Comfy seat - please read
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong via Australia
Comfy seat - please read
I wrote in the forum a few months ago about having a bad back from riding. It seems it is not the case... in fact a muscle in my left buttock has been putting pressure on my sciatic nerve. Doctor also says the riding position of my softail means there is excessive rubbing and stress on pelvic muscles. (Probably because my Fat Boy is soooooooo comfy). So anyways, maybe if I change the seat there might be less stress on the butt and pelvic muscles. So, any suggestions for a comfy but standard looking single/double seats? I'd also be interested to hear from others with similar problems.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
Changing your bars could also help as well. A lot of it has to do with the angle of your back as the weight from your upper body all hits your sciatic nerve. Check out some apes or mini apes. They made me a lot more comfortable...
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
I agree with Anubisss, your riding position will probably make a difference. Have a look at different riding positions, this can be achieved with changes to the seat, handlebars, and/or foot controls (forwards vs stock position)
good luck
good luck
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From:
You don't put your wallet in your left back pocket do you?
You probably already thought of this but mine use to cause me problems and it wasn't until my chiropractor mentioned the wallet did I stop sitting on it.
Also you may try stretching. Our backs, and legs get very tight and cause a lot of problems. Might give it a try.
You probably already thought of this but mine use to cause me problems and it wasn't until my chiropractor mentioned the wallet did I stop sitting on it.
Also you may try stretching. Our backs, and legs get very tight and cause a lot of problems. Might give it a try.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
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Any seat with a riders back rest will provide you a lot more comfort. If you get an after market seat, I'm sure you will find it much more comfortable, but you can always take it to a local upholstery shop and have it made to fit you. You may also want to try out Mean City Cycles, they are a forum sponsor, they can do great things with a stock seat if your on a budget.
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6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
I have lower back problems and I use a C&C seat ,which i love, and also use a smaller straighter handlebar, which tends to make me lean forward slightly, and tends to keep my lower back straight as opposed to slouching.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 166
Likes: 1
odd ride positions I noticed and what they impacted...
ride along and when your back begins to bother you, swing your feet to your passenger pegs... if this relieves the pain, then your seat is rolling your pelvis backwards, putting an arc right in your lower back. Moving your feet rearwards rotates your pelvis forwards and removes the arc... the solution was to reshape my seat to lower my crotch and raise my buttbone.
if you find your hips bothering you try resting your ankles on your footpegs at highway speed... if this helps... you need to extend your forward controls... some need an inch... I needed 3. Then again I am almost 6'5"... Your milage may vary.
if you find your shoulders or neck bothering you... try some adjustments to your bars.
instead of rewiring and cabling from experiment to experiment on the bars, try different risers. Ask around to your buds... most everyone has a pair or two in the garage... I went through 5 pair before I found a simple one inch pullback rid me of 75% of my neck and shoulder pain.
Seems pretty clear I would try anything OTHER than a backrest for my bike.
Once I made these changes... the idea of a backrest went bye bye... as well as the back pain.
Then what did I do?
Got off the dyna with all of the changes and perfect ride and onto this torture machine of a night train!
I will start monkeying with subtle changes on it this spring.
*sigh* and so it goes.....
ride along and when your back begins to bother you, swing your feet to your passenger pegs... if this relieves the pain, then your seat is rolling your pelvis backwards, putting an arc right in your lower back. Moving your feet rearwards rotates your pelvis forwards and removes the arc... the solution was to reshape my seat to lower my crotch and raise my buttbone.
if you find your hips bothering you try resting your ankles on your footpegs at highway speed... if this helps... you need to extend your forward controls... some need an inch... I needed 3. Then again I am almost 6'5"... Your milage may vary.
if you find your shoulders or neck bothering you... try some adjustments to your bars.
instead of rewiring and cabling from experiment to experiment on the bars, try different risers. Ask around to your buds... most everyone has a pair or two in the garage... I went through 5 pair before I found a simple one inch pullback rid me of 75% of my neck and shoulder pain.
Seems pretty clear I would try anything OTHER than a backrest for my bike.
Once I made these changes... the idea of a backrest went bye bye... as well as the back pain.
Then what did I do?
Got off the dyna with all of the changes and perfect ride and onto this torture machine of a night train!
I will start monkeying with subtle changes on it this spring.
*sigh* and so it goes.....