Custom seats

[activpop]

I think that leather looks sweet. You can't get that richness and feel with vinyl. I live in the PNW also. Rainy days from June to October you can often count on one hand plus we seem to have many more days now that are 90 plus temps. My guess is that bike won't be out in the rain much,if at all.

[Kevin_T]

If you want a comfy seat the larger the contact area the better. I mean you have to consider what's appealing to the eye. If you look at Chris's seat it has a nice pocket that extends out to the very edge of the seat. His seat looks like it would cradle him well. That's one reason I like bikes with a mild tuck position the back of the thighs bears some of the load as well.

My Russell seat is full leather I don't really baby it. Twice a year I use mink oil on it and looks brand new. I do cover it when traveling and I'm done for the night. Cover is about size of the OEM tool roll. I've left it uncovered a few times in the rain. If it's conditioned well the seat is pretty water repellent.

[Lucky Phil]

5 hours ago, Kevin_T said:

Having a custom seat isn't for everyone. If never ride more than 2 1/2 hours at a time the stock seat should serve your needs just fine before you start squirming. Also the stock seat looks pretty good. If you are occasionally in the saddle more than 5 hours in a day you might want to look into a custom seat. Of all the mods I've done to my motorcycles a custom seat has been the best money ever spent. I've had a couple Corbins, one Rich Mound, and a Russell day long.

700 dollars who hasn't more than that on a exhaust system, and Chris got a leather seat which added another 100 dollars to the cost. Living in Portland  I'm not so sure about leather. Leather really comes into its own when temperatures are like 90 degrees F and above. That's the time when vinyl just feels nasty.

If we are having a discussion about what makes sense and is practical and cost effective then the seat shown here misses out on all counts. It's leather which has practicality issues, it represents about 20% of the total worth of the bike and the shape is wrong for a sporting motorcycle as well. The idea is to have a flat to slightly rounded seat on a spots bike so the rider can slide himself laterally from one side to the other a little or a lot depending on the riding style. The sporting motorcycle seat shape is designed to NOT lock your arse into a little bucket like a mini lounge chair. If your V11 Sport is fitted with a centre stand then this style of seat basically turns into a bird bath if the bike is left in the rain as well. If you want long distance comfort then as I've mentioned ad nauseum you buy these and wear under your riding pants(see link) They make sitting on a bicycle seat all day relatively comfortable so on a motorcycle seat they are perfection. The cost is dirt cheap, they add no weight to the bike they allow the rider to still move around the bike for proper control and you chuck them in the wash with other stuff to clean them. For some reason people lose all rationality when it comes to motorcycle seats. Forget practicality, forget purpose, ignore the massive investment in dollars and the additional weight. It's like trying to make a sensible argument for a leather jacket over a jacket made of modern materials for road riding, pretty much impossible. I own 2 of these custom seats, one for the V11 and one for the Ducati 1000ss and both are stored under the house gathering dust. Both came with the bikes when I bought them and if the bikes are sold will be passed on to the next owner someday I guess.

The rational, thinking mans choice, or any other of the thousands of similar versions. Aussie dollars remember, so about 5 bucks USD on Amazon in the USA I guess.

  https://www.99bikes.com.au/knicks-endura-xtract-lite-grey

Edited Sunday at 01:02 AM by Lucky Phil

[gstallons]

On 11/8/2024 at 11:21 AM, ChrisPDX said:

Hi folks.  

Adding a custom seat upgrade example in 2024.  

I bought my 2001 Greenie, and it came with a custom seat, but the leather was very dried out, and importantly, I thought the seat was at the wrong angle.  As I rode the bike I was constantly being pushed up against the tank (insert your jokes here).  I'll just go with - it wasn't comfortable.

I live in Portland, Oregon, and looked up the maker of the seat.  Turns out, 22 years after building the first one, he's still in business making custom motorcycle seats, now located in Kingston, Washington, USA, just outside of Seattle.  Rich's Custom Motorcycle Seats https://www.richscustomseats.com

He said he'd be able to re-do the seat.  Either I could take photos and measurements and ship the seat to him and he would do his best to modify per my request, or I could come to his shop with my bike for a custom fitting.  The shop is about a 3-hour van drive from my house, so I loaded it (the cold/rainy season has begun here) and took it to him.

He had me sit on the bike and discuss, then pulled off the leather cover and modified the foam contours.  I sat on it again and took it for a short ride, then another minor contour change, and a new gel pad, another tweak and...what a GREAT transformation.  

I was then given a wide variety of choices regarding leather, vinyl, color, stitching and so on.  And while tempted by red flames or a waving Italian flag, I went with very simple and classic.  Green bike and red frame are, IMO, already speaking loudly enough .  I chose a black pebble-texture leather for the seating area (which I was told hides creases and wear over time), and black smooth leather for the pillion and lower sides of the seat, with double stitching.  

The contour they typically recommend (though they'll do anything you want) is a bit of a cupped shape with a gel pad under that.  I went the cupped direction since the V11 is more of a back roads cruiser.  I'll take my r6 to the track.  

From arrival at their shop to departure took a total of 5 hours.  Which is pretty incredible considering they sculpted a custom foam shape, made a custom leather pattern, stitched and adhered it, and I took a test ride mid-way in the process.  One person worked on seat disassembly and assembly, and another did the stitching.  I hung out in the shop, chatted, and tossed the ball for the shop dog.  

Really, the experience and result couldn't have been better.  They guarantee the work for a year, saying I could come back for adjustments or repairs if I wish.  

Their main business is, I think, cruiser seats for Harleys and the like.  And they say the busy season is April-September, so plan on waiting a little longer those months.  That said, they do offer the in-person fitting, same day service, all year round.   

Cost wasn't cheap, around $700, but the personal attention, truly custom result, high quality materials, made in USA workmanship, and so on...to me, it was a fair price in 2024 $$.  

Here are a couple photos.  You'll see I went conservative/classic.  The feel of the seat is really high quality - when felt with my hand, and with my backside.  I think it'll look and ride nice for years with just occasional leather treatment. 

 

That looks pretty sharp ! I hope it serves you well. Did they recommend any maintenance on the seat leather ?

[Kevin_T]

 

19 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

If we are having a discussion about what makes sense and is practical and cost effective then the seat shown here misses out on all counts. It's leather which has practicality issues, it represents about 20% of the total worth of the bike and the shape is wrong for a sporting motorcycle as well. The idea is to have a flat to slightly rounded seat on a spots bike so the rider can slide himself laterally from one side to the other a little or a lot depending on the riding style. The sporting motorcycle seat shape is designed to NOT lock your arse into a little bucket like a mini lounge chair. If your V11 Sport is fitted with a centre stand then this style of seat basically turns into a bird bath if the bike is left in the rain as well. If you want long distance comfort then as I've mentioned ad nauseum you buy these and wear under your riding pants(see link) They make sitting on a bicycle seat all day relatively comfortable so on a motorcycle seat they are perfection. The cost is dirt cheap, they add no weight to the bike they allow the rider to still move around the bike for proper control and you chuck them in the wash with other stuff to clean them. For some reason people lose all rationality when it comes to motorcycle seats. Forget practicality, forget purpose, ignore the massive investment in dollars and the additional weight. It's like trying to make a sensible argument for a leather jacket over a jacket made of modern materials for road riding, pretty much impossible. I own 2 of these custom seats, one for the V11 and one for the Ducati 1000ss and both are stored under the house gathering dust. Both came with the bikes when I bought them and if the bikes are sold will be passed on to the next owner someday I guess.

I for one would like a center stand. The best use I can think for the lemans is a four-day weekend doing about 1300-1600 miles through the mountains. They don't have many mountains in Michigan, so I need to travel. I don't see the Guzzi as a true sport bike but a sport tourer, and it's a pleasure to ride in that manner. That is probably why we might disagree on this point. A rounded seat like you're suggesting might allow you to shift your weight better but, I don't need to knee drag. Moving my butt foreword an inch or so allows me to shift my body into a corner getting all the lean angle I'm ever going to need on a public road. If you have a crown on your seat you're going to have a pressure point running down the center of your buttock after 3 days of that the pain is going to be inescapable. No number of shorts is going to overcome it (you could also use wooden beads to get air underneath you) two different problems.

A leather seat requires maintenance a vinyl seat it's optional. There are options beside leather like Kontour Seats they have a polar-mesh fabric but, it's hard for me to get my head around the look of the fabric. On a blistering hot day leather is more comfortable than vinyl and it doesn't cost massive amounts of money or additional weight. Not trying to sell anyone anything just trying to tell things I've learned the hard way.

[audiomick]

@Lucky Phil I don't have a leather seat on any of my bikes, but...

I made a seat cover for a mate of mine for his Z1R out of kangaroo leather. It was beautiful, but he didn't look after it, and it didn't last very long. So I'll give you points on that. On the other hand, there is no way I will ever wear bicycle pants under my leathers. Nappies is just not a good look. Ok on a push-bike with a Brooks saddle, but not under the leathers on a Muddabike.

 

[Lucky Phil]

2 hours ago, audiomick said:

@Lucky Phil I don't have a leather seat on any of my bikes, but...

I made a seat cover for a mate of mine for his Z1R out of kangaroo leather. It was beautiful, but he didn't look after it, and it didn't last very long. So I'll give you points on that. On the other hand, there is no way I will ever wear bicycle pants under my leathers. Nappies is just not a good look. Ok on a push-bike with a Brooks saddle, but not under the leathers on a Muddabike.

 

Nobody can tell you are wearing them unless you are silly enough to ride your motorcycle in skin tight stretch jeans instead of a "comfortable fit" jeans/trousers. Nicks are  padded more in the crutch and the bone of the pelvis that contacts the seat when sitting down not the glutes. Anyway have you ever looked at the arse of full leathers or leather riding pants? Unless you're a GP rider with the race suits with lots of inner stretch panels then they aren't exactly a great look around the rear. People commenting on things they have never tried just imagined! I offer a cheap and practical solution but people would rather imagine things and spend tons of money on impractical stuff like leather seats, lambswool covers or heaven forbid wooden bead covers. @Kevin-T mentioned he has no interest in "dragging his knee" with regards to the seat shape! Good lord you don't need to even attempt to drag a knee to use shifting your arse two inches either side of centre for better cornering control. How the hell do people ride their bikes in the corners? sit there rigidly centred and act like the mast on a sailing boat?  

Edited Monday at 02:23 AM by Lucky Phil

[Pressureangle]

I put a very expensive seat (don't recall the maker at the moment, and paid $50 because I guy found it lurking in the garage a decade after the bike was gone) on my '04 BMW GS Adventure. It's better than stock, for sure, but I did 10k on that and the stocker on my '97 1100 Sport-i and I'd take the Sport seat every single day over the 'nice' beemer seat. The bucket is better for the first 3 hours, but then becomes constraining and I can't shift weight away from the contact points. As stated, on the centerstand it turns into a swimming pool. (not that you can get a GSA on the centerstand) Everybody gets their opinion on that, and miles matter.
Leather is best, but *must* have Mink or Saddle oil. 
Bicycle shorts are an absolute must. I wear Underarmor in my riding suits, because they already have padding but I wore bicycle gear under jeans for years. 
Don't forget your Thorlo synthetic or Hollow Alpaca boot socks and Gold Bond foot powder. 

[Pressureangle]

1 hour ago, Lucky Phil said:

How the hell do people ride their bikes in the corners? sit there rigidly centred and act like the mast on a sailing boat?  

I'm still laughing at this. My first 2 years roadracing, '87-88, there was a guy who owned a Suzuki shop in ... Missouri? He was older, and fast enough to be a real problem getting around but he literally rode *exactly* like the mast on a sailboat. Sometimes had to remind myself not to sit behind him just to watch and be amazed. 
(Behind, you caught that?) 

[Lucky Phil]

11 minutes ago, Pressureangle said:

I'm still laughing at this. My first 2 years roadracing, '87-88, there was a guy who owned a Suzuki shop in ... Missouri? He was older, and fast enough to be a real problem getting around but he literally rode *exactly* like the mast on a sailboat. Sometimes had to remind myself not to sit behind him just to watch and be amazed. 
(Behind, you caught that?) 

Yea I remember 1987 right at the beginning of radial road tyres and when the cutting edge sports bike of the day a GSXR750 had a 140 rear tyre which was considered wide. Motorcycles change and so do riding styles. Only old duffers ride like that these days on modern bikes.

[swooshdave]

17 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

Yea I remember 1987 right at the beginning of radial road tyres and when the cutting edge sports bike of the day a GSXR750 had a 140 rear tyre which was considered wide. Motorcycles change and so do riding styles. Only old duffers ride like that these days on modern bikes.

When you say "old duffers"... you mean everyone here, correct?

[Lucky Phil]

20 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

I'm still laughing at this. My first 2 years roadracing, '87-88, there was a guy who owned a Suzuki shop in ... Missouri? He was older, and fast enough to be a real problem getting around but he literally rode *exactly* like the mast on a sailboat. Sometimes had to remind myself not to sit behind him just to watch and be amazed. 
(Behind, you caught that?) 

I'm reminded of the riding style of the late great Paul Smart. This is Smart from the 70's knee out trying to get the rangy wheelbases Ducati to turn without riding off the edge of the tyres of the day. Well before Kenny Roberts was getting his knee down Smart was using the same technique albeit less extreme. Ahead of his time style wise paul Smart. Same technique applies today in the twisty stuff on the road but far less extreme.  

https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/paul-smart-1943-2021-2/

Edited yesterday at 12:31 AM by docc
docc added image display

[swooshdave]

That seat looks very good and comfortable. The leather looks awesome and while it will require more maintenance, @ChrisPDX is the perfect person to tend to it. Me, on the other hand, would have it rotting in a week.

Chris has mentioned to me that he'd like to take the bike touring. As he road races now (and has for a very long time) he doesn't the urge to drag pegs on the street. That's only for posers who don't actually race.

[audiomick]

20 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

Nobody can tell you are wearing them unless...

Yes, but I know. I also don't really like clothes made out of "plastic". It's all in my head.

 

As far as old duffers go, who sit bolt upright in the saddle: in the last house I lived in in Melbourne ( @Lucky Phil in Dwyer St., Macleod) the neighbour across the road was middle 60's year old. He had a certain amount of track experience behind him, sat bolt upright, and was disturbingly fast. I'm currently practising getting back into the groove of moving around on the seat (lost the knack over the years), but Wally (the neighbour) planted a doubt whether that is really absolutely necessary. I dunno. I'll keep at it,  because it's fun.

[Lucky Phil]

3 hours ago, swooshdave said:

When you say "old duffers"... you mean everyone here, correct?

Depends on their riding style