Does your backside become numb when riding for a long time? Is there a solution to add more comfort to your motorcycle seat?
Learn which seat will improve your riding experience – gel or memory foam? We answer the questions you need to answer and more.
- What makes a motorcycle seat comfortable?
- Does gel or memory foam offer the most comfort and shock absorption?
- How to DIY a memory foam seat.
- Which is best, gel or memory foam motorcycle seat?
Let’s get on it
Why is my motorcycle seat so uncomfortable?
Bad design and insufficient padding could be a host of reasons. Many bikes out of the factory suffer from the same problem. No, it’s not performing. It’s the damn uncomfortable seat.
If you have a motorcycle with an uncomfortable seat, it’s hard to even sit on the bike because you know what’s coming in twenty minutes. A numb sore backside may make you hobble around like an old man until the blood circulation returns.
Some motorcycles have poorly designed seats that suck the life force out of you as you ride.
Is the seat cover not giving and stretching, making the seat uncomfortable or the substrate which is substandard?
Why does your motorcycle seat need to be comfortable?
It’s about more than comfort. You need to know some basics for the rider who is unaware of anatomy.
The region around the pubic bone is concentrated with nerves, not only nerves but a rich blood supply. Without one such as the blood supply could cause problems in later life around your groin area.
The need for seat protection and comfort is paramount for enjoying your ride, be it a commute to and from work or a pleasure ride.
How can you make your motorcycle seat comfortable?
Change the seat. It’s an easy process. You can buy a bespoke motorcycle seat that will increase your comfort tenfold.
Motorcycle seats are easy to remove and refit with just a couple of small screws and nuts.
The bigger question is, what do you change your motorcycle seat for? Should you use a gel seat that sounds like it will do the job perfectly or take a more pragmatic approach, shape some memory foam, and fix the problem yourself.
Is gel good for motorcycle seats?
Yes, but it has limitations. Many riders prefer the feel of a gel seat; they are comfortable from start to finish and remove some vibrations, which is a welcome feature of using a gel seat.
However, all good things end and gel motorcycle seats, although good, have limitations of use. The gel can disperse over time and lose some of its properties.
In general, if you are an average-weight rider, your gel seat should last a long time and save your backside from hours of painful riding.
Is memory foam good for motorcycle seats?
Yes, it does not stay compressed. Memory foam is an excellent choice for a motorcycle seat and has many qualities riders like.
The cool thing about memory foam seats is they are breathable, keeping your backside cool on warm days.
Memory foam does not stay compressed, so every time you sit on your bike, your seat will feel comfortable and like new.
Memory foam has exceptional load-bearing properties, making the seat perfect for larger riders. The memory foam seats absorb road shocks and vibration without problems. Furthermore, they are impact resistant.
Memory foam seats are normally around 40cm thick and use high-quality foam in layers for your comfort while at the same time providing support for your spine.
Memory foam motorcycle seats are a must for long-distance rider. They relieve stress and help to eliminate shock absorption.
How do you put memory foam in your motorcycle seat?
You have two choices, buy a seat ready-made or DIY. Buying a seat ready-made is an easy solution, but ready-made memory foam seats are not specific unless you can buy from your dealer so that you can be faced with a DIY operation.
DIY is not as bad as it sounds, even if you are not great with your hands. You will need basic tools, such as a sharp knife like a Stanley knife, glue and possibly a small surform.
You need to remove the motorcycle seat and the outer fabric. Take a photo of the existing seat form. You will need to try and emulate the profile in certain areas.
Taking your measurements and ensuring you have enough memory foam 40 cm thick should do the trick.
Gently peel away the existing foam seat. If you can get it off in one piece, it can become a template for the memory foam.
Once everything is clean and cut to shape, you will need to start glueing. Memory foam requires special glue; try something like 3M fast adhesive.
Form the memory foam to the saddle base and let dry. Remember the profile picture? It’s time to start shaping the foam. If the foam is rigid, you can take small slices with a sharp blade until you get the approximate profile.
Use your surform or rough sandpaper for whittling away at the profile until you have achieved something like the original seat profile.
Reattach the seat fabric, reattach the seat to the motorcycle, and away you go.
Which is the motorcycle seat gel or memory foam?
It’s a personal preference. It’s the million-dollar question, which is better, but the truth is we are all different and have different needs when it comes to riding.
The gel feels different. It instantly moulds to your bum and has a nice cool feeling. Plus, they are easy to fit in, and there is a big choice.
Memory foam offers much support and is exceptionally comfortable on a long ride. Unlike gel, it seems to fit every part of your bum perfectly if fitted correctly.
If you had to choose? It seems as if memory foam would be the number one choice for most riders.