Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories The "My Butt Hurts" Mega Thread

Ok, I've done some research on the forum and on some after market sites. I still need some rider input here. I've had my 03 America now for about 2 weeks and put on 600 miles or so. The bottom line is my bottom line hurts. I've ridden crotch rockets my whole riding career and even with their extreme riding position I've never been this uncomfortable before.
I want to know what the best starting point would be. I feel like if I were to get my feet underneath me more I would be in a more upright position. Do footboards move your feet back?
Or, if I could decrease the pressure on the coccyx area I would be more comfortable. A Corbin seat?
Then I've read here where a good rider back rest is helpful in relieving the back and butt strain.
If I go Corbin seat with back rest for both rider/passenger I'm looking in the $1k range. Footboards from Triumph are $250 or so and another $200 for the extra foot controls for heal toe shift.
So that's it. Where do I go first? I know the "my butt hurts" topic has been covered many times around here I'm just looking for a few ideas to set me in the right direction. Loving the bike so far I just want to be able to ride for 2 hours without yelling out every time I cross a bridge joint.

Talk to this fellow. He built me a seat in 2003 for my Speedmaster and it is still comfortable and in great shape.

http://rickmayercycle.com/

Hey Ryan, for such nice bikes they sure CAN be a pain in the butt, eh! It turns out just a few weeks ago there was a fairly long thread going here about the same exact thing. You can find that thread here. Like many here, I spent some time and money getting my bike just right and now, it really is JUST RIGHT!! So it can be done... variables like the type of seat, bars, risers, foot pegs and position, etc can play a part in making our bikes more comfortable. I'm sure you'll get 'er 'dialed in' just right for you.

I have had the same problem as you, on any of my past cruiser bike....my past sport bike no issues (actually I tried a Corbin on it, didn't like it)......What I have found is Corbin Seats work for me...that is the first thing I change on a cruiser bike...Corbin's work for some people and for other's they hate them. Corbin is located in No CA..you could ride over there and may test one out...

I have had no problems with the stock seat and I ride across many states at a time. Wendy has back problems and the same can't be said for her. She makes the rides with me but it bothers her back. I was going to do a gel pad insert with memory foam cover on her stock seat but haven't had time to get to it yet.

My back screams long before my butt does too!! I just try to keep it straight and avoid pot holes!!!

If I had it to do again, the first thing I would spend money on would be a set of progressive shocks and springs for the front. They vastly improve the handling as well as ride quality and reduce the jarring jolts I suffered from the stock suspension. I have the 440s, but have heard many good things about the 412s as well. I had back problems the 1st 2 years I rode my bike, but none since mounting the progressives. I also have a Corbin, but would definitely go for the progrssives first.

I hear you, I hear you, I hear you.... I have the exact same complaint. I have gone through 3 Triumph seats. No Dice. Picked up an Air Hawk pad but it just didn't cut it. I also thought about the foot position thing and got floor boards. That didn't do it either. I'm still looking for a solution. Have been for 5 years now. If I didn't love my bike so much I would have sold her long ago because of this. If you find a something that works for you, please send the info my way. I'll do the same if I find one.

The one thing that made the most improvement in comfort for me was to change out my risers as to move the handlebars back, add a Corbin backrest seat or similar, and you should be moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, bikes are produced rather generically to fit a broad range of folks and actually end up fitting only a few perfectly. Watch the classifieds here, Craigslist and flea bay. Patience will reward you with a savings in cash outlay. If possible, try before you buy. I have found three things in life you can really accessorize, women, AR-15 s and motorcycles.

women are self-accessorizing

I wasn't comfy on mine either when I bought it but took the drag bars off and added BA bars then 4 1/2" tall 1 1/2" pull back risers. That was all it took for me, now I can ride all day.

It's taken me 5'years and a fair bit of cash but now I'm finally happy: I've had two back ops btw but this is what I've done.

• Hagon nitros rear
• intiminators with oem springs (IMHO they work better than with progressives up front)
• Corbin with backrest
• extra pull back bars with adjustable risers
• highway pegs and boards

Voila. Yes, to me it was worth every cent.

My butt used to get pretty sore as well but I sent my seat to Spencer at Greatdaytoride.com and he removes the cover and adds some space age foam that I think really helped a great deal and it was really reasonable too. I know others on this site have gone this route as well and I believe they liked it.

i also turned my speedmaster into a speedica. america bars with the america rivco risers and a corbin. all i need now is some better shocks and it will be perfect. i'm looking at the 440 shocks. the only thing stopping me now is the $500+ the shocks cost.

I'm using an HD Circulator Seat Pad that I got a good deal on. No long rides yet, but much better than stock & removable. Air conditioning for the boys! You might be able to work with a dealer and return it for a refund if it doesn't work for you.

I also have 1" spacers from SpacerJim and some Kuryakyn Dually pegs (a new-to-me set of floorboards are still on the table and WILL be put on soon).

"Speedica" I like that, much better than "Americaster"

Also there is this guy. Cost me $75 plus shipping to and from FL. It made a world of difference on my Thunderbird 1600 seat. Roadworthy may disagree but it was customized for a 269 lb. old guy, not a 210lb young jock.
http://greatdaytoride.com/

I like how you avoid saying 270lbs.

Let's just say our own bikes fit each of us just perfectly

I have given up on trying to solve that problem,

I have noticed a great improvement since moving my foot controls 65mm forward, and my seat is only a slim custom one. Moving pegs forward protects your 'sit bones' more... hence the reason Harley termed them highway pegs as they're made for the long journey. Correct handlebar position is also the other key criteria as others have mentioned as it sets up your posture correctly. I have learn't a lot about ergonomics at work (HSE Manager) and from racing push bike for 17 years and the most important thing to remember is correct posture makes more improvement than Gel pads etc.