Topic: RE: Performance Seat Build 500 Miles without stopping

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm going with a cut down foam seat like this one Chewy, for longer rides i'll use a nice thick piece of sheep skin cover cut to size with elastic straps so it stays on the seat, I've used them like this before and have done 8-900 mile days with only fuel stops, you'l always get some soreness on a long ride, its about managing it to be bearable and sporty at the same time...

Mick,

I love this classic race bike at Willow Springs.  Great brake set-up both front and rear, as well as the wheels - plus the Pops Yoshimura pipe.

I have about 20 pics of that bike, I should post them in the inspiration thread...

Absolutely.

[kpier883]

I wonder how many hours per day a police bike rider sat in the seat of their cop bike in days gone by...

Maybe the wide hinged/sprung contraption they used provide some clues of where to start?

There are images of them on ebay.

[hsas.69]

What about replacing the stock seat foam with something like memory foam?

[Restoration Fan]

I wonder how many hours per day a police bike rider sat in the seat of their cop bike in days gone by...

Maybe the wide hinged/sprung contraption they used provide some clues of where to start?

There are images of them on ebay.

I think they would usually get off them to go get the doughnuts though.   

[Retro Rocket]

What about replacing the stock seat foam with something like memory foam?

Thats what i was thinking too....

[hsas.69]

I have a couple tempurpedic pillows i was thinking of sacrificing to make my seat more comfortable. 

[kpier883]

I wonder how many hours per day a police bike rider sat in the seat of their cop bike in days gone by...

Maybe the wide hinged/sprung contraption they used provide some clues of where to start?

There are images of them on ebay.

A picture...

[chewbacca5000]

I wonder how many hours per day a police bike rider sat in the seat of their cop bike in days gone by...

Maybe the wide hinged/sprung contraption they used provide some clues of where to start?

There are images of them on ebay.

A picture...

You have some good points about wider, but I think that only goes so far.  I had one of those King & Queen seats and the width really didn't do too much.  Maybe it was because the back part of the seat was pushing me forward.

Now as far as the memory foam thing I thought about that myself, and everything I have read about comfort for people who sit in the saddle alot is that that firmer is better.

Have heard of other members using Kayak foam, a firm close cell foam that is easily shape-able, plentiful and cheap.  This could be carved out where my sit bones are.

My sit bones are 127mm or 5" apart.  If I add 7" that would give me 12" at the widest point.

Before spending lots of money on foam I am thinking of just getting some 3/4" plywood and making blanks that are carved out for my sit bones.

No idea how many tries it will take though.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

MT Moto made my custom RC51 seat with a gel pad insert.  It has fairly firm foam below the gel insert.

[chewbacca5000]

MT Moto made my custom RC51 seat with a gel pad insert.  It has fairly firm foam below the gel insert.

Interesting.  Any pics?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

MT Moto made my custom RC51 seat with a gel pad insert.  It has fairly firm foam below the gel insert.

Interesting.  Any pics?

There's nothing from the outside of the seat to indicate it has a gel insert.  The upholstery is custom with a cool carbon fiber look and red over-stitching (upgraded from stock vinyl to match the rest of the bike better) but that's it:

[chewbacca5000]

Wow he sure did a great job!  How many miles can you go before you start squirming?  You know the butt cheek dance? 

Wish I was on the west coast, we just don't have that stuff here.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I can go a few hundred miles on the seat, but my wrist are numb after a couple of hours.

[chewbacca5000]

I can go a few hundred miles on the seat, but my wrist are numb after a couple of hours.

I guess your riding position transfer alot of your weight to your wrist.  I am sensing there are going to be a certain amount of trade offs. 

Thanks for sharing!

[Retro Rocket]

I can go a few hundred miles on the seat, but my wrist are numb after a couple of hours.

I guess your riding position transfer alot of your weight to your wrist.  I am sensing there are going to be a certain amount of trade offs. 

Thanks for sharing!

The fix for that is to go faster....

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I can go a few hundred miles on the seat, but my wrist are numb after a couple of hours.

I guess your riding position transfer alot of your weight to your wrist.  I am sensing there are going to be a certain amount of trade offs. 

Thanks for sharing!

The fix for that is to go faster....

I agree!! And to reverse age!!

[Retro Rocket]

I can go a few hundred miles on the seat, but my wrist are numb after a couple of hours.

I guess your riding position transfer alot of your weight to your wrist.  I am sensing there are going to be a certain amount of trade offs. 

Thanks for sharing!

The fix for that is to go faster....

I agree!! And to reverse age!!

And possibly change the color of your underwear...

[RAFster122s]

Sorry to reserrect an old thread... what was the final outcome? 

For the Vetter designed  seat board I think some bungie cord / parachute cord to the rear turn signal to seat grab rail would allow it to slide back automatically if you didn't have a passenger or stuff. An adjustable cord with a camping cord slide lock used on gear or lots of winter coats these days could provide adjustability and maybe ability to tether it to gear behind your back up higher to pull it out and up without springing up and rebounding. The elastic part would have to be replaceable as most break down with heat.

Heat is one of the big contributors to discomfort on long rides in hot or hot humid weather.
The board isn't going to trap heat  as much as a seat with vinyl and foam, but getting off every 160 or so miles is going to help this.  Saw an interesting series of experiments on that show called ( I think) " two scientists walk into a bar". They were looking at what can cool you down in hot weather or after exercising and used a set of twins of same size to conduct experiment, the twins were in their 20s. Age reduces ability to tolerate heat as easily as when you were younger and working outside adaily you acclimate to higher heat better as long as you stay hydrated.  A camelback beneath your jacket or over your jacket depending on season can allow you to drink as needed if you put it in your helmet to one side but able to move it to your mouth or reach it with your mouth if doing full face. Inside the helmet eliminates possible bug splatter and road dirt/grime.

Back on point... drinking a warm beverage actually can help you cool faster than a cold icey beverage...they measured by pressing the thermo reading device which I think used IR into the guys low back for each reading. Wiping the sweat off your body in cooldown after exercise  allowed you to cool faster than not doing so. Ice on pressure points allowed you to cool faster than a dump of ice water over your head. Your temp actually would rise after the ice bucket and it did a couple other times. Maybe on the cold beverage.

David

[MD]

Chewbacca,

How did the custom seat perform?

-MD