Jack, I would like your opinion on which seat is better for long rides. It seems to be commonly accepted that the 01+ seats are more comfortable than the original design, but since you've got so much saddle time on both versions of the GS, I'd like to get input directly from you. My arthritic spine keeps telling me that shorter rides are better, but I'm hoping that maybe by switching to an 01+, I could still do 300 - 400 mile days on occasion. For LONG trips, I ride my trusty old GS1000G, but it weighs 600+ pounds, and no one with a functional brain would call it a canyon bike...
Thanks for your help with this, gsJack; I might have to start looking for a newer model GS over the winter, depending on your answer.
Eh...don't hold your breath there, bud. Jack hasn't been around here in quite sometime...
Quote from: average on September 10, 2006, 07:47:24 PM
Eh...don't hold your breath there, bud. Jack hasn't been around here in quite sometime...
Uhh... Jack came back as runsilent, and then came back as GSJack not too long ago. Where have you been?
but he is around. and so is runsilent, who can answer that question with as much authority as gsjack.
do you mean switching to an 01+ seat or whole bike? if its just the seat, I dont think its a simple straight swap.
Quoting myself here:
Quote from: maxtrucker on September 10, 2006, 06:40:46 PM
...I might have to start looking for a newer model GS over the winter, depending on your answer.
Hope that answers your question, Pablo... I'm really not up to grafting a new model seat onto my "Classic" GS, so if the newer seat is a lot more comfortable (in gsJack's opinion), then I'll be selling my 95 GS sometime next spring, but not until I find an 01+ to replace it. Though I prefer naked bikes, I really like the paint scheme on the black & red '05s. If I bought one, I'd probably skin it during the hot weather, and only install the fairing if I felt I needed the weather protection (the arthritis really makes me suffer in the cold).
I am well-acquainted with the postings of both runsilent and gsJack; they seem to share the same mind, if not the same mailbox ;)
Thanks again, Jack; I'm glad to see your old screen name active here again. If you're ever in my neck of the woods, there is always cold beer in the fridge, and you're welcome to it anytime.
pabl0wn3d...I'm an idiot. didnt see that.
I've heard good things about Corbin seats, they're $300 but it would be cheaper than a new bike if yours is otherwise okay :thumb:
Haven't sat on a corbin for the gs... have sat on it for other bikes, and OMFG is it sweet......
Quote from: maxtrucker on September 10, 2006, 06:40:46 PM
Jack, I would like your opinion on which seat is better for long rides. It seems to be commonly accepted that the 01+ seats are more comfortable than the original design, but since you've got so much saddle time on both versions of the GS, I'd like to get input directly from you. My arthritic spine keeps telling me that shorter rides are better, but I'm hoping that maybe by switching to an 01+, I could still do 300 - 400 mile days on occasion. For LONG trips, I ride my trusty old GS1000G, but it weighs 600+ pounds, and no one with a functional brain would call it a canyon bike...
Thanks for your help with this, gsJack; I might have to start looking for a newer model GS over the winter, depending on your answer.
Well there are sore back problems and there are sore butt problems and I had plenty of both for the approx 230k miles I rode my 4 Hondas. They all had a very upright sitting position I referred to as a cruiser slouch, hard for an old man to keep the back straight and causing frequent backaches.
The first 97 GS cured my back problems with it's semi sporty seating position that put more of my upper body weight forward on my arms and hands and less on my back. I had some problems with the numbing of the hands with this riding position that was all but eliminated with addition of the GenMar risers towards the end of the first season on ths GS. Same with the replacement 02 GS which I transferred the GebMars to; no more back problems with it either.
The sore butt problems were frequent with the old Hondas, had them from their wider seemingly more comfortable seats when the ride exceeded an hour or so on a hot sweaty summer day. The 97 GS with it's narrow seat also cured the sore butt problems. It seems my soft boney butt would pearch itself on the two protruding bones of the pelvis and keep most of the flesh clear of the seat and resulted in no more sore butt problems either.
The 02 GS seat is wider and more comfortable in general but I have had some minor sore butt problems with it on the hot summer days; not a serious problem like the old CB750 which actually gave me bleeding hemis one summer, just some minor discomfort. I did most of my 400-500 mile days on the 97 GS and it was the most comfortable seat of all for me. Your butt may vary! :laugh: :laugh:
However, the change to the 02 GS was well worth it for me for it's other features. The redesigned tail section and larger 5.3 gal tank and the generally comfortable seat for every day use were significant, but the fact it ran so much better and was so much more flexible all around and was much more usable on cold winter days due to the 3 circuit carbs and possibly cam changes made it well worthwhile for me. I just expounded on this in the thread about different carb types:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=30179.0