Modern Vespa

I have a MP3 250, and am dreaming of a MP3 500, but have always wanted a different saddle, so I can slide back and have a bit more room.

So I have been trading emails with Bill Mayer Custom saddles.
http://www.billmayersaddles.com/
Here is the latest response from them:

William Mayer <billmayersaddles>
subject RE: Question regarding Piaggio MP3 500 saddles

We certainly can get you more comfy, higher & further back on the Piaggio, we have worked on many.

We work off of your stock seat pan & production takes 3-7 business days once the seat ,order form & pictures arrive.

Give us a call & will put you on the books.
Thanks,
Susan Townley
1-800-242-7625

So my question is, has anyone tried this resource or got a saddle modified by them? Can you show a photo?

Thanks for your help! Any other suggestions on modifying or buying a saddle?

Yup, you can read about it here: custom fit MP3 500 saddle

If you can at all find a way to do a ride-in, do it! They'll tailor it to your butt, you'll have a chance to test ride it before they cover it and make any final adjustments, and about 4 hours later you will ride off with your new comfy saddle.

It's a good ride down to Ojai, so have some fun and get a new saddle while you are at it.

+1 I'd be Big Sur bound in a heartbeat. To go to Ojai and get a custom saddle made while I explore one of the most beautiful hidden citys in Cali. Pick up my Mp3 4 1/2 hrs. later. And head back to San Fran. Sounds like the ultimate road trip to me.

Thank you CafeMoto for the link to that great thread! The information and photos are fabulous.

I am fantasizing about riding down there from San Franciso...it is a long drive, probably 7 hours or more actual driving time (on the original saddle), plus the drive back. That is a lot, but I suppose superior to just mailing in the saddle.

Hey CafeMoto, you never answered the question about your height or inseam?

Maybe I could just tell them to do it like yours (though I need to make sure I can reference you correctly to Bill Mayer).

Also do you want to share the details of your weight?

Thanks again!

Hello Roverpal,
Bill Mayer can adjust the height or the cut back to your liking. They have you fill out a questionnaire sheet that has you explain what you would like to accomplish, how many miles you ride a day, etc. The sculpture talks to you and explains what he is doing. They do ask for weight and inseam. In addition they actually let you sit on the saddle before the skin is applied and take a 20 minute test ride. My inseam is 30-31 and 200lb on a 5' 10 frame. I had my saddle cut back an extra 1 inch for leg room comfort with a full sweep on the back side to support my behind. My MP3 is the Orange in the link that CAFE MOTO has listed. My saddle is made of solid vinyl on the sides but the top is a vinyl basket weave. They had various colors that you can pick out.

Carpenteria State Beach is a great place to camp. Just outside the Town of Ojai. One MV poster made a trip there on his 500,with pics . Maybe he will see this and relay . Didn't know it would be that far. Maybe stop and camp around Big Sur for a day.

Well if you are not able to make the ride to Ojai then you could try Bill Russell who is up by Shasta - not so far. I believe they are similar and you can do a ride in. Bill Russell is more expensive I think. Someone from Wisconsin posted their experience and they shipped their saddle. Here is the link for the Bill Russell site: http://www.day-long.com/index.html

There are a couple of hotels in Ojai that actually have Bill Mayer Saddle discounts...the Best Western is one, and it's pretty motorcycle friendly, cheaper than most, and very, very clean.

When you do a ride in, they place the new high density foam insert on the saddle and have you sit in your desired position. They can then move the insert forward or backward in order to find the position in which you are most "neutral." In other words, too much forward and you have to lean back somewhat to compensate, too much backward and your body is leaning forward to compensate. Getting to a neutral seating position gives you a much more comfortable ride. I wouldn't have believed it unless I felt it for myself, when they moved the insert back and forth it was amazing to realize how much I had been compensating.

This isn't really possible unless you do the ride-in. I know that not everyone can, because saddle shops aren't available in every town, but when you can do it, it's worth the trouble.

If you do it by mail, I'm sure the saddle would still be better than the OEM, but if you can see your way to doing a ride-in, it's a better solution.

Interesting side note: Bill Mayer (the father of "Rocky, who now owns Bill Mayer Saddles) sold his patent on the "Day-Long Saddle" to Russel, who now sells the Russell saddle. The Russell Saddle is made with a spring suspension, which is why it has the unique shape it does. Some time after Bill Mayer Sr. got out of the business, his son Rocky decided to make a go of it, and opened up Bill Mayer Saddles, and copyrighted certain verbage (like "Mayer Saddles") which made it difficult for his brother, Rick Mayer to open up a shop called Rick Mayer Saddles. Rick is now in the custom seat business as well, under the name Rick Mayer Cycle. Apparently it was a bone of contention between the Mayer brothers.

Anyway, Bill Mayer Saddles is in Ojai CA, Rick Mayer Cycle is in Anderson (south of Redding, CA) and Russel's Day Long Saddles is in Shasta, giving riders three different locations to get a custom saddle made!