Seat Report - Americana Soft Seat....

[easypete]

After I rode my suzuki factory gel seat for a while, and realized that it wasn't the answer to my tailbone's pathetic cries for help, I sent the original foam seat to americana soft seat...

http://americanasoftseats.com/

I had them shave 1" from the seat height and try to shave the back mounting down a little and add some padding back there.

The turn-around was pretty fast (about 10 days from when I shipped the seat (3-day delivery), to when I got it back from AmSS (their acronym was censored... lol) (total cost was $185).

I've had it for a month, but only put on it a few miles here and there due to bad weather and a hectic travel schedule.

Finally, Friday, I was able to put some miles on it. I rode about 100 miles. Much to my dismay, it's not too much better than the gel seat..... but it has potential.

My next step is to partially remove the cover to expose the padding over the back support. I will also remove the cover from my spare rear seat (original foam seat), and "borrow" a patch of foam and add another inch or so to the tailbone section of the seat. I will take pictures of this (should happen mid January), and post the pictures if it's successful.

Although AmSS has done pretty decent jobs for others, I just don't think they make the grade for the M50.

If my mods don't work, I am going to have a talk with Des from Ultimate Seats. So far, he works primarily w/ Hondas, but I will tell you it's the most comfortable seat I've ever sat in (that includes my recliner and my home theater seating). He seams to be a pretty nice guy and seams to be willing to work on it.... cost would be about $600 or so, but it may just be worth it.

So far, the biggest change I've made for comfort was the forward control extension kit (www.johnskits.com). Money well spent there. Much more comfortable.

As for a picture, it looks identical to the original seat, since they use the same cover.

[chadrob30]

Wow, that sucks. I was really hoping that this would be the answer to all the pains in the azz we have with the EmFitty....lol. Oh well, maybe it just wasn't meant to be...

[Uechi Kid]

Sorry to hear that the seat wasn't what you thought it was going to be. I hate spending money for something and not having it be right.

[Iceman99]

just kidding... but if you have a pic. lets see how it looks

[Iceman99]

http://%%%%%inseats.com/ ... This place sounds promising...

[JAX_MIKE]

its strange, i read so many complaints about the seat on these bikes before i bought mine. i was a little afraid of what it was gonna be like. after 600 miles, i have absolutely zero complaints. my longest ride is about 150 miles (4 hours) and the seat didnt bother me at all. i guess its all about body/azz shape?

[jkulysses]

Originally Posted by JAX_MIKE

its strange, i read so many complaints about the seat on these bikes before i bought mine. i was a little afraid of what it was gonna be like. after 600 miles, i have absolutely zero complaints. my longest ride is about 150 miles (4 hours) and the seat didnt bother me at all. i guess its all about body/azz shape?

I agree.

[Toolboy]

Ditto

[Mr.Miyagi]

Ditto times 3....it's probably the most comfortable seat of the 10 or so bikes I have owned....feel real sorry for those that have problems with it and hope you find a fix.

[golftee]

no problems here either, longest ride to date 320 miles....

[S2Design]

Sorry the seat didn't work out for ya. Please keep us posted on further seat upgrades, I plan doing something with the seat also.

[Breeze]

For the first 1000 mi or so, my seat felt hard and unforgiving. now with 2300 mi on her it is comfortable. I think the seats just need to break in.

[rappidrabbit]

have 9000 miles on my C50 and the seat is still a pain in the a$$

[easypete]

Originally Posted by Breeze

For the first 1000 mi or so, my seat felt hard and unforgiving. now with 2300 mi on her it is comfortable. I think the seats just need to break in.

I gave the original seat about 2k miles.... I gave the factory gel seat about 2k miles.

It's really not a matter of break-in.... If anything it got more uncomfortable the more I rode. My problem with the seat(s) is that tailbone grinding on the seat mount. If you feel this point, it's less than 1/2" of padding.

When I first got the bike, I was able to do 1 tank (170 miles or so) in one sitting. My last ride with the stock seat lasted about 50 miles before I couldn't take it anymore.

I think the best thing I did was move the controls forward with the extension kit. This takes my tailbone off the rear driver's seat mounting point. Now It hits my lower back. I can take this a little better than I could directly on my tailbone.

[dragula07]

Originally Posted by easypete

My problem with the seat(s) is that tailbone grinding on the seat mount. If you feel this point, it's less than 1/2" of padding.

That's EXACTLY right!

Sorry, I haven't had time to post in a while so I'm catching up now but I thought that I would point you to a link on my website where I "fixed" this problem. The seat is definitely better after I cut out that mounting area but still leaves a lot to be desired. My tailbone still feels the metal bracket between the front and rear seats whenever I hit any bumps (I have the suspension at the softest setting).
Anyway, I thought you may be interested in this:

http://www.kytle.net/m50seat.html

[brian_reed]

just had this seat made.Doc1.doc

[chadrob30]

Originally Posted by brian_reed

just had this seat made.Attachment 2794

Not working for me...

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by chadrob30

Not working for me...

The attachment is a picture posted on a MS Word document. When you open the attachment (on Word), click on the image, then click, hold, and drag a corner to expand the picture.

Brian... nice looking seat btw!

[Slim-Pickins]

Originally Posted by easypete

I gave the original seat about 2k miles.... I gave the factory gel seat about 2k miles.

It's really not a matter of break-in.... If anything it got more uncomfortable the more I rode. My problem with the seat(s) is that tailbone grinding on the seat mount. If you feel this point, it's less than 1/2" of padding.

When I first got the bike, I was able to do 1 tank (170 miles or so) in one sitting. My last ride with the stock seat lasted about 50 miles before I couldn't take it anymore.

I think the best thing I did was move the controls forward with the extension kit. This takes my tailbone off the rear driver's seat mounting point. Now It hits my lower back. I can take this a little better than I could directly on my tailbone.

How tall are you and how much do you weigh? I ask because I'm about 5'7" 185lbs and I've never felt the bracket you speak of. My seat was a little tough the first 500 miles but now its not bad, not sure if the seat "broke in" or I "broke in" but I ride 70 miles or so a day and I have no problems except a little numbness in hands if I ride with no gloves. That is easy to fix, I wear gloves with a little padding

[sundude]

I just did 450 miles on New Years' Day and had no complaints about the seat. One thing that I have done though is purchase a tool bag (one the usually attaches to the handlebar) and hooked it up around the seat bracket. It acts as a quasi backrest and supplies some support, also. I saw the setup on a Honda Shadow and thought why not give it a try. I'll post a couple of pics tomorrow.