Anyone find a seat comfortable enough for touring with a passenger?

Ducatista · May 12, 2008, 10:08:02 AM

I've seen lots of seats that make the rider more comfortable, but none that makes the passenger more comfortable. Is there a seat that at least has a little rise at the back? I saw a nicely modded SV seat, but I'm not sure that the Monster's seat base is wide enough to do that.

I have a 1999 M900s.

He Man · May 12, 2008, 10:59:26 AM

the Sgts are suppose to be super comfy for passenger as well. but nothing really beats getting your seat custom made. Try an upholsery shop and get them to widen the rear a bit.

pitbull · May 12, 2008, 12:48:33 PM

the corbin is fairly comfortable for the passenger, but I don't find it very comfortable to ride on. The sargent is quite comfy for me, but horrible for the passenger...... so it's kind of a no win deal

FWIW, I contacted sargent to see if they could rebuild the seat for me for a better pillion perch and they're response was "the seat is not designed nor constructed for a passenger and cannot be rebuilt for such a purpose".

hydra · May 12, 2008, 12:49:37 PM

you might want to try the sheepskin seat covers for the passenger. i've used them on my R1100S for myself and a passenger and it works great for touring. i can go much longer with one on the seat. and you wouldn't think it but it actually prevents sliding. the passenger will slide no matter what but no more than without the pad. they are cut specifically for the seat so it's pretty much formed to the shape of the seat. they don't always look great on sport bikes but for +300 mi trips they save your ass and ballls...

your passenger will thank you.

http://www.alaskaleather.com/application.htm

here's one on my BCR. not the best picture of it on the bike but you can tell it's formed fairly well to the seat.

Ducatista · May 12, 2008, 03:11:13 PM

Quote from: hydra on May 12, 2008, 12:49:37 PM
great on sport bikes but for +300 mi trips they save your ass and ballls...
your passenger will thank you.

I have an ass, but no balls. I don't take passengers because my bf won't ride cupcake. It's my own friggin' Monster that I'm looking for this for! He had a GSX-R 1000 before and now has no street bike, so if we are going anywhere, I'm on the pillion pad.

He Man · May 12, 2008, 03:17:15 PM

riding on the back is the best shit ever. When your actually riding, you dont get to enjoy anything becasue your so focused on ride, when your a passenger, you get to see everything and its pretty freaky.

hydra · May 12, 2008, 04:38:27 PM

Quote from: Ducatista on May 12, 2008, 03:11:13 PM
I have an ass, but no balls. I don't take passengers because my bf won't ride cupcake. It's my own friggin' Monster that I'm looking for this for! He had a GSX-R 1000 before and now has no street bike, so if we are going anywhere, I'm on the pillion pad.

oops, i didnt see your avatar before i posted...

well if it's you whose butt has to sit pillion, then you have to be comfy on your own bike. the Alaskan Butt Pads are just connected by 2 elastic bands underneath the seat and they clip together. so it's quick to remove once you've parked and want to take it off so no one see's it...

the quality's real good and real sheepskin. i guess sheep have ample insulation against heat and cold because they're great for the hot and cold weather. check out their site when you get a chance. i'm thinking about getting one for my Foggy for the +300mi trips.

DesmoDiva · May 12, 2008, 05:27:36 PM

B has a Sargent on his ST4s and I find the "back seat" is comfy. It is dished out so I move around a lot less and doesn't push up against my seat bones; more like cradles my butt.

My ex had a corbin that I also found comfortable.

mxwinky · May 12, 2008, 06:47:29 PM

Corbin will custom make just about anything you want for your seat. They even have a service where you can ride down to their shop and consult with their techs and they'll use your original base and custom fab it to your exact needs. I don't know where you live, but if you're in Northern California it's pretty darn easy and convenient. If not, you can contact them and ship them your seat and go from there. Turnaround time is generally pretty quick too.

Qfactor · May 13, 2008, 05:43:24 AM

actually

wallmart carries a gel seat pad that'll work with either seat. have the pass wear some bicyle shorts as well. That should make up for the bad seat design, don't expect them to be comfy for an 6+hr ride, but for at least 2-3 Hrs.

Q

Ducatista · May 13, 2008, 05:54:14 PM

Quote from: hydra on May 12, 2008, 04:38:27 PM
oops, i didnt see your avatar before i posted...

well if it's you whose butt has to sit pillion, then you have to be comfy on your own bike. the Alaskan Butt Pads are just connected by 2 elastic bands underneath the seat and they clip together. so it's quick to remove once you've parked and want to take it off so no one see's it...

the quality's real good and real sheepskin. i guess sheep have ample insulation against heat and cold because they're great for the hot and cold weather. check out their site when you get a chance. i'm thinking about getting one for my Foggy for the +300mi trips.

How secure is the fastening? The pillion pad is pretty aerodynamically sloped, which means that anything on it has a tendency to slide off the back. I tried a gel seat pad, but the clips scarred my subframe.

mstevens · May 13, 2008, 06:56:16 PM

Yeah, but when I'm riding cupcake and my wife is up front there are... certain advantages to a guy like me. Even with her padded jacket.

DucHockey · May 13, 2008, 10:33:53 PM

I believe the original poster said, touring. I don't think there is a seat out there that you could attach to make the monster a passable two up touring bike. I have the corbin seat. My girlfriend won't tollerate more than about 20 minutes. It makes her back soar. And to be honest, I don't like to ride more than about 20 minutes with her on ther, or I start getting sore, too. If I'm given the time, I'll throw down a 1000 mile weekend alone, but there's just not a lot of real estate on the Monster to move around and get comfortable with two people.

Ducatista · May 17, 2008, 12:56:56 PM

Quote from: DucHockey on May 13, 2008, 10:33:53 PM
I believe the original poster said, touring. I don't think there is a seat out there that you could attach to make the monster a passable two up touring bike. I have the corbin seat. My girlfriend won't tollerate more than about 20 minutes. It makes her back soar. And to be honest, I don't like to ride more than about 20 minutes with her on ther, or I start getting sore, too. If I'm given the time, I'll throw down a 1000 mile weekend alone, but there's just not a lot of real estate on the Monster to move around and get comfortable with two people.

On the stock pad, I can last about an hour before the pain sets in. I tried a gel seat that was just a poor design for my pad and that helped me last about 2 or 3 hours. I ordered the sheepskin and perhaps that will lengthen my range a bit. My boyfriend is... well... 6'4" and about 165 pounds, so it's not like he leaves me nothing to sit on.

scott_araujo · May 19, 2008, 12:01:57 AM

The Corbin seat is made of much denser foam and scooped out a bit. It seems to be the most comfortable commercially available seat but it's still not ideal. I would recommend asking about a custom seat maker at you local bike shops. As mentioned already, you want someone that can make it a bit wider with more dense foam and a scooped out shape. The stock slant is awful for the passenger. As also mentioned, the stock seat pan is narrow and flimsy for the passenger. Still, a local guy can probably do a lot and if they're local you can get it fine tuned easily before they do the final covering.

Scott

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Anyone find a seat comfortable enough for touring with a passenger?