Paging RGD and the Harley-isti
in [Motorcycles]
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From: TOG on 9 Nov 2009 08:22 On 9 Nov, 12:17, "tomor...(a)erols.com" <tomorrowaterolsdot...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > On Nov 9, 2:18 am, totallydeadmail...(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older > > Gentleman) wrote: > > Or HD could fit a decent seat as stock, but that's too radical a > > solution, I suppose. Might as well ask Ducati to fit electrics that > > aren't made of Christmas tree lights. > > Different experiences here. > > I haven't bought a motorcycle with a "decent seat[1]" as stock since > my 1973 Ducati 750GT, although the stock seat on my 2004 Road Glide > and the stock seat on my 2006 Street Glide have been the best of the > bunch. Nor have I ever bought a motorcycle with decent stock horn > from any maker. Nor have I had any electrical complaints with any of > my Ducatis since the '73 GT and the '77 900SS bevelhead. Well, I exaggerate ;-) My own Duke has been trouble-free, barring a dodgy connection to the starter solenoid and a mild appetite for neutral light switches. But I regard a seat as something really important on a bike. I mean, it doesn't any more to design or build a comfy one as it does to produce a torture rack, so why can't more manufacturers get it right? A few years ago, I was toruing on a fuel-injected Guzzi California. Lovely bike, great engine and handling, but the seat was excruciating after only one hour. Best seats ever, in my own experience? Moto Guzzi Spada, current BMW K11, old airhead BMW, Honda CX500. And the present Ducati's pretty good too. > > [1] "decent" in this instance meaning (to me) broad, flat, firm, > doesn't lock me into one position, is comfortable for long distances, > and doesn't make the bike look awful. It's a good enough definition.
From: TOG on 9 Nov 2009 08:24 On 9 Nov, 12:17, "tomor...(a)erols.com" <tomorrowaterolsdot...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >Nor have I ever bought a motorcycle with decent stock horn > from any maker. Oh, missed this. BMW, mate, BMW. Humungous great Fiamms. Years ago, a journo invented the "Grandmother Frightening Scale" for BMW horns. But yes, you're right: most horns are truly crappy.
From: Mark Olson on 9 Nov 2009 10:01 TOG(a)Toil wrote: > But I regard a seat as something really important on a bike. I mean, > it doesn't any more to design or build a comfy one as it does to > produce a torture rack, so why can't more manufacturers get it right? >> and doesn't make the bike look awful. That's the answer. Comfy seats have to be wide and shaped to fit the rider's posterior, which is generally at odds with what many potential buyers consider to be good looks. After enduring the hell on earth that many stock seats are after a few hours, those preconceptions go right out the window. It does make a person think though, it would be great to be able to order a semi-custom seat direct from the manufacturer as an option. Stature [ ] stumpy [ ] normal [x] leggy [ ] orangutan [ ] giant Avoirdupois [ ] stick insect [ ] normal [ ] enhanced [x] bloater [ ] creates own local gravity etc.
From: Road Glidin' Don on 9 Nov 2009 10:46 On Nov 9, 5:17 am, "tomor...(a)erols.com" <tomorrowaterolsdot...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > On Nov 9, 2:18 am, totallydeadmail...(a)yahoo.co.uk (The Older > > Gentleman) wrote: > > Or HD could fit a decent seat as stock, but that's too radical a > > solution, I suppose. Might as well ask Ducati to fit electrics that > > aren't made of Christmas tree lights. > > Different experiences here. > > I haven't bought a motorcycle with a "decent seat[1]" as stock since > my 1973 Ducati 750GT, although the stock seat on my 2004 Road Glide > and the stock seat on my 2006 Street Glide have been the best of the > bunch. Nor have I ever bought a motorcycle with decent stock horn > from any maker. Nor have I had any electrical complaints with any of > my Ducatis since the '73 GT and the '77 900SS bevelhead. > > [1] "decent" in this instance meaning (to me) broad, flat, firm, > doesn't lock me into one position, is comfortable for long distances, > and doesn't make the bike look awful. Goes to show, it's a good idea to give the stock seat a try before swapping it out. The stock seat on my Street Bob, solid as a slab of rock, gave me every impression it would be uncomfortable for long days, just looking at it and feeling it. But then I rode it and, to my surprise, it's extremely comfortable; not an issue at all. I can sit on that thing all day long without discomfort. Must be that the shape is right.
From: TOG on 9 Nov 2009 11:45
On 9 Nov, 15:46, "Road Glidin' Don" <d.lan...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > The stock seat on my Street Bob, solid as a slab of rock, gave me > every impression it would be uncomfortable for long days, just looking > at it and feeling it. But then I rode it and, to my surprise, it's > extremely comfortable; not an issue at all. I can sit on that thing > all day long without discomfort. Must be that the shape is right. That was just the same with my Duke. When I bought it, I eyed it with suspicion, recollecting all the stories about Dukes being designed around a gibbon with an armour-plated backside, but to my astonishment it was great. I've done 550-600 miles in a day on it. Of course, a decent riding position helps. On a sports bike with 'conventional' controls, that means a certain amount of weight taken on arms and feet. I suppose on a Harley with forward controls, no weight is being taken on either arms or feet and so the design of the seat is even more important. |