Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge America Touring Part 2

Thanks for all of the info! Those are some really good tips and I am thinking I will order a Corbin seat, volt meter and some weather resistant electrical outlets next month.

I also agree an America is probably not the best bike for touring, but it has been a great bike to learn on and it does everything else so well!

Since it looks like most everyone uses soft luggage, how does everyone deal with security?

I have a tail bag now and when I stop to eat or if I need to go inside some where, I take everything that I am not willing to lose with me. That includes things like a helmet, gloves, jacket, glasses and what ever else I have. This is not so bad, but I have left sun glasses one place and a glove in another. Fortunately I couldn’t go without them and I had to just walk around the restaurant till I found them. My friend has Hepco and Becker bags on his Bonneville and just locks them in the cases and goes on, very nice.

Thanks, Dean

Unless the seat is really bothering you other options may be better than a Corbin. With their recent price hike they have become quite pricey and, although I am generally happy with mine, it is still uncomfortable after 2-3 hours. Gel pads, air cushions and/or sheepskin covers may do the trick for you. If you need back support the Bikersfriend may be just the ticket. Not only does it give good lumbar support, but the XL will hold a case of beer.

Dean,
Regarding the seat...
The problem IS that the stock seat is DISHED, which locks you into one position on these long rides. NOBODY EVER discusses this most important of "comfortability quotients"(as for some unknown reason, people think that dishing it out MORE is the cure...poor misguided souls), but this is the BASIC problem!(trust me...I know of what I speak)

When you're locked into one position on a long ride, you get what is loosely known as "MONKEY-BUTT", after say 60 miles!

Now you may ask, "Well then Dwight, what's the SOLUTION???"

I'll tell you, my new friend!

THE SOLUTION is to FLATTEN the seat!

You see, you DON'T have to buy an expensive new Corbin/Mustang/Whatever seat, ALL you have to do is REMOVE the stock seat from your bike, REMOVE the covering(by removing the staples underneath), and then ADD about an inch and a half of dense foam cut in a rounded D-shape and then APPLY said foam with foam adhesive to where your posterior would normally meet the d*mn thing.

Making sure that you've leveled all areas in the middle of the seat, and also making sure that you have smoothed the surface so that no ripples or irregularities appear, REAPPLY the seat cover by pulling it tight in all directions, and staple it back on underneath where the original staples were.

It's NOT that hard to do!(especially if you have opposing thumbs)

You will find that the ability to move you butt around on a more LEVEL seat will enhance your endurance.(well, your BUTT'S endurance, anyway)

If you have any questions PM me!

Cheers,
Dwight
(I keep telling myself that "one day people will listen to me"...but THAT'S just a dream, I guess)

bead seats work well.

i have one. you can move around, air flows under your a$$, and the beads massage your a$$. they're pretty cheap, too.

sampson bead seats

cat

Dean,

I think your going to learn that the seat is a matter of choice. For example, I love my corbin and couldn't do more than an hour on the stock seat and I know many that would agree with me but Chy rode all the way from Georgia to New York on the stock seat and had sold his corbin because is bothered him. There are many that would agree with him as well.

Unfortunately the only one who can tell you what is going to work is you. I would suggest trying to get your hands on the cheaper options first before buying them if you can. Go for a long days ride with each one to see how they do. Your going to be sore either way it's just that you will be less discomforted with one.

I have Tourmaster Cruiser II bags and a tankbag. During stops for food I try to stop at a place where I can see everything. I leave the helmet on the bike and keep loose stuff in the tank bag. Haven't lost (had stolen or forgotten) anything yet. On the road at night hotel folks have always accomodated my request to have a room where I could park the bike just outside the door or would let me park near the office where they could see it. I take the GPS and tank bag off as well as whatever bag is strapped to the seat and use the stock steering lock, bike cover, and a cable that keeps the cover on. No huge chain or cable.

Dean! Just saw your website! Great work bud, make me the pulleys for a belt drive :-).

What I did cost 25 bucks. I peeled the cover off the seat and used a long serated knife from the kitchen. Sawed off a bit over 2 inches of that very hard foam sat the seat a bunch of times til I felt right then spray glued memory foam on it where I had cut. Re-attached the cover and was good to go.

My seat is about an inch shorter now when I sit as I sink in, it molds to me and has seriously increased my confort on longer rides.

VWone, I just had my seat redone a month ago and I removed the dish(scoop) portion and flatened it out. I also had the shop put in a foam that was a notch softer than the Corbin. Now I can shift my butt around on long trips and be locked into one place, and the foam gives me great support, and it was alot cheaper than A Corbin(plus I did not use leather; Iwanted it water proof).......Angelis

I have never sat on a stock seat...... this one was on my bike when I got it. The foam is very firm, and I can slid around on it and get different seating positions. It was made by a custom seat shop and is a couple inches lower than stock. My rear has yet to get worn out on a ride, usually my shoulders or back give out first.

Hey Guys thanks for the info, but I have ridden about a 100 miles on my best friends 06 black bonnie with a Corbin seat and I really liked it. So I will most likely stick with that.

I guess I am going to start off with the soft bags and see how it goes.

Satxron, Thanks for the comments! However I kind of stick to the miniature machining, if I thought I could machine your stuff on my small machines I would do it. However, I can only machine stuff that will fit in the palm of your hand. That radial engine I have is about the biggest I can go for now.

Thanks again, Dean

I was just teasin, I love the little engine.