Long motorcycle rides are some of life’s greatest pleasures—but the joy can quickly disappear when you start to feel pain in the saddle. So what makes some motorcycle seats uncomfortable, and what can you do about it?
From the design of the bike to the quality of the suspension and the condition of your seat itself, lots of things can impact your comfort as a rider. Below, our team at Luimoto runs through some of the most common—and provides solutions, including our bestselling Gold Gel seat inserts.
Seat Foam Materials
The Problem
The OEM foam in motorcycle seats doesn’t always provide ideal support for long rides—and even high-quality foam can compress unevenly over time. Long-term exposure to the elements can also cause your seat foam to degrade. Any of these factors may lead to aches and pains while riding.
The Fix
Our Gold Gel seat inserts use proprietary materials and are engineered to integrate seamlessly with your existing seat foam—offering superior comfort and support. The unique gel material distributes weight evenly, reducing pressure points and enhancing your overall riding experience.
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Weather Damage to Seat Covers
The Problem
Exposure to the elements can wreak havoc on cheap motorcycle seat covers—and it can even destroy the highest-quality leather over time. Sun can fade and crack the material, while rain and moisture can lead to mildew and deterioration, impacting both your comfort and style.
The Fix
Our premium aftermarket seat covers are made from marine-grade vinyl for superior resilience against harsh weather conditions. We also finish our covers with high-quality Japanese synthetic suede to add a touch of style and enhance your grip in ways that won’t be destroyed by a little rain.
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Engine Vibration
The Problem
Excessive vibration from the motorcycle engine can lead to rider fatigue and discomfort, particularly on longer journeys. This vibration can be felt through the seat, handlebars, and footpegs.
The Fix
There are a couple of things you can try to reduce the vibrations your bike causes—most of which have to do with changing the way weight is distributed across the frame. Here are some options:
- Try using handlebar weights to reduce the amount of vibration you can feel in your hands and arms. More weight will make the bars more stable and prevent them from moving as much.
- Consider switching out your footpegs (or installing highway pegs) to change where your weight goes when riding. Moving your feet further away from the engine can reduce vibrations through the legs, while a more upright posture can allow you to load your feet instead of your seat when you need a break.
- Seat modifications like our Gold Gels can also reduce vibration—and our gels are designed to be installed without changing the shape of your saddle, so you won’t have to worry about extra padding putting you in an awkward position.
Poor Suspension
The Problem
A motorcycle's suspension plays a vital role in ride comfort, especially on long distances or while off-roading. Poor suspension makes for bumpy rides—shocks from every rock or crack in the pavement get transmitted directly to you, which can be a real pain in the rear.
The Fix
Altering the suspension on your bike is an obvious solution to this problem. Here are some steps you can take to adjust the suspension on most modern motorbikes:
- Adjust the preload of your shocks by spinning the retaining collar on top of them. More preload means more spring tension, so the springs will have less room to travel down when you hit a bump.
- Adjust the rebound by twisting each shock’s adjustment knob. This affects the amount your springs travel back up after they have compressed.
- Adjust the compression knob (if your model has one). This essentially controls the speed at which your suspension travels.
- Adjust your ride height via an adjustable eye on the side of each shock. Lower height means more stability, while higher height means sharper handling.
However, note that not all models have high-quality adjustable shocks, dialing them in can be difficult, and suspension upgrades can get pricey. Our Gold Gel inserts naturally have shock-absorbing properties, making them a great way to smooth out your rides whether or not you play with the suspension on your bike.
Seat Position & Ergonomics
The Problem
An awkwardly positioned seat can cause strain on your back, arms, and legs. This misalignment can result in discomfort and fatigue, particularly on longer rides.
The Fix
There’s not a great deal you can do to change the frame geometry of your bike, unless you’re a real gearhead—but you can change the way you’re positioned when you ride it with a few simple upgrades:
- Handlebar risers will give you more room to stretch out your arms and can open up your torso—allowing you to feel less cramped up.
- Highway pegs will essentially do the same for your legs—using both of these can create a “spread eagle” effect that works better on cruisers than most sportbikes, but it’s possible to change the bars and pegs on pretty much any model.
Investing in Cost-Effective Comfort Upgrades
Modifying your motorcycle is a rabbit hole that can quickly get expensive, so you’ll want to think about where you can get the most bang for your buck. Suspension upgrades and brand-new custom seats sit at the higher end of the pricing spectrum—while seat covers and inserts are significantly more affordable (and often easier to dial in).
Contact Luimoto for help ordering a seat cover or gel insert for your bike today—and browse the FAQ below to learn more about how these upgrades work. We’ll make it easy to enhance your riding experience.
FAQ about Luimoto Seat Covers & Gel Inserts
How easy is it to install Luimoto’s Gold Gel inserts?
You can put in our Gold Gel with just a few simple tools. Follow the instructions in our gel insert installation PDF.
Can Luimoto install my gel inserts for me?
Yes—we offer seat insert installation as one of our custom services. Once you’ve paid your deposit, one of our team members will reach out to you to coordinate. The final fee also includes the removal and reinstallation of your OEM or Luimoto seat cover.
Can I get a custom Luimoto seat cover?
Absolutely. We offer custom seat covers with unique stitching, embroidery, materials, and more.
Will Luimoto seat covers protect my bike’s seat foam?
The marine-grade materials we use for our seat covers are designed to offer superior protection against the elements, helping your motorcycle seat foam last longer and retain its structural integrity. This makes them a great way to help avoid the comfort problems that old foam can cause.
