Long Distance Riding

[jenmom22]

I haven't been on for awhile (was having issues with posting, and been super busy)...


Question - I am very interested in doing a saddlesore (the first step in being an Iron Butt member). I have the standard seat on my 2012 RSS. Do you think this is possible (the 1000 miles in 24 hours) with the standard seat, or should I put it off, until I can find/install an upgraded seat?

If I should put it off, what and where should I get as an upgraded seat?


Thanks!!!


Sam

I need to upgrade my picture - Charlotte (my yellow RS) was traded in for the matt green one in August - her name is Spitfire...

[Bob Denman]

Rather than go for the big-bucks solution; perhaps a cushioning pad would do the trick?
Something like an AirHawk R, or the ubiquitous Wal-Mart Gel pad?

[docdoru]

Did the 1000, 1,500 and 50CC with the OEM seat. You should have no problems.

[vrodrjs]

Only you can tell if you can do 1000 miles on the stock seat. Try 300 miles and see how you feel. If you can do that and be comfortable then go do 500 and see how you feel. I have never done 1000 in 24 but I've done 700 a couple times in a day. By the end of the day I don't think any seat is going to be that comfortable.

[Chupaca]

There are no end to the seat threads here. Now like so many other things no two butts are alike. You will have to be the judge of that yourself. If, like mentioned above, you have the time to slowly test the distances you will know. I would do the trip and then decide. My wife and I ryde on the OEM seat on our RS and have no problems. You could pick up a gel pad etc for the trip back...

[Bob Denman]

Did the 1000, 1,500 and 50CC with the OEM seat. You should have no problems.

But Doc ;
I've heard stories... you ride so fast; that you're so busy concentrating on what's in front of you that you forget what's BEHIND you!

[Sarge707]

I have never gone more than 150 miles in an afternoon? BUT the person who sold me the Alaska sheepskin said its best to go stock for a while, then put on the Sheepskin for a while, then maybe the Beadriders for a while and then back around again?
Variety will spice up your rear end so its happy!

[Bob Denman]

Does your Better-Half know how you feel about variety??

[budro]

Sheep skin is your answer, but it must be a "shearling" so that the knap does not lay flat. I have been using them for 20 yrs & they do the job----Budro

[BikerDoc]

Last year coming back from Spyderfest I rode 850 miles then slept five hrs then rode another 250 miles to home easily within the 24 hrs with a stock seat but with utopia drivers backrest did more than that on the trip to the Adirondacks. I am 66 yrs old, have bad back, bad Knees, and sometimes a bad mood. But I just don't get all the whining about the stock seat. I rode 25000 miles on mine this past year & plan for more the next year without touching the seat[QUOTE][/QUOTEes

[SporterSpider]

I believe first I would increase my mileage on my rides and see how your stock seat feels to you. Then purchase(if you can not find some one to lend you one item to try out before you pruchase it) maybe a gel pad, BeadRider, or an inexpensive Air Hawk and try these out before you decide to upgrade to a better and more expensive seat. I have tried all three of these items on my RS before I purchased my Corbin seat. For me, none of these items worked but, each person is different. When I do my saddlesore this year I will have one of these items on top of my new seat. Go to Iron Butt.com they have a lot of good info for you to look at. You can contact Mr. Orange on Spyderlovers he has done the SaddleSore 1000 and the Bun Burner 1500 I am sure he could help you. I am going to Moonshine Lunch Run again this year, they do a SaddleSore from there web sight. Good riding to you and, I hope to see you at one of the Iron Butt functions. Ride Safe & Long!

[StriperKing]

Kinda off the topic but all my friends ride Harleys. Our local Harley dealer has a seat loner program. They took one of every seat, OEM and aftermarket, painted orange letters on them "trial seat" and you can sign them out for a day or weekend till you find the seat you like before you buy it. I know their volume is way more but this is a great program. Just an idea for the dealers who can support this.

As for me my Corbin is worth every penny.

[Bob Denman]

I LIKE that idea!

[StanProff]

Only you can tell if you can do 1000 miles on the stock seat. Try 300 miles and see how you feel. If you can do that and be comfortable then go do 500 and see how you feel. I have never done 1000 in 24 but I've done 700 a couple times in a day. By the end of the day I don't think any seat is going to be that comfortable.

I agree. Most people will get a little numb after a few hundred miles no matter what seat you have. I carry the walmart gel pad that works wonders on the last third of a long day. It changes the pressure points and feels great.

[ARtraveler]

The OEM is a little soft for my taste and I would have to get off after 50 miles or so to get the circulation back.

That said, my situation is not necessarily yours. Give the OEM a try and maybe bring along a sheepskin gel pad, or an Airhawk to help.

New seats are the next step--but be prepared to spend between $600 and $1000 for most. The BRP Comfort seat is okay at $595 but others like Corbin, Ultimate seem to be better. I am a Corbin person.

[jenmom22]

There are no end to the seat threads here. Now like so many other things no two butts are alike. You will have to be the judge of that yourself. If, like mentioned above, you have the time to slowly test the distances you will know. I would do the trip and then decide. My wife and I ryde on the OEM seat on our RS and have no problems. You could pick up a gel pad etc for the trip back...

ge

Thanks! I think I'll go get the gel pack thingie. I do like riding my girl, and will pick up longer and longer rides, until I find out when my butt gives out.

[jvicker]

Kinda off the topic but all my friends ride Harleys. Our local Harley dealer has a seat loner program. They took one of every seat, OEM and aftermarket, painted orange letters on them "trial seat" and you can sign them out for a day or weekend till you find the seat you like before you buy it. I know their volume is way more but this is a great program. Just an idea for the dealers who can support this.

As for me my Corbin is worth every penny.

Ok, who's willing to put a big silver BRP on their Corbin and ship it around?

[major911]

I've done several 300+ trips on my BRP comfort seat with no complaints. I expect now that I have a backrest I'll go even further comfortably.

[SPYD3R]

twice, i did 635 miles in 1 day... from Greenville, SC to Clearwater, FL... then 2 days later made the return trip... OMG, was my butt sore.... if it weren't for an extra sweatshirt folded over to cushion me, i don't know what i'd have done... i'm good for 400 miles, after that the fun runs out of me...

however, what's this GEL SEAT @ WALMARTS.... i couldn't find anything on the web, can somebody post a link to that thing, please....

[Bob Denman]

Tell where they keep them in Wally-Mart!

[Bob Ledford]

Your hinny is your only answer

[jerpinoy]

Switching make more better. It's like your feet are more compy if you switch shoes every other day shoe doctor advice. Maybe iron butt doctor will advice differently..

[bikeguy]

Hi jenmom, nice to see you on the forum again. Lots of good advice about various seats and pads. Personally, I think stopping and resting for just a bit fairly often is the key to riding a long way in reasonable comfort. One nice thing about the Spyder's limited range is that it makes you stop a little more often. I usually try to stop about every 125 miles if fuel is available. Take a little time to stretch your legs and rub your bottom and you'll be surprised how many of those little 125 mile hops you can do in a day. Only takes 8 of them to equal an iron butt day.

Cotton

[BajaRon]

Only your butt knows for sure. I've done more than 1 1,000 mile + day and 1 1,400 mile + day with the OEM seat on a 2008 GS. I've fine with it. It may well be I'd be more comfortable with an aftermarket seat but I've not tried one.

Seats seem to be a hit an miss item. What works for many doesn't work for everyone and vise-versa.

[boborgera]

The most i've rode in one day [08Gs stock seat] was about 575 miles, But i did have an two hour stop' half way into the ride. I had no problems with the seat,