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@xtine avatar
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@xtine avatar
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UTC quote
I usually park my scooter in my garage or when I'm out, in a covered or shady spot. A few times this summer the only parking I could find was uncovered in the street for several hours in 90F+ LA summer weather and it almost literally burned my rear riding home. Happened to me yesterday and realized I should finally do something about it!

I know Cool Ass is a sponsor, but can anyone recommend any other products or methods to prevent a burning seat after it's been out in the hot sun?

For reference, I have this seat on my GTS: https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/sport-seat-piaggio_PI605677
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Harbor Freight has cheap plastic tarps that are brown on one side and silver(ish) on the other. Get a small one and cut an appropriate rectangle out. Open your seat, wrap the plastic over the seat with the ends under the seat and close the seat. The cover will be held fine. A subtle refinement: arrange the rectangle so that one end of the under seat flap incorporates the rope edge of the tarp helping keep the cover from "leaving."
@seamus26 avatar
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UTC quote
I bought one of these seat covers for the Stella from eBay. It was cheap and it keeps that black pleather stuff from getting hot. It can sit in the sun all day and its fine to ride.

It was literally $20 (+shipping). I'm considering picking up a couple more.

And, I don't have to take it off to ride.
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⚠️ Last edited by seamus26 on UTC; edited 1 time
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2021 GTS 300 HPE +2013 GTS 300ie + 294 Polini
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UTC quote
I have the same seat on my HPE.
There is a rain cover fitted that tucks into the front hump.
If you are going to park in the sun, deploy the rain cover
and put a folded newspaper or cloth between the cover and the seat.
That way you will tuck the heat into the pet carrier when you pack it away.
OP
@xtine avatar
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UTC quote
Oooh, thanks for all the responses. The harbor freight tarp an interesting and inexpensive idea, I might try that. I remember I have put the rain cover on before and it didn't do much to take the heat away but perhaps I should keep a towel in pet carrier to try to absorb it as well!
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UTC quote
Just get a http://www.genuinecoolass.com/ (I am not a customer or partner of any kind).
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UTC quote
I have used Coolass for 12 years - absolutely the way to go. Sometimes
cost and value are worth it. I think CoolAss was started in Texas where it
is plenty hot.

Good luck on keeping your behind cool.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota
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UTC quote
xtine wrote:
Oooh, thanks for all the responses. The harbor freight tarp an interesting and inexpensive idea, I might try that. I remember I have put the rain cover on before and it didn't do much to take the heat away but perhaps I should keep a towel in pet carrier to try to absorb it as well!
I got the same seat and you are right, the rain cover alone does nothing to prevent the heat from reaching the seat..

Back in the old days (as usual Facepalm emoticon ) we used to have a kind of triangular piece of material held in place by two bungee cords... One of the bungee from the right handlebar to the rear rack and the other from the left handlebar side to the rear rack... it did look like a small horizontal sail when installed but it did a pretty good job to prevent rain, heat and dust from depositing on the Vespa...

These days you could probably get something similar in an auto store where they sell shade for the windows for cars or something like that...
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BV350
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UTC quote
https://pages.airflowseatcovers.com/?_kx=sy9OM3G7XqpltNX2yo1H0pVwhFm56ThG_-N68eUKXrM%3D.RgJLDG

I've heard great things on these. You see em all over in South America bikes
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UTC quote
Burt37 wrote:
I got the same seat and you are right, the rain cover alone does nothing to prevent the heat from reaching the seat..

Back in the old days (as usual Facepalm emoticon ) we used to have a kind of triangular piece of material held in place by two bungee cords... One of the bungee from the right handlebar to the rear rack and the other from the left handlebar side to the rear rack... it did look like a small horizontal sail when installed but it did a pretty good job to prevent rain, heat and dust from depositing on the Vespa...

These days you could probably get something similar in an auto store where they sell shade for the windows for cars or something like that...
Clap emoticon
I had a similar setup on my BMW R80 and R100S.
I used it to keep my seat dry from overnight dew out camping at rallies.
No reason why a Pooratech solution shouldn't keep the seat cool.

PS - The Coolass looks very good but I can't buy them in South Africa.
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UTC quote
Or ... if you are concerned about the intensity of the sun ... you could buy an inexpensive scooter cover.

I have one that rolls up nicely and fits under the seat of my Aprilia 50. It has straps on both wheels and one under the center of the bike to keep it secure. I think it was all of thirty bucks. It would keep the sun off the whole bike.
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Fudmucker wrote:
Clap emoticon
I had a similar setup on my BMW R80 and R100S.
I used it to keep my seat dry from overnight dew out camping at rallies.
No reason why a Pooratech solution shouldn't keep the seat cool.

PS - The Coolass looks very good but I can't buy them in South Africa.
I was actually thinking of make one and see if there is a market for it... All you need is a sawing machine, a bit of waterproof material and two piece of elastic to make one...

Regarding the Coolass, I don't know if it is available here in AUS, but I think I can buy a similar material, as it look very similar to what we use in Motorhome construction to keep the front windows insulated at night.
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Complex answers to a simple problem.

Carry a small bottle of water. Splash a bit on the seat, move it around with your hand, water evaporates in seconds and takes most of the heat with it!
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UTC quote
I like to burn my ass with the hot seat ... AW! OUCH! She keeps me careful when driving.
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UTC quote
Bueller wrote:
Complex answers to a simple problem.

Carry a small bottle of water. Splash a bit on the seat, move it around with your hand, water evaporates in seconds and takes most of the heat with it!
Clap emoticon
Constructive input.

Doesn't work well if you have a custom nappa leather seat covering, though.
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Bueller wrote:
Complex answers to a simple problem.

Carry a small bottle of water. Splash a bit on the seat, move it around with your hand, water evaporates in seconds and takes most of the heat with it!
Perhaps you have never left a GEL seat in the sun...

Also, the shade cloth I'm talking about, does fit under the seat in lieu of the OEM rain cover... Not that complicate, honestly...
@seamus26 avatar
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UTC quote
Maybe you just need different riding gear.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Problem solved!
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UTC quote
Possibly change to a light colored seat? On a hot, sunny summer day here in the South, the tan seat on my lx150 rarely seems hot. Whereas The black seat on my GTS could probably fry bacon…

Bill
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UTC quote
Burt37 wrote:
Perhaps you have never left a GEL seat in the sun...

Also, the shade cloth I'm talking about, does fit under the seat in lieu of the OEM rain cover... Not that complicate, honestly...
I have left a gel seat in the sun, and I came up with an even better answer - don't own a gel seat
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Fudmucker wrote:
Clap emoticon
Constructive input.

Doesn't work well if you have a custom nappa leather seat covering, though.
One size never fits all, no matter what the seller claims. But that doesn't mean it won't fit many!
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Bueller wrote:
I have left a gel seat in the sun, and I came up with an even better answer - don't own a gel seat
Another constructive input.. Clap emoticon
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Burt37 wrote:
Another constructive input.. Clap emoticon
In fact it is. There are much better alternatives for comfort. And the water trick works great on any material that isn't water-permeable, which includes the vast majority of motorcycle seats out there. That it doesn't work on one person's gel-filled soft Corinthian leather seat (lifted from Ricardo's '77 Cordoba) doesn't mean it isn't a useful tip for the rest of us.
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UTC quote
so you buy a couple 3-4-7 k scooter and now you want to skimp and buy something really cheap for a seat cover that may or may not work over spending $35 on a coolers cover that you know works has a great warranty and replacement program. Hmmmmmmmmmmm alrighty then. go forth and you do you.
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Bueller wrote:
In fact it is. There are much better alternatives for comfort. And the water trick works great on any material that isn't water-permeable, which includes the vast majority of motorcycle seats out there. That it doesn't work on one person's gel-filled soft Corinthian leather seat (lifted from Ricardo's '77 Cordoba) doesn't mean it isn't a useful tip for the rest of us.
Excellent.. I'm glad we agreed...
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Here ya go.

https://www.cyclegear.com/accessories/nelson-rigg-half-cover

Con; It doesn't keep all the rain off. They only last a year with regular(daily) use.

Pro; Don't need to wait for the exhaust to cool B4 installing it. Protects the headset from UV damage. Seat is cool, depending how long it takes you to climb aboard after removal. Fits in a fanny pack(they used to sell them with a fanny pack).

A Med. will cover a BV with a windshield, so I bet it'll cover a Vespa with windshield. Cost is about $32.
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Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
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UTC quote
Get one of these 3d mesh seatcovers from ebay. It will not heat up in direct sun. It provides a nice steady stream of air under your ass while you are riding. If you get caught in a downpour, you will be mostly elevated off your vinyl soggy saddle. It will probably be the best $11.00 you have spent in a long time.
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UTC quote
I'm in the splash water on it brigade. Always got some water on ya! Am willing to pee on it too, but that's just me and my weird preferences.
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GTdespatchcourier wrote:
I'm in the splash water on it brigade. Always got some water on ya! Am willing to pee on it too, but that's just me and my weird preferences.
That's not weird, and I got the perfect seat for ya...
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