Soften my seat! – OLD Bull Trailriders

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December 8, 2009 at 7:51 am #97692

Anonymous

DanD didn’t want me to post this one up because he knew the responses will be ‘just get someone else to do it’.

Anyway I am always interested to hear from others that have done this type of stuff before so I will post it up.

After a few rides out on the DR and coming back with a numb bum (I thought I had enough padding on my butt to ensure that this was not a problem but obviously not) I realised that if I was going to ride the DR longer distances I needed to have the seat softened. And before you start with the harden the f#$k up princess (yes you Jeffro ) it is a road bike not a dirt bike and I can have it any way I like it (except with pillion pegs of course :laugh: ).

So a few people gave me the names of upholsterers and thanks everyone for that however DanD rang one for me today only to find out that the cost would start from $110 but they couldn’t do it until the 10th of January. This was a problem because I wanted to ride it on the Pie in the Sky ride. And funds are a bit low at the moment so I wasn’t keen to outlay any more money before Xmas.

So DanD says to me, ‘I reckon I could do that for you’ :unsure: .

Initially I say no but then thinking about not having a plush seat for Wikd’s motard ride I start to consider it.

DanD says that if he bought another seat for the DR then if he stuffs up we would still have a good seat to then go and get done properly. So coincidentally finds one on Ebay, finds out it’s local, contacts them and asks how much they want (it had no bids on it with 3 days to go) and so he is going tonight to go and pick it up.

The plan is to take the covering off it, cut out a piece of the foam where I sit, buy a softer piece of foam and cut it to the same shape that was already cut out of the seat, put it on top and then recover it by gluing (?) it down. That way I get the softer foam but the cover is still the right shape. I am only thinking that because it will be softer foam after a while the covering might go a bit slack and may need to be retightened up.

Has anyone done this before and if so was there anything to keep in mind when doing it?

Worst case I guess is that he stuffs up the seat and then has to go and get the other seat done properly. Best case is that it works and we have a spare good seat for the DR just in case, well just in case I guess.

December 8, 2009 at 8:37 am #164408

David
Member

Kylie dont remove any of the original foam just add to it with a softer grade and more than likely the original cover wont work as they are usually trimmed to suit the seat and once removed can be a little difficult to get back into the original placement…..I have done all mine and my boys and with a heat gun and patience it can be done….dont glue the foam to the skin if you use glue….good luck and we have a choice trimmer up here in our MX club who would do it quick I am sure….ask Mick to speak to Lamby for you

December 8, 2009 at 10:45 am #164413

Anonymous

Ktmrat wrote:

Quote:

Kylie dont remove any of the original foam just add to it with a softer grade and more than likely the original cover wont work as they are usually trimmed to suit the seat and once removed can be a little difficult to get back into the original placement…..I have done all mine and my boys and with a heat gun and patience it can be done….dont glue the foam to the skin if you use glue….good luck and we have a choice trimmer up here in our MX club who would do it quick I am sure….ask Mick to speak to Lamby for you

Thanks for that Rat! It’s at least nice to know that there are other hardarses around :laugh: . But thanks for your advice though. We would have just cut out some foam and replaced it with softer stuff. :huh: We’ll try your way and see how we go.

Thanks!

December 8, 2009 at 11:10 am #164436

Dean
Member

Kylie I have heard of people actually drilling a lot of 6mm holes in the foam around the area where you sit works. Never tried it but may be worth a go if the added foam makes it a bit to tall for you.

Ollie

December 8, 2009 at 12:16 pm #164441

Greg
Member

From the three times I have tried to change or soften seats I can say

Have tried drilling holes doesnt work and foam falls to pieces, seat cover creases and ruins no support and doesnt help you or your back

Softer foam on top, seat height is increased, cover doesnt fit correctly and is never any good anymore, softer foam just squeezes out, doesnt support anymore worse then ever, you cant move on the seat as you are sitting in a dip

I seat foam is a balance of shape and support and the compromise of a soft seat. There is no cheap easy fix, I have had road bikes and ridden some massive rides like cape york and tried a few different seat combinations
A sheep skin is the easiest cheapest quick sort of fix. The contact I gave you is expensive but he guarantees his work, it is all he does he is not a motor trimmer that jams a piece of foam in there.

After spending the money you spent on that bike, 300 bucks for a custom seat you can sit on ALL DAY is cheap and practical.

Put a sheep skin on till you can afford to have it done correctly or buy a pair of padded under pants from Ballards or both

TB

December 9, 2009 at 1:06 am #164448

Anonymous

I’ll be interested to see how you go Kylie, I wouldn’t mind something a little plusher for the Kato

December 9, 2009 at 1:23 am #164488

Paul
Member

I would go the sheep skin until you can get it done professionally.
Might be hard finding a yellow and blue sheep skin though :silly:

December 9, 2009 at 1:31 am #164491

glenn
Member

Tech thread Boony reread the rules

Admin

December 9, 2009 at 10:38 am #164495

Anonymous

I found this thread on another forum (shock horror) tonight.

This guy makes it look easy.

http://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=166678

December 9, 2009 at 10:41 am #164489

Anonymous

Moto wrote:

Quote:

I’ll be interested to see how you go Kylie, I wouldn’t mind something a little plusher for the Kato

Moto – if money is not an issue then I would say try out TB’s Brisbane guy. However DanD has his eyes on some motard wheels for the WR450 so we need to be a bit thrify at the moment.

I expect that if DanD does get motard wheels for the WR we will also need to look at softening that seat too because it’s like sitting on a plank of wood.

December 9, 2009 at 10:43 am #164409

Liam
Member

Ride more, works for me .

December 9, 2009 at 10:44 am #164492

Anonymous

WikdBeemer wrote:

Quote:

I would go the sheep skin until you can get it done professionally.
Might be hard finding a yellow and blue sheep skin though :silly:

Yes I did consider that Wikd but you are right on about the colour. How would I get one to match it? Also I was worried about it making the bike seat height higher because I can only just touch as it is so I wanted to go down not up.

Putting this thread in the ‘tech help’ section was a great idea, Menace. :laugh:

December 9, 2009 at 10:44 am #164572

Greg
Member

The guy doesnt mention if its any good, nor to you need to move your arse as much backwards or forwards on a road bike from my experience.

All you can do is let mister thrifty loose and keep us posted if anyone can Dan will do it

TB

December 9, 2009 at 10:47 am #164581

Anonymous

Diddel wrote:

Quote:

Ride more, works for me .

Yeah you are right Diddel but if I am going to ride more I’d rather do it on my WR than the DR. Don’t get me wrong I love my DR but I find trail riding so much more exciting than road riding.

It is funny that you should say that though because when I did a search on yahoo about softening motorbike seats there was a comment on another forum that said that you needed to harden your bum up (and they were serious). Hmmm. :laugh:

December 9, 2009 at 10:57 am #164577

scott bocking
Member

Hi Kylie

I don’t know if you have tried it before but bike shorts make a huge difference. The padding may seem modest but it is about spreading the pressure evenly and when you consider people can ride rock hard bicycle seats all day you can see how effective they are. Netti makes good value knicks at around the $60 mark that do the job. Don’t get sucked into the Aldi ones, they are useless. The padding is antibacterial and is made to be worn against the skin so that means no undies. You will find that no seams and the even pressure they give will stop the numbness and once you get used to wearing them they feel very normal. I always wear a pair under my MX pants and a long pair are even better as they add the layer of protection you need to stop brace chaffing without losing any of your movement. If you already have long MX socks or don’t wear braces then the short legs are fine.

STM
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