Most of my commuting is in the 10-30 min range.  A couple weeks ago, I took a longer trip, about 90 min each way.  It may be because I was wearing jeans and it was a pretty hot day, but I definitely felt as though 90 mins is about the max I could sit on the seat before it starts to really get uncomfortable.

Are there any good solutions to making the seat more comfortable?  How is the Corbin seat?  Are there any cheaper solutions?

maybe those silicon pads that you could strap onto the seat? I've seen those around for not too much.  I think it ranges from like $30-$100. I've been thinking of getting something similar b/c my butt gets sore after 30 mins

i'd go with a corbin seat. $300-400 i think, but way cooler than a goofy looking gel pad.

I did four hours on the GS last weekend, and I was definitely feeling it.

I've got a Corbin on my Ninja 650; I can go all day long on it, no problem.

I have 2 GS500s. The seat on the new one is far more comfortable than the old one. Suzuki changed seats in 2001. The newer seat is far better than the old one. Not sure the best route if you have the old one. Get a newer model? LOL

I have the newer GS (2007). Can't say the seat sounds any different from yours.

The longest ride I've done on it is 2.5 hours. I had to stop a couple times and let my :: cough cough :: get some feeling back as well as stand up from time to time to let my but get some feeling back.

I also have a vstrom, much better seat. It would be nice to find a cost effective seat replacement that add some comfort.

89-2000 had the seat that came up the back of the tank. I find the sides of this seat squarer and harder on the legs than the new seat (2001-present).  The new seat wraps around the sides of the tank a little and the corners are more rounded. There seems to be better padding in the newer seat.
I often ride my 1992 and my 2009 one after the other and really notice the difference in the seat.
Maybe 007brendan's seat could use a recovering and new padding?

Can relate to the seat issue though I usually don't have too much trouble until about 5 hours and 250+ miles.  That said, I plan to send my seat to Spencer at Great Day to Ride.  I keep hearing that the mod he does will greatly improve the stock seat without the expense of a full custom job.

Corbin shows a "Gun Fighter and Lady" seat for the GS500E on their site.  It is NOT compatible with the GS500F due to the change in tank shape and seat design.  I have found no other aftermarket seats.

Good luck and keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

I have no seat issues on my K9.

Some things to try...

- Where Soft boxers - the seam on briefs can cut in to you; hard basic cotton boxers can feel abrasive, flannel-type boxers work well.
- Make micro adjustments Before you start to feel sore butt. This gives relief to those sections of your butt before they tell you they need relief.
- Occasionally stand. That is, take ALL the weight off of your butt while in motion and put it on the pegs while you lift your butt. This will readjust the pants and give you a slightly different seating position when you sit back down.
- Stop the bike every 60 to 90 minutes for 10 minutes or so as a leg stretch and seat relief.
- Get an Airhawk seat cushion - not only will it give a little added Padding, any vibrations which come up through the seat will be diminished.
- Build yourself up to it. As mentioned above about 60 to 90 minutes, build up to the 90 minutes. As you already do 30 mins, do a half dozen 45 mins, then a half dozen 60 mins. Gets your body used to it. Or do it the whole hog - do more 90 minutes stints and force your body to like it or lump it. 

I usually won't go more than 2 hours without a break. Usually 60 to 90 minutes and I can do that all day, then. Toss in a hour for lunch and it's all good.

Michael

Would it be cheaper to get the seat upholstered with some extra padding? $400 for a seat seems kind of steep.

The Great Day to Ride seat mod is $50 to $75 depending if you opt for Supracor.  I will.  Add shipping to and from Florida and the total comes in at about $100 MOL.  For full custom treatment at Sargent (getting the Sargent World Sport built on the GS500 pan) would about $300 plus.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

I rebuilt my spare seat so it does not have a dip for my butt anymore. Its styled like a 1970s seat now, flat from front to back, with gentle rise against tank.

I now ride 3" higher on the bike and butt is about six inches rear of where the stock seat puts it. This is good, I really didn't fit comfortably on the bike for more than a 30 minute ride. My bars are up 1.5 inches and have touring shield. Does it look good? not yet.

My $40 extra seat had been cut down to fit sellers' GF's small body. I pulled the cover, and put on a layer of foam - Golds Gym Exercise Mat - blue, about 3/4 inch thick - Wallyworld sporting goods about $18. Shaped with small belt sander. Buttoned it up, felt better, then opened it up again and repeat.

I went through this 5 times this summer, each time raising it a bit and recontouring and raising the front, I don't like sliding forward against my will. Last time I added about six layers to completely fill the bucket, after sanding down the rise in the OEM foam to get a better transition at the back of the bucket.

This winter I will sand down again one more time, and lay on a layer from front all way to back, to eliminate the slight difference in squishiness and remove last trace of transition. Also I need new cover, the OEM one does not have enough material to stretch around all that foam.

-It might have made more sense to simply remove old OEM foam altogether and start from scratch with the new foam. Also there may be a better source for basic foam than the exercise mat.

Will post photos on next round of glueing and recovering.

There is a very simple solution to riding in a comfortable seat.
1. Select your favorite chair or LazyBoy
2. Attach it to your bike ala Mr Bean style



What could be simpler?

Yeah I looked into that Great Day To Ride after you posted it above and that seems like the way to go. I'm waiting on a reply to an email I sent him and I'll prolly be sending mine off.

I met somebody who said they wore bicycle spandex shorts under their jeans for long trips- the kind that has the gel-butt padding.  Plus it will make your gluteus maximus look extra lush for the ladies  .  I have a corbin seat myself, but haven't yet tried it for a long trip- definitely looks better than any gel add-on to the stock seat.

-K

If I'm taking a longer trip on the highway I'll wear bicycle shorts under my jeans. I never ride in any nicer than jeans though. When I picked up my last bike I had to ride home 5 hours on the highway to get it home and really wasn't sore at all by the time I got home.

The other thing you want to make sure you don't do, is sit still for too long, go from the left cheek, to the right, to the front of the seat to the back, stretch, stop for a few minutes. No matter how nice your seat is it'll still go downhill if you just pick a spot and don't move.