Saddle Rework

I found a local guy (near Sahuarita, Arizona, USA) who specializes in saddle modifications, rebuilds, and original custom builds. I met with him yesterday to discuss what I wanted, i.e. greater comfort for both me and my passenger, but trying to stay with a reasonably stock look and color scheme. I dropped the saddle off yesterday evening and he called me about mid morning to say that the initial foam removal-buildup-sculpting was done and it was ready to be tried out. When I picked it up this afternoon he had already obtained the vinyl for the job in colors that are really close to the originals. I got it back on the bike this evening and will be trying it out tomorrow.

In the photos the white is the original foam and the pink is the new gel foam. He removes a portion of the original foam and then builds the seat back up with the more pliant gel foam over what is left of the original. This helps to maintain the original shape and dimensions but provides greater comfort for the rider while still using the original pan. The stock saddle was a butt buster for both of us so I’m hoping for some significant improvement. The price estimate is about $260 US.

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Driver and passenger comfort is a hard task with the GRiSO. For me I pushed the rise back an inch to give me more space between the left jug and my knee. Not good for a passenger.

I like the sharp rise on your seat. I would want to make sure your area is as flat as possible while on the bike. The stock shape continually slides you forward toward the tank.

Dilliw wrote:

Driver and passenger comfort is a hard task with the GRiSO.  For me I pushed the rise back an inch to give me more space between the left jug and my knee.  Not good for a passenger.

I like the sharp rise on your seat.  I would want to make sure your area is as flat as possible while on the bike.  The stock shape continually slides you forward toward the tank.  

Agreed, it is a challenge. My legs are short so the clearances aren’t an issue. I rode for about 160 miles today and started feeling it in my sitz bones after about 100 miles. I seem to be sitting fairly level so I don’t think that sliding will be an issue. He narrowed the pan by about 6-8mm on each side at the front so those hot spots have disappeared. Fortunately the builder is just down the road in the next town and is willing to do further modifications to get it as comfortable as possible without quite aesthetically venturing into Russell Day-Long territory.

Tomorrow I’ll venture out with my passenger and see what she thinks.

great stuff, I see no reason (other than the seat) why the GRiSO shouldn't be a capable 2-up bike. I'll be following your progress with interest.

Here’s a photo of the reworked two-up saddle. The upholsterer was able to get pretty close with the two-tone color scheme although the dark roast coffee brown shade was not available. Both the dark and light brown colors are somewhat lighter than stock but we were able to maintain the difference between the two.

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He did good on the two tone.  I used Sargent and they have fewer choices available and no contrasting brown.  I ended up going with their Ducati Scrambler distressed leather look  I still have the OEM seat so no permanent damage was done!

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I think it's gorgeous George!

Here’s a couple more photos showing the stitching and details.

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[quote="Dilliw"]He did good on the two tone.  I used Sargent and they have fewer choices available and no contrasting brown.  I ended up going with their Ducati Scrambler distressed leather look  I still have the OEM seat so no permanent damage was done!

The distressed brown leather color looks quite good with the Tenni green. I have a new OEM saddle on order so that I also can set things back to original, although my heirs will likely wonder why the thing is here.