long ride comfort problems

[Jrodizzle07]

Hey guys, so I've had my gtr about a year and have been on quite a few decent trips with it. This past week I went on a moderately short one of about 400 miles. Anyways, not long into the trip the back of my thighs like halfway down were killing me, and radiating down leg. Couple days later and still sore. Never had this problem on long trips before.

Stock seat and set up. 32" inseam. Murphs wedges. Set pretty upright.

Any suggestions on what to change out to help with this?

I have canyon cages on order, might try footpegs on them. Also thinking change out seat.

Let me know what helped you guys out because I have a lot of riding planned this year. Thanks!!

[gPink]

My first guess would be the seat.

[B.D.F.]

The stock saddle on a C-14 did not work for us either. An hour or two maybe but after that and it became a wrestling match between pain and the desire to keep riding.

It takes a while to outfit a bike for a lot of hours in the saddle in [relative] comfort in my experience. What finally worked for me was an Airhawk on top of a Corbin saddle, Buell pegs, 2" bar risers and a much taller windshield (altogether nearly 10" longer than stock '08 windshield).

The saddle was the tough part. The key seems to spread the load out (ahem, really) as far as possible and get as much weight bearing on the thighs as possible. The easiest thing to try is some type of saddle pad but I found the stock C-14 saddle too narrow and far to curved, front- to- back, to work with any type of cushion. The Corbin is nearly flat and provides a wide, large place as a foundation for an Airhawk, which really does eliminate high pressure points, exactly as they claim it will.

Unfortunately on a motorcycle, the position of the hands, feet and butt are all interrelated and changing something like the peg height will make a saddle and grip position feel very different. There are any number of 'solutions' as well as methods but the only thing I have found is to change one thing at a time and try to dial in on what is causing the discomfort.

Brian

Hey guys, so I've had my gtr about a year and have been on quite a few decent trips with it. This past week I went on a moderately short one of about 400 miles. Anyways, not long into the trip the back of my thighs like halfway down were killing me, and radiating down leg. Couple days later and still sore. Never had this problem on long trips before.

Stock seat and set up. 32" inseam. Murphs wedges. Set pretty upright.

Any suggestions on what to change out to help with this?

I have canyon cages on order, might try footpegs on them. Also thinking change out seat.

Let me know what helped you guys out because I have a lot of riding planned this year. Thanks!!

[RBX QB]

Same inseam... I had my seat "flattened", and have pegs on my canyon cages... and I don't have the issue you describe.


I have other issues... just not that one.

[Jrodizzle07]

Thanks for the input. I've been looking at the Corbin, that'll be the next thing I swap out.

[bbhzx12]

I did 1206 miles in a day on the stock seat, it was certainly bearable.  I changed to the Kawi low seat and love it.  Tried a Sargent and didn't like it.  See if anyone local will let you try a few before you buy; the one you think you want might not fit you best.

[The Pope]

Jrod, sent you a pm.

[Walker18]

The stock saddle on a C-14 did not work for us either. An hour or two maybe but after that and it became a wrestling match between pain and the desire to keep riding.

It takes a while to outfit a bike for a lot of hours in the saddle in [relative] comfort in my experience. What finally worked for me was an Airhawk on top of a Corbin saddle, Buell pegs, 2" bar risers and a much taller windshield (altogether nearly 10" longer than stock '08 windshield).

The saddle was the tough part. The key seems to spread the load out (ahem, really) as far as possible and get as much weight bearing on the thighs as possible. The easiest thing to try is some type of saddle pad but I found the stock C-14 saddle too narrow and far to curved, front- to- back, to work with any type of cushion. The Corbin is nearly flat and provides a wide, large place as a foundation for an Airhawk, which really does eliminate high pressure points, exactly as they claim it will.

Unfortunately on a motorcycle, the position of the hands, feet and butt are all interrelated and changing something like the peg height will make a saddle and grip position feel very different. There are any number of 'solutions' as well as methods but the only thing I have found is to change one thing at a time and try to dial in on what is causing the discomfort.

Brian

Learned this lesson on the C10, installed a Russell, with it's thigh support 'wings', it was appropriately named Day Long.
Baldwin Saddles (my current saddle ) also offers the 'wings', but slightly modified so you can flat foot a little easier than
the Russell. Still have my Airhawk, you just know that having it in the bag is comfort in itself.

[Jrodizzle07]

Same inseam... I had my seat "flattened", and have pegs on my canyon cages... and I don't have the issue you describe.


I have other issues... just not that one.

What other issues do you have? I have more as well, this is just the first one that I'm going to try to fix haha. It's a great bike, just needs a few personal changes to make it even better.
Thanks again for the input everyone. If something can be done to this bike, someone on this forum has done it already, and typically a few different ways too!

[B.D.F.]

Just to add: I could not use a stock Corbin for 45 minutes per day without substantial pain :-(   Corbin saddles are like concrete.... only harder.  Mine works for me only with an Airhawk on top of it and when the Airhawk springs a leak, pain follows (seriously).

Brian

Thanks for the input. I've been looking at the Corbin, that'll be the next thing I swap out.

[maxtog]

Thanks again for the input everyone. If something can be done to this bike, someone on this forum has done it already, and typically a few different ways too!

Also look into the Sargent seats... just search for "seats" and you will find tons of threads of useful info.  For most people, the three things that need to be adjusted/changed the most for comfort are:

1) Seats
2) Handlebar risers
3) Grip covers

[connie14boy]

Hey guys, so I've had my gtr about a year and have been on quite a few decent trips with it. This past week I went on a moderately short one of about 400 miles. Anyways, not long into the trip the back of my thighs like halfway down were killing me, and radiating down leg. Couple days later and still sore. Never had this problem on long trips before.

Stock seat and set up. 32" inseam. Murphs wedges. Set pretty upright.

Any suggestions on what to change out to help with this?

I have canyon cages on order, might try footpegs on them. Also thinking change out seat.

Let me know what helped you guys out because I have a lot of riding planned this year. Thanks!!

There is no substitute for seat time- time in the saddle. To all of a sudden go 400 miles (when that hasn't been done before) is a crash course in pain and frustration. You have to work into it by going on shorter rides of 100-150-200 miles etc. Get off the bike when the first pain arrives and walk around, get a drink. You will find yourself going further and further with time in the saddle, and I recommend getting a Seth Laam leather seat- I love mine after 3 years and many miles. (seat thread!)

[bbhzx12]

Heli-bars and the windscreen after the seat.

[VirginiaJim]

Bear in mind that that any modification to the bars will affect how you sit on the seat..

[AlbertaDoug]

Beer  in mind that that any modification to the bars will affect how you sit on the seat..

c


FIFY Jim

[RBX QB]

What other issues do you have? ...

Just the mental issues. But riding helps treat those. 

[Jrodizzle07]

Haha don't we all, I think the farkle for those are called pills haha.

Oh, and it wasn't the first long trip I've had on the connie, just the first decent one this year due to work.

[datsaxman@hotmail.com]

I have tried several, including Sargent and the two piece Corbin, which is my fave.

Longest trip so far:  11,200 miles in 12 days.  Not a typo.  Including rain, some hail, 100 degrees+, NYC and DC midday traffic, many back roads, tons of slab flying, and a bunch more stuff.  As you can imagine.  Just over 1500 miles in one 24 hour period.

Changing seats is not enough.  Even if you get risers, peg lowering, crash bar mounted auxiliary pegs, etc.  I have all that too.  My secret remedy is EXERCISE.  Treat long distance riding like an athletic event and TRAIN a little for it.  Double your maximum distance in comfort.  Yes, I was a bit sore anyway.

Dat
Sax
Man

[maxtog]

My secret remedy is EXERCISE. 

You are incredibly right.  All that other stuff helps and can make a big difference.  But being in shape with strong ab/back/side muscles and flexible/limber, really can make a huge difference.  Also, stopping for a few minutes to stretch everything works wonders.

Unfortunately, I *hate* exercise.  But I have to admit, when I do, it can easily double my riding comfort and distance (which is pretty still pretty limited).

[BMahar]

  I have the Russell Day Long Seat and it's made all the difference in the world in riding comfort. The first day I got the seat I rode home from Shasta City, CA, a distance of 350 miles, in complete comfort.
  I just rode to Death Valley and back, on a 5 day trip and the seat is still very comfortable after 35,000 miles on it.
  Brent