Can't Get Comfortable

[Pathologic]

Moving about is OK

I am a lot shorter and lighter than you ultrablast, but I am no lover of the GS seat. My solution is to move around as much as I can. The GS has heated footrests which are fine for resting you legs of feet on for short periods of sime (when it is safe to do so) and you can stand up for a few minutes even at motorway speeds.

I find it helps to maintain concentration as well. Once I have moved I am usually good for another half an hour. It worked OK for me on a recent trip when I did 7000 miles in 21 days.

My helpful 2p

Regards,

Path.

 

[savagio]

If you can, and particularly if you ride solo, give a riders backrest a go, it wont let you slouch, it somehow seams to take some of the weight off your ass, and gives you extra support no after market seat can...

 

[rjsmith26]

Here's my take on comfort

Moved from a vfr800 to a 08gsa last year, 6'4" and 85kg.

I find it really comfortable - one point I run with the screen as upright as possible and my bike came with a touratech screen extender (I don't ride with this normally but do on motorway as my lower back starts aching running without it ).

I think tense up as described earlier in thread or possible "unhappy position" you ride in (driven my screen position?) maybe cause?

Just my thoughts - hope it helps.

Cheers

 

[Ultrablast]

I read that in the manual too, but then I read somewhere on here that it had caused no problems so gave it a try. I felt that I was pitched forward too much originaly, changed the position and never looked back. That was in the first month of ownership, June '05.
Mark

I do feel that I'm being pitched forward too much, so this might be the answer. I'll know later in the week and feed back.

 

[Ultrablast]

perhaps reference to thread
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232891 might give some answers?

Dunno about answers but hell that was funny. Having lived in the middle east and gone on rides to places with public bogs, no paper and only the old hose, I can attest to the fact that the hose (bidet attatchment for the classy) actually works.

Alternatively, I learned the following procedure in the army:

1.) Fold a single sheet of TP corner to corner to form a triangle
2.) Fold the triangle in half
3.) Tear off a little bit of the corner. Retain the little bit
4.) Open the sheet, which now has a hole in the middle
5.) Stick your finger through the hole
6.) Wipe with your finger
7.) Gather the sheet around your finger and extract your finger, effectively wiping your finger

The little bit you retained can be used for cleaning under your fingernail.

 

[Dave h]

Hi
Had the same problem,shoulders and neck ache on 08 gs altered seat high front low back,worked a treat give it a go!

 

[Gringo-Loco]

Can't get comfy on your ride?

Man The-F*ck Up!!


As said /\ /\... Sitting in the same position will cause aches as the muscles will fatigue eventually from maintaining this fixed position.
Move your arse around on the seat, Alternate your posture from leaning forwards, backwards etc. for a bit, stop frequently for a wee walk around.

I've never had great success from 'Up-Graded' seats. More psychological effect that physical advantage.

 

[Ultrablast]

I find riding my GSA uncomfortable the longer I ride. Not perhaps to the same extend but my arse gets very uncomfortable and I use an Airhawk everytime I ride now. Airhawk has made an improvement but it's not 100% for long trips either imo. I think my arse gets hot, especially when wearing biker padded leggings. The heat builds up and then it's very hard to get comfortable. Not tried a Sargent because of cost?

Lastly, I wonder if it's to do with my wieght? I'm 5'11, about 16.5 stone.

I also find the Airhawk helps but not 100%.

 

[Ultrablast]

Hi
Had the same problem,shoulders and neck ache on 08 gs altered seat high front low back,worked a treat give it a go!

Thanks. I've set the seat high front/low back but circumstances over the weekend prevented a long trip.

 

[Ultrablast]

Hi Ultrablast,

This may be a bit out of left field, but the shoulder and back pain locations suggest to me that perhaps your body is too tense when you’re riding – this would explain why you ache all over within a short time, and why your GS (which is an intrinsically comfy bike for tall folks) feels uncomfortable so quickly even after you’ve upgraded the comfort.

Do you feel relaxed and confident when you’re riding, or are you riding at 9/10s a lot of the time? Maybe consciously check this a few times during a ride – most of the time we’re concentrating on the road, and don’t notice whether our physical state is relaxed or wired. If you’re constantly ragging the throttle and dabbing & grabbing at the brakes, then you’re probably a bit adrenalin-pumped a lot of the time, whereas if you’re very smooth, you’re probably relaxed in mind & body, and the problem lies elsewhere.

If you’re physically fit and supple, your joints and muscles are more resistant to fatigue, and being compressed, stretched or immobile. Even just riding the bike regularly will contribute a modest amount of adaptive physical conditioning, which is how distance cyclists can be comfortable all day on those ridiculous saddles. If you’re rather unfit, your body may well protest a bit when you ride, as biking does place some physical demands on muscles and skeleton.

Also bear in mind that fitting higher bars takes weight off your wrists and forearms, but transfers it onto your backside. It may help to take note of which pains start first: arse, back, shoulders, knees etc. as it may be just one pain that initiates the whole syndrome.

When you start aching somewhere, your body will instinctively protect that area by transferring load to other muscles, so when your bum starts to ache, you take more of your sitting weight with your leg muscles and joints, and 10 minutes later your legs start to ache. The pain makes you tense, and your shoulder blades start to burn, and so on.

I hope this helps – I’m just over 6’ too, and on some rides have experienced shoulder twinges and numb bum, but a lot less so now that I’m a bit fitter, stretchier, and ride more smoothly. Wishing you all the best in getting back to glorious day-long trips on your GS.

-Pip

Hi Pip,

Thanks for that. I did notice at one time that my forearms were getting stiff and sore and had to make a conscious effort to relax my grip. This made a difference and a rocker really helped my right hand/arm. This is something I have to be constantly aware of.

In terms of being fit and stretchy, I am neither. I have a buggered back and right knee, as well as tendon problems in my elbows - quite decrepit in fact. However, its the arse that starts to ache first. The other aches and pains are a bit of a nuisance but the arse is the big problem. I find myself doing all the things one of the other guys said - moving around, standing up, feet on the "heated footpegs", sitting on the pillion seat etc.

Once I can get my arse comfortable, the rest I can live with.

 

[Ultrablast]

Can't get comfy on your ride?

Man The-F*ck Up!!


As said /\ /\... Sitting in the same position will cause aches as the muscles will fatigue eventually from maintaining this fixed position.
Move your arse around on the seat, Alternate your posture from leaning forwards, backwards etc. for a bit, stop frequently for a wee walk around.

Hey you loco gringo,

I've never had great success from 'Up-Graded' seats. More psychological effect that physical advantage.

I'm beginning to agree on the lack of success with aftermarket seats. There is definately a small difference (i.e. about a quarter of an hour's worth before the arseache kicks in) but thank goodness for the ability to stand up on the GS!

Now I know why John Wayne walked like he did.

 

[BBB61]

I tried a few of the aftermarket seat options (Wundelich, Sargent, had seat remodelled) but the only one that worked for me was getting the seat done By Russells in California. They do the day long saddles and the conversion really did work for me.

 

[Ultrablast]

Thanks to everyone for your valuable input. I still haven't had the opportunity to go on a decent ride since my post but the last 2 mornings with the seat set high at the front and low at the back have definately been more comfortable and I think the addition of the airhawk on longer rides will make it even better.

If this doesn't prove to be the solution, I may try the day long saddle option (after a few months of saving).

Ultimately, I'm beginning to suspect that I'm just saddled with an uncomfortable arse!

Stu

 

[dongleplonk]

Utrablast - any news on your seat hi/low - front/back configurations?

 

[Cobweb]

I found a sheepskin seat pad helped with the comfort issue and it certainly meant that I could do a lot more miles before the numb bum problems started. It's a cheep fix at £12 for a 50cm x 25cm piece of sheep and fix a couple of bits of knicker elastic to it to hold it in place and you're there. Go to http://www.lambland.co.uk/shop/motorcycle-seat-p-1190.html for a piece of dead sheep in a choice of two colours.