Padded cycling shorts - thoughts?

[DJFridge]

Just done our first tour on the bikes. Mrs on her V-Strom was tired after 550 miles over two and a half days, but not really suffering. The SV seat is not the most comfortable place in the world, so I was more than a little saddle sore (as well as being knackered). I was wondering if anyone has tried those cycling shorts with gel inserts. Did they work? Any particular brands to look for?

[DarrenSV650S]

I tried them. Wore them once. Very uncomfortable and *compressing*

Not nice in warm weather

[Bibio]

its the shape of the seat. look at the sergeant etc.etc seats and they will give you an idea as to why they are so comfy.

[littleoldman2]

I had a gel pad fitted into the original seat by Tony Archer, wow what a difference.

[Tomor]

Get an airhawk, not bike specific so you can share it over long distance. Can also take them to your new bikes if you upgrade.

[Littlepeahead]

+1 for the Airhawk.

Don't those shorts make you look like you've got an ar$e like that Kadashian bint.

[Mrs DJ Fridge]

+1 for the Airhawk.

Don't those shorts make you look like you've got an ar$e like that Kadashian bint.

Now that would be truly funny

[Bibio]

there is an alternative to the air hawk and it's made here in the UK http://www.danmedicasouth.co.uk/product/motorcycle-air-seat-pad/

[Jayneflakes]

I use cycling shorts, but then I am used to them and have used them on the push bike for years, so find them very comfy for long rides. I have also had my seat cut and re-padded, which really helps.

[NTECUK]

A push iron seat is so different from the bikes seat they don't realy have much of an effect.
Updated the seat or something like the air hawk.

[maviczap]

As a cyclist (nee MAMIL) the gel pad isn't going to perform wonders & I wouldn't particularly like to wear lycra under my leathers or textiles. They will help, but not to any great degree.

You can get padded underwear, which is designed for folk to wear under their day to day clothes, which might be less sweaty than lycra

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Men-Women-Cycling-Bicycle-Short-Underwear-Bike-Pants-Cushion-Pad-Gel-3D-Padded-/141335852147?var=440462823136&_trksid=p2054897.l5677

But cycling shorts are designed to stop sore points that you don't get on motorbike seats.

My Sv has got a converted seat, which was done by Saxon Seats, its got a gel pad & slightly more foam than the original.

I rode from AR14 to home, nearly 300 miles and didn't notice the seat. I couldn't do 30 miles on the original plank without discomfort.

So get yours modified by Tony Archer or Saxon Seats or a n other seat upholsterer, the difference is night and day.

[Sir Trev]

So get yours modified by Tony Archer or Saxon Seats or a n other seat upholsterer, the difference is night and day.

This.


I used Smartrrrs seats in York for a gel pad under the cover on my Curvy seat - they sculpted it in there so you could not notice it, height was unaffected, all day comfy. Wish I'd done it years before!

[embee]

I do use cycling shorts with foam padding for long trips (like 300mls/day touring) and yes they do help. Don't wear anything under them, that's really uncomfortable.

....but the others are right, the answer is to get the seat to the right shape for you, and have a good layer build up. I found this site (http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/index.php) which is a really good explanation of what to do for comfort, well worth a read.

[DJFridge]

I do use cycling shorts with foam padding for long trips (like 300mls/day touring) and yes they do help. Don't wear anything under them, that's really uncomfortable.

....but the others are right, the answer is to get the seat to the right shape for you, and have a good layer build up. I found this site (http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/index.php) which is a really good explanation of what to do for comfort, well worth a read.

Had a look at that site, quite a lot of info to take in. I think it might be time to pick up a spare seat off eBay and have a play.

Thinking now about what hurt getting back on after a fuel stop, the worst pain was more due to my underwear than the seat itself - a fold / crease just at the top of my thighs - so longer, tighter trunks might work without needing the padded backside bits. Then a nice air or gel pad to finish it off.

Cheers for all the other feedback too. I might just phone Tony Archer to get a idea on price

[Mrs DJ Fridge]

OMO what have you done, DJ is now getting excited talking about cutting out butt moulded shapes with an electric kitchen knife on his new seat, images of a mini Texas Chainsaw Massacre but with an electric bread knife spring to mind.

[embee]

Best tool IME for finish shaping foam is a 4 1/2" angle grinder. It doesn't seem to matter much what type of disc it has, I've tried different types, the foam just disappears as dust. Bread knives or hacksaw blades are fine for removing larger lumps but I haven't ever got a really smooth finish with them, that's where the grinder excels.

Advice - do it outside otherwise everything gets covered in foam dust.

[pookie]

+ 1 on the foam dust. I used a dremel.

This was my 1st attempt on the gel seat mod
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=156247&highlight=seat

[DJFridge]

Just checked out your old thread pookie, neat. That looks like a bicycle saddle?

[NTECUK]

Just checked out your old thread pookie, neat. That looks like a bicycle saddle?

I thought that too.
Not one of the gell fingies that they sell in tescos?

[Bibio]

OMO what have you done, DJ is now getting excited talking about cutting out butt moulded shapes with an electric kitchen knife on his new seat, images of a mini Texas Chainsaw Massacre but with an electric bread knife spring to mind.

you dont want arzz shaped indents. you want a flat surface and a taper to the noise. the taper to the noise is to allow you to stand up and not have your legs splayed, think bicycle seat shape.