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evolbob
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 03:59 am | 1st Post |
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My long ride was just under 1000 miles, just a putt for most on this forum I know. The seat on my '85 Aspy appears to be the original since it has the GW emblem embossed on the leather/vinyl? During the ride I would stop after an hour or so to stretch my aching left knee and let my a$$ breath! I purchased an Alaska leather sheepskin cover that helped some but I think my seat is just wore out! Now that the ride is over (came home last Tuesday, 6 days ago) my lower back has given me fits which all my nurse relatives say is a possible sciatica nerve aggravation. I noticed too that I felt like I was riding on the false tank (the cover allowed me to slide slightly during braking). I want to do something with this seat, either replace it completely or have it recovered. I'm clueless  as to what the best approach might be, was hoping to get some feedback from everyone here. Just noticed a $350.00 bonus from my employer was deposited into my account and the CFO (wife) has giving the approval on the funds for motorcycle development. So, would like to improve the seat but can't afford the Corbin or Travelcade approach. Saw some affordable covers at JC Whitney but am wary of purchasing an item such as this from them. Also saw the B&H covers but that looks like just the cover, no cushion replacement. Any ideas? Thanks!!!
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Silicon Sam
Senior Guru
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 04:26 am | 2nd Post |
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Guess it depends on how long you plan to keep the bike. Better to spend a few extra bucks for the Corbin, Travelcade, or whatever, and enjoy it for years to come.
I got my brand new Travelcade off ebay from a seller out in CA. From what I can tell they were seconds, but then again I paid something like $249 for mine. Only thing I found wrong was the studs that held the bracket. One was slightly off, had to drill out my bracket to fit.
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1983 GL1100 Interstate
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pwhoever
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:16 am | 3rd Post |
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| You mentioned an aching knee. That might be contributing to the problem. I would regularly have the sore butt, back aches and such. I also had problems with my right leg. I went to the doctor and learned that my thigh bone and my leg bone were slightly off set. Also I learned that I have some tears and deterioration in the cartilage in the knee. The doctor said eventually I will need a replacement knee in about 10 years but for right now, he had me fitted with an off set brace. I used to have problems standing for any length of time as my lower back would start to hurt. Since I have been wearing the brace, I can alsmost stand for as long as I want. I have also noticed that my butt and back do't seem to hurt on long rides like they used to. I haven't done one of my 1000 mile jaunts with it yet but several 2-300 runs with little problem. Just something to think about. Last edited on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:16 am by pwhoever
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exavid
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:38 am | 4th Post |
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I've been developing a lot of back pain in the past couple months even on fairly short rides. I put an Utopia backrest on my bike and so far that seems to be a big help, no back pain after a couple hours steady going. I don't think a seat cover by itself will do much good other than looking better, if the foam's sad it will take some new foam. You might consider buying a good quality seat cover and take that and the seat to an upholsterer who has some car or bike experience or just contact an upholsterer and ask. You might be able to afford a custom made seat cover with new foam.
A Corbin is expensive but most people who have them swear by them. The consensus opinion seems to be that it takes a couple thousand miles to break in the seat or your behind which ever comes first but after that they are supposed to be very comfortable. I don't think too much of the Saddleman product for the 1500, the seat pan was poorly made and didn't fit the bike properly.
Honda Direct Line still lists the OEM 1200 seat on their site. It doesn't say unavailable and they are listed for $273-321 depending on model so it might be worth a tryl. I ordered a new seat for my '93 from them, it was a lot more comfortable than the old tired OEM seat.
Last edited on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:39 am by exavid
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mikef
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:52 am | 5th Post |
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I had the same problem with my 86. The stock seat sucked. I put a Travelcade seat on for under $300, using the existing seat pan. It does take a while to "condition" it, but it was well worth it.
I have since moved to a 1500. Stock seat, so I tried the sheepskin cover with gel pads sewn in. An improvement, but not like the Travelcade was. Plus I spent about $220 on the 1500. If I were to do it again, I would splurge on a new seat.
Sheepskin does look nice though, and is really cooler in the hot summer sun.
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93 Aspy
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Psalmist
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 05:53 am | 6th Post |
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| Travelcade is pretty good, along with Corbin (wife hated it), Russell, Hartco. I agree, Don't just cover it. The backrests are priceless on a long tour. We just came back from 3200 mile trip. I'm not sold on saddlegel. It didn't help me at all.
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Dino Hutchings
Fort Smith, AR
1999 pearl silver SE
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MDKramer
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 11:37 am | 7th Post |
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I actually go through this every spring. First ride out I always overdo it (because it's been awhile, and I miss my girl), forgetting that over the winter, I lost my "saddle-butt" (Think of it like a guitar player not playing for a few months and losing the callouses on his/her fingertips).
For my hips (which will cause my back to start aching if ignored), I ended up putting a set of Kuryakan extended cruise pegs on my lower bars. This allows me to stretch my legs out, and put my hips in a different position every now and then, and this takes pressure off of places starting to hurt.
I notice that after a couple poker runs, a trip or two to Omaha and Lincoln, and general riding around, I start getting my "saddle-butt" back and find it takes longer and longer for any kind of discomfort to set in. Usually by mid-May, I can go from fill-up to fill-up without getting sore, and as long as I get off and stretch and move a little at the gas stop, I'm good to go as long as I want to.
I'm also due for a seat change very soon. I noticed this spring that the foam in my stock seat has degenerated to the point that I feel like I'm sitting directly on the seat pan. Hopefully by the end of this season, I'll have that situation remedied. Would be fixing it now, but the stator going south used up $400 of the $600 I'd saved back for the occasion.
MikeLast edited on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 11:40 am by MDKramer
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lostinflorida
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 12:16 pm | 8th Post |
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What condition are your rear shocks?
Mainly when I get the back ache, it's from the abrupt jolt from a stiff bump and the shocks being low on air.
My but gets sore, but it does get better the longer I ride.
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Hawker22
Senior Guru
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 12:19 pm | 9th Post |
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A few days after my 1600 mile run, I developed some soreness in my lower back(pretty normal for me) but also this time, I developed a sore left foot. Only thing I can think of is the gear shifting. Now I gotta build a gear shifter simulator so I can exercise my left foot. 
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Rick S
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 12:48 pm | 10th Post |
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Hey Bob, while I have to experience with the 1200 seat, I do have have experience with the back. I've had two surgeries on L5 which involved S1 (sciatica). Before the surgery I couldn't move my leg with out severe pain. Now my back aches all the time. When riding I find myself slouching (sp) and my back will start to burn (if that makes sense). But if I sit up bolt straight (like I should) it doesn't hurt as bad. The seat I have on my 1000 is covered in leather and I have no idea what foam is inside, but it does ride very well.
Do yourself a favor if a new seat doesn't fix your back issue, have a professional look at it. When my back first acted up I had all the "doctors" in the shop tell me what the problem was. Only when I went to see a real doc, is when I found out what is was.
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marvo75
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 06:01 pm | 11th Post |
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I agree with mdkramer here, the foot pegs on the engine guards help me greatly. I have a left brokin hip, and if i dont stretch it and move it a lil bit i get sore bad. I have yet to have back pain,the wife says her ass hurts a lil on 200+ rides,told her she needs to ride more
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evolbob
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 07:29 pm | 12th Post |
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| I haven't seen a foot peg that will fit the 1200 yet. The engine guard is awfully close to the engine. Seen some 1500's with the foot pegs but they appear to have more room.
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Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Benjamin Franklin.
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/evolbob/
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AZgl1500
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 07:37 pm | 13th Post |
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My bike had a good backrest on it. A couple of times I tried to ride it without the backrest, mainly because I had a passenger and didn't get around to replacing the backrest after they were off and gone.
With both my factory seat and the Diamond seat, I would get a bad back ache without the backrest.
I suggest you get a Utopia backrest, that will help a bunch. Almost like being in a rocking chair
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Popeye
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 08:09 pm | 14th Post |
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My back ALWAYS hurts after my 1st long ride of the season.
Like MDKramer said, it takes a while to get your riding butt back.
Myself, I wouldn't get far without my backrest & hi-way boards.
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exavid
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 09:43 pm | 15th Post |
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| I've tried highway pegs on my 1500 but the older style guards with their outward bend are just too wide. One of these days maybe I can get a set of the later model guards and then I think I'd like some pegs. It would be nice to get the kinks out of the knees without having to stand up on the bike. That was one nice thing with the 1100 and 1200 Standards, you can just lay your legs over the top of the guards.
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marvo75
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 09:57 pm | 16th Post |
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| I am long legged, i have my highway pegs as far forward as they will go and i still have to lay my leg on top of them. But it still helps alot. Wish it wasnt rainging here,i'd be riding
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fatwing chris
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 12:24 am | 17th Post |
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| I think a lot of us have wasted time and money trying to make stock seats work.I know I did on my 1200,s.I didn't even try on the 1500.My personal opinion if you plan on keeping the bike a long time(I know opinions are like a**holes...everybody has one)is that if you can afford one go for an aftermarket seat with a Utopia style backrest..Some are very expensive,but there are some deals if you look around. Last edited on Wed Aug 6th, 2008 12:25 am by fatwing chris
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Fatwing Chris
Back in the bikin mode!!!
If I'd have known it would last this long I would have taken better care of it.
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tory
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 01:33 am | 18th Post |
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evolbob wrote: Saw some affordable covers at JC Whitney but am wary of purchasing an item such as this from them. Thanks!!!
If I am wrong somebody please correct me.
But I believe the complete seats you buy from JCW are travelcade.
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1983 gl1100 interstate
1979 gl1000
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evolbob
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 11:46 pm | 19th Post |
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| Hey tory, Saddleman makes the seats that JCW sells. I went ahead and bought the Premium Bucket seat with comfort-gel pads built in. $259.99 with free shipping.....what the heck.
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Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Benjamin Franklin.
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/evolbob/
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ScooterTramp
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Posted: Thu Aug 7th, 2008 02:42 am | 20th Post |
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I don’t think I would make it much over 100 miles, the way this thing is set up. I’ve got the Utopia back rest ordered, won't be here till next week. Everything I’ve seen and heard says this will do the trick.
It isn’t to bad, while I am riding. When I dismount, however, my back just kills me. Pretty disappointing, for a ‘touring motorcycle’.
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