Modern Vespa

We want and need more seat options.....PLEASE!

By weeks end my new seat fabrication will be complete. Expect to see some pictures.

+1...or at least stop using the dungeonmasters guide to seat making.

Boy you've got that right. Held out as long as a could on Corbin but finally went to a local guy yesterday. $225 got me extra padding and a little width (damn you tiny-assed europeans!). That goofy-shaped shell makes it impossible to get it exactly right but it's a lot better than it was. Not quite as sporty looking as the old seat but it'll work until something better comes along.

There are several people that I have met that said that the one thing keeping them from buying an MP3 was the seat. Piaggio should pay attention to this type of feedback if they want to increase market share in the USA. (I don't know about the feedback from people outside the USA regarding the seats, so I won't speculate beyond where I live.)

Durango can you post a picture of your seat. I'd like to see yours before they finalize the covering...today they're just shaping the foam.

Thanks

Sorry, didn't have these handy this morning. Like I said, not as sexy as stock but gives me a little bit more where it matters. Will probably have the width towards the front end thinned a bit but am going to ride it for a while first to be sure.

Just got back from the upholstery shop, they were able to melt down the underside of my seat-pan and back the rider position up about 4-5 inches! In addition they added a subtle horn to prevent sliding forward.

They also added a 1 inch foam insert to the passenger portion...much needed because passengers have complained they bottom out. It should be done friday.

Going with black side walls and dark graphite seating surfaces.

OMG that is fugly.

quit screwing around and get a Russel DayLong Saddle on that scoot.

Yeah $500 is a chunk but they are beautifull and more comfort than you can imagine.

I agree. Looks like a dead stranded whale that's about to explode...

I'm putting my faith in the guys at C & E Auto Upholstery...hopefully after I post my photos you won't beat me up too bad with comments. I saw the foam shaping today and it looks good. Hopefully the leather work compliments it nicely.

Ride safe!

Yeah it is pretty friggin' horrible. I remember the Day-Long discussion, S-4, right?

"a dead stranded whale"......OMG that is funny
Sorry Durango.....that is exactly what it looks like in your pic. Poor thing needs a fix.
Okay....I don't want to travel off the topic too much...I want PIAGGIO to read lots of negative stuff here about their poorly designed and comfortless saddle (no.....I mean seat! Saddle sounds nice). Must get them to FOCUS on where we put our Butts...buns...or whatever word they prefer.

I had my seat redone by a guy who does motorcycle seats. He did an outstanding job. I think in retrospect I may have him thin the sides out because I'm pretty damn short and the mp3 isn't.

8)

Once you go with a Russell Seat you can never go back!!!!!!!!!!

R.B.

Who cares what it looks like? Is it comfortable, Durango?

I actually do care what it looks like and what I was calling it after staring at it in my garage was a lot rougher than a beached whale!

Rode 60mi on it last night. The cushion is better than stock but I could have had the same result by carrying around a pillow. Problem now is I am 1.5" taller, making for a higher center of gravity and toes barely touching the ground.

That's what I get for not wanting to wait for a custom, but just fixed that - I submitted an online order form to Russell for a Day-Long 2min ago.

Hmmm, do you think the Italians are reading this and thinking..."wtf are they talking about on MV? those mp3 seats are the best ever!"

Now that looks like it would be an excellent seat. So is that how you manage to ride so many miles? I think the secret is out...

8)

It was made to fit me. The more I ride the more comfortable it gets. At first I didn't like it but once I got use to it , it just gets better and better. I left Amervespa in Los Gatos at 5pm and got home in Reno at 9:30pm a distance of about 300 miles and I stopped only 2 times. I stopped for gas and I stopped to change jackets. I could have driven all night with that seat. It just really works great and gives you the right support where you need it.

R.B.

LOL there is always one. You must be a little italian guy or you have a very strange shaped rear. I am just jealous of course.

Seriously though how tall are you?

I too want to know how tall you are renobob? I be just shy of 5'5"....stock seat is like a chunky monkey. Russell looks cushie 4 the tushie but won't matter if we can't touchie downie.

At the risk of being a wet blanket, the stock seat works very well for me too. When I first got the bike, I planned to have the front raised or the pillion lowered (or half-and-half) so it would be one continuous line from front to back. Having put some miles under me (heh), I really like the view from the pillion, and the little hump behind the front seat is nice for my lower back. Generally I ride on the pillion and only sit in front for low-speed maneuvering and on the highway, where I use the foot pegs.

I'm 6'5" with a 34" inseam, and realize that most folks can't sit on the pillion comfortably (or perhaps at all), but my legs love it. So far my but is OK with it too!

I do that sometimes for relief but i cant do it for long as the leaning forward part is uncomfortable for me. I think if the hump was an inch or so further back and I had some foot pegs it would be a lot better.

Like you though I have become used to it to a degree. I can make the 30 mile ride to work pretty easily but a 3 hour trip is not all that fun.

How long do you ride for? I can ride an hour or so No Problem, but more than that and I get a sore butt.

Wayne B

Ditto!

That goes for me too. With my seat still stock I do have to stop every hour or so to stretch my legs. However, I usually need petrol by then on a long fast journey, or a pee, or a coffee, or a ciggie, so it all pans out OK.

How tall am I? Little Italian guy? I only wish. I am 5' 11" and shrinking fast and lets just say around 190 lb give or take. When I first got on the new seat I had to slide forward to tough the ground with my feet. I was not sure that that was a good thing. The way the horn of the seat (front part) is shaped it doesn't allow your leg to drop straight down. So I slid forward. The guy at Russell that made my seat said I would get used to it and I have. The seat is breaking in real nice. The other thing I have noticed is it did raise my ride height a little. Maybe 1/2 inch or so. I notice this less now as it is still breaking in. This seat really gives you the support where you need it.

R.B.

Okay....
1) some need to be seated higher
2) some seated lower
3) some seated back further
4) some need seats tapered and sides narrowed (is that a word?) at the front
5) some wider to the rear for our bums ahhhhhh

Did I get this right so far? If not....add on

Yes

Okay guys my new seat is here! I must say I am very pleased with the quality and mostly the comfort of this new seat...I can't wait to get out and put some miles on it.

Check it out and if you have questions let me know. The guys that did this seat are located in Savage, MN. The company is C & E Auto Upholstery - email: www.candeautoupholstery.com

I was very impressed...the seat set me back $240 bucks. Well worth it.

Josh

Test 1, 2, 3 it says my image is too big

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This is the minor damage or alteration that had to be done to move my riding position back 4-5 inches. A full face helmet still "barely" fits underneath the seat.

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Pretty darn cool seat!

It's a happy ending after all for the whale-dick hatchet job a local guy did to my saddle. I shipped it off to Russell Day-Long Saddles on August 17 and it arrived today. Leather, backrest, the whole nine yards.

Expensive? Heck yeah. Long wait? Oh yes. Worth it? So far, will update in 500 miles. The day before I ordered it, I was toting one of those jumbo packs of paper towels and thought, boy, this sure is nice to learn up against, so went w/ the backrest. That thing is the dealio!

So there's the latest. Didn't want anyone thinking I was still riding around on that other monstrosity.....