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Gel Seat pad, yea or nay?

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blupupher

blupupher

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Nolan
So I am finding that my stock K1600 seat is leaving a lot to be desired on longer rides.
Before I go and spend a lot on a new seat (have found a Sargent seat for $500 that I am interested in), I am debating trying a gel seat pad.

Anyone have any personal experiences with them. I know everyone's rears are different, but just wondering.
I am debating just ordering one from Amazon and trying it out on a ride or two and just returning it if I don't like it, but figured I would as here as well.
 
I don't but (no pun intended) my seat was junk when I got my bike. I looked into several options and decided to go with a local upholstery shop. The guy redid everything. new foam and a new gel pad on top of the foam. I can ride all day and be just fine, and actually stand up when oi get home. He only charged me $200 and I gave him an extra 20 to get a Texas stitched in it. So it won't hurt to see what is local to you.

I still keep saying I'm going to get him to redo the passenger seat to match then the next day I'll think about a new bike so....
 

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I had one made into my Valkyrie seat years ago. I bought a different seat a bit later. The gel pad was VERY nice on my rear, EXCEPT that if it was a cold day, I was on ice for several hours. If it was hot and sunny, I was on fire for several hours. It held whatever temperature it was for a long time. A short lunch stop in the sunlight would keep it hot for a couple of hours.
 
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$200 to redo the seat locally is great. I have a gel insert in my Burton seat on my Bonneville, and it's game-changing. But I am not 100% sure the gel insert really makes a tremendous difference. It's just that once you are spending $400+ on a custom made seat, what's the extra $50 for the gel insert?
 
I have a gel seat (not pad) on my Rocket3. Does make a comfort difference - Make sure you cover it in the sun. Once it get hot it stays hot. Think Galvestion summer / black vinyl seats / metal seat-belt-buckle/ no shirt
 
I am just looking at a pad to put on top of the current seat for long trips. For local/< 3 hours, I am fine with the stock, but after that it starts to get uncomfortable
 
I'll concur with Valker, if you leave the gel pad out in the sun on a hot day, be prepared to enjoy that burn for a lot more miles. They are comfortable though. I guess just throwing your jacket over the top of it might help.
 
yeah, I think the right place for the gel pad is under the normal foam rubber layer in a seat, not on the top. I've never had any kind of heat problem with my "gel insert" Burton seat, but it's got like 2"+ of regular foam rubber on top of the gel.
 
I use a gel pad in my tractor if that counts. A couple of hours is all I could handle without it. With it an afternoon is fine. Makes shredding the acreage a lot more pleasant.

Trying a sheep skin in the new bike. Jury still out on it.
 
copb8 said:
I'll concur with Valker, if you leave the gel pad out in the sun on a hot day, be prepared to enjoy that burn for a lot more miles. They are comfortable though. I guess just throwing your jacket over the top of it might help.
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I try not to park in the sun, but can always throw it in the trunk if needed.

Flipit said:
I'd sure try one of these before you gamble with $500.00. I've had one of these for YEARS. Ridden 8-10 hour days with one.

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I had one of those on my 1500 goldwing. It worked OK at best.

I ordered a Gel pad (this one) to try out. I will go for a ride on Friday for a few hours to see how it feels.

I may try the beads again as well if the gel seat does not work out before going all in on the Sargent.
 
I use one on my K1600B. It just sits on top of the seat. It certainly does help and is way cheaper than a replacement seat. The more important add-on for me is the backrest. I went with a Utopia comfort model...gamechanger.
 
I use an Airhawk cushion. Unlike a gel pad, the firmness is adjustable.
 
Tuco said:
I use an Airhawk cushion. Unlike a gel pad, the firmness is adjustable.
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I also use an airhawk. Even with a custom seat already when I bought it, the extra pad/cushion makes a difference. I would suspect a gel pad would have the same improvement. It's not like the difference between perfect and bad, but it's definitely better with than without.
 
+1 on the Airhawk - for long all-day rides it is a game changer. I had a BMW 1250RT and went with the Sargent seat and it is more comfortably than stock. That being said, it still became quite uncomfortable on all-day rides or long trips. Still had to add an Airhawk on top of it for long trips.
 
Tuco said:
I use an Airhawk cushion. Unlike a gel pad, the firmness is adjustable.
Click to expand...
Probably doesn't have the thermal inertia of the gel either.

I've only ever used an Alaska Sheepskin. Usually the factory saddle is ok for me.
 
dukey33 said:
Probably doesn't have the thermal inertia of the gel either.
Click to expand...

That honeycomb "gel" thing won't keep heat like dense foam would either. That's the same stuff they make the Purple mattresses from. I strongly considered ordering a sheet of it to use as a base for making a custom seat, like to replace the foam on my Scrambler seat. It's pretty cool stuff. No pun intended.
 
blupupher said:
I may try the beads again as well if the gel seat does not work out before going all in on the Sargent.
Click to expand...

BeadRider is owned by an Iron Butt rider. I have over 100,000 miles on mine. I never tried a gel pad but I did try a sheepskin pad and didn't like it.

beadrider.com

Home - BeadRider - Beaded Motorcycle Seats

BeadRider Beaded Motorcycle Seats - BeadRider seats increase the air flow between the rider and the saddle providing a more comfortable ride. BeadRider.com
beadrider.com beadrider.com


IMG_20200809_075218.jpg
 
I used an Airhawk with a sheepskin over it (Airhawk cover wears out pretty quickly) - worked pretty well but really, nothing works 100% for those long all day, multi-day rides.
I ordered one of those gel pads you listed just 'cause....it was cheap enough to try anyway.
 
For years I swore by the gel pad I acquired from a surgeon friend. It was the type of gel used in long surgeries. It's old and worn out so I bought a new one from cycle gear. That pad did not help at all. I took it back. Went back to using the old gel pad.

I have always and will continue to use a sheepskin. Cool in summer, warm in winter.

Great to hear someone had good luck with a local guy. I tried someone in Austin. Said he had done a few mc seats, but his main biz was boat upholstery. Was a waste of money and effort.

Good luck!
 
I use a Therm-a-Rest pillow mated to a Camelback drinking tube. I secure the tube’s valve to the left handle bar within thumb-reach. The pillow is inserted into a GORE-TEX sleeve that straps to the seat. With the valve open and no weight on the pad, the pad self inflates. Close the valve and sit on it. Very comfortable.

It adds extra height so the inseam challenged may have stopping and putting feet down issues. That’s what the valve is for; it allows instant deflation during a quick stop or maneuver.

if you don’t want to wait on the built in foam to inflate, a blow tube can be added to the valve-end to hurry the fill process.
 
Sorry for the late reply, I’m not very good at finding replies. Thanks for the bead offer. Ive got it pretty much sorted out-or at least, the seat wearing me out is not the first thing that causes me to have to stop. It was right wrist but now that I have real-time cruise control I’m good for sun up to sundown rides. Now If I could just perfect my water cooled riding suit for hot summer touring I’d be set.
 
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