Anyone have a recommendation on one of those gel pads you sit on the motorcycle seat?  Was looking at this on on fleabay:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/THE-PRO-PAD-FABRIC-GEL-HARLEY-HONDA-MOTORCYCLE-SEAT-EUC_W0QQitemZ260546244157QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ca9c42e3d

Thanks

-Jessie

Cannot reco the gel pad seats - but I can give two thumbs up  for the Airhawk inflatable seat cushion and everyone I know that has one also has good things to say about them.

Michael

I considered gel (to go inside the seat cover - the strap-on seems pointless to me - going to walk off), gagged on the price, and decided that if I was going to do it buying a gel bicycle seat was about the least expensive method to get the gel. What I actually did was simply add more "extra firm" foam to the seat (which I wanted to be higher anyway) and put on a new seat cover.

Thanks for the input guys.  Never thought of using the gel padding from a bicycle seat.

Mister- I looked up the air pad and found them selling for ~$130 on ebay, they really worth that?  How long have you had yours?  Wondering about durability.

Thanks

-Jessie

This BMW guy seems to like the heck out of it, and his product testing method seems valid...

http://www.ibmwr.org/prodreview/airhawk.html

Does make me wonder if a wheelbarrow innertube would work though, since I'm a cheapskate.

Just a little input...although it might not be relevant.

From my experience in the past years of riding road bikes thousands of miles (road bikes as in bicycles), Ive had better luck with a hard seat. Squishy gel crap is good...for a little, then an hour into the ride you sink past the squish and are sitting on the rails of the seat or whatever lies below. a firmer seat did me better as far as long rides are concerned. infact I was having issues with a numb foot after about 30 miles on my road bike which is a fraction of what i ride. a firmer seat with a better split in the middle fixed it immediately.

again i dont know much about motorcycle seats but its pretty much the same concept or i would imagine it would be...I just got my gs late last season so have yet to do any long hauls on it. but im already looking into corbins ($$$ ugh) or a seargent seat. from what ive heard from fellow riders they are amazing and worth the money if youre into long rides and touring at all.

Kyle- you should have bought an SV650 if you like hard seats, that bike has the worst factory seat of any motorcycle I have ever owned (including dual sports).  It was improved with a Sargeant seat but still butt numbing on a six hour ride.  There are no aftermarket seat options I'm aware of for an '01 GS.  I like the idea of a pad cause I can use it on multiple bikes.

I have a hard seat on my mountain bike.  It sucks that first week in spring but once my butt gets re-accustomed to it all is well for the season. 

The Airhawk is more than I was planning to spend but if it is really that great I may shell out the $$$ when I have them.

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on February 06, 2010, 09:01:02 PM
Thanks for the input guys.  Never thought of using the gel padding from a bicycle seat.

Mister- I looked up the air pad and found them selling for ~$130 on ebay, they really worth that?  How long have you had yours?  Wondering about durability.

Jessie,

I have NOT used it on the GS. No need. The GS's seat is comfy enough without it. But when I did use it I used it for about 6 months before getting the GS and in those six months there was a noticeable difference to me.

I got it from http://www.airhawkguy.com.au/airhawk-cushion.htm with the knowledge that... should it not be suitable I could return it for a refund. Without the refund option I was not about to drop $$$ as a test.

The way I figured... and I do a LOT of mileage. Min 300 clicks a week sometime 600... was that if it removed my discomfort it was worth it. People will drop near on a grand for a helmet, five C notes for a jacket. Couple of C notes for a pair of gloves. So, while it's expensive for what it is - an air inflated cushion with various compartments - it's just par for the course with bike stuff.

Now a few words about it....

It gives extra height to the seat. So if this is an issue, be forewarned.

If inflated wrongly you will wobble around on it - the idea is to sit Into the cushioning not On the cushioning. So less air is better. Wrongly inflated will also see you move forward under brakes, which is unsettling.

Before I was using it I would get an achy back just riding 25 clicks to work. As soon as I used it, right from the word go, the back ache was gone. I also noticed that at higher speeds I was feeling vibration through the seat but not with the Airhawk.

In the video I just posted, the guy behind me on the Daytona now rides with an Airhawk. In my Mt Barney Twisites vid the guy on the XVS 1100 rides with one. A few of the others I ride with have pillions who swear by them. Another Aussie who also lives in Brisbane uses one on his Buell. Here's his website http://motorcycleparadise.blogspot.com/ feel free to email him about it - or ask him about it in the comments section of his latest blog entry, where you can see it on his bike. (His review of it from 2007 is here http://motorcycleparadise.blogspot.com/2007/04/review-air-hawk-seat-cushion.html so I guess the fact he is still using it as of this month speacks of His like for it.)

I wouldn't buy one just to see if it was any good Unless you had a refund option. cause no matter how many other people think it's good it's YOU who has to use it.

Michael

Doesnt corbin make a seat for the gs? Ive seen them on ebay. But theyre like 400 bucks.

Thanks again Michael, once the snow melts I'll see if any of the local bike shops carry them.

Corbin makes a seat for the '89-00 GS but not one for the '01-up models.  Kay has one on her '95 and really likes it.  She swaps it onto whatever GS she is riding that day.  I thought about putting a gel pad into my stock '01 seat but something I could use on any bike would be more practicle.

-Jessie

I got my corbin seat at the end of last season, so I only rode on it a couple of times.  It takes about 3,000 miles (if I remember correctly) before it is 'broken in'.  Mine is far from that, but I love the feel already.  As for change in position, it sits me higher and I lean forward a little more.  I think it looks much better than stock too (I opted for the gunfighter and lady style- adds a little more curve into the design).  Major con is the price.  I think Jessie bought a whole bike for cheaper.

-K