Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Ways to make my bike more comfortable?

Some friends and I are planning on doing the iron butt challenge as soon as the days get a little longer and the temps get up.

What are some ways that i can make my speedy a little more comfortable for such a long day in the saddle? It's gonna be pretty much all interstate, which will be horribly boring but to get 1000 miles in under 24 hours, i don't see any other way.

so what are some ways to make my bike more comfortable?

Already went up a tooth on the front sprocket.

Sheepskin seat cover. Cools, cushions and breathes - no pressure points and is waterproof.

backrest

Progressive springs, front and rear.
Pullback or Speedmaster risers.
Nice windshield.
Cupholder.
Kuryakyn Stirrups or OEM floorboards.
Hand sanitizer.
Pumpkin creme' brulee'.

Water... stay hydrated.

Ear Plugs .

Dont Know what they are called But they Fit to the throttle twist grip and keeps it open.


atb geoff

A bottle of whisky and a massage at the end of the day.

A corbin solo seat with a backrest/A gel pad/An air cushion.

Local anesthetic backside injections

Throttle rocker, handlebar position. That did it for me.

Monkey Butt powder and silk underwear.

Sturdy enough mid pegs, to stand on while your moving and stretch out your legs and back. I do love mine and they extend my tolerable mileage traveled in a day.

what Ryk said. I did this and it makes long days much better.

Also comfortable grips and a throttle boss or cramp buster as mentioned above.

Not meaning to sound like an ahole, but your bike should already be comfortable. If you have made it look good by let's say removing the passenger pegs, you'll want to replace those as you will be wanting to shift your butt around. Passenger pegs afford that. A 1000 slab ride is not much different from a 600 mile secondary roads ride. They are both 'all day' in the saddle.

The Iron Butt Association has some tips
http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

I used to do something that is really pretty dangerous. Had a strap with a loop in it on the left curve of my bar just under the clutch cable. When I got tired would reach in my bag for a 18" long plastic vertical blind hook. With the throttle lock on I would lean back and hold the rod like reigns. Slight push pull steering the bike with no hands was simple on the slab and you rest both arms at the same time. My brother had two leather straps tied to the bars right and left of the risers for the same purpose.

I was a lot younger then.

When you're on that lonely stretch of highway, DON'T convince yourself that you can listen for traffic and feel the painted lines on the road so you'll just "rest" your eyes by closing them one at a time. It only works for a short while - then you find yourself bouncing along the median. Hell of a way to wake up!

Spoken from experience.

I have to agree with Moe, my bike is set up the way I like it so I can now just hop on it and ride straight through to Fl from NE PA as long as I don't have anyone slowing me down. That is about 1100 miles. I have done it in a day and I have done it in 3 days depending who I ride with.

Work you way up to it. Start riding condition and acclimate your body to handle the job.

All the abouve. I have not done a iron but, however, I have done many 8-10 hr days of mostly all riding. make sure your seat and your bars are the way you like them.Ill throw in maybe get gell and comfor foam put in your seat. its been on my "to do" list for a long time.

My own invention. Cut a pair of sweat pants into shorts. Wear them over your regular underwear and under your jeans. I've done this for years for long rides (300 miles or more) and it works great.

you could always get a goldwing

Windshield, backrest, footboards, crampbuster, sheepskin seat cover or Airhawk.

Monkeybutt powder then a pair of silk compression shorts (knee length) works wonders.

I thought you meant 'should I get my bike a mattress and pillow to sleep on.'

Pull over every 2 hours for 10 minutes, walk and drink water.

Oh, you mean while he's filling his gas tank those "every 2 hours", Mac???

(...'cause with our 4 gallon tanks and at around 40MPG at 80MPH, it would just about be that kind of interval between fill-ups, right?!)

Lucas, I'm starting to prep for my own epic 3800+ mile ride in May to Sunny CA & back. My requirements overview for comfortable distince riding from lessons learned the past couple of seasons:

+1 on the sheepskin/shearling seat cover (I'm also gonna try a beaded seat cover that may help relieve some fatigue....)
+1 on the wicking briefs-(I tried Rich's cutoff sweats trick after the Midwest rally last year...worked OK @ fending off monkey butt for me for awhile...I think wicking briefs & the shearling seat will work better tho)
+1 on installing a throttle boss/palm rest
+1 on a beverage holder
+1 on ATGATT
+1 on 10min walk around for 2 hrs of riding & fluids/snacks
A windshield is a must!
+1 on a backrest....I use my travel duffle for one and it does help with back support.
I carry some small packets of Paceline Products motorcyclist's "Butt Wax" in my tool bag (This stuff is good to ease discomfort from chafing & windburn)
Motorcyclist's Butt Wax

Never mind sites disappeared