Monkey Butt

[Deeppurple52]

During a lunchtime conversation a coworker mentioned that they were out with a new rider on a Gold Wing last weekend. After about 45 min he was suffereing from Monkey Butt. The gist of the conversation was that you have to ride for a while to toughen up yer buns. I find a lot of riders here complaining about stock seats. I wonder how many ride every day. My wife and I both have stock seats (1600 & 900) and have had stock seats on all of our other bikes and we do not feel much discomfort. After putting in 430 miles this weekend, I asked her about the 900 seat... no problem. I put in 804 miles on the 900 last Wed with no problem. We ride every day and about 2000 miles/month so our buns are well conditioned to being on a bike. I imagine many of the lower time riders have a difficult time with more than an hour in the saddle since it does take a while to condition your body. So, the question is: Is the numb butt you feel from a bad seat or lack of seat time?

[deionychus]

I agree that your buns probably need a break-in period, too. On bicycles, I take 2 months off per year and the first few rides back are rough! But as the miles pile on, you get used to it. Late season, I can stand 4-5 hours on a bicycle saddle without stopping. I figure if I can get used to that, I can get used to anything! M/C seats are HUGE in comparison.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

I agree too as I believe that the stock seat it sufficient. I ride everyday as I am a daily commuter to work and I take the bike to all of my activities. The only time I take my car out is when I have people needing a ride or something like that.

[cdnielson]

Well, I think that there is certainly something to be said for conditioning one's posterior to riding and that the stock seat, if so conditioned, fill the necessary requirements as a place for one to place said posterior while riding.

That being said. 20 minutes on the freeway with the stock seat and I was feeling it. I could take more...but I would start feeling numb in the lower back and upper behind.

With the mustang seat I can ride for hours before noticing much fatigue in that regard.

So the answer, I believe is both.

[Ryguy]

The seat on my 04 2K was very bad!!! It was the stock seat which was redone with memory foam and gel inserts. That was the WORST seat I have rode on with any of my bikes!! Before that I had 2 Nomads with stock seats. I put a lot of miles on both machines. The seats weren't bad, however after 100 miles or so it was time for a break. The V2K seat that I had on my bike was 40-50 miles tops and I was standing on the floorboards. The mustang seat I replaced it with is by far the best seat I have been on in my years of motorcycling. I can ride 200+ miles and still not feel any soreness. I'm no amature to riding. I don't put on as many miles as some due to our short riding season. However I manage a good 10,000-16,000 per year.

So in answer to your question, yes there are people out there like myself that the stock seats and some custom seats will not work for. I'm one of them. But I do agree that a persons rear does need a break in period as well.

[Capt. Redbeard]

I still have the stock seat on my 05 1600 but last year added a set of beads from Beadrider. Definately much better and cooler. I ride to work as many day as I can and take a few trips during the year. The beads fail me after 150 miles or so but will have to do until I can get a Mustang with the drivers backrest.

[Fr8Dog]

Well, I just did 800 miles in two days and I was feeling it after 100-120 miles. A short break and I would be good to go for another 100-120. It seemed like when I started the trip I would feel the pain after about 80 miles but as the trip progressed it seemed like I could go a little bit further each time. I think it's possible that if I rode a good amount each day I might condition posterior to be able to ride a couple hundred miles at a time. Unfortunately because of my job I only get to ride every other week at times and at others I might be gone for two weeks. I'd then have to start the conditioning process all over again. Because of that I might consider getting a Mustang seat.

[BassAddict]

I think that the seat can make a difference. My stock seat did not position me the same as the Mustang does. The comfort improvement with the Mustang seat was immediate. More time in any seat does probably make for better endurance. Building endurance in the Mustang definitely more enjoyable.

[Crystalship1]

Anti Monkeybutt: BeadRider - Beaded Motorcycle Seats

[MrClean]

I was riding a couple hours each day Deep but the only way not to have a numb tailbone was to start sitting straight and slowly slide forward till my rump was riding the tank, then straighten up and do it all again. Did an all day ride that way, got up the next day and road some more.

BUT, then I sent my seat to Spencer's and they put a couple layers of memory foam in there. Now, I have purposefully sat in one position for over and hour and a half with no numbness. Normal movement provides for comfort all day long. Well, I have to get off every now and again to straighten out my knees but that's more to do with 280 pounds on a 230 pound frame and the running I did the last 4 years to get that down to 250.

But, I suspect that a little lighter load and I wouldn't have any problems with the stock seat. Just as long as they don't match the one on my last ten speed.

[V2KCruiser]

The stock seat on my V2K just didn't cut it - after an hour it was severe Monkey Butt time . I just went to a Russell Day Long seat and now I can ride for hours on end with no need to "condition" my butt.

[Lattimer]

I think both issues have merit. I have noticed at the beginning of the season, I have zero stamina. My butt wears out in 30 minutes, even with my Mustang seat. As the season goes on, I become more conditioned and can ride much farther without discomfort.

However, on the stock seat, I was hurting in 10 minutes and no amount of time in (that) saddle helped. By July I am good for 2-3 hours at a shot on the Mustang.

I think it also has a lot to do with a person's build. I'm a big guy, but I have zero padding on the backside. I have no butt to speak of. So, lacking that natural padding, I need a little ergonomic assistance from a better seat.

On my Mean Streak I had previously, the issue was that the seat was too soft and thin for my weight. My butt was being supported by the seat pan, not the foam. 30 minutes was tops no matter what I did. I put a Corbin on and I could do 2 hours (fuel limit) with no problem at all.

[Deeppurple52]

Lattimer.... I agree, it has a lot to do with the build of the rider. Smaller riders probably have many fewer issues with the stocker. A bigger guy certainly might need more. No matter what seat you have, it still takes a little time to get the butt tuned in. Almost any upholstery shop can modify the stocker for very few $$$ so you don't always have to lay out big bucks for a Mustang, etc. There are lots of options no matter how you ride.

[AdamT2]

My buddy has never had any issues with any stock seat on the ten bikes he has owned and swears I'm crazy for buying a new seat, then again Im a pretty skinny guy and the stocker kills my a$$!!

[barry5k]

I have an 07 VN1500 Classic and I am surprised at how comfortable the stock seat is. I think they were smart as hell to put that seat in because I looked at a Suzuki C90 and almost bought that but the seat (along with the small gas tank) changed my mind, not to mention the perfect feel of the 1500!

[jesse web]

At first my 900 custom stock seat was a bit hard but after a few bumps and a few long rides I'm very much used to it. My wife is a diff story but I know her part of the seat is basically a 2x4. Now if I seat in my friends VTX 1800F and I believe is more unconfortable but then again I don't ride on it every day. I think that a conbination of seat and bunds breaking period is needed. Back in the old days my bicycles had a very thin layer of padding on the seat and after a few days I was fine.

[Uthor]

The stock seat on the 500 is terrible. It's too wide and too soft. However, once I got proper riding pants, it's mostly gone away. Wearing leathers is more supportive and lets me move around in the saddle. I also feel better when riding with my textile overpants, probably due to the harder padding in the butt.

V2Kcruiser's seat actually looks horribly uncomfortable to me. That'll kill all circulation to my legs.

[yooper cruiser]

I went 3500 miles on my 900 stock seat. One day was 13 1/2 actual time in the saddle. I did ok, but by the last couple of days I decided that when I got home I would change my saddle. Now my and my wife's bike have two layers of memory foam from Mean City Cycles. I haven't tried mine out yet (late July), but my wife says hers is amazingly comfortable.

[VindianaJones]

Nope, I've been riding since 74 and i ride just about every day and my 900 stock seat was uncomfortable after less than an hour. Legs would cramp up, right shoulder would get sore and fingers would go numb. I've had to change my bars and risers and have the seat modified and its still not great. And my G/F rides almost as much as me and she finds the rear to be uncomfortable as well. No matter how you look at it. the 900 stock seat is uncomfortable.

[Z-In-Jax]

Just use this....