Bike was parked on the street yesterday in the sun, wasn't that hot out (high 60's). The gel really gets super heated - to the point where it was almost to hot to sit on it to ride. Any one know of any covers or anything to use when parking in the shade isn't an option??
a buddy of mine almost always leaves his jacket draped accross his seat...
his jacket isn't as nice as mine though.
Quote from: ejw24 on May 30, 2008, 07:46:46 AM
Any one know of any covers or anything to use when parking in the shade isn't an option??
Here ya go. I have the BCS model, which covers the entire topside of the bike, and is still small enough to fit under the seat in its own little pouch.
http://www.coveralls.biz/ (http://www.coveralls.biz/)
I just throw a white (reflects heat better) hand towel over it. Cheap, that way if someone bags it, no biggie. [moto]
Not that I ever really leave my bike anywhere, unattended for very long and usually just set my gloves and helmet on it, but when I have to the towel works like a champ.
i take my seat off an bring it in the office. I too have the gel seat, and 8 hrs in the a/c gives me a nice cool seat for the ride home!
You could get one of those thermal reflective sheets, they are very thin, and you could store it under you seat.
Yep that seat gets hot, I usually put my jacket on it but I'm always worried it will grow legs.
Umbrella Girl [thumbsup]
Quote from: Scooter Montgomery on May 30, 2008, 03:40:58 PM
Umbrella Girl [thumbsup]
This is a plan I can really get on board with!! [thumbsup]
Thanks for all the ideas, I ordered one of the reflective seat covers this afternoon.
Quote from: ejw24 on May 30, 2008, 07:46:46 AM
The gel really gets super heated
Know of motorcyclists in Arizona with gel seats who regretted having them. Hot summer sunshine on the gel heating it for hours -- get off work and ride home hoping it cools off in traffic -- burns by the time you get home. (one person went to the ER it was so bad) Then you walk rather strange for a few weeks and wear loose fitting clothes. Everyone one of them later replaced to a non-gel seat. Arizona is an extreme environment though. But never assume the gel is going to "cool down" within a few miles.
I have one, live in AZ and cover it with my jacket if I have to park it in the sun. It's usually under covered parking or in my garage...
I've experienced the same "gel burn" on my Multistrada and found the perfect solution. There's a small cover available that has stretch bands that go to the brake and clutch levers and then other bands that go to the shifter and rear brake levers, then more stretch bands that loop over the rear turnsignals (or whatever is convenient on the rear of the bike) and then the cover is stretched/suspended over just the tank and seat area of the bike. It can easily be stored in its own pouch and fits in a tankbag easily. Cost is about $36 at most shops here in the Northern California area. I'll get the name and try to post a pic when I get home. It really does the trick. I believe it's called "Cycle Shade", but I'll make sure and report back.
More riding less parking [laugh]
Ambient temperatures aren't the problem. I nearly burned my butt after it sat in the sun (65-75 degrees F) for two hours. Now I carry a white washcloth if I can remember it.
Dowco makes a "bikini" cover called the Traveler that folds/rolls up small enough to fit under the seat. I have one and it's perfect. Comes with bungee hooks front and back and runs around $35 on the street. Waterproof and sun proof. It only covers the top of the bike. Mine covers the front end to below the headlamp, the sides down to the top of the engine and the back to the top of the rear wheel. Indispensible and take about a minute to put on and about 2-3 minutes to ball up and stick under the seat.
I had one in Colorado and sold after realizing how distracting it was on my commute home to frying my man peaches the entire ride. Took the fun out of riding it.
Checked mine and it's definitely called the Cycle Shade. A very nice product that just covers the tank/seat area and really does the trick when it comes to keeping the gel seats from roasting your chestnuts. I rode the 'strada today after it sat in the sun for hours and the seat was cool and comfortable. I took a pic with my phone but can't seem to get it loaded here, but the website is www.cycleshade.com and you can find good pics of it there. Hope this helps!
I have a DP gel seat and used to live in Phoenix. THe heat that the gel seat soaks up is no joke. I bought a cheap car sunshade (reflective) and cut it to a shape that fits nicely over the seat. It's kept folded under the seat until I need it, then it's held in place when I park by some mini bungies. Super cheap, super effective fix. [thumbsup]
The CBOA method is get one of those aluminized emergency blankets from an outdoor store and cut it to size, then tuck it under the seat when you leave your bike in the sun.
Emergency Blanket $4.99
Scissors $1.99
Cool Nuts on the commute Priceless.
Quote from: hypurone on May 30, 2008, 09:37:40 AM
I just throw a white (reflects heat better) hand towel over it. Cheap, that way if someone bags it, no biggie. [moto]
Not that I ever really leave my bike anywhere, unattended for very long and usually just set my gloves and helmet on it, but when I have to the towel works like a champ.
+1 I keep a slightly longer thin hand towel in my riding backpack. works great. when it's windy, i just tuck the towel ends under the side of the seat to keep it from flying away. [thumbsup]
Quote from: FLSTFI_E46 on June 11, 2008, 08:40:33 AM
+1 I keep a slightly longer thin hand towel in my riding backpack. works great. when it's windy, i just tuck the towel ends under the side of the seat to keep it from flying away. [thumbsup]
Great minds think alike! ;D [beer]
Quote from: hypurone on June 11, 2008, 10:02:36 AM
Great minds think alike! ;D [beer]
[thumbsup] ... btw, you get those wheels yet ?
Keep hand towel. Wet it before you go out to the parking lot.
Quote from: FLSTFI_E46 on June 11, 2008, 04:00:05 PM
[thumbsup] ... btw, you get those wheels yet ?
Not to TJ but NO DAMNIT! >:( Keep getting run around. Supposedly now (as I was told before) I am first on the list on the next shipment. But thanks for asking/caring.... :'(
or...just get a different seat. The thought of having to run around with towels or sun shades just to make the seat usable seems kinda crazy to me.
Come on John, the seat is hands down the most comfortable on the market...
Yeah John....... you sold me yours [cheeky]
Good thing Ilive near the ocean & my bike is rarely left outside [thumbsup]
Quote from: NAKID on June 12, 2008, 06:51:20 PM
Come on John, the seat is hands down the most comfortable on the market...
I thought the DP Comfort seat was the most uncomfortable seat I'd ever sat on. Too many pressure points caused by the non-flat surface. If they had made the surface smooth and placed the gel underneath a thin layer of insulating foam, it just mighta been a good seat.
Wow, really? Everyone (even non Ducati riders) who has sat on my bike has the same opinion as me....
Quote from: NAKID on June 12, 2008, 07:29:18 PM
Wow, really? Everyone (even non Ducati riders) who has sat on my bike has the same opinion as me....
I must have a sensitive ass ....
Quote from: Ivan on June 12, 2008, 07:20:41 PM
I thought the DP Comfort seat was the most uncomfortable seat I'd ever sat on. Too many pressure points caused by the non-flat surface. If they had made the surface smooth and placed the gel underneath a thin layer of insulating foam, it just mighta been a good seat.
I love the angle of attack on the seat. Really helps keep Big Jim and the Twins off the tank! But they should have run the gel closer to the front edge for aggressive riding and to remove the seam edge that I end up sitting on. But compared to the stock seat it is a peach! The stocker was too grippy to slide around on when strafing and had some really "hard" edges to it. This seat has the perfect balance of grip and slide for me. [moto]
no doubt..very comfy in the shade....but NM and CO sun were way too much. I built a custom one from my stock seat with shaved sides and middle....soooooo comfy and no fried man yams!