RSV Seat Questions or Maybe Pants?

[ebat]

Looking for some input on driver seat, longer trip comfort. I did about 450 miles today and while I find the riding position very comfortable (Baron's Risers are terrific) the last 100 miles are pretty rough. I stopped a few times for drinks/gas but getting back on can be pretty uncomfortable especially after I've been in the upright position for a couple of hours. I wear heavy denim jeans and the most discomfort I experience is on my upper hamstrings, almost like they are worn raw. Today was pretty mild temp wise but if it was the normal 90+ degree day and I was sweating like a fire hydrant I would have wanted to walk home.

 

I've read more than a few posts where RSV riders say it is the most comfortable bike they've ridden and doing an all day trip is not too hard on them comfort wise so I guess I'm looking for tips on improving my comfort. I like to get out there and ride until the cows come home but feeling uncomfortble on a long trip is not much fun. Is there a much more comfortable after market seat, are leathers/textile pants more comfortable, how bout a driver's back rest, worth it? Thanks for any input.

[awsmsrv]

I've done 850 miles in a day & felt pretty darn good. I have the pillow seat & Diamond R backrest. I also have kevlar mesh pants & jacket, so they breathe really well. I almost felt like going another 150 miles just to go 1000. Get the backrest, you'll love it.

[ebat]

Thanks for replying, Bob. I've pretty much put the back rest on my wish list for next year. Is that thing pretty sturdy? Do you feel like you can really lean back in to it or do you feel like it is just there to make a little contact with your back?

[flb_78]

Get the backrest. Order it tomorrow. No one has taken the backrest off after they put it on.

[Mariner Fan]

I'm still unsure about the backrest. I'm pretty tall and I like to sit way back in the seat. Every time I've ridden a Venture with a backrest I felt like it was pushing me forward.

 

Now my back doesn't hurt when I ride. Isn't that what a back rest is for?

 

Ebat....I have the same trouble as you with the backside getting rubbed raw after 400 miles or so. I'm still working on a solution for that.

[awsmsrv]

Thanks for replying, Bob. I've pretty much put the back rest on my wish list for next year. Is that thing pretty sturdy? Do you feel like you can really lean back in to it or do you feel like it is just there to make a little contact with your back?

 

Yes, it's very sturdy. Being about 5'11" & 155 I'm not the biggest fish in the sea, but yes, I can lean back into it just fine. It flexes with you a little. At first, I felt it pushing me forward a bit, but then I removed the screws from the stem & reversed the position of the backrest to the backside of the stem & reattached. Now it's great.

[hig4s]

While I do have a back rest, because my back gets sore, I have gone over 500 miles no problem, but anytime I ride more than a couple hundred miles I dump the jeans and wear thigh length biking shorts under mesh riding pants.

[flb_78]

oh...raw butt meat is the problem.

 

In that case, you need sheep skin covers and corn starch baby powder. The Sheepskin will allow air to flow under you to the nether regions to ventilate. The Corn Starch baby powder will GREATLY reduce friction to prevent savage monkey butt.

 

http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/images/products/product_46.jpg

[ebat]

Well first one there gets the prize, Mariner Fan. I'll let you know if I find something that works.

 

I had a backrest on my 1st Gen Venture and really liked it so it is just a matter of time before I try one on the 2nd Gen.

[Mariner Fan]

oh...raw butt meat is the problem.

 

In that case, you need sheep skin covers and corn starch baby powder. The Sheepskin will allow air to flow under you to the nether regions to ventilate. The Corn Starch baby powder will GREATLY reduce friction to prevent savage monkey butt.

 

http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/images/products/product_46.jpg

 

Today I tried the bike shorts and the powder. It didn't work. Still got serious monkey butt. I'm looking into the sheepskin covers for the seat. Hope it works!

[juggler]

Thanks for replying, Bob. I've pretty much put the back rest on my wish list for next year. Is that thing pretty sturdy? Do you feel like you can really lean back in to it or do you feel like it is just there to make a little contact with your back?

 

I have the same backrest. I can learn back my full weight into it with no problems. That thing has saved my back and lets me keep riding.

 

After a few hundred miles my back side is raw. I've tried a few things including a Butt Buffer (that works some), sheep skin (that works some), I even bought the newer pillow top seats (Those helped the most). I just bought a pair of really baggy carpenters jeans. I'm hoping that a looser fitting pant will help with keeping cool and stop some of the binding and rubbing.

[BradT]

Few weeks back, a little over 2300 miles, in 5 days, felt fine after that. We have done quite a few long days around 500 mark and a few 600. I have the backrest and pillow top seats. The backrest helps quite a bit, as it would get pretty tiring when I did not have it.

 

I find that some parts of the ride you just can not get comfortable and the next time you get on it is fine. All depends on how you sit, and you have to change positions often.

 

Brad

[buddy]

Athletic Works sport shorts 81% Polyester 19% Elastane .

 

These sport shorts worked great for me today on my ride to Spring Field Mo. I wore them under my blue jeans and not once did I feel uncomfortable. My problem in the past was my jeans griping my legs & back side after riding for several hours and felt like my skin was being riped off. After wearing these sport shorts my jean never once put me in a bind nor did I sweat These really did help in keeping the jeans from binding and gripping my body plus they kept me cool as well very nice in deed. I bought these at wally world for around 9.00 I think ? any way I'm buying more before our trip next mo.

For me they work great and a excellent fit as well.

 

OH by the way do not stand in front or over a A/C vent wearing only the shorts

?why? the shorts turn into a deep freezer.

COLD:cold: if you know what I mean.

 

Buddy

[Seaking]

Here's my exeprience with the problems you're describing..

 

Though I've only owned my 06 Midnight for 2 months and 6,000 miles, I've done some serious hauling on this bike thus far and previously on my 1100 VStar. Some of this related to both.. Typically, around here it may not be as hot as where you are but it's freaking humid.. ranging from 90-100% humidity and it sucks when riding in the heat..

 

On the Venture, I have one of Rick Butler's seats which he's done his mods on it. Now THAT took a lot of pressure off the back of the thighs. I've also added highway pegs on the engine guard to make my legs more comfortable and it also positions my legs more comfortably for those long ride where I can actually sit in a more stretched out manner. I'm only 5'9" with a 30" inseam but I loves to ride stretched out.

 

The back rest is used to lean back against to take the weight off your lower spine. I tend to sit upright in the city but will hunker down stretched on the highway or backroads.. Generally speaking, the back rest helps towards reducing rider fatigue..

 

Now why does one's buttucks hurt after a long ride? Tis cause your tender skin is sitting on vinyl all day.. and it sweats and doesn't get to breathe so your skin then gets irritated and then causes you a pain in the assets.. nice eh?

 

Clean clothes help. Think that's funny? Think about how many people ride with the same 'comfy' jeans all week long.. You take them out of the wash and by the end of the day they are comfy again.. but you don't wanna wash them cause they won't be comfy again until you've worn them.. but, if you rode all day on them, even if you don't notice it, the seat area is sweat soaked and has all the active ingredients to cause your monkey butt isssues.. (I'm sure everyone changes their underwear at least once a day..)

 

Some people I've met along the road wear thongs.. Not just the ladies, but some of the burliest looking men riders.. I tell ya, it causes you to do a double take when you see some mean looking biker roll past you and you catch the flash of 'thong'.. But they'll tell you it's VERY comfortable and prevents monkey butt. I dunno, it's not for me.

 

Prickly Heat or Baby Powder by J&J work great to keeping your skin dry and comfy.. You put a little foot powder in your socks and sprinkle your bottom before dressing up.. And it does work.. Just don't let your friends see you do it.. see previous paragraph as to why lol..

 

SheepSkin.. From what I hear, people swear by it.. They absolutely love it.. So I have mine coming in..

 

A doc friend of mine passed this on to me about this condition.. When you get off the bike to fuel / rest, go to the washroom for a pee break, undo your belt and open your pants and let the damp air out of your pants.. Sounds strange.. but just standing there fluffing your pants and re-arranging your underwear help also.. Just be seen doing it cause it's hard to explain what you're doing.. Its basically getting some fresh air in there..

 

Its all silly little things some people do to keep their butts happy and it works for most people.. of course your milage may very well vary but hey, give it a try..

 

Cheers

[nkbjones]

I have to say that the 2nd gen is a very comfy bike, but monkey butt has continued to be a problem especially on hot days or very long rides. I have tried powder and lighter pants (khaki cargos) and they have helped, but the sheepskin has made a huge difference. I now combine the 3 and have not had monkey butt problems since. You can't go wrong with the IKEA sheeskin, it is well worth the $40.

[gibvel]

Athletic Works sport shorts 81% Polyester 19% Elastane .

 

These sport shorts worked great for me today on my ride to Spring Field Mo. I wore them under my blue jeans and not once did I feel uncomfortable. My problem in the past was my jeans griping my legs & back side after riding for several hours and felt like my skin was being riped off. After wearing these sport shorts my jean never once put me in a bind nor did I sweat These really did help in keeping the jeans from binding and gripping my body plus they kept me cool as well very nice in deed. I bought these at wally world for around 9.00 I think ? any way I'm buying more before our trip next mo.

For me they work great and a excellent fit as well.

 

OH by the way do not stand in front or over a A/C vent wearing only the shorts

?why? the shorts turn into a deep freezer.

COLD:cold: if you know what I mean.

 

Buddy

 

I was thinking about this the other day. I wear briefs and, the other day, I noticed that the place I was feeling the hurting was right where the leg seam in the underwear was. I think I may have to try this.

This may also go with what Seaking was saying as well.

[ebat]

Some good suggestions here. I'm gonna try the Athletic Works shorts and also look at some bicycle shorts...maybe toss some baby powder in the trunk!

 

A new seat is a consideration too but I don't think I can spring for a seat and a back rest. Thanks again.

[heatonmt]

Get the backrest. Order it tomorrow. No one has taken the backrest off after they put it on.

Has anyone who has a backrest seen any where on the seats where the bar comes up through them, that concern is the only reason I have not ordered yet. Please give feed back. I have a 2000 ride coming up in 3 weeks and would order one if it does not wear on the seats.

[boominup]

Has anyone who has a backrest seen any where on the seats where the bar comes up through them, that concern is the only reason I have not ordered yet. Please give feed back. I have a 2000 ride coming up in 3 weeks and would order one if it does not wear on the seats.

 

I have the Utopia backrest on mine and the support bar bolts to the frame under the seat. You do not have to alter or cut into your seat in any way as it just fits up through in between the driver and passenger seats. This purchase was one of the best moves I've made for this bike.

Brian

[awsmsrv]

I have the Utopia backrest on mine and the support bar bolts to the frame under the seat. You do not have to alter or cut into your seat in any way as it just fits up through in between the driver and passenger seats. This purchase was one of the best moves I've made for this bike.

Brian

 

Same is true of the Diamond R backrest.

[robbitybob]

Won't the shorts bunch up under your jeans? Or are you talking about compression shorts?

[buddy]

Won't the shorts bunch up under your jeans? Or are you talking about compression shorts?

 

These shorts stretch or compression like you said. They stick to you like a second skin, they kept me cool and allow my jeans to move freely.

 

Buddy

[ColoNavy]

Check out Alaskaleather.com. They sell seconds and their seconds are better than most first qualities from other dealers.

[Seaking]

I was thinking about this the other day. I wear briefs and, the other day, I noticed that the place I was feeling the hurting was right where the leg seam in the underwear was. I think I may have to try this.

 

This may also go with what Seaking was saying as well.

 

What part, you wearing a thong? What EVER you do.. don't make it frilly or overly sexy.. it's hard to explain should some bad ass bikers see you.. ; )

[ebat]

Check out Alaskaleather.com. They sell seconds and their seconds are better than most first qualities from other dealers.

 

Nice link, thanks. Others had mentioned the sheepskin and this looks like an affordable solution as opposed to replacing the seat. I was a little worried about how it might look on the bike but those don't appear to be too bad. They even sell butt powder, flb!