Sore tailbone
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Allen and the crew at Mean City Cycles must be busy as I just shipped them my seat for mods that are scheduled for Monday. After reading all the positive notes regarding their work, I'm looking forward to seeing how well my seat feels as the stock seat wasn't friendly to me backside!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 3
From: Grand Island, Nebraska
One of the best things I did to my bike was to modify the seat. I removed the cover and lifted up the top foam cover. Under the top foam, there is a 2" x 4" depression in the harder foam where my tailbone would contact it. I used a dremel to make that depression deeper by just over 1/2 inch. Replace the top foam and reattach the cover on the seat pan with staples.
I can now ride for hours before any discomfort happens. That's when I add the Airhawk pad.
I can now ride for hours before any discomfort happens. That's when I add the Airhawk pad.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
Is it truly a sore tailbone, or are you using that term more generically to describe a sore or tired butt?
If it really is your coccyx that hurts, and it's only on the bike that it does hurt, look at how you're seating and the saddle.
Sitting upright with your legs under you, roughly like you would sit at a dinner table, reduces pressure on the coccyx, and has your thighs helping to support your weight. If you're sitting on your bike with your legs well out in front, or leaning well back, you're maximizing pressure on your tailbone. Pivot your body weight forward onto your pelvis sitting bones, and let your thighs help support your weight.
As for the seat, a crowned saddle will put maximum pressure on the tailbone, not on the sitting bones of your pelvis. This can be overcome to some degree by either sitting on a donut pad, or scooping out the center section of the seat.
If it really is your coccyx that hurts, and it's only on the bike that it does hurt, look at how you're seating and the saddle.
Sitting upright with your legs under you, roughly like you would sit at a dinner table, reduces pressure on the coccyx, and has your thighs helping to support your weight. If you're sitting on your bike with your legs well out in front, or leaning well back, you're maximizing pressure on your tailbone. Pivot your body weight forward onto your pelvis sitting bones, and let your thighs help support your weight.
As for the seat, a crowned saddle will put maximum pressure on the tailbone, not on the sitting bones of your pelvis. This can be overcome to some degree by either sitting on a donut pad, or scooping out the center section of the seat.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
One of the fundamental problems of the riding position on most Harleys is that the rider sits in a very upright position, which inevitably risks applying pressure to the tailbone. One solution is to alter your riding position so you are leaning forward a little, transferring some of your weight onto the undersides of your thighs. That may well involve using bars that move your shoulders and trunk forward a little, so you are not so 'laid back'. In any event, getting your seat custom altered to suit your condition would be a great idea, rather than simply trying ready made seats made for the average butt. Yours plainly ain't average!
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: N.E. South Dakota
Thank you everyone for your input. I will take everything to heart. I look out my picture window and its snowing like a banshee outside so probably no ridding for a few days, but I do plan to ride to my dealer and try out some demo seats and ride for awhile.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver, BC
Is it truly a sore tailbone, or are you using that term more generically to describe a sore or tired butt?
If it really is your coccyx that hurts, and it's only on the bike that it does hurt, look at how you're seating and the saddle.
Sitting upright with your legs under you, roughly like you would sit at a dinner table, reduces pressure on the coccyx, and has your thighs helping to support your weight. If you're sitting on your bike with your legs well out in front, or leaning well back, you're maximizing pressure on your tailbone. Pivot your body weight forward onto your pelvis sitting bones, and let your thighs help support your weight.
As for the seat, a crowned saddle will put maximum pressure on the tailbone, not on the sitting bones of your pelvis. This can be overcome to some degree by either sitting on a donut pad, or scooping out the center section of the seat.
If it really is your coccyx that hurts, and it's only on the bike that it does hurt, look at how you're seating and the saddle.
Sitting upright with your legs under you, roughly like you would sit at a dinner table, reduces pressure on the coccyx, and has your thighs helping to support your weight. If you're sitting on your bike with your legs well out in front, or leaning well back, you're maximizing pressure on your tailbone. Pivot your body weight forward onto your pelvis sitting bones, and let your thighs help support your weight.
As for the seat, a crowned saddle will put maximum pressure on the tailbone, not on the sitting bones of your pelvis. This can be overcome to some degree by either sitting on a donut pad, or scooping out the center section of the seat.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: N.E. Ohio
Go to your local dealer and demo a "Hammock" seat. no more sore tail bone. The Hammock seat is designed to properly position your butt and thighs so as to reduce pressure on your tailbone and distribute it more evenly to include the thigh area. Works for me. It's also available heated if your rich.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/hammock-rider-seat
http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/hammock-rider-seat
Last edited by J_ULTRA; Apr 2, 2014 at 08:36 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
From: poof
I went through something similar that took me awhile to figure out. I could ride many times with no problem and occasionally I would have a sore tailbone. I could think of nothing that could be causing it, even tried a couple seats and bought a corbin. Even with the new seat occasionally my tailbone "was there" for a day or two after riding.
It ended up being one of my pairs of 501's. Something was cut different with them that when riding pulled down and put pressure on the tailbone. I phased them out with no problem since.
It ended up being one of my pairs of 501's. Something was cut different with them that when riding pulled down and put pressure on the tailbone. I phased them out with no problem since.