Pillion comfort

[Big Si]

There are 2 ways to resolve this issue.
1, buy a Goldwing. Best seat ever.
2, change the wife.

My wife actually fell asleep on the back of the Goldwing a couple of weeks ago. ( I was a bit offended until she mentioned it was on a motorway stretch....she loves the rear seat on that bike) The Yanks, on the U.S. Goldwing forums, moan about the stock seat incessantly however.

 

[Arsey]

Indeed, I’m thinking of trying the standard seat to see if that is better for her. Doesn’t always follow that soft is better.

In my experience, soft is never better !!
Any seat that you sit on and think….’oh that’s nice’…you can guarantee a short time later will have you squirming , as your sit bones aren’t supported.
The best seats are the firm ones that you get on and think…..’oh that’s a bid hard’.
They never actually feel ‘comfortable’ yet never get uncomfortable, if that makes sense ?
For instance, I’ve had a couple of Renzaco seats made for me and the current one on my 701LR feels rock hard yet I can ride all day (12 hours +) and not have a single ache.

 

[Urban Rider]

Out with friends last night and one of them asked my misses what she thought of the GS compared to the Crosstourer we had before.
She looked at me and said, “I wasnt going to say anything because I know you love it and it’s been a big thing for you to finally have a GS. But, it’s by far the most uncomfortable bike I’ve ever been on.” ( Previous bikes, CB750, XJR1300, FJR1300,Crosstourer x2, and ridden Explorer and Super Tenere.

She then listed all the things she doesn’t like about it, mostly down to the seat.

I have a 2021 GS Triple black with heated seats.
So my question is, what are the alternatives or does anyone have any suggestions?
I’m ok with the rider seat so If I could change the pillion seat alone that would be fine. Loosing the heated option would not be a massive issue as my wife only comes on the bike on our summer trips anyway.

Be grateful of any tips or advice.

I recently went down the Sargent route and bought both rider and pillion seats. My wife immediately noticed the difference in comfort and claims the sargent is supremely comfortable compared to the standard seat. It took a while for me to be convinced by the riders seat though, however i am now more than convinced that the sargent seats are near perfect for all day comfort for me..

 

[Urban Rider]

In my experience, soft is never better !!
Any seat that you sit on and think….’oh that’s nice’…you can guarantee a short time later will have you squirming , as your sit bones aren’t supported.
The best seats are the firm ones that you get on and think…..’oh that’s a bid hard’.
They never actually feel ‘comfortable’ yet never get uncomfortable, if that makes sense ?
For instance, I’ve had a couple of Renzaco seats made for me and the current one on my 701LR feels rock hard yet I can ride all day (12 hours +) and not have a single ache.

I would 100% agree with this and this is exactly what i thought when i first got my sargent seats.....

 

[EKIMYRF]

I had a sargent on the 1100S I had hated it - seats are very much down to the individual arse

I have a multistrada and the seat on that is like mahogany

 

[Neil W]

Quite odd because my wife has always found the rear seats on all of my BMW's (1150gs,1200gsa tc, 1200gsa lc ) very comfortable , due to needing a new knee I have fitted Wunderlich lowered pillion pegs to the lc this year but she still regularly naps on long Autobahn stretches.

She,however, found the rear seat and seating position on my f800gsa awful, poor on my TDM900 same with hired f800 gs, f800st, r1200rt tc and also Super Tenere's and Stelvio's I test rode

 

[DevonAl]

I have fitted Wunderlich lowered pillion pegs to the lc this year but she still regularly naps on long Autobahn stretches

I try my hardest to stop my wife nodding off, I have an image of her suddenly waking up, unbalancing the bike and we end up sliding down the road into oblivion!!

Al.

 

[RallyeGS]

Just shout “brace, brace brace” over the intercom every now and then!

 

[Deleted account 230524001]

Should have read Airhawk

 

[Hartley]

I have taken up r1Happys offer of a replacement standard pillion seat, plan is to try that and modify it to suit if needed.
My wife used to regularly nod off on the Crosstourer, normally on a motorway/dual carriage way. If I’m honest, space permitting I’d have kept the Honda as well as she’s always preferred it overall to the GS, with the exception of the ride quality.

 

[leadfarmer]

Just ordered a gel pad from Amazon to do a DIY job on my Z900rs seat

I’ll let you know if it helps, could be an option for you

 

[Neil W]

I try my hardest to stop my wife nodding off, I have an image of her suddenly waking up, unbalancing the bike and we end up sliding down the road into oblivion!!

Al.

I normally realise when either I hear her snoring over the intercom or if I have to brake and she headbutts the back of my helmet

 

[Engineer]

My other half finds the GS so comfortable she falls asleep on the motorway, but she does have a very firm behind I can happily ride with the standard seat all day (300 miles) without any discomfort - the seats are not the problem, it's the differences in construction of the the rider and pillion that is the issue, we are not all built the same way

 

[Hwr1983]

My wife gets a numb arse on the back of my 2019 R1250 GSA after about an hour. She weighs as much as a wet feather though compared to my "Marshmellow Man" arse . Tried the "3D Mesh" covers, which helped me (no summer sweaty arse syndrome!) but as shes also short, she said it wasn't as good because her feet barely touched the pegs. So I've removed it on her seat.

I dont find the seat overly comfy (2hrs-ish until numb bumsets in) but its certainly not UN-comfortable for the time I'm usually in the saddle

 

[sven]

I recently went down the Sargent route and bought both rider and pillion seats. My wife immediately noticed the difference in comfort and claims the sargent is supremely comfortable compared to the standard seat. It took a while for me to be convinced by the riders seat though, however i am now more than convinced that the sargent seats are near perfect for all day comfort for me..

On the other hand, my wife hated the rear Sargent seat and quickly reverted to the standard seat on my 2014 GS LC. I found the Sargent low front seat an instrument of torture too The seats on my 2019 R1250GS are pretty comfortable and more comfy than the 2014 seats, even on 6-8 hour rides.

 

[Engineer]

There is no such thing as the universally comfortable seat - one has to just keep trying them until one finds one that suits one

 

[Dave56]

Here’s the only REAL solution.

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/569194-Honda-Crosstourer-DCT-for-sale

Only joking Paul, sorry but just couldn’t resist.

Seriously though, I have an Airhawk type seat cushion which your more than welcome to try as the Africa Twin is sooooo comfortable I no longer use it.

 

[Hartley]

Hi Dave, hope you’re keeping well.
Thanks for the offer, I did once have an air hawk and I couldn’t get on with it at all but I do know many find them very good. We’ll see how Paula gets on with the standard seat which I believe maybe a little firmer.

 

[Dave56]

Hi Dave, hope you’re keeping well.
Thanks for the offer, I did once have an air hawk and I couldn’t get on with it at all but I do know many find them very good. We’ll see how Paula gets on with the standard seat which I believe maybe a little firmer.

All good here mate and no worries about the inflatable seat cushion, but it’s there if Paula wants it.

 

[smudger64]

My other half never complained, however I saw a touratech seat and brought it.
Now says her arse was numb as feck within an hour, but now is completely comfortable.

Happy arse, happy her, happy me.