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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury Blues /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1286562607 Message started by AndyC on 10/08/10 at 11:30:07 |
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Title: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury Blues Post by AndyC on 10/08/10 at 11:30:07 Give or take, it's been three years since I've posted here. The short-short version: - Back injury. Not related to the bike, but I couldn't have kept riding even if the stock seat didn't hurt to sit on. - Back surgery. Fixed 2 discs in my lower back. Took some time to recuperate. - Baby. She's a delight. - Blew up the bike. That's a bit of an exaggeration, of course; it overheated, blew out the oil cap, and the sprayed oil caught fire. No other damage, but after that I was afraid what the damage would be so didn't take it in. I wish I had taken it in sooner... A carb cleaning and oil change later (and a replaced oil cap) it runs better than it did brand new and I'd like to start riding again. But that brings me back to that horrible stock seat. I'm 6'0 and so it was bad before my back injury. It's the #1 thing I want to do something about it before I begin riding again (#2 being learning how to do elementary repairs to the bike). I've done a little research: Corbin appears to make a really nice seat just for the S40. (http://www.corbin.com/suzuki/ss40.shtml) Despite the price this appears to be the most attractive option... if it's going to be kind to my back and tailbone. Anyone tall use one of these? This guy (http://tightwadweb.com/seatmod.html) did a simple, cheap, yet ugly mod that addresses the problem but appears to raise your center of gravity half a foot or more. Then there's this guy (http://community.jpcycles.com/forums/p/38720/198816.aspx#198816) who suggests that Harley Sportster seats fit the S40 with minimal modification and suggests that this is a good place to ask about how to go about doing it. :) Or does anyone have a better suggestion? |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by Serowbot on 10/08/10 at 12:15:10 Welcome back... (no pun intended)... 1. The Corbin looks nice, but it's hard a rock... to me anyway... some people like the firmness on their butt, but it can't be good on your back... 2. There are several different Sportster seats, and the only one I've ridden was not good,... some others may be better, but they aren't all the same... 3. I have a little back trouble myself, nothing as bad as yours, but... to my thinking, seat comfort is more for your butt than your back,... if you really want back relief, go for taller rear shocks... I have Suzuki Intruder 800 shocks on mine, and the ride is much smoother... They are quite soft and good for up to around 200lb rider... plus you can get them cheap... and an easy bolt on replacement...(stock is 10.5", Intruder is 12")... If you are much heavier, you may have to go with aftermarket shocks like Progressives... They are quite pricey, but very good... Stock Sporty shocks can be adapted with new bushings too... I think they tend to be 11.5" or 12"... (the added swingarm height may require a little trimming at the front of the upper beltgaurd, but nothing dramatic)... PS... there is also a front seat lift mod in the tech section if you have the solo/pillion type seat... I've done it and like it... |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by mornhm - FSO on 10/08/10 at 12:42:31 Welcome back. Glad to hear your looking at riding again. Might want to think about the cruiser riding position as being part of the problem. Yes, the stock Savage seat bothers a lot of people, but probably a lot more ride without any modification. I think some people just have better spines. The cruiser position basically just bounces you up and down at best and at worst crunches your tailbone without letting you used your whole body suspension (legs, arms, and spine) to absorb the shock, so the MC provides all of the suspension (and lets face it, small cruiser suspensions pretty much suck). |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by Paladin. on 10/08/10 at 15:30:38 There is a Corbin saddle on eBay, $100 start plus $25 shipping, four days to end of auction. Might be a deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170549520270&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by WD on 10/08/10 at 17:44:39 Let's see... I'm 6'2" 240ish...absolutely destroyed lumbar spine... High bars, cut down HARD seat (3/4" ensolite padding), Intruder shocks. Works great. Squishy seats aggravate spine issues. |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by Boofer on 10/08/10 at 17:54:59 Once again, I tout the advantages of memory foam. It's relatively cheap compared to gel and new seats. And you can lay it on the seat and ride around looking stupid like I did. Then if you like it you can install it inside the seat. I have degenerative disc disease, and had lumbar surgery, but as you know, everyone is different. Hope you get some comfort. |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by WD on 10/08/10 at 18:22:15 Degenerative disc and joint disease is why my 57 Panhead rigid with a springer is patio art. And why my speedster/tracker barred Honda is patio art (for the moment, need a canyon carver). |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by AndyC on 10/09/10 at 11:03:09 Thanks for all the advice, everyone. 382E39243C29243F4B0 wrote:
5744000 wrote:
[smiley=undecided.gif]::hed asplodes:: I'm not sure which way to go here, but I'm leaning rather heavily towards the advice of my fellow back injury case. 705D5D545740320 wrote:
Yup, me too. It's one reason I'm looking for good options; they fixed my back, but I'd like it to stay that way. :) |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by WD on 10/09/10 at 11:49:55 Unless you had a fusion you will end up with ongoing issues. My first surgery the "repairs" lasted less than a year. The second surgery the results ended up the same, just took longer to be re-agravated. I can't ride a stock seat anything anymore. Swap it out for a thin sprung solo or a hard mounted thin seat and I'm fine. As long as my butt stays higher than my knees I can drive alright. My bench seat pickup? No problems. My wife's 95 Outback? I carry a ball head cane with me... You get used to it. |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by Boofer on 10/09/10 at 17:43:45 I am not a doctor, and I didn't even play one on TV. All I can say is to repeat, "Everyone is different." I started with the memory foam from a Wal Mart mattress topper, because it was cheap and can be cut up to be used as great pillows. I also use a piece in my car seat. (No, I don't ride in one of those car seats.) The 1 1/2' topper is about $30 in twin size. Might even find a scrap piece at local upholstery shop. |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/10/10 at 08:50:14 Ive noticed that when the bag is loaded & kinda intruding into my space a bit, I use it as a backrest & it`really changes the comfort level. You might try trapping something on the seat, right where you need some low back support. |
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Title: Re: I've got the 2006 S40 Stock Seat Back-Injury B Post by Dj12midnit on 10/10/10 at 17:25:20 I am six one and love my Corbin. |
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