Seat Padding

[DavidPorter]

I have an '82 LS with stock seat.  Even 23 years ago when I rode it across the country it gave me saddle sores, and unfortunately my butt has not acquired any additional padding in the interim.  I have a piece of sheepskin I throw over the seat that seems to do the trick but it's a pain to keep track of and threatens to blow off when I stand up.  I have seen the sheepskin and sheepskin/gel pads on the Alaska Leather site.  They look fine but it would be great to hear from someone with experience of these products.  Any other ideas?  I don't want to modify the original seat so it needs to be something that will strap on.  Maybe velcro under the seat would be ok.

Thanks.

David Porter
Glyndon MD  

[Justin B.]

My wife uses one of the sheep-skin/gel pad things called "Butt Buffer".  We bought it from the local BMW dealer...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

The Alaska Leather are nice (I think that is what I bought).  It has 4 wide loops and comes with two different types of strap to hold it in place.
I also tried a Butt Buffer, and wooden beads - and these were all after re-foaming the seat!

No comfort solution until I bought a replacement repro seat from S. Meyer.  I love it!
Sadly - no LS seat on their list: http://www.meyer-bikes.com/ersatz3.php?cat=32  

[nhmaf]

You could go all the way and try out those airhawk seat cushion things which strap on - I don't have one but some people are really sold on them.

[Semper Gumby]

HI David,

An extremely cost effective solution is to get one of these..

http://www.basspro.com/Hunters-Specialties®-BunSaver-Seat-Cushions/product/91377/-1346965

It's a hunter's Bun Saver from Bass Pro Shop.  I have use them on my British bikes for years, including two Saddle Sore 1000 Iron Butt rides on the 1971 BSA Thunderbolt, a bike not known for posterior comfort.  The strap fits around the seat keeping it in place.  There is an screw type air vent that allows you to add or remove air to the pad.  Its self inflating.  And when your not using it you can roll it up squeeze the air out close the valve and store away small.

On my Thunderbolt I usually set it up so that I can sit half on half off. and I put a layer of Lowes or Homedepot toolbox liner to keep me and everything in pace on the seat (non-slipping.)  When Im done I remove it and the bike looks stock.  At $15.00 you can't beat it.

Good luck.   8-)

[suecanada]

The Triumph Bonneville's seat is known for its board-like comfort. The R65LS seat is much more comfortable over the distancein comparison. However, for both on a long journey, I use a Butt Buffer with my sheepie piece on top which is simply a chunk of sheepskin with and elastic under it.  The elastic goes under the Butt Buffer which holds onto the seat with two clips that go under the bottom seat edge. Took me in reasonable comfort on day after day rides. Not perfect but...

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Mrs. Phorqs and I both use Butt Buffers (purchased at the 09 National Rally) and the gel pad does make a huge difference.  But (no pun intended) when I first started riding my R1100S with a Corbin saddle the forward lean was quite awkward and I didn't like it.  But after several miles I realized that the forward tilt shifted me from my ample butt onto the pelvic bone and it was much easier to ride longer distances in comfort.