Help me Keep the Super Tenere

Scubatech

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The Airhawk works pretty well for me too. It could be a little larger to fill up more of the seat. I think the worst part is the forward lean of the seat. Even with the Airhawk I'm always moving back on the seat when in traffic or using the brakes a lot. I have a Saddle Man seat that's not bad but I removed it when I got the Airhawk pad. The seat is still in the box like new. I've never been able to do the miles that some Guys do on here without getting a sore Butt either.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Eram310, I think that some people can ride all day, and other can't. I don't think your size has anything to do with it. I'm 6', and 300lbs at 57 yrs. I can't go more than a couple of hours at a time. I've always ass-sumed that it was my weight squishing the padding. . . . of the seat, and in my ass. But, your about half of my weight, so. . . . If the Sargent seat works fine on the SV, but not on the T-12, there's more to it than just the seat. Seating position, (position of your legs and arms) and engine vibrations are probably the main factors. Before spending any more money, I'd try and find a forum member that has changed out their seat, and is willing to let you try it out. The bike would be the "control" element, with only the seat(s) being different. Good luck.
That's really good advice Robert. Truth be told, the last few years since getting my Super Tenere, I like to stop every few hours and stretch. I'm not apposed to longer days in the saddle as long as I can stop and relax every so often. It's one of the reasons I prefer solo over group rides.

I remember years ago when I did my 5500+ mile western states tour on my Ninja. I met up with a guy in South Yellowstone rolling on a Gold Wing. I was so envious!! When I commented about wishing I had his bike for the 500 plus mile days he laughed. His comment to me was no matter what bike you ride 500 mile days hurt after a few days.

Eram, I wish you the best of luck getting your super Tenere dialed in ergo wise. FWIW, I have had my same AirHawk for almost 15 years and has swapped over to a few of my bikes. I would not have been able to do my Iron Butt without it.
 

AVGeek

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The Airhawk works pretty well for me too. It could be a little larger to fill up more of the seat. I think the worst part is the forward lean of the seat. Even with the Airhawk I'm always moving back on the seat when in traffic or using the brakes a lot. I have a Saddle Man seat that's not bad but I removed it when I got the Airhawk pad. The seat is still in the box like new. I've never been able to do the miles that some Guys do on here without getting a sore Butt either.
If you haven't seen it already, check out the seat leveling mod here on the forum. Its the only thing I did to my seat on my 2012, and it made a world of difference.

Also, I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam, but found I preferred the high seat position for most riding, and only switched the seat to low when riding more challenging dirt roads.
 

EricV

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@eram310 - You did a pretty good job of describing yourself, your issues and your bikes. What really stands out to me, and you're not seeing yet, is that the bikes you are comfortable on have a pronounced forward lean in body position. The Super Ten does not, it's much more upright. Adding risers would be the exact opposite thing to do to get you more comfortable.

Go here: https://cycle-ergo.com/ Add your three bikes. It will show one bike at a time. You can move to the next bike by clicking on the header describing each bike. Toggle back and forth between the three bikes and you'll instantly see what I'm talking about.

Your sit bones are aggravated by the more upright posture and a different seat won't change that. Some people have more pronounced sit bones than others and that can be a real challenge for a motorcycle seat. I know some men with self described "bony butts" that are not necessarily skinny guys, but no seat worked on a bike with ergos that didn't fit them. Even a RDL didn't solve the problem. What solved the problem was getting back into the rider position that they are comfortable in.

In your case, more forward lean takes the weight off your sit bones, moves it more to your thighs and you're more comfortable. There is a thing called a Vetter Magic Seat board that might help you, if you can be comfortable using one. Go to the link and read the article and I believe you will recognize your situation. In a nut shell, it "transfers the weight from your Ischium bones to your thighs." This will completely change your riding, if you can get used to using the board. You can make your own and instructions are on the site I linked to.
 

eram310

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If the Sargent seat works fine on the SV, but not on the T-12, there's more to it than just the seat.

Totally agree. I don't have a problem with my butt on sport or sport touring bikes as the sitting position is hunched forward. 10 years ago I did 300 + miles on a DRZ 400 and that was a torture and I was in my 40is back then.
 

eram310

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Aug 28, 2014
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I posted earlier this month that I added the Skwoosh mid-size gel pad to my stock seat and I must
say it is a heck of an improvement. Well made (in NY), fits spot on and very functional, not bad for $69.99.
I prefer the gel-pad in the Skwoosh rather than the air-pad in the AirHawk.
View attachment 67153
I will need it much more forward as close to the tank as possible as I almost sit on it.
 

eram310

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Aug 28, 2014
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Currently using Corbin it mostly works fine but it’s to slippery and to hard on rough roads. I have tried SeatConcepts for 160 miles and didn’t like it, last week I rode 500 miles on a friends Russel Day Long and thought it was great so I’m planning to buy one, it’s a little to tall for me but I’m hoping to have mine made a little lower.
Tenere is the first motorcycle I ever owned with such a miserable seat, or maybe the real problem is I’m Just getting old.
Someone from the Twin Cities let me try a Corbin about 5 years ago. It was better than stock , but not great. Very slippery, even more than the Sargent. You guys are awesome.
 

eram310

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@eram310 - You did a pretty good job of describing yourself, your issues and your bikes. What really stands out to me, and you're not seeing yet, is that the bikes you are comfortable on have a pronounced forward lean in body position. The Super Ten does not, it's much more upright. Adding risers would be the exact opposite thing to do to get you more comfortable.

Go here: https://cycle-ergo.com/ Add your three bikes. It will show one bike at a time. You can move to the next bike by clicking on the header describing each bike. Toggle back and forth between the three bikes and you'll instantly see what I'm talking about.

Your sit bones are aggravated by the more upright posture and a different seat won't change that. Some people have more pronounced sit bones than others and that can be a real challenge for a motorcycle seat. I know some men with self described "bony butts" that are not necessarily skinny guys, but no seat worked on a bike with ergos that didn't fit them. Even a RDL didn't solve the problem. What solved the problem was getting back into the rider position that they are comfortable in.

In your case, more forward lean takes the weight off your sit bones, moves it more to your thighs and you're more comfortable. There is a thing called a Vetter Magic Seat board that might help you, if you can be comfortable using one. Go to the link and read the article and I believe you will recognize your situation. In a nut shell, it "transfers the weight from your Ischium bones to your thighs." This will completely change your riding, if you can get used to using the board. You can make your own and instructions are on the site I linked to.
Right on, sport and sport touring bikes work for me. Off road and aggressive dual sport I am standing 75%+ of the time. I will have to read more on this. Thank you.
 

XTZELEE

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Dec 12, 2015
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Flat seat mod and airhawk (barely inflated) good for me too. Wasted my money on a Touratech seat, standard seat was way better with the mod done.
 

EricV

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What might be a simple idea to see if the concept will work for you is lowering the bars. Remove any risers you have added and rotate the bars. I'm not sure how much you can get away with and still have a comfortable distance between the bars and tank. And you will likely need to drill another hole for the locating dimple to keep the controls from rotating. If that seems to be a direction that works, (lowering the bars), then a longer term solution might be a flatter bar with less sweep that brings your torso forward more for a riding position that gets you back into your personal sweet spot of comfort.

The good thing is that a lower bar would not require any other changes that I can think of, off hand. And most riders find a little less sweep helps with hand numbing issues too.

Good luck and please share what you end up doing so others that have similar issues can learn from your experience.
 

fac191

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Good post. i put risers on mine from the start. Changed the seat to Seat Concepts and took the risers off. All much better now.
 

Sierra1

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. . . .I prefer the gel-pad in the Skwoosh rather than the air-pad in the AirHawk.
View attachment 67153
MFP may be onto something. The ST 1300 I rode had a seat that was fine around town. But, after about 45 minutes. . . . it was hell on wheels. The bike came from Huntington Beach Honda (HBH). The sent me an OE seat, that had gel instead of foam. Night & day difference. Looked exactly the same, and didn't feel much different to the touch. But, my ass definitely knew the difference. I tried talking HBH into doing my FJ's seat. . . . they only do Hondas. But, gel maybe the answer/key.
 

tallpaul

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Whitworth, Rochdale, UK
Good post. i put risers on mine from the start. Changed the seat to Seat Concepts and took the risers off. All much better now.
Same here, risers fitted as I just expected to need them. I've just fitted Touratech seats (bank manager is still complaining...) so will try without the risers and see if I've p*ssed on my chips buying the seats.
 

fac191

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Same here, risers fitted as I just expected to need them. I've just fitted Touratech seats (bank manager is still complaining...) so will try without the risers and see if I've p*ssed on my chips buying the seats.
I thought you lot put gravy on you chips ?
 
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