Homemade mod: Gel seat for $30

[pilot]

So you're tired (at least your ass is) of that stiff factory seat. You've looked into a Sergeant, Corbin and maybe even a local shop to rebuild you butt rest. $$$ need to come out of your pocket to do that route...so you don't and suffer.

Here is your solution. REI sells bicycle gel seat covers for $30. Hey, if it is REI, it can't be all that bad, right? Then you ride home and do this (I know it aint perty):

Pry up staples with a dull screwdriver (sharp will tear the vinyl). You only need to remove enough to get the job done

http://img2.putfile.com/main/4/12003131239.jpg

Pull staples out with a pair of pliers (why do they call them a pair when there is only one?)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/12003131269.jpg

Lay on your gel

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/12003131246.jpg

Sharpie it

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/12003131256.jpg

Criss cross cut the foam out in little blocks

or, as suggested by Ridenaked: Glad to hear that worked out for you. I've heard using an electric meat saw works great for cutting the foam.

.02
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/12003131240.jpg

(Continued)

[pilot]

Pull the foam (release some aggressions)http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/4/12003131267.jpg

size and fit the pad with final cuts and re-staple to shapehttp://img2.putfile.com/main/4/12003131363.jpg

Go ride

[Devaclis]

that has got to be a LOT more comfy :) Good write up Pilot.

[pilot]

Thanks Dana. I hope it is comfy. I'll find out, as I've over 700 miles to go today.

[Sully]

Very nice step by step instructions with pics ! :up: Looks comfy !

[yueh]

Great tip--might have to do that on the Ninja!

[Knuckle Dragger]

Not to knock anything but when I had my seat recovered the shop showed me a sport bike seat and a harley seat as I was thinking of gel. There is a big difference in thickness of foam; why this is important? As you take away the foam you are closer to the seat pan the closer to the pan then the gel really does not do it's job. This made since when illustrated to me think of it this way in a harley type seat the gel sits on about 2-3 inches of foam in a sport bike the gel might sit a half inch or even right on the pan not really providing any cushion. Another thought on this would be get a pair of cycle shorts with the gel sewn into the bum and wear under your jeans. This will also save on wear and tear on your bum at the water hole or when the misses rips you a new one. Just a thought.

[pilot]

Very nice step by step instructions with pics ! :up: Looks comfy !


Great tip--might have to do that on the Ninja!Gracias to you both.


Not to knock anything but when I had my seat recovered the shop showed me a sport bike seat and a harley seat as I was thinking of gel. There is a big difference in thickness of foam; why this is important? As you take away the foam you are closer to the seat pan the closer to the pan then the gel really does not do it's job. This made since when illustrated to me think of it this way in a harley type seat the gel sits on about 2-3 inches of foam in a sport bike the gel might sit a half inch or even right on the pan not really providing any cushion. Another thought on this would be get a pair of cycle shorts with the gel sewn into the bum and wear under your jeans. This will also save on wear and tear on your bum at the water hole or when the misses rips you a new one. Just a thought.You're right about thickness of foam. My stock seat has a pretty thick slice of foam on it. I was going to just overlay the gel pad but I couldn't get enough of the cover to wrap around. I ended up shaving just enough off (with a lot to spare) to form the cover back over.

Good idea on the bike shorts (matter of fact, I'm a huge proponent of bicycle gear for motorcyclists) I've had my bike shorts for a couple of seasons and they are very comfortable.

The whole system paid off. I made the run from Denver to Las Vegas yesterday in one shot, less gas stops--no long lunches or rest breaks. The weather, WINDY as hell, and snowstorm caused the ride to go from a 9 a.m. depart in Highlands Raunch to a 1 a.m. arrival in LV. But, my butt didn't hurt after 16 hours of road hell.

[Flyin Hawaiian]

Sweet write-up!

[RocketBabe923]

Wish I would have thought of that!

I just purchased a new Corbin, supposed to be really comfy... rode 100+ miles yesterday and my butt was KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!

:cry:

[pilot]

After an enduring road test, last night's rain-filled journey started out in Durango @ 5 p.m. and ended in Denver @ 1 a.m. (about 385 miles), I found the seat to be decent enough. Add that to the other 3,000 miles I've put on in the past two weeks and the saddle seems to be holding up. I hope you asses, j/k, find your rides just as comfortable.

And yes, there is still a heck of a lot of snow on Wolf Creek Pass. But the roads are in good shape.

[Ridenaked]

Glad to hear that worked out for you. I've heard using an electric meat saw works great for cutting the foam.

.02

[pilot]

Glad to hear that worked out for you. I've heard using an electric meat saw works great for cutting the foam.

.02
Now you tell me, ha. And I have one of those, too! Damn.

[Erratic]

Thank you Pilot!!!!!

I tried your idea, only with the more narrow pad. piece of cake. I found that on my f4i there are 2 seperate layers of foam. I just cut out the first to the shape I needed. Since I was cutting an outline I decided against the electric knife. I found it easier to be a little more precise with a razor.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/earrattic/Untitled.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/earrattic/seat.jpg

[pilot]

May your trails come to a happy end there Erratic.

[DavidofColorado]

Just a thought but if you wanted to go the step further and recut a piece of vinal to cover the new foam seat that would work too. It wouldn't be any harder than cutting the foam out. I had a rip in my seat cover and when I took the cover off I put down some layers for padding and then re cut the vinal to fit over it. I started on opposeing sides when I stapled and pulled it tight to get out any wrinkles. And its not the best like your seat cover but its better than it was.