How do you stock seat guys do it?

[2006FJR]

I had the same issues when I bought the bike and bought ML Lowering pegs for both rider and passenger. Also bought the Bill Mayer seat and bar risers with grip puppies otta do the trick to help the writs.

 

[FJRMGM]

Seat comparisons mean nothing from one person to the next.

one man's Barco-lounger is another man's torture rack.

 

[Newton]

I just did my first 1000+ mile journey last week, thank god I threw an Airhawk under my bum before I took my 51 year old rear end out for an extended torture test. Worked great for me for the short term. I am going to take my time before deciding on a custom seat, the Airhawk gets the job done for now.

Grip puppies, Risers, and a Throttle Meister are all in the garage waiting for install. That should do the trick

 

[ngarider]

12 hour stints - no problem. Cruise control and the beadrider, stock seat. The beads make all the difference!

 

[user 10225]

17k on this bike and the stock seat has worked fine for me. No beads, no cruise-control. Then again, I'm a young'un!

Sure, I can feel it after day 4 or 5, but that's because I've been in the saddle for 4 or 5 days. Extra long days start to get harder as I get further in, but that's expected.

I also break at least 20 minutes every 4 hours, or just about every other fuel stop. Gives me time to walk around, stand, stretch, whatever. I take breaks even if I don't feel like I need them because it's all about the long haul, not the first few legs out of the gate. Anyone can suck it up and be uncomfortable the first few hours of the ride...but it makes the subsequent legs much harder to deal with.

Now, all of that is out the window with the crazy-mofo-IBA crew. I'm just talking about the humans.

 

[Big-D]

When I rode a Gold Wing, the first 500+ mile day was easy, but by the fifth day, my ass was killing me. I am sure that I’ll feel the pain on my FJR when I take that first long ride.

What you can do about your butt is an individual choice, whether you buy another seat or just break-in the seat you’ve got. Looking through this forum, you see many people attempting to sell these expensive after-market seats. That can only indicate they are not much better than the stock seat, for some people anyway.

As far as your wrist, your back or any other body part that may hurt after a long ride, you may want to exercise (work-out) and get that body part into shape. Especially if you’re getting older like I am. Those little hand spring gripper devices work good for the wrist. And there are plenty of exercises you can do to work on getting yourself into shape for riding.

 

[radman]

I think what Haulin Ashe refers to is that seat like the Russell make it difficult to move around on when in the Sport mode of Sport-Touring. I love my Russell, but for commuting I still use the stocker as it is easier for in town riding etc where one is putting legs down at stops often etc. And the Wild Bill pegs are a Godsend on long trips-combined with risers, the cruise, and the Russell, it makes a long trip so much more comfortable, I say this having done 5000 milers with and without.

 

[dcarver]

I train by sitting on the skinny side of a 2x4. Start at 15 minutes, then go for 20. I find the 2x4 to stock seat ratio is directly inverted, meaning if you can stand the 2x4 for 1 hour, the stock seat is good for 1/2 hour! YMMV depending upon posterior health.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Drove my new 08 back from D & H a couple of weeks ago. 550 miles the first day. 700 milles on the second day. 1249 miles total to get the black beaty back into the stable. The seat wasn't to bad but i could have used some highway pegs. When i stopped for gas i stretched my legs a little and got back on. I will be heading back someday to the blue ridge parkway when i have more time. Next month is Quebec with the wify, 2 up. that trip will be 454 miles one way.

 

[boomerang]

I quess I should add my two cents. When I was 17 I though 40 something was old, now that I'm much older and wiser I now know 40+ ain't fricken dead yet. I'm positive that my ass was in better shape when I was 17, but hell round is still a shape.......In my opionion most stock seats suck and even though I love the FJR it's seat is one of the worst! I don't think the my 17 year old ass would tolerate this seat for very long, of course my wallet back then kept me from traveling to far and I'm a long way from 17 now. Not to meation larger.....6'4" 32" inseam and 280 pounds. I've riden the stock seat up to 200 or so miles.....now way in hell I'm doing 6000+ on that dam thing. I'm ordering risers also I think those with a new seat will improve the ride. I sold my XS1100, it had a big old ugly seat, and always needed some type of mechanical tinkering. I do miss that big old ugly seat.....I could do 500 miles a day without feeling like **** when I got off the bike.
I'm looking into a new seat and will probably order one within the week. I've chatted with the masses on this forum and have gotten some good advice. Many liked the Day long saddle. I was interested in that, but I'm now leaning towards a Corbin. I have a friend who has one and it seems to do the job. That's not why I may order it, if I had more time I might get the day long custom built, but I may leave for a 6000+ wandering around the country soon. I think I can get the corbin faster......anyone who ordered send me a message and tell me how long and your impression with the process!

I know what you meen about the big old ugly seat. I also had an old yamaha xs1100 when I was 19. I loved that old bike.

 

[madmike2]

Its all PERSONAL!

If you don't need a seat...good for you! If you DO need a different seat or some method for alleviating the discomfort...that's okay, too.

Try the lambs wool.

Try beads.

Try and airhawk cushion.

Shop for a custom seat.....do whatever it takes to make this platform conform to hour "tender" parts, the ride the darn thing.

 

[odot]

Try beads?.....that's gross, dude.

 

[user 10225]

Try beads?.....that's gross, dude.

But it's OH SO MUCH worse when sandwiched between the other two suggestions...

 

[jeremybhm]

I wear padded mountain biking shorts under my pants when on long rides. That helps alot.

 

[Brew]

A couple of things:

1) Yamaha claims an "improved" seat for '08. Any former Gen I riders/'06-'07 riders have any corroborating evidence?

2) I'm changing to the '08 Feejer from a VTX 1300. Speaking from experience, the VTX really DOES have a very uncomfortable stock seat. This is acknowledged as a universal truth. Even though I sent out my VTX seat to be modified, when I took the FJR for a test ride, my ass was in heaven! I couldn't believe how much better the seat felt. Maybe your perception of comfort is somewhat dependent on what your butt was on prior to the FJR.

 

[RonBB]

I thought my 05 seat was marginally softer (33K miles total). The 07 a bit more firm(4.5K thus far). I've done 700+ mile days & have no plans to change from the OEM seat. Guess I'm just not as picky.

 

[odot]

Audi makes a pretty comfortable seat.....tried that one out yet?

 

[El Toro Joe]

I just rode 15 hrs down to Norfolk, only stops were for gas & to grab some lunch. Slabbed it home in 9 hrs 2 days later on the stock seat...you just need to change seating positions now and then.

 

[LDD]

I quess I should add my two cents. When I was 17 I though 40 something was old, now that I'm much older and wiser I now know 40+ ain't fricken dead yet. I'm positive that my ass was in better shape when I was 17, but hell round is still a shape.......In my opionion most stock seats suck and even though I love the FJR it's seat is one of the worst! I don't think the my 17 year old ass would tolerate this seat for very long, of course my wallet back then kept me from traveling to far and I'm a long way from 17 now. Not to meation larger.....6'4" 32" inseam and 280 pounds. I've riden the stock seat up to 200 or so miles.....now way in hell I'm doing 6000+ on that dam thing. I'm ordering risers also I think those with a new seat will improve the ride. I sold my XS1100, it had a big old ugly seat, and always needed some type of mechanical tinkering. I do miss that big old ugly seat.....I could do 500 miles a day without feeling like **** when I got off the bike.
I'm looking into a new seat and will probably order one within the week. I've chatted with the masses on this forum and have gotten some good advice. Many liked the Day long saddle. I was interested in that, but I'm now leaning towards a Corbin. I have a friend who has one and it seems to do the job. That's not why I may order it, if I had more time I might get the day long custom built, but I may leave for a 6000+ wandering around the country soon. I think I can get the corbin faster......anyone who ordered send me a message and tell me how long and your impression with the process!

I have a nwe 08, I bought the Corbin Modular seat with the seams showing, front and back with backrest. Took about 4 weeks to get it. It is a 100 times better than the stock seat. I am glad I bought it, although very pricey! I am 6ft 5in weigh 260lbs 34 in waist. 36inch inseam.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

As far as stock seats go, the one on my '06 isn't bad. I can stand it all day (generally). My concern is after several long days, and for that I'm experimenting with different options - beads, airhawk, etc.

Your weight does does seem to make a difference - heavier/larger folks seem to complain more than shorter/lighter ones. On the other hand, the big folks have more padding on their backsides than us skinny whelps, which oughta compensate somewhat....

Anyway... the only way to know what will work is to try something and find out. No one else can tell you what will make your butt happy. It can get expensive to experiment, but there's always the classifieds and ebay to help recoup some of your education expenses...

Griff