Pain in the backside

[dfx]

Hi
Someone must have posted on this subject already, but I didn't find the search engine very efficient. Kept giving me results like "reARSEsets", "pASS," etc.
Anyhow, I did a ride this morning, 30 miles there, 15 minutes rest standing, then home again. I was a bit uncomfortable after only 20 miles, and when I got home I would say "rather" uncomfortable. I don't see myself going very far on this bike.
It's an 86 K100 RT, so that can't be right. The suspension and seat feel ok. Maybe it's my backside that's too old, although it's got more padding than it used to have. I just wondered if anyone else has had this and managed to find the cause or improve things.

Thanks

[The Mighty Gryphon]

What seat does the bike have?  The only seat I can sit on for more than a half hour is the BMW "comfort" seat/saddle.  The bench seat and the Corbins I have used were brutal on my butt. 

The absolute best is the Russell Daylong seat.  Last July I spent 24 non-stop hours on a Russell seat doing an Iron Butt run.  That is the most comfortable seat I've ever had in over 20 years of riding.  The comfort seat IMO is a close second.

[F14CRAZY]

Yea you want a Russell. The Corbin I had felt like I was straddling a pipe. I'd still be sore after being off of the bike for a week.

If you can ride all day, and not be sore the next day, you have a good seat. My Russell doesn't leave me sore the next day. I still think that one specifically made for me and my riding position would be even more ideal though (mine was used)

[K1300S]

i just spent 5hrs on a Corbin (gunfighter/dual canyon style) this morning.  VERY comfortable.  not issues at all!

[Chaos]

Very happy with Corbin, the stock seat was a torture rack.  But butts vary. Are you comfortable on another bike or is this your first ride in a while?  Could be a matter of conditioning. 

[dfx]

All of you who complain about the stock seat, I'm guessing it was an old stock seat? I would have assumed that in it's day the bike must have been very comfortable. A brand new K100RT in 86 was a luxurious bike. I have an old Kawasaki GT550 but low mileage, and no problems. I recently did 400 miles on a sportster and I had no pain (legs just buckled when I got off but that's another problem).

[White Dog]

My '95 K75 has a low profile seat, which seems to be the "standard" seat for BMW, even the brand new ones.  I took my seat to an auto uphostery shop and had about 3" of foam added into the low profile dip and another inch in the driver saddle area then a new cover installed at a very reasonable price--a bunch less than a new seat.

[Laitch]

I took my seat to an auto uphostery shop and had about 3" of foam added into the low profile dip and another inch in the driver saddle area then a new cover installed

Would you please post a profile view photo of your modified seat, White Dog?

[Martin]

There are a few options rather than replace the seat, you can fit an Airhawk seat pad, a gel pad, or a beaded seat pad. A mate has an Airhawk but it is dear and lifts you a bit higher, he doesn't like it around town, a bit wobbly, but I think he has too much air in it. I have a stock seat that has been shaved and use a gel pad which although not perfect allows me to go about 300 K's without too much discomfort. I don't know about the beaded seat covers. And the last option is a bit out there, apparently you can get bicycle shorts with gel padding. But don't ask anybody if your butt looks big in them. :hehehe
Regards Martin

[White Dog]

Click on this link.  http://<a href="http://s105.photobucket.com/user/WhiteDog14/media/DSCN6218_zps2igcsieg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m218/WhiteDog14/DSCN6218_zps2igcsieg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSCN6218_zps2igcsieg.jpg"/>[/url]

[Laitch]

Click on this link.

Thanks, White Dog. That's an attractive low seat modification. What's the seat height measured from the floor?

[White Dog]

I really needed 3 hands to steady the bike and measure, but mine is roughly 32" from middle of driver seat to floor.  A good uphosterer could probably add foam and reuse your existing cover.  Mine had several tears in it so I had it replaced.  "Do you want fries with that?"

[Laitch]

I really needed 3 hands to steady the bike and measure, but mine is roughly 32" from middle of driver seat to floor.  A good uphosterer could probably add foam and reuse your existing cover.  Mine had several tears in it so I had it replaced.  "Do you want fries with that?"

:giggles Sure—with plenty of salt, too.
Phil Hawksley's site lists the high seat at 31.9 and the low at 29.9. You've built that seat up to the high seat measurement. Somebody's bound to benefit from the information and photos you've posted here.  Thanks for the info.

[White Dog]

Well, I'm sure I could have found a high seat in a junkyard but as rare as K75 cycles seem to be, I would have probably had to pay more than having mine modified by a trusted, one man shop.

[Laitch]

I would have probably had to pay more than having mine modified by a trusted, one man shop.

That makes sense to me.

[Motorhobo]

Here's the custom low seat I had built by Rich's in Seattle in 2003. He stripped off the original padding and covering from the stock low seat, glued a foam block to it, had me sit on it, then started cutting. He had me sit on it a couple more times while he cut the foam shape to exactly the shape of my butt when sitting in my preferred riding position. Also gave me at least 1.5 inches in height. He also built up the back part so a two-up rider could sit comfortably without sliding forward all the time -- not possible with the stock seat.

So -- there's a lot to be said for spending the $$ for the seat made by the pro. Cost me over $500 back then -- don't regret it one bit. After 13 years, needs to be reupholstered, that'll cost me $300 and I won't regret that either, but this time I'm having a gel pad added.

[67charger]

I have a low seat model . When I got this bike I wondered how it got 30000 miles put on it as the stock seat is like a sliding board but with less padding. I switched to a Russell and now can ride all day only stopping for gas. I also put risers on my handlebars. I am 5'8" in good shape with no back problems but in stock form I was in pain.