Laam Seat... Confused?!

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

For those who don't know, my Connie is my daily driver... I have put over 5000 miles on it since the first of march, and ride the thing everywhere. (150 mile radius of Portland regularly)

I wanted something more comfortable than the stock seat, so I sent my seat to Seth to have it modified.  Got it back, felt great except my wife was sliding into me worse than my old 650, and circulation to my legs was being cut off... so I sent it back for an adjustment.  My wife isn't sliding into me nearly as much as before, but still a little, and my leg circulation has come back to about 80% (still being cut off from time to time).  The really sucky thing, is that since I have put the seat back on after the adjustment, my lower back has been in a TON of pain... Saw the chiropractor today, felt great afterwards.  Rode to a few appointments, and my back is almost worse than it was this morning when I left to go to the chiropractor. Going to try putting my (borrowed) stock seat back on tomorrow and see what happens, but so far I've been more than let down and dissapointed with Laam... I've seen great reviews everywhere, but I seem to have been the one guy that got lost in the crowd a couple times, and I'm tired of paying shipping and waiting longer than the promised time to have the seat.  (The last time he shipped it out 2 days later than he said he was going to, and it arrived a day after I left for my trip, that I had told him from the before I shipped it, that I wanted it for.)

I don't want to destroy his great reputation, but I am a bit annoyed, and wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences... Especially with the seat being worse after sending it in for an adjustment (which I was honestly expecting to do 1 adjustment because he doesn't have my butt there to carve the seat around)

I really wish I could do a ride-in, but that's REALLY not an option now, as the 45 miles I did today killed me,  and that's a 5-600 mile trip that will take a few days, and I don't get any time off of work until between Oct and Jan, when the mountain pass is snowed in... Kindof in a pickle here, and kinof bummed that I seem to have wasted $400 :/



EDIT:  I should also add that I have 2" risers, and AST riser-pullbacks installed.

[martin_14]

would you put a pic or two of the seat on the bike? I can't imagine a seat doing so much wrong...

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

would you put a pic or two of the seat on the bike? I can't imagine a seat doing so much wrong... :(

I can assure you its properly affixed, and it looks normal too... Youd be surprised how much of a difference an aftermarket seat makes...

Stock seat: back hurt after about 120 miles, full body fatigue after 180

1st try laam: back no longer hurt, much less fatigued even after 200+ miles

Stock seat: beat the crap out of me again

2nd try laam: back hurts like crazy, feels like im sitting cockeyed, hip bones dont feel like they ait in a natural position at all. It almost feels like he designed it for a sport seating position rather than touring, except for the part about circularion being cut off from my legs... I guess i can try pulling the pullbacks off and see how that works. (Cant remove risers as theyre holding my GPS)

That said, if i remember ill post a pic or 2 tomorrow.

[martin_14]

thanks for the more detailed explanation, looking forward to the pics.
The reason this subject interests me is that I just ordered an aftermarket seat and I started feeling paranoid about everything that will can could won't be wrong with it 

[st2sam]

Change your chiropractor, or go again, before you change your seat again.

I visit my chiropractor when ever my back gets out of wack.
I feel great when I leave the office but after 12 hrs. or so it hurts again for a day, most adjustments will do that.

99% of the time adjustments work, my last visit was the 1%, it still hurts more than not.
Maybe your last visit was your 1% visit?

[Rhino]

I tried 3 different seats including Spencer, Russell Day Long and Laam. None of the them were right for me. Then I bought a Corbin. Best seat for me. It feels very hard at first but it molds to you. I've done a 900 mile day on my Corbin.

[Speedy]

Maybe try a local auto interior shop.  Thats what i did and it worked well.  I was able to ride the bike with no cover on the seat over the weekend so the foam could be tweaked and tweaked again.

Not cheap but worth it.

[fmwhit]

I don't believe that anyone can make one custom seat that is a perfect fit for all.  Laam has worked pretty well for me, sorry to hear of your troubles but as others have suggested try another brand.  Maybe hook up with another Connie owner in your area and trade seats for the day before you make a purchase.  In my area of NY we have COG group rides once a month and I am pretty sure that if I were in your situation that I could arrange to swap with someone for the days ride to try out a seat before purchase.

Fred
Wa2gzw

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

Change your chiropractor, or go again, before you change your seat again.

I visit my chiropractor when ever my back gets out of wack.
I feel great when I leave the office but after 12 hrs. or so it hurts again for a day, most adjustments will do that.

99% of the time adjustments work, my last visit was the 1%, it still hurts more than not.
Maybe your last visit was your 1% visit?

You have a point. Im generally more than happt with my chiropractor, but this could have been the 1%

Sorry, its been crazy... Totally forgot to get pix yesterday... Heres one that i had on my phone from a while ago.

[TallyRex]

Love my Sargent seat.  500 miles days no problem.  Still have my stock seat (like new condition) - if you're interested in buying it send me a PM

[Racer Boy]

That is the risk of having a seat made via internet or the phone. I had a custom seat made for my C10 at a local seat guy that has a great reputation (Rich's Custom Seats in Kingston, WA), and it was great. But Seth Laam's seat is 50% less expensive, so I took the risk.

st2sam has a great point about the chiropractor, and waiting or going back for another adjustment.

[clogan]

Seats are such an individual thing, I'm convinced it's just luck of the draw getting comfy. Best seat ever for me was stock seat on my '09 Rocket III. Others hate the stock seat. I hated the stock seat on my KLR; my best riding buddy loves his. Poster above loves his Corbin; I find my Corbin just so-so. It's no wonder there's so much aftermarket work for seats; every butt is looking for something different!

[philipintexas]

I've been riding for 40 yrs. plus, I've suffered through a quarter million miles with back and shoulder pain and tried many different seats & handle-bar positions. Even my first Gold wing killed my upper back & shoulder, It was only after I added a backrest that I found relief. There is just something about supporting the back while leaning forward with your arms extended that isn't "natural" and nothing worked until I got something behind my back that I could lean against.

[OregonLAN]

The forward position of this bike makes it really difficult to find a decent/comfortable seat that doesn't drastically alter the ridding position or cause the passenger to slide forward. I can't offer much help, but I'd love to test out and/or possibly purchase your Laam seat if you ever decide to get rid of it. I live in the PDX area.

[TallyRex]

until I got something behind my back that I could lean against.

Do you have a backrest on your C-14?  If so, details please

[philipintexas]

"Do you have a backrest on your C-14?  If so, details please"

Sadly no, I never got comfortable on the C-14. I also realized that at my age and the length of our trips the Concours just wasn't for me. We went 9,500 miles last summer on my Gold Wing (with backrest) and enjoyed it all. Because I was always sliding forward on the Concours, it is impossible to lean back on anything.

[concoursbdh]

I can assure you its properly affixed, and it looks normal too... Youd be surprised how much of a difference an aftermarket seat makes...

Stock seat: back hurt after about 120 miles, full body fatigue after 180

1st try laam: back no longer hurt, much less fatigued even after 200+ miles

Stock seat: beat the crap out of me again

2nd try laam: back hurts like crazy, feels like im sitting cockeyed, hip bones dont feel like they ait in a natural position at all. It almost feels like he designed it for a sport seating position rather than touring, except for the part about circularion being cut off from my legs... I guess i can try pulling the pullbacks off and see how that works. (Cant remove risers as theyre holding my GPS)

That said, if i remember ill post a pic or 2 tomorrow.

If a seat hurts that bad, that quick then you may have the wrong bike it sounds like...  I have had the old connies, 2 of the C14's, many FJR'S and several standards with none that hurt within 200 miles that bad!

[lather]

It is all about compromise. It sounds like he responded to your complaint about leg circulation by taking pressure off the legs but the only place else to put it is on your back. I just got back from a 3000 mile ride with my new Seth Laam seat. I had no back pain with the OEM seat but plenty of thigh pain. With the Seth Laam I have some relief from the leg pain but I do get a little back pain. But I just alternate between the sport position using my legs for main support and the touring position using my butt and back and overall I'd say it is a worthwhile improvement in overall comfort. I got the DUAL seat treatment as we ride two-up and the wife is very pleased with her seat.

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

Sorry for the slow reply, i was at annual training. 

Right after which i ran over a softball sized rock... So its been almost a month since i've actually ridden the thing.

However, in just riding around i can tell that theres still circulation issues. At this point I'm half-tempted to take it apart and self-modify, but that will void my warranty... The thought has crossed my mind...  Another option is to just schedule a ride-in this november (When i'll actually have time to...) Get the whole thing taken care of once and for all. But that will also run me a couple hundred in gas and food getting to cali and back. It'd Make a sweet camping trip tho!

[TOURMASTER]

I'm interested in buying your LAAM, if you decide to sell it?