 Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,666 Likes: 16
Monkey Butt
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OP
Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,666 Likes: 16 |
I have never had a complaint on my America. It appears many don't like how comfortable Triumph is. Consumer Reports
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
While I don't have the feedback figures Consumer Reports evidently has in order to "prove" one way or the other which brand of motorcycle comes with the cushiest and most comfortable seats direct from the factory, you DO know that there's a whole lot of guys around here who are now sportin' some aftermarket seats on their Triumph cruisers because they found them less than satisfactory, doncha Ron?
(...or in my case, totally reshaped the one on my BA myself with new foam, some 3M spray adhesive and an electric carving knife, and then took it to my local professional upholsterer for a whole new cover)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,666 Likes: 16
Monkey Butt
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OP
Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,666 Likes: 16 |
I actually forgot Dwight. Both of my seats got carved out too. Yeah, you are right my seats sucked before that.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 242
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I love my TBA but had to replace seat and suspension. They both sucked from Triumph.
08 America
Rinehart exhaust, Clearview shield, Viking bags and magic carb's
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
I love my TBA but had to replace seat and suspension. They both sucked from Triumph.
The Triumph touring seat on my Speedmaster was great - very comfortable. 
The suspension, not so much. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,240 |
Quote:
The Triumph touring seat on my Speedmaster was great - very comfortable.
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I'm still running stock rear suspenders on my '04, but the Progressive fork springs took the dive right out. Like a load leveler. I don't know if the '09 ever got the treatment, but I can't complain about her the way she is. Either the prior owner did it, or Triumph improved their game by then, but I see no need to throw $$$ in that direction.
Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K
2020 T120 Black
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I just finished a 160 mile nonstop ride. I can understand why someone would want to upgrade the seat  other than that, I love the bike.
Mark
College Station
13 America
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,707 Likes: 3
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,707 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
I just finished a 160 mile nonstop ride. I can understand why someone would want to upgrade the seat other than that, I love the bike.
you get 160 miles to a tank of gas?
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 130
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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The tank holds over 5 gal. I don't get a low fuel light until around 170. Went 190 once and still only put in a little over 4 gal.
Mark
College Station
13 America
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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You guys have either got smaller tanks than me or your fuel isnt to good, my 07 america consistently gets around 260 klm. (160 miles) just to get to reserve. I have made it to 310 klm and still had a bit over a liter left, I generally travel around 110 to 120 kph, how ever a decent headwind will change these figures but never to the point where I could'nt get 160 miles to a tank.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,707 Likes: 3
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,707 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
The tank holds over 5 gal. I don't get a low fuel light until around 170. Went 190 once and still only put in a little over 4 gal.
my bad, I was looking at your avatar and thought you had an older model, pre-EFI 
I might be able to stretch 120 out of mine
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Quote:
Quote:
The tank holds over 5 gal. I don't get a low fuel light until around 170. Went 190 once and still only put in a little over 4 gal.
my bad, I was looking at your avatar and thought you had an older model, pre-EFI
I might be able to stretch 120 out of mine
I've got the smaller tank and hit reserve at 110 miles once but that was running at 80 mph for a while.I normally run at 65/70 mph.
P.S.The numbers have been changed from Kilometers to Miles for our U.S. viewers 
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,152 Likes: 12
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,152 Likes: 12 |
it would seem that how comfortable a bike was, is largely dependent on how well the bike fits you personally. Given the wide range of body types, one size is not likely to fit all.
The majority of riders do not do anything to adjust their bikes to fit them, so they are not happy, but just live with it. Or they change brands/models until they stumble upon one that fits.
05 speedmaster - 1100cc, 11:1 racing pistons, Carillo rods, thunderbike cams, ported and polished head, 2mm over intake and exhaust valves, Barnett kevlar clutch, scepter pipes, oversize manifolds, 45mm HSR's, TTP stage 4 firestarter
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,175 Likes: 47
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,175 Likes: 47 |
Standard America solo seat 165 lbs and a skinny arse and I dont find the seat uncomfortable for a tank full. New seat maybe would be more comfortable but there's no test riding before the big bucks flow so I understand why most keep existing.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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My 05 Speedmaster still has the standard seat just with an aftermarket cover. I love it. So comfy, I can ride all day no problem.
05 Speedmaster,Reverse Cone Shortys,Thunderbike AIR Kit,K&N Air Filter,Snorkel Removed,Dynojet Stage 1 Kit(126 main),Needle-Clip 1 From Bottom,42 Pilot,NGK Iridium Plugs,Progressive Springs,Hagon 2810's,Barnett Green Springs,TTP Safe-Start,MOSFET R/R
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,134 Likes: 52
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,134 Likes: 52 |
Seat comfort is extremely subjective. My seat is the way it came from the factory and I can easily put 300+ miles on it in a day.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
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Seats have to be comfortable enough on the showroom floor to open the wallets of people with the "Head out on the highway" dream. Those of us who've outgrown that have other criteria when we choose a bike. We accept that bikes need to be tweaked a little and we know how to do it. You young, skinny bastids can ride on a piece of plywood and not complain. At least that's how it was when I was young and 50# lighter.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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I am not young or skinny anymore. The stock seat is good enough on the 100 mile ride, but my 270# arse got a might uncomfortable doing around 800 miles this weekend. I did have a duffle strapped behind me that served as a backrest and it made a huge improvement though.
Mark
College Station
13 America
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
I can handle almost any of the seats offered, but I have got to have a backrest I can push back against to eliminate the lower lumbar slouch our cruisers seem to promulgate. So far, Corbin is the one to beat with their backrest design for me.
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Seats have to be comfortable enough on the showroom floor to open the wallets of people with the "Head out on the highway" dream. Those of us who've outgrown that have other criteria when we choose a bike. We accept that bikes need to be tweaked a little and we know how to do it.
You young, skinny bastids can ride on a piece of plywood and not complain. At least that's how it was when I was young and 50# lighter.
Yea, but nobody sits on a bike in the showroom for over an hour to see how comfortable the seat really is. Kind of hard seeing how the suspension soaks up the bumps on the showroom floor to.
That said Harley offers 22 different seats 3 bar heights and forward or mid control options for my Dyna so most people can find what fits them. The dealers have a demo rig to dry different combinations before you buy.
I find the factory setup on this bike fine but for real long rides I throw on one of these.
LINK
On the Triumph I just added a little extra foam to the factory seat but on the old Hondas the factory seats were replaced with Mustang aftermarket seats because Honda offered no factory options. Man those Honda seats squashed down to the pan in 30 minutes.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
I had a VLX honda for a few years and when I first got it,I rode 300+ kms on the stock seat.I nearly crippled myself.The Japanese Sadist Designers had put the mounting bolt directly under my tail bone and as you say,after half an hour riding it seems you may as well not have a seat. I soon got a mustang!
On my Triumph,the Corbin is the best modification I've made.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,297
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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This is why you guys should all ride Tiggers. The stock seat is about darn near purfect.
In Between the Dark and the Light..
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 11 |
Comfort? How about handling. And beauty (at least whilst the bikes had speed twin tanks). Comfort? Cushy comfort like the barges mentioned in the article? lol. get your rear end in a cage.  Prudence routinely gets 40+mpg. And she'll go 170 miles on a tank. Prudence (89 octane) Jun 18, 2014 odo 27342.7 gals 3.811 Trip 169.0 Mpg 44.3 Price per gallon $4.50 Reserve at 158.4
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 83
Member
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Member
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Got a 2014 EFI 5 gal tank And i can do between 170 and 200 and still only put 4 in. Get the fuel light at about 160 pretty reuglarly.
14 America LT 19" EMGO Turnouts AI removed
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Comfort? How about handling. And beauty (at least whilst the bikes had speed twin tanks). Comfort? Cushy comfort like the barges mentioned in the article? lol. get your rear end in a cage.
Prudence routinely gets 40+mpg. And she'll go 170 miles on a tank.
Prudence (89 octane)
Jun 18, 2014
odo 27342.7
gals 3.811
Trip 169.0
Mpg 44.3
Price per gallon $4.50
Reserve at 158.4
Drive your Prius if you're worried about gas mileage.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: Consumer Reports on Motorcycle Comfort.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Quote:
This is why you guys should all ride Tiggers. The stock seat is about darn near purfect.
One bike does not fit all.
2 riders in a showroom love the same model motorcycle but one rider is 6ft2in the other is 5ft9in. One of them finds the bike comfortable and the other has to settle for a different bike that he/she doesn't like as much? The solution is to make totally different seat, bar, peg and even ride height options for each model giving as wide a field of custom fit as possible.
I love the standard Bonneville's classic looks but to me they mounted the pegs way too far back and lowered the seat closer to the pegs making the leg angle extreme for tall riders. Compare to a classic 1970's Bonneville where the pegs are further forward. The only way to get comfortable was to get the America/Speedmaster cruiser but the look is totally different.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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