat for high miles? What are the seats everyone uses on these iron butt rides? Thanks.
Sargent or Corbin for normal moneySo, I'm looking to buy a seat, could can I get some advice on what is the best seat for high miles? What are the seats everyone uses on these iron butt rides?
Thanks.
I'm another vote for Seat Concepts. In addition to comfortable, they have different seat covers to choose from. I got the grippy one because I don't like sliding into the tank when I brake.Thanks for that. Sorry you had issues, I reached out to seat concepts really nice on the phone and reasonable price. I might give them a try waiting for a few more comments to see what other members are saying.
And let me add to that I used to do 1,000 mile days (too old for that now) and when I did I chose the Touratech Dri-Ride seat. They put a layer of mesh on the seat foam with a Gore Tex cover on top. The air that moves through the mesh keeps your butt dry even if sitting for hours at a time. It's a great cure for Monkey-Butt.I'm another vote for Seat Concepts. In addition to comfortable, they have different seat covers to choose from. I got the grippy one because I don't like sliding into the tank when I brake.
How much for the seat, and where are you located?
I used the original I use the BMW seat that came with the bike. It is very comfortable to me. My wife and I rode to Great Falls , MT from TN to the BMW rally, 5000 miles around trip, averaged 400-600 miles a day. We are 72 yrs old. No problemSo, I'm looking to buy a seat, could can I get some advice on what is the best seat for high miles? What are the seats everyone uses on these iron butt rides? Thanks.