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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Susuki_Jah on July 25, 2005, 08:19:38 PM

Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: Susuki_Jah on July 25, 2005, 08:19:38 PM
ok so i took my first long distance ride today from Richmond to charlottesville. not a super long ride but i did about  200 miles actually sitting on the bike.  ok i thought the GS might be comfortable but on the way home my ass was fealing the wrath of the gs seat. i found myself standing up most of the way home. i parked my bike and felt relieved to ride in my car again.

2 guys took the ride with me, a 04 ninja all raced out and a stock katana.

my GS wooped their asses on the twisty roads :) .  I kept riding up their asses on the mountain roads until they put their hands out for me to pass them then I took it way down the road and stopped to wait up for them lol.

is there any upgrade seat I can get for my GS? if not im not taking the bike on anymore road trips lol.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: ajgs500 on July 25, 2005, 08:24:55 PM
try a corbin ... I think they make them for that year
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: calamari on July 25, 2005, 11:48:23 PM
...
wow! and I was planning to do a 600+ miles ride in 1 1/2 days  :o

i am still unsure about this (from somewhere in california to Utah), and i don't know if the bike (or me) will be able to hold up.

I still have 15 more days to decide this. (600+ miles up, rest 3 days, 600+ miles back).
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: Lee from Toronto on July 25, 2005, 11:57:00 PM
I have done back-to-back 500 mile days with an Airhawk seat:

(http://www.funcarsonline.com/albums/gs500f/airhawk1.jpg)

Basically a pad with air-filled connected chambers that slowly move air in and out when you shift on the seat, so you don't develop any pressure spots. This is what the air chambers look like:

(http://www.funcarsonline.com/albums/gs500f/airhawk2.jpg)
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: davipu on July 26, 2005, 01:03:08 AM
buncha pussies ya are, I've done 1000+ mile days back to back on my 02 gs with the stock seat.  I know Kerry has done 700+ on the original 99.  a little secret, baby powder, and after the first 300 miles it stops being uncomfortable.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: V8Pinto on July 26, 2005, 08:27:50 AM
Have to agree and add - if it's cold enough outside, your butt freezes and then you don't notice (a snowy picture of Kerry's GS comes to mind).  I do a 300 loop around here and the last time I went, it was snowing over the summit and 7 degrees when I went through Truckee.  

My wife complains about the seat on my 89' but I've not noticed it.

Back to back 1000's???  Nice!!!  
Were there any Mexican Federales involved?
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: pandy on July 26, 2005, 09:58:03 AM
Either that, or you have a big butt! :P:P:P

pandy
whose seat isn't all that uncomfortable due to natural padding :lol:


Quote from: davipubuncha pussies ya are, I've done 1000+ mile days back to back on my 02 gs with the stock seat.  I know Kerry has done 700+ on the original 99.  a little secret, baby powder, and after the first 300 miles it stops being uncomfortable.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: Rema1000 on July 26, 2005, 10:11:12 AM
600 miles in 1 1/2 days should be OK.  Take a breakfast break at 60 miles  or so, gas break at 150 miles, 250 miles and stop at 350.  Stretch and go for little walks at each break.  If you get going at 6am, you can be done by 3pm, and it still feels sort-of leisurely.  I usually ride better (with more skill) in the morning.  I average about 40mph for 8 or 9 hours, once I include meals and breaks.  So I'd probably plan for a 4-hour 1/2 riding day and a 9-hour riding day.

I never had a problem with the old stock seat; my knees start to ache when they've had enough.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: RVertigo on July 26, 2005, 11:54:54 AM
My '01 seat is pretty comfortable, but I sat on an '05 and the seat was like a rock.  I doubt they changed anything...  

I think butt break-in makes a difference.  I bought my GS with 12k on it...  and the guy I bought it from is at least 100lbs heavier than me.  Maybe some big butt people can start a "Seat Break-in" service!   :thumb:
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: thirdman on July 26, 2005, 12:28:30 PM
I just did 1000 miles in 23 hours on the stock GS seat.  No problems.  The secret (for me, at least) is to make good use of your gas breaks to stretch, move around, etc.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: pandy on July 26, 2005, 12:37:26 PM
Excellent idea!!! Ok, folks! I'm available! Of course, that means I'll have to ride each of your bikes for at least 12K miles!  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

pandy  :lol:


Quote from: RVertigoMaybe some big butt people can start a "Seat Break-in" service!   :thumb:
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: Susuki_Jah on July 26, 2005, 01:14:51 PM
Quote from: davipubuncha pussies ya are, I've done 1000+ mile days back to back on my 02 gs with the stock seat.  I know Kerry has done 700+ on the original 99.  a little secret, baby powder, and after the first 300 miles it stops being uncomfortable.

thats great. and you both have new bikes.

i have a 91 .

the heat index was 120 yesterday and the humidity was God nows what.

that means your soaking wet the whole ride . being hot and wet = a sore ass. and it wasnt even chaffing it was just how the seat is formed.  and I already know about the gold bond medicated power, been using that secret for years.

ive ridden the bike as a daily driver for months upon months  before I got my 3 cars. so ive ridden over 500 miles in a day before here and there but not a straight shot.  I mean the seating position on the GS is GREAT  its just the seat doesnt fit my ass very well. I dont have a big ass. I have some cushion but the seat gets me in the but bone.
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: calamari on July 26, 2005, 05:37:37 PM
Quote from: RVertigoI think butt break-in makes a difference...   Maybe some big butt people can start a "Seat Break-in" service!

Oh! I learned a new term today  :thumb:
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: Kerry on July 26, 2005, 11:51:37 PM
Quote from: Susuki_Jah
Quote from: davipuI've done 1000+ mile days back to back on my 02 gs with the stock seat.  I know Kerry has done 700+ on the original 99.
thats great. and you both have new bikes.

i have a 91 .
:? Not sure what you're getting at, but as far as I know the '89-'00 models all had the same stock seat.  I did buy a Suzuki gel seat for two-up rides with my wife, but I always put the stock seat back on for solo riding.  It just fits me better.

I understand about the humidity.  I have it pretty good, living in the dry heat of the Southwest.  But I did that 770-mile day that davipu referred to almost entirely on 2-lane roads in early June a few years ago.  It included a Continental Divide crossing at 12,095 feet and a high-elevation ride past a big lake in the middle of the night (with no shield).  My problem wasn't chafing - it was trying not to freeze to death!  :roll:

Good luck finding the best seat solution!  :thumb:
Title: first long distance ride.
Post by: gs2sv on July 27, 2005, 04:09:17 AM
well, not sure what to tell you about seat comfort, as I never really have any probs that are unbearable. but if the humidity and sticky butt thing are getting to you, try using cycling shorts with a built in chamois. leave the cotton underwear at home. cotton and humidity don't mix. sounds like you need more saddle time to break in your butt.   ;)