Tiger 800 seat woes

[burmbuster]

Well after a long distance trip I have to do something about the seat. This damn thing kills me after a few hours of constant riding. I am considering an air hawk but worry about it being too thick. Kontour wants quite a bit of cash for rebuilding the seat. Others I have looked at make the seat wider which is no good for off road due to standing. What have others done?

[cug]

The issue for me is that the seat is too soft. After a few hours I sit on the plastic pan ... Therefore the only things I can do are:

- better foam
- better pressure distribution
- better seat

What I'm planning is to short term use a sheep skin, I will try the one my wife uses on her F650GS first. She's happy with it. It adds just enough padding and creates a better climate than the vinyl covered plank, so it might help me, too. If that works, I'll get my own. If not I'm trying an aftermarket seat.

There are mormally places locally where you can have better foam added for under $100 or so. That's another option.

[burmbuster]

I weigh 175 lbs and I agree. The stock seat creates pressure points and due to the shape of the seat, you can't buy much time by moving around on the seat. What do you do when it rains? Doesn't the sheep skin hold water?

[KingOfFleece]

www.greatdaytoride.com for seat rebuild.

www.kingoffleece.com for wet sheepskin

[cug]

For rain: we live in California, so far haven't had rain since my wife got the sheepskin. Here's the FAQ:

http://www.alaskaleatheronline.com/s...ndfeeding/Page

[Rob Dirt]

I'll have to let you try my air hawk sometime. I only use it when I'm going to be riding all day or multiple days.
If you air it up right, then it doesn't add that much height.

[Wandering Dane]

I agree with the comments about the stock 800 seat's lack of comfort after about the first 20 minutes of riding.

For some years now, I've been using a wooden bead seat cover, first on a WeeStrom, then on a Multistrada and now on the 800 Tiger. No more butt fatigue on 500 mile days. Best ~$40 I ever spent.

I got mine from White Horse Gear: http://www.whitehorsegear.com/wooden-bead-seat-covers

[slider162]

Try a Corbin seat.

[burmbuster]

Originally Posted by Rob Dirt

I'll have to let you try my air hawk sometime. I only use it when I'm going to be riding all day or multiple days.
If you air it up right, then it doesn't add that much height.

Awesome. Thanks, Rob.

[burmbuster]

Originally Posted by slider162

Try a Corbin seat.

I considered the Corbin but I don't want a wider seat. We also get a lot of rain here so I don't want to have to worry about a cover for the seat. Nice looking seat though.

[markbvt]

I found the stock seat highly uncomfortable for extended rides too. The shape was wrong for me, and the foam slightly too soft so it overcompressed. Last winter I shipped the seat to Renazco Racing, and the seat I got back is excellent.

You can see it in this pic -- the profile is flatter front to back (I can actually scoot forward and back a little, which I never could on the stock seat due to the dished shape), and the foam is firmer and doesn't overcompress:


Just be advised that Renazco has a long waiting list. But the seats are worth the wait.

--mark

[burmbuster]

Originally Posted by markbvt

I found the stock seat highly uncomfortable for extended rides too. The shape was wrong for me, and the foam slightly too soft so it overcompressed. Last winter I shipped the seat to Renazco Racing, and the seat I got back is excellent.

You can see it in this pic -- the profile is flatter front to back (I can actually scoot forward and back a little, which I never could on the stock seat due to the dished shape), and the foam is firmer and doesn't overcompress:


Just be advised that Renazco has a long waiting list. But the seats are worth the wait.

--mark

Any experience with the new seat in the rain?

Thanks,
Brad

[LotusKTM]

I also have the 800 XC and a couple of weeks ago, I had Rick Mayer make a new seat for me. He is in Northern CA but most of his business is out of the area. He changes the seat foam and will make it as narrow, wide, low or high as you would like. I have all my seats done by Rick and obviously, more than happy with him. The wife and I also have a couple of DR 650s. He redid both our seats and now we can do 350-400 mile days on the DR. Unheard of with the stock seats. Rick rides Iron Butt events but is also a licensed nurse so he understands both sides of the pants. One other thing about Rick Mayer seats. The wife had Rick redo her seat, after 18 months. Her style changed and needed an adjustment, which Rick did with a smile and the best customer care anyone could ask for. We went to Yellowstone a couple of months later, from NoCAL.
rickmayercycle.com He should be back from New Orleans are next week. On a two week ride.

Dick

[invicta1]

Spencer (great day to ride) does a great job on Triumph (and other) seats. Unfortunately, as of this summer, he isn't doing Tiger 800 seats - had not seen them yet. I'll inquire again, my Bonneville seat is WAY better now, and if he were doing them I'd seen my Tiger seat south for a winter break in FL.

Originally Posted by KingOfFleece

www.greatdaytoride.com for seat rebuild.

www.kingoffleece.com for wet sheepskin

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by burmbuster

Any experience with the new seat in the rain?

Plenty. It's waterproof. The cover is vinyl (I specifically did not get the leather because the bike sees lots of rain), and Renazco uses a plastic barrier between the cover and the padding to keep out any water that may seep in through the stitching.

--mark