Modern Vespa

I heard rumors of an old biker that makes custom seats so I tracked him down today. OMG - the coolest guy and shop EVAR! Next time I go back I'm taking photos - he has an old Harley panhead that has been his daily transportation for over 30 years. It's awesome, gnarly and has true character.
Anyway so he looks at my seat and sees my gel seat pad and says that for $75 he can scoop out my seat and use the foam/gel from my seat pad saving me about $120. Says he can do that mod in a couple of hours. So no resculpting of the seat - merely a gel pad insert, maybe lower a tad.
One question, one request.
Question - y'all think the gel insert is sufficient to make the seat better suited for long hours, or is more required?
Request: He was unaware of the sensor strip and asked if anyone had a photo of what it looked like, how it was attached to the foam and how to disconnect it so he could be prepared.
Thanks!

the foam itself is what sucks. Ask him if he has different densitys and what each will or won't do for you . I think the sensor is carved out in the faom at the base of the seat pan. Just go real easy when wacking on the foam. Also the shaping and conture /molding would be critical I would think. if he can accomplish that then the gel shouldn't be needed.

This might sound like a silly question:

Is it possible for any unskilled owner to remove foam, (using an electric knife), in order to create a "dish" in which to sit, and then to refit the same cover without it looking loose and wrinkly?

If that could be done behind the area where the seat sensor is located, (not sure how far back the sensor goes) a recess could be created that would reduce the tendency to slip forward and slightly lower the riding position. Perhaps a reduction of about half an inch (one and a bit cm) might be worthwhile.

It seems to me that the old "tractor seat" shape was far more comfortable.
It could be risky; if it is "mucked up" a new seat might be required.

Any comments or first-hand experience?

The problem with all this seat mod crap is none of the people doing the mods ride MP3's, they're basically Harley people and clueless about our gear. If they did maybe they'd have a better understanding of what's needed to fix the damn things. Honestly if I were a lot younger and didn't shake so much I'd start doing them myself... How hard could it be to carve out a saddle that's just a tad lower (or higher) and leave enough rise at the front to limit slippage? And the sensor is dead simple, just put it back where you found it and move on.

Here's something to think about, next time you're around a Goldwing take a look at it's saddle. Bone stock, they're as comfy as a Lazy-Boy and I doubt anyone has them modified unless their butt's very strange. You'd think the Piaggio people could emulate the design, it's not exactly rocket science so what's the problem? ($$$$)

LL75

Agree 100% Larry - it ain't just Piaggio tho, quite a few bikes have suck for seating. I'm with John in that the old tractor style seat is pretty dang comfy - I mean look at it: it's shaped like a butt with recesses for each cheek. Simple!
Anyway - so the question still remains - do y'all think a simple replace foam with gel pad is sufficient for extended wear comfort? What kind of shaping got done to yours Larry?

I took the sensor out of my old seat it came out easy but you have to be carefull on taking it out not to bend it. When i put it in my Corbin seat I had to line up the little round knobs with the holes in the seat,so when you looked at it from the bottom you where able to see the sensor, this was on a 250 seat.

The bottom? For some reason I thought the sensor was on the top right under your butt - a strip right up the middle...

I think that as long as that seat is skinny, it won't be comfortable. Scoopin' it out and re-streching the cover may help, but it still be skinny. If you look at the pictures of the Russell Day Long, they re-make the seat, more toward the wider tractor seat model. Adding a couple of shims under the front bolts to raise the front helps.

Aparently I don't have the slippin and slidin problem - most of mine is right where hip meets thigh.

Hey bubbajon, the corbin website has a link to pics detailing how to remove old sensor and reinstall on their seat, of course its not the same model, its gonna be the same thing though.

My gel pad was more uncomfortible then the seat to me! If the gel modification did not work, do not think it would be much work to fill the hole back in. 3M spray glue is used on the foam, as far as I found out. Possibly, thin slice the top of seat, and add memory foam on top and lap over the edges could work. Thinking of attacking my "New/used spare Goldwing seat", with this approach. Well maybe just add memory foam on top, and tuck the bottom thigh fronts down. Will post if I do get to it!

Larry great idea with the washers.... as outlined in your Red Dog Blog... I think I may give it a try.. the sliding forward thing is real..

If you can stand looking at all the photos here's the link to the seat mod at Rich's: http://reddogscooter.blogspot.com/2010/02/feb-3-2010-red-dog-gets-make-over-at.html

Rich did the important work himself, mapping out what areas to cut out, etc. He has you sit on the saddle while he marks things. Then his crew goes to work on the mods which he inspects as they progress. I arrived at his shop in the late afternoon, then opened it up in the morning and closed it that night. Rich and I consumed a huge quantity of, uh, refreshments that evening sitting in my RV next to his shop. I think his wife may still be looking for me...

LL75

[quote="BubbaJon


Agree 100% Larry - it ain't just Piaggio tho, quite a few bikes have suck for seating. I'm with John in that the old tractor style seat is pretty dang comfy - I mean look at it: it's shaped like a butt with recesses for each cheek. Simple!
quote]




I like the ol' tractor style analogy, 'cos that's just what it feels like, especially on those 200 mile days. No worries.

Not cheap, but good......r



.

BubbaJon, have you had him redo your seat yet? Inquiring minds want to know...

Mark

Nope - not yet. First I'm trying out other things to see if the problem can be alleviated without hacking the seat. To that end today I went to the outlet mall and bought some Jockey performance undies that have teh wicking material and flat seams. I'll do a couple of test runs with that and possibly with my gel pad as is to see if the problem can be addressed that way. I looked at the Ex Officio brand and theyy didn't look much different and at $20 a pop a little pricey. The Jockeys are on sale for $11 a pack of two. I got the stretch and the mesh to see which ones work best. The lady that worked there cracked me up - the undies have this little kangaroo pouch in the crotch. Susan asked what it was for since it looks so different than the regular undie flap and the saleslady said with a straight face it was an iPod pocket.

Get the EXOFFICIO underwear at REI. You won't regret it!

Are we back to "caresses the package appropriately."??!

If the Jockeys don't work I will try them. BTW I have it on a good source they will be on sale at a great price at REI this coming weekend.

Always!