Better Seat for a M50?

[Sinic]

I recently bought an 06 M50 and I am hooked to this bike ... I really enjoy the bike as a whole and I have started taking longer and longer trips ...

The problem is the seat ... it is good for about the first hour and then it feels uncomfortable. I hear that there are replacement seats available that may help with this problem, but I have no experience with them. Has anyone changed their seat and noticed an improvement?

I am 5'10" and 170 lbs if that makes a difference.

[chadrob30]

There are no seats for the M50 that offer any improvement. Use the search feature and you'll see lots of topics...the aftermarket potential for the M50 is almost nil.

[DrBob]

Give it a little time- it takes a while for the stock seat to break in and get softer.

[intimid8er]

Sinic....The only thing available now is the O.E.M. Gel Seat (which sucks). Consider yourself lucky you can ride for an hour. Some of us couldn't make it more than 15 minutes or 15 miles. The Gel unit extended my saddle time to about 45 minutes. Other options include you taking it to a local custom saddle maker, or purchasing one of the various aftermarket inserts or air cushions. stp1971 uses a product he swears by. Private message him and introduce yourself. He'll give you the info for his hookup at the company he uses.

Also, where are you located? We may be able to get you in to a factory program if you are willing to give up your bike for 3-6 weeks.

[919Hooligan]

So far I have seen two companys that may be able to help you; of course there are more but these two seem to have a pretty good rap, especially the first.

http://www.buttbuffer.com/

http://www.americanasoftseats.com/

Check them out! I think I'm gonna try the buttbuffer installed inside my seat pretty soon.

[automogul]

Ok, My wife has been complaining of the seat. I've been looking around, and doing some digging. There are lots of pads you can get to go on top of the seat. As said a thousand times... there aren't any replacement seats yet. I'm interrested though...

My wife's owner's manual lables her bike as a VZ800. Sound familiar? Yep, It should. It's the Marauder model number as well. That doesn't mean it's the same bike, but it hightens my suspicions when 2 vehicles share the same model #.

Well, I went looking around on sites like mustang seats and corbin seats. They both make seats for the VZ800 Marauder 1997-04

Now here's the question for the Zuki gurus...
Will the seat from the Marauder fit on the M50?

I'm sure someone has raised this concern already and has an answer. I just haven't found it. If they do not fit, I am SURE that a replacement seat will be offered by these companies in the not so distant future. I would suspect that by around a year or so after the bike has been out that we should see something. We're around that time now, so based on volume, what my fellow riders have told me... one should show up within the next 6-12 months.

In the meanwhile... perhaps someone can take a closer look. If no one has explored this yet, perhaps they know someone with a Marauder. If so... an attempted seat switch may offer some insight. If it works... we might be in business getting a Marauder seat from Mustang or Corbin.

Thoughts? Am I asking a question that has been beaten into the ground already? Just trying to come up with a solution to a problem that is a pain in every M50 owner's.... ok, so that joke has DEFINITELY been done. I'll abstain.

http://www.mustangseats.com/suzuki/8...marauder.shtml

[jpwM50]

Ya the maruader seat does not fit the M50, and I believe someone has asked Corbin/Mustang and they are not making a seat for us.
see post seat

[automogul]

Yeah... I read that post. I think someone was having a bad day. How many units of the M50 are going to be produced? I'm sure it's enough to justify the seat. It's only a matter of time before they come out with one. Trust me, it would be a shot in the foot for Mustang and/or Corbin to unequivocally not make a seat for a bike with so many customers complaining. It'd be sure sales. I'd give it a little longer. We're sure to see one.

On a side note, my wife has said that while still painful, her seat seems to be breaking in just a little. We did some extensive riding this weekend, and it was a hair better. A replacement would still be ideal, but for now... I guess the stock will do. We'll get a pad soon to help with the pressure points until someone makes the replacement.

It's sure to happen, we just have to remain patient. Like I said... it would be foolish for anyone to deny the instant cash cow an M50 replacement seat would be. It's a no brainer.

***** EDIT: *****
WOW! I sent an e-mail to Mustang right after that first post I made. I asked about the Marauder seat fitment. I didn't really ask as to whether or not they'll support it, but did say I understood that demand was important and I was willing to be patient. Here's what they said:

Mustang will not be making any seats or accessories at any time for the M50.
The seats for the Marauder fit only up to the 2004 model and will not fit
onto the M50.
Thanks for your interest in Mustang.

Customer Service

Well, never being one to take things like this lying down, I responded with this:

I ask this in truly the most innocent and curious way, but why would this be the case?

I know of many riders who have written Mustang inquiring about seats. They have linked to forums full of owners complaining of the factory seat. The bike has been in production for a year now, and perhaps there are not enough folks yet to justify crafting a seat, but to say that you will never create a replacement seems a little harsh to me. What would lead you to such a baffling declaration? This just seems like an obvious need where many users would immediately buy your products - strait off of the showroom floor. I feel disheartened because I am sure that Mustang makes excellent seats. You come highly recommended to me by many of my friends that ride. Sadly, because you are turning your nose up at a small market segment that needs desperately for a product, there are many out there who will recommend against Mustang simply because of their one bad experience.

I do hope that time and demand change your mind in regards to this bike. Perhaps Mustang knows something the community does not, but regardless, it is important to realize that folks are upset about a lack of support for a bike that they love. That spreads some damaging and negative testimony in regards to your products, and word of mouth is the best and worst advertising.

I guess I was wrong. I guess they really AREN'T going to support the bike - not only with seats, but with ANY accessories. That is just sad! What is the production volume of this bike? That fact is important to hit someone like these guys with. If the bike is a reasonable volume, then the owners have a serious complaint against them. It's obvious that they are aligning themselves against the owners, but I have to wonder why that is? What reason would they have (except for too small of demand) to be so against supporting this bike?

The cat and mouse game continues, but at some point they'll make a seat. The only hope is that they aren't too late to make ammends for being so outwardly negative. We'll see. In the meanwhile... I guess sending the seat off to buttbuffer is starting to look pretty darn good right now.

[automogul]

I've written Mustang off for an M50 seat. If you didn't see my most recent edit, check it out. Pretty tough. However, I did send a message to Corbin. I got a little reply back that may have some of you happy. I asked about availability of the M50 seat. Here's what they said:

No not at this time but keep an eye on the web they should be availible in
three to four weeks.

This was from a rep at corbin. That should be some promising news for all of us out there. Looks like we may have something by December - just in time for Christmas!

[BigRed1]

Glad that the response you received was a little better than mine. Here is what I got. My inquiry is just below. Perhaps Corbin will come through.

Robert,

We do want to make seats for this bike. We are trying to locate a bike
in
central California area to borrow for mold making. If you know of
anyone
close to Hollister, CA that would loan his bike to us for 2 to 3 weeks
please have them call Vince or Chance at 800-538-7035.

Thanks, Sandy


At 02:08 PM 11/6/2005 -0800, you wrote:
>Mike want to make a pile of money. Make a seat for
>the Suzuki Boulevard M50 and stop the pain.
>
>Bob Richards
>Ashburn, Va.

Originally Posted by automogul

I've written Mustang off for an M50 seat. If you didn't see my most recent edit, check it out. Pretty tough. However, I did send a message to Corbin. I got a little reply back that may have some of you happy. I asked about availability of the M50 seat. Here's what they said:

No not at this time but keep an eye on the web they should be availible in
three to four weeks.

This was from a rep at corbin. That should be some promising news for all of us out there. Looks like we may have something by December - just in time for Christmas!

color=Red

[jpwM50]

oh sweet, I can't wait for a young gun style of seat...I hope.

[Mavman]

Originally Posted by jpwM50

oh sweet, I can't wait for a young gun style of seat...I hope.

+1....I'm liking the one that Zukichaos has on her C50!!

[Uechi Kid]

Look at Mustang. They make good after market seats.

[BigRed1]

Many of us have been up and down the road with both Corbin and Mustang. Mustang has no plans to manufacture a seat for the M50. I spoke with them about 3 weeks ago. Check out a thread by The Teach. I have been talking to Eric at Toxic Choppers in Colorado Springs about a really nice seat he make for him. May be an option. The Teach is lending his bike to Toxic so a seat can be molded from the pan. Nice guy that Teach (Sage).

Bob Richards

Originally Posted by Uechi Kid

Look at Mustang. They make good after market seats.