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7 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyWx
I'm talking to a guy call Lee at Viking Vinyl and he reckons he'd be able to create a Russell Day Long styled seat for a lot less than the quoted 600 bucks. He uses gel and memory foam as well as other stiffer foams to give adequate support and spread the load evenly. I'm waiting for the last qoute and think we'll go with it. I like the idea of the Saddle like seat that you sit IN not ON.
If this won't be enough and Airhawk doesnt seem like a big expense and also covered by a sheepskin this would make the ride a pleasure 
Is there a world record for the longest continuous ride on the bike? Hours? Miles?
Just kidding! We're after the best possible comfort.
Thanks a lot for the info!
Andy |
Sounds good! The combination of the correct foams is critical. Hope it works out ... certainly worth a try. Hopefully the guy can work with you and make adjustments until the seat works for you.
Longest continuous ride?
No idea but I would not bet against some of our crazy Iron Butt riders. These guys fit huge gas tanks and one or more Aux fuel tanks. They run Pee tubes down their leg ... and most use Russell Seats! In the early IBR (Iron Butt Rally) days there were no fuel limits. Now there is; (11 or 12 US gallons I think?)
In the old days guys would carry 16 to 20 gallons all plumbed in ... and could ride all the way through the tank(s). These guys do about 1000 miles a day for 11 days with no required breaks. Just nuts.
Not for me thanks. Just stupid.
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8 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickey D
These guys do about 1000 miles a day for 11 days with no required breaks.
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That is incorrect, the IB rally has sleep and rest breaks included in the itinerary and riders are expected to take them and can be penalised if they don't. The get bonus points if they prove they did sleep!
They also have scheduled stops between the different ride legs, so there are more sleep/rest opportunities right there.
You obviously have no idea what they do!!!
TS
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8 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TravellingStrom
That is incorrect, the IB rally has sleep and rest breaks included in the itinerary and riders are expected to take them and can be penalised if they don't. The get bonus points if they prove they did sleep!
They also have scheduled stops between the different ride legs, so there are more sleep/rest opportunities right there.
You obviously have no idea what they do!!!
TS
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How many IBR's have you ridden?
For years they had NONE of the rules you quote and the ones they did have had no way to be enforced. Back then they had very few if any actual "manned" check points, so it was all about getting receipts with date/time stamps, pretty much the honor system. Talk to the riders mate.
I don't really follow the IBR closely now so I'm not familiar with current new rules ... but I have known some former IBR riders personally. They cheat. Period. The winners get around every rule in the book to win. They are not supposed to speed either. yea, right. 
I'm amazed more riders haven't died. The poor Aussie guy hit a Deer last year .... no helmet. Tragic. I knew Fran Crane and a good friend was on the search party for the guy who went off the road and disappeared some years ago. They found him ... 2 days later. I'm sure they all had comfortable seats! 
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9 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickey D
I'm amazed more riders haven't died. The poor Aussie guy hit a Deer last year .... no helmet. Tragic. I'm sure they all had comfortable seats! |
Soory to take this thread off-topic.... but, yes, I'm amazed too and I really believe IBR is a foolish and dangerous concept - to each his own, however.
One thing that can be learned from Dave's (the Aussie guy) mishap is take along your own shampoo and don't use what's provided in the motel - if he had done that I believe he would still be alive today. 
As for a comfortable seat, the only thing that is going to keep your bum from aching is to use lots of painkillers - and that's not a good combination for ongoing alertness.
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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
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9 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by farqhuar
As for a comfortable seat, the only thing that is going to keep your bum from aching is to use lots of painkillers - and that's not a good combination for ongoing alertness.
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On topic.
I have over 260,000 miles on my BMW R100R, 2-up on a Russell Day-Long seat.
No Iron Butt rides but many 10 -12 hour days and we never had to use painkillers.
If you have never had a custom seat you have no idea how comfortable they are.
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9 Jun 2010
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Airhawk
Talking of Airhawk's I've got one-used literally on 2 ride outs-and couldn't get on with it-if anyone wants to make me an offer its in my garage in London.
PM me if interested.
Thanks
Simon
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BMW GS650 Dakar and too much bling from Touratech!
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9 Jun 2010
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26,385 miles on an airhawk............well two actually
Hi there - just coming in on the side. My better half was not impressed with leaving the UK on a stock seat (R100RT). After much badgering, and hours and hours of research we bought two airhawks. From numb bum and that awful pain when you climb off we covered 500-600 mile days and could still walk. If you blow them up too hard you defeat the object - and move around a lot! Too soft and you more or less sit on the seat. It took us days to get the pressure right - especially at 15,000 feet up in Peru! Talk about pressure inflation! Nearly turned into an ejector seat!
Anyway, height off the ground can be an issue if you are short in the leg after you strap them on - particularly on GS models etc. Good idea to get them put into the stock seat - I think - but she disagrees as your bum will be in constant contact with a hard seat cover? Thus, no air circulating............. she thinks too much.............but is usually correct.........as I have learned to my cost..............
Anyway - that's what we found!
Regards to everybody.
Cathy and Bernard
A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles
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10 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by farqhuar
One thing that can be learned from Dave's (the Aussie guy) mishap is take along your own shampoo and don't use what's provided in the motel - if he had done that I believe he would still be alive today.
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What has shampoo got to do with his death, what a stupid statement!!!
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10 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Ferris
On topic.
I have over 260,000 miles on my BMW R100R, 2-up on a Russell Day-Long seat.
No Iron Butt rides but many 10 -12 hour days and we never had to use painkillers.
If you have never had a custom seat you have no idea how comfortable they are.
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Hi John, I've done many 16 hour days on the bike (I even did a month of 12+ hour days on a little Chinese 125 (with absolutely minimal seat padding) across China) without needing any aid but what the IBRers get up to is ridiculous.
I'm talking 20 hour days in a row for a week or so - a totally different kettle of fish.
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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
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10 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TravellingStrom
What has shampoo got to do with his death, what a stupid statement!!!
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Not at all. Why do you suppose Dave took off his helmet? No one knows for sure, only him but its not hard to put together a highly likely scenario based on my own, and many other rider's experiences.
Ever heard of, or had, helmet head? It's that terrible itch you get on your scalp that just makes you want to throw your helmet as far as possible.
Do you know what causes it? Massive amounts of sodium lauryl sulfate which is used in cheap shampoos such as those provided in motels.
My bet is that Dave pulled into a cheap motel, got some shuteye, had a quick shower, washed his hair and got 1/2 an hour down the rode before his scalp erupted.
Everyone on Farriders has commented on the fact that Dave was ALWAYS very helmet conscious and it was totally out of character for him not be wearing one.
If you can think of a better explanation please provide it.
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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
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10 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Ferris
On topic.
I have over 260,000 miles on my BMW R100R, 2-up on a Russell Day-Long seat.
No Iron Butt rides but many 10 -12 hour days and we never had to use painkillers.
If you have never had a custom seat you have no idea how comfortable they are.
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Plus 1000 
I'm not sure why our English and Aussie brothers seem so CHEAP about getting a good seat. Such a huge difference when its right.
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11 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by farqhuar
If you can think of a better explanation please provide it.
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If you know so many IBA riders, then go ask them, but ask the ones who rode in last years rally. He was stopped at the US border on the way back in from Canada and failed to put his helmet back on when he rode away, it was not the first time he rode without a helmet in the USA.
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11 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickey D
Plus 1000
I'm not sure why our English and Aussie brothers seem so CHEAP about getting a good seat. Such a huge difference when its right. |
Maybe because by the time you factor in the shipping costs it is too expensive for something that cannot be trialled :?
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11 Jun 2010
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The problem I had with my airhawk is that it's yet another thing you need to remember to remove from the bike when you get to your destination. The aircells also spread the load over the whole of your undercarriage (including your nutsack!) which I didn't like at all....
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12 Jun 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickey D
Plus 1000
I'm not sure why our English and Aussie brothers seem so CHEAP about getting a good seat. Such a huge difference when its right. |
yes, i totally agree with TravellingStroms answer, i guess we dont like to blow money without inspecting the goods. not that there would ever be a problem if using the old flexible friend but its easier not to spend your money than it is to do without it for as long as it takes to get a refund.
also in the UK to import something worth more than £18 sterling (yeah, like what costs less than 18 quid?) will cost an extra 17.5% tax, (soon to be at least 20%) plus a fat fee from the delivery service to collect it. on top of that you will have the costs involved in sending an expensive and heavy seat back to the states if you dont want it and a wait of at least a couple of months for the US postal service to sort itself out, a service that models itself on spanish postcards and touratech customer services for levels of efficiency.
i know americas a big place but ive had jewellery from beijing in 3 days, and a birthday card from my aunt in maryland took six weeks. she'd have done better folding it into a paper boat and floating it over!
i suppose thats why so many use UPS? costs more but the confidence is there
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