Seat mod......slope change

[showkey]

The gap increase is more at the side cover..........gap at the frunk can be managed to very small or unchanged depending on how it’s done.

 

[dduelin]

Depending on your sense of aesthetics the gap can be taken care of by carefully trimming sections of closed cell pipe insulation that have adhesive applied to the slit in the pipe insulation. The adhesive secures it to the plastic panels and the seat compresses it. The color pretty much matches the seat cover and because it fills the gap it's hard for the eye to be drawn to it.

 

[Harpomark]

Thanks...will have to experiment and see how it works out.

 

[Harpomark]

Showkey ( and everyone else) Thanks...appreciate all your work and suggestions.

 

[Harpomark]

To 670cc...okay...my bike is apparently an X and not an S type as I was told whem my insurance agent entered the VIN. To be honest, I didnt even know there was an S type so it took me by surprise and I was pretty sure I had screwed up. After more research I am now positive that my bike is an X model which is good if I decide to order a Sargent seat. Thanks again for your input.

 

[670cc]

To 670cc...okay...my bike is apparently an X and not an S type as I was told whem my insurance agent entered the VIN. To be honest, I didnt even know there was an S type so it took me by surprise and I was pretty sure I had screwed up. After more research I am now positive that my bike is an X model which is good if I decide to order a Sargent seat. Thanks again for your input.

The NC700S model is real, but it was never sold by Honda in the United States. I only asked because AL in your profile could be Alabama, USA, or it could be some country abbreviation I'm not aware of.

 

[Therapy]

I like the seat lift and just have never been able to appreciate a difference as tiny as that.
Perhaps that is one reason my mother was so exasperated on all those times I was forced to appreciate all the art I was shown in cathedrals and museums all over Europe.
I just don't get it cause next years someone will come out with a "new design" for a two wheeled vehicle that has gaps all over it and it will be oh so sought after.

 

[Harpomark]

TWIMC...okay, so here’s where I am on this seat thing. After some experimentation I ended up ordering a Sargent seat and had a long conversation with them about making my seat to correct the forward tilt issue, which they did a good job with and My lower back is no longer the issue. That’s the good news. The bad news is that while the Sargent seat is definitely an improvement over the stock seat, my arse is still killing me. I put about 175 miles on today and was pretty miserable. Rode another 150 last Saturday and had the same experience. Not sure if I need to send the seat back to Sargent for them to add additional foam ( $90.00 plus shipping) or maybe think about trying an Airhawk ( $125 approx) or something similar. I am planning a long ride for the fall and between the seat issues and the rear shock problems, I’m starting to wonder if I can get this bike properly sorted out in terms of comfort.

Any further wisdom to add?

 

[showkey]

175 miles is like running a 10k or riding a horse on trial ride for 3 hours or 40 mile bicycle ride so conditioning or training might be needed.
Motorcycle riding is a sport especially long distances ( long is not commuting 10 miles) so it taking time to condition ones body. That includes other parts than just your butt.......like arms, shoulders, neck , wrist, hands, knees..........add heat and dehydration it takes a toll.

 

[potter0o]

TWIMC...okay, so here’s where I am on this seat thing. After some experimentation I ended up ordering a Sargent seat and had a long conversation with them about making my seat to correct the forward tilt issue, which they did a good job with and My lower back is no longer the issue. That’s the good news. The bad news is that while the Sargent seat is definitely an improvement over the stock seat, my arse is still killing me. I put about 175 miles on today and was pretty miserable. Rode another 150 last Saturday and had the same experience. Not sure if I need to send the seat back to Sargent for them to add additional foam ( $90.00 plus shipping) or maybe think about trying an Airhawk ( $125 approx) or something similar. I am planning a long ride for the fall and between the seat issues and the rear shock problems, I’m starting to wonder if I can get this bike properly sorted out in terms of comfort.

Any further wisdom to add?

Similar to what showkey said I also believe in conditioning to ride further. My 30 minute commute is no problem. As I double up it gets a bit uncomfortable but the more seat time I have the easier it is. If you want a cheap experiment try some bicycle shorts with a gel insert. I find them helpful when I know I am going to be out for more than an hour with no breaks.

 

[Harpomark]

Alright then...guess I’ll just have to toughen up! LOL. I have some bike shorts but havent thought to try them with this bike. Will give them a try and just start putting on more miles. My planned ride this fall will require 300-400 mile days so i have a ways to go.

 

[670cc]

TWIMC...okay, so here’s where I am on this seat thing. After some experimentation I ended up ordering a Sargent seat and had a long conversation with them about making my seat to correct the forward tilt issue, which they did a good job with and My lower back is no longer the issue. That’s the good news. The bad news is that while the Sargent seat is definitely an improvement over the stock seat, my arse is still killing me. I put about 175 miles on today and was pretty miserable. Rode another 150 last Saturday and had the same experience. Not sure if I need to send the seat back to Sargent for them to add additional foam ( $90.00 plus shipping) or maybe think about trying an Airhawk ( $125 approx) or something similar. I am planning a long ride for the fall and between the seat issues and the rear shock problems, I’m starting to wonder if I can get this bike properly sorted out in terms of comfort.

Any further wisdom to add?

If you’re in Alabama, heat can be a problem. My number one obstacle for long distance riding is butt/thigh sweating which eventually leads to chafing, a.k.a. Monkey Butt. Choosing the right underwear and riding pants can help. Where the seams are located on the pants or undergarment can be critical. There are also open mesh seat covers that promote air flow. You gotta stay dry.

 

[Hank]

My Sargent did not feel right until about four thousand miles. I used an Airhawk for that time.

 

[dduelin]

To be blunt you need to be riding 300-400 miles a day two or three times a month now and up to your trip. You will not only build the stamina needed you will also have lots of days to experience weather and clothing combinations.

 

[Harpomark]

My Sargent did not feel right until about four thousand miles. I used an Airhawk for that time.

Interesting. I am hoping it will break in at some point. Right now it’s about to break me! I am definitely looking at the Airhawk as an option.

 

[DeeJay]

I used a wide piece of heat shrink to to make a “bracket”, as well as two furniture rubbers for my seat mod. The heat shrink has not been heated, it just serves as a strap to hold the seat down. Dead easy to make, I just spent a couple of cents on two washers. No new holes had to be drilled to install the heat shrink. The heat shrink was just lying around inside my garage.

My seat has been covered with a double layer of the “Sit & Fly” stuff from China. Due to the double layer there is no gap between the seat and the luggage box at the top, only a slight gap can be seen at the bottom of the seat.


I really like this mod. It offers a much better seat position, and definitely helps keeping the butt happy during long trips.

 

[DeeJay]

Photo of the seat:

 

[Bikeman]

I did my seat today. Thanks to the OP for his guidance. Thanks to all those that provided variations on OP's mod. I went with the hat shaped bracket to avoid drilling holes (lazy I guess); used thin stainless steel so I could use the stock bolts. Got the chair rubber tips at Walmart ($2 for four), used two, have two spares. Also, got ten flat washers from Lowes (Walmart was out) for under $1. Used five per rubber tip. Trimmed about 1/8 inch of the tips, and slipped them over the stock rubber bumpers. This raised my seat front about 5/8 inch. Plan to test it tomorrow. Feels good just seating on it.

Note - Making the bracket was the hardest part. Feel free to ask questions of you have any. I can post pictures if needed.

 

[tewster2]

I raised my seat using the chair leg rubbers stuck on the stock seat supports at the front while the front tab sits on top of the stock bracket...no need to make another bracket to keep the front in place for me...the two bolts at the back of the seat hold it in place just fine.

 

[HarveyM]

I thought (from another '18 owner's post) that the new seat didn't have the slope problem?