When I bought my bike a couple of months back it came with a gel touring seat that seems a bit too firm. I've taken the seat off to see if there's any adjustment to be had but it's just a solid piece of whatever. I took a pillion on the other night and she was complaining of a sore bum after only 30 miles.

Is there something available to soften the load a bit. I know about the gel pads etc  but I was thinking more of a cover to put on it. Somebody mentioned sheepskin which sounds fantastic but white fur on a touring bike would look a little crap!!

Any suggestions that won't break the bank??                                                                                                                                                                             

How about a fiberglass seat cowl. No pillion, no problem.                                                                                                                                                                              

Eeeh I didn't think of that Phil, thanks for the quality advice                                                                                                                                                                              

I know someone who uses cycle shorts under their leathers to soften the blows.                                                                                                                                                                              

get a pillion with a big squashy bum...they do have their uses                                                                                                                                                                             

Don't do big and squashy Minnie, there's enough of me for that 

It's not just the pilly either. I can only do an hour or so before the fidgeting sets in                                                                                                                                                                              

A good seat maker will use different densities of foam and/or gel dependant on the customers requirements.

Many however will do a "standard" alteration based on the bike, especially of the pillion seat and the end result is often too firm and uncomfortable where gel inserts are concerned.

I'd be tempted to try and find another seat from a breakers.                                                                                                                                                                             

As in a standard seat Geoff or take a chance on another custom jobby?                                                                                                                                                                             

A new standard seat should help. I find they only last about 20k before the they lose their 'squish'   Cycling shorts also get my vote, with the added bonus that you've got something to wear, under your leathers, when you arrive.   Lycra's a definate no-no tho                                                                                                                                                                             

scrappy(scrapyardmonster) bought a new seat pad for his bmw rusty and he traveled from gloucester to york with no stops! he said its brilliant, just strap it on and take it off when u get there,instead of stopping for a break to get feeling back he came straight through no problems,, drop him a pm im sure he will be happy to tell you which one he bought xx bood xx

Thanks for that Rob. I think I'll give the cycling shorts a miss though! 

bood I'll pm scrappy now, that might well be the way to go, cheers for the info  xx                                                                                                                                                                             

M&P  still selling them Corbin seats  Tezz  look good but they aint cheap at £400 a pop !                                                                                                                                                                             

£400!! Neal 

Makes the cycling shorts look appealing 

Looks like a cushion and some gaffa tape then eh!                                                                                                                                                                             

Try a 2nd hand std seat. Sometimes a new seat needs breaking in and 2nd hand would be cheaper.                                                                                                                                                                              

Cheers for that yama,

I've had a look on fleabay and googled but nothing doing on the secondhand front at the mo. Shame as i've got a long ride planned for Sunday so it'll be a John Wayne walk when I get there!                                                                                                                                                                              

I'd contact partfinder or similar RK and get yourself a standard seat.  Don't get another custom one.

If then you find you don't like the standard seat, you can have it altered to suit you, use your existing one whilst it's away and then flog the one you've got.

It would cost you in the short term, but you'd probably make a lot of it back.                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks for that Geoff I'll contact partfinder now and see what's about                                                                                                                                                                              

I agree with Geoff, partfinder- get seat- google seat modifiers- pick your cover (some do metalics to match your bike or a cover to your design) and they'll even sculpt the seat to your requirements and inset gel blocks and stuff- send the best of the two bases and foam to the modifier-get it back - sell the crap one or keep it to put on occasionally to remind yourself why you spent the cash (less than £150 usually). Ladies who are vertically challenged may like this too, coz the results are really proffesional so the bike still looks good, rather than having a seat that looks crap and is uncomfortable coz the foams too thin, these guys can put in a sponge/gel to meet the weight and height requirements.                                                                                                                                                                             

Well i've contacted partfinder and entered the details so fingers crossed but i've also found this site that might be useful for anyone making or altering their seat:

diymotorcycleseat.com/index.php

I've googled seat modifiers 2T but it comes up with a load of crap about toilet seats and office chairs                                                                                                                                                                              

  ...crap about toilet seats   LOL, pun intended Terry?