Sliding forward on the seat

[Sahtlinurk]

Hi

Has anybody addressed the issue or are everybody just putting up with that?  On fleabay  there is a
Polish company offering a custom made seats but it involves sending the seat off to Poland first etc.

Anyone used them?

Cheers,
Lauri

[Darkstar]

Get some leather riding pants. When i rode with jeans my nuts would get repeatedly hammered by the gas tank. Got leather pants, and wallah, no more ball smashing. You stick to the seat

[Watcher]

Aside from leather pants, tank grippers are wonderful.

Many companies make them in many different textures, from sandpaper through rubber to simply dimpled plastic, all will offer improved grip over nothing.  Techpec makes rubbery tank grippers in a variety of "made to fit" kits, I'd see if they have something available.

Here's some OneDesign tank grippers on my Monster that I got from CycleGear.  CarbonFiber look, but it's like a dimpled plastic.  Looks good, feels good, no more sliding.  IIRC they were $20.




Don't go to Poland for a seat, many companies make aftermarket seats.  Corbin does amazing work, they have seats available for the <2000 GS500E.  Saddleman and Sergeant may also make seats.  Look around.

[twocool]

The GS 500 is a sport bike, or at least a "sport bike style" bike.  You really are meant to sit forward on the seat, with your naughty bits up against the tank, beer belly (if you have one) laying on the tank.  You see sport bikes usually have "tank protectors" so you don't scratch the tank with clothing or zippers etc.

If you are already full forward, there is simply no more forward to go....this makes you one with the bike...also grab the tank with the inner thighs.

As for custom seats....there are guys all over the place that specialize in them.  I have a buddy who did a seat for my scooter...simply beautiful...and not too expensive.   You can get the foam density and shape you want, and all kinds of upholstery.  That guy's own bike has a rattlesnake skin covered seat!

Cookie

Hi

Has anybody addressed the issue or are everybody just putting up with that?  On fleabay  there is a
Polish company offering a custom made seats but it involves sending the seat off to Poland first etc.

Anyone used them?

Cheers,
Lauri

[Watcher]

The GS 500 is a sport bike, or at least a "sport bike style" bike.  You really are meant to sit forward on the seat, with your naughty bits up against the tank, beer belly (if you have one) laying on the tank.

Actually, you're supposed to be BACK on the seat with your chest lying on the tank (so sayeth Kieth Code).  Scooting forward AND lying on the tank will put a lot of weight on the front wheel, makes your arms really bent back, and can't be that comfortable to ride in for very long.

Personally, I'll move around on the seat depending on what I'm doing.  Getting your nuts (or lack-thereof for our female riders) on the tank and staying relatively upright is great for low speed stability as it gives you really good control over the handlebars and puts you in a good counter-weighting position (centered between the wheels and with good leverage based on your height).  Getting BACK on the seat and hunkering down lowers the center of gravity and more evenly distributes your weight, which gives you better high speed stability, and your arms are a little more in a relaxed position so that should make it much more comfortable.

[twocool]

 A lot of this is personal preference:

But here's  some "expert" who goes with the "Front of the seat" concept.  (I'm sure you can find varying opinions all over the place.

Seat Placement On a Motorcycle

The next important step is to stay situated at the front of the seat, close to the fuel tank. This will allow the bottom half of your body to stay firmly planted on the bike, because your weight will be directed at the front tire. In order to make this fully effective, keep your arms and back relaxed and naturally bent. That way, your body will be prepared to bear the effect of road bumps, and the overall impact of bumps will in turn be easier on the chassis. The whole point is to make your body work as part of the suspension, as opposed to as a part the frame.

If the bike is designed nicely, you can be in the front of the seat and still have your weight between the wheels.

I agree with changing position depending...also allows you to last longer with changes of position to rest some muscles.

On My particular GS...I have aftermarket handle bars...really low...so it gives that lower body position.  The "stock" gs really does not have "sport bike" body position...but rather "standard" position.

On my cafe racer, I sit way to the back of the seat, and hold on to the tank with legs.  The bars are low and the rear sets are high...and the bike is small...so the rear of the seat is really the only way that works!  you see some cafe racers with extra long tanks, and real short, rear mounted seats....that way you can "belly up" to the tank and still be positioned well back for weight distribution.

All that said...gripping the tank with the thighs works well!

And find what works for you.


Cookie

[Watcher]

your weight will be directed at the front tire...

... the overall impact of bumps will in turn be easier on the chassis.

Who is this "expert"?  Does he own a company that sells fork seals?


There are situations where you want weight on the front tire.  Braking is one.  Entering turns is another.  Anything that requires the front tire, like steering and stopping, the more weight on the tire the larger the contact patch the more traction.  That's the concept behind trail-braking.
Hitting a bump is NOT a situation you want weight on the front tire.  Hitting a bump is the OPPOSITE of a situation you want weight on the front tire.

Seating is dynamic.  I'd say be forward and high for braking and turning as well as low speed maneuvering, be in the middle for cruising and fast curves, be back and low for accelerating and *ahem* speeding.

[twocool]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTAHhwnQ5zw

here's a nice video talking about seating position, and how you can end up moving forward when you don't want to.  Lot's of other good stuff on this you tube channel!

But what he is talking about is "racing" style where you hang off the bike.  Probably not what you normally do with a GS500...but I guess you could if you wanted to.

Cookie

[twocool]

That's why I put the word expert in quotes...

So...let's say that when it comes to seating position...the answer is "it depends"

Like the size and proportions of the rider, the size and proportions of the bike, and what you are trying to accomplish at that particular moment.

Cookie

your weight will be directed at the front tire...

... the overall impact of bumps will in turn be easier on the chassis.

Who is this "expert"?  Does he own a company that sells fork seals?


There are situations where you want weight on the front tire.  Braking is one.  Entering turns is another.  Anything that requires the front tire, like steering and stopping, the more weight on the tire the larger the contact patch the more traction.  That's the concept behind trail-braking.
Hitting a bump is NOT a situation you want weight on the front tire.  Hitting a bump is the OPPOSITE of a situation you want weight on the front tire.

Seating is dynamic.  I'd say be forward and high for braking and turning as well as low speed maneuvering, be in the middle for cruising and fast curves, be back and low for accelerating and *ahem* speeding.

[qcbaker]

...
But what he is talking about is "racing" style where you hang off the bike.  Probably not what you normally do with a GS500...but I guess you could if you wanted to.

Hanging off the bike is not just for racing. Hanging off the bike while cornering shifts the weight to the inside of the turn and allows you to complete a turn with less bike lean angle, which leads to more stable cornering. Obviously you don't need to hang off on every turn, but its a useful technique that shouldn't be brushed off just because its also used in racing.

[Watcher]

I might say that hanging off on the street is wholly excessive, but the science is sound.  You can definitely "sensibly" change your body position for turns without being "Street Rossi".

My preferred method is to grip the inside handgrip "like a screwdriver", be on the ball of your inside foot but the arch of your outside foot, and "try to touch your chin to the inside mirror."
This effectively turns your hips into the turn, gets your shoulder down, and gets a good amount of weight over the bike's center, all without looking like a hooligan.

It's what I'm doing in my current avatar, actually.  Here's the original unaltered photo, it shows the bike's lean angle and how off-center I am a little better.



Just this little bit makes a huge change in turning dynamics.


Man, this conversation is getting wrangled FAR away from the OP's intention, lol!

[Joolstacho]

Lad I know used to polish the vinyl bench-seat on his Zephyr so his girl would slide over to him on left handers (RH drive car).
He used to take those left-handers pretty sharpish.

[Bluesmudge]

OP, do you have an E model or an '01+ with the newer style seat? The newer seat is more angled and more slippery than the original GS500 seat. I too found I was slipping forward easily. I opted for the expensive option, which was a seat from Top Sellerie in France. It was pricey but fixed five problems I had with the GS seat (too low, uncomfortable, slippery, tilted forward, ugly).

The seat I ordered lets you choose your vinyl color and texture, accent colors, gel or heated options, lengthened or shortened, and raised or lowered. I think its tied with the madstad windscreen for the best modifications to my GS.

[user11235813]

I'm going to get my seat reshaped here http://custommotorcycleseats.com.au I'll post how it goes

[Sahtlinurk]

I have the old style seat, got 1992 gs. I just bought another one from fleabay with the thought of trying to modify
one and still be able to ride.  Still cant believe i paid only 13 pounds for it. And it was in a much better nick
than my original. Very firm and seat cover not that worn and shiny. swapped them over, much better but still can be
improved.

will check out this French shop, any chance of the photo of yours? 
cheers,
Lauri

OP, do you have an E model or an '01+ with the newer style seat? The newer seat is more angled and more slippery than the original GS500 seat. I too found I was slipping forward easily. I opted for the expensive option, which was a seat from Top Sellerie in France. It was pricey but fixed five problems I had with the GS seat (too low, uncomfortable, slippery, tilted forward, ugly).

The seat I ordered lets you choose your vinyl color and texture, accent colors, gel or heated options, lengthened or shortened, and raised or lowered. I think its tied with the madstad windscreen for the best modifications to my GS.

[mr72]

the problem is exacerbated if you firm up the rear suspension especially by swapping in a shock that is not only stiffer but also longer (like a kat600), then you wind up aiming the bike downhill all the time anyway. And it's also made worse with lower handlebars which pull your weight more forward and help you slide forward.

I added foam to the front of my seat and recovered it, but I had also cut off the "bill" of the seat on the front edge so it would mate with a '01+ tank. I am still considering much more serious seat surgery but it would be accompanied with frame modifications and me making a long term commitment to keep this bike.

[gregjet]

I don't know where you live but if you have a decent automotive upolsterer they are pretty good and making a new cover and applying it. For the cover material consider jet ski material. It is textured and grippy without being too abrasive. You need the balance between them. Available in huge range of colours as well.
Normally I just say get a Seat Concepts cover and pad, but it appears that they don't make them for the GS ( you could always contact them and ask). They are my go to for seats. Haven't had one that wasn't a huge improvement on OEMs. I like their "carbon" covers.

[user11235813]

Just got back from having the seat reshaped, it makes a huge difference. More scoop for the ischium  bones, the GS is a naturally wide bike so not much scope for narrowing. I have found out that instead of being a completely smooth curve up to the tank, a small hump is left after scooping which stops the ischium from sliding forward. Need to take it on a two day ride to evaluate further.