Custom Seats

[wully]

I didn't find the standard seat on my Adventure that comfortable over any distance and was considering the Sargent Seat but thought I'd give

http://www.customseats.co.uk/

A call.

So after a chat I sent off the drivers part of my saddle along with a cheque and a few days later it was returned looking exactly the same. Very impressed with their fast service. Also their workmanship was very neat and tidy.

I'd asked for a little height to be taken out the seat and for a gel pad to be installed and since I couldn't see any difference I had to go out and give it a test drive.

At first I felt it was a little hard and that there was a pressure point on my pelvic bones but after a mile or so this went away and I did a 100 mile round trip with absolutely no discomfort at all- on the stock sat I'd have been stretching and squirming by then. This feeling hasn't returned on subsequent rides so it was maybe the brand new gell bedding in?
The slight lowering is just about noticeable and makes it easier to get my feet down- kind of wish I hadn't asked for it now as I feel more comfortable slightly higher up but the 'high' position of the seat would be too much. Oh well, I'll know better next time..

So, it's a big improvement and next week I'll have a much longer trip to really feel the difference and will report back on how I get on when I'm back.

So, all-in-all I would highly recommend Custom Seats.

Helpful, friendly attitude. Very fast service. Neat work and on the short trip I did - a real improvement on standard.

 

[doyle]

Hi wully ,be very interested in how you get on i am going to do something seat wise, tried an airhawk but does'nt suit me,should maybe persist longer as i've only tried it twice.But i think i'd prefer a proper seat but don,t want to fork out a load of cash.What price is a gel insert? NEOPRENE AIRHAWK FOR SALE £100 as new.

 

[wully]

What price is a gel insert?

It was £110 - maybe it was £120 - can't remember exactly as it was more than a month ago and the old memory is going..

A lot less than a Sargent and it keeps the look of the bike.

 

[sparkplug]

Hi wully ,be very interested in how you get on i am going to do something seat wise, tried an airhawk but does'nt suit me,should maybe persist longer as i've only tried it twice.But i think i'd prefer a proper seat but don,t want to fork out a load of cash.What price is a gel insert? NEOPRENE AIRHAWK FOR SALE £100 as new.

The key with Airhawks is not to have very much air in them. If you put it on a hard surface (wooden bench or table top) and add just enough air so you are not quite touching the hard surface then you should be about right.

Gel cuts down vibration a bit but otherwise does very little for long distance comfort.

The inserts are around the £100 plus fitting... I'd persevere with the Airhawk a bit more before making the decision to get rid.

 

[Steptoe]

Gel cuts down vibration a bit but otherwise does very little for long distance comfort.

.

Correctomondo - Gel ( the fools gold of seats) seems the obvious way for a more comfortable seat, when in fact the opposite is true.

A good seat is generally harder, i.e. corbin and sargent are both harder than the standard seat, and if you look both are flatter. So your not trapped in the same spot all the time while riding

 

[wully]

Correctomondo - Gel ( the fools gold of seats) seems the obvious way for a more comfortable seat, when in fact the opposite is true.

A good seat is generally harder, i.e. corbin and sargent are both harder than the standard seat, and if you look both are flatter. So your not trapped in the same spot all the time while riding

So how come my gel seat feels more comfortable

Is it because I've spent a hundred odd quid on it?

Is that the science behind comfy seats then?

Since Sargent seats cost three times as much, will I feel three times as comfy?

Sounds like a winner

 

[ebbo]

Correctomondo - Gel ( the fools gold of seats) seems the obvious way for a more comfortable seat, when in fact the opposite is true.

A good seat is generally harder, i.e. corbin and sargent are both harder than the standard seat, and if you look both are flatter. So your not trapped in the same spot all the time while riding

Which neatly explains why the simple plank like, hard seat of my old airhead was so comfortable mile after mile…

 

[GSTourer]

And probably explains why the seats on racing pedal cycles are so sparsely padded and hard !!!!

 

[MarkN]

Don't forget Renazco seats in the US. http://renazco.com/faq.cfm

I've got a suede seat on my 640 Adv and it's a fantastic piece of work and good for all day riding and all year around.

 

[gsbiker]

Hi Wully, Its been a few months since you started this post and I'm too looking to do something about my seat on a GSA. I like the idea of customising my seat for comfort whilst keeping it standard looking but I don't want to waste my money time over again like I have with my gloves! So how has it been? You still like the seat, is it still comfy? any negative feedback?

Cheers
Paul.

 

[wully]

Hi Wully, Its been a few months since you started this post and I'm too looking to do something about my seat on a GSA. I like the idea of customising my seat for comfort whilst keeping it standard looking but I don't want to waste my money time over again like I have with my gloves! So how has it been? You still like the seat, is it still comfy? any negative feedback?

Cheers
Paul.

Paul,

I do still like my seat and it hasn't given me any discomfort at all- although saying that, I haven't done any really long days since getting it, max of about 250 miles at most.
As for negative feedback - none at all. The only thing I might have asked to be done differently would be to leave the seat at standard height- I asked for a small ammount to be trimmed off and sort of wish I hadn't as I get more and more used to the ADV.
At the end of the day, unless you can blag a loan of a modified/aftermarket seat than you won't know until you try.

BTW- I've had about five pairs of gloves in the past two years and the best by far are the BMW ones I got on spesh - even though they are a size to big for me... Don't know the model but they are goretex lined- very warm and dry.

Second best have been the Gericke goretex summer gloves.

Worst by a LONG way were the Frank Thomas waterproof efforts- rubbish...It was hard to tell if your hands were wet with rain leaking in o justr sweating so much.

 

[gsbiker]

Paul,

I do still like my seat and it hasn't given me any discomfort at all- although saying that, I haven't done any really long days since getting it, max of about 250 miles at most.
As for negative feedback - none at all. The only thing I might have asked to be done differently would be to leave the seat at standard height- I asked for a small ammount to be trimmed off and sort of wish I hadn't as I get more and more used to the ADV.
At the end of the day, unless you can blag a loan of a modified/aftermarket seat than you won't know until you try.

BTW- I've had about five pairs of gloves in the past two years and the best by far are the BMW ones I got on spesh - even though they are a size to big for me... Don't know the model but they are goretex lined- very warm and dry.

Second best have been the Gericke goretex summer gloves.

Worst by a LONG way were the Frank Thomas waterproof efforts- rubbish...It was hard to tell if your hands were wet with rain leaking in o justr sweating so much.

Thanks for that Wully! I'm considering all options but I like the idea of improving my seat rather than spending £200-300 per seat on a new one. I find the stock seat nums my bum on most journeys. at the moment I'm just running in the bike / riding for pleasure only

I bought a new pair of winter gloves but after riding found my hands ached alot in different places. Bought another pair of gloves - even more comfy but the inner moves alot more so glipping throttle is a pain unless on full grip which again causes hand discomfort! I will make do with the gloves I've bought and persevere.