[Clive]

I must admit the GPZ/Ninja is not really up for touring in my opinion. Sure, it has a buzz box engine, when warmed up will carry me and my gubbins anywhere I point it. However after about 50 miles I get the aches and pains so familiar with a GPZ riding position and the "nether regions" start to ball ache too. I guess by now you know this is some creaky old guy whose mind is trying to re-enact his youthful right handed exuberance, but whose old(er) body won't let him! Actually not quite. The old Beemer F650 was like riding along on your comfy armchair, the sit up style and centre of gravity perfectly complimenting the riding style. After 200 miles plus, I could get off that bike without any aches at all. Sadly it had to be sold due to a financial matter in my close family. Of course the old workhorse GPZ is always up for a bit of fun as a little runaround and my commuter, which at 28 miles per day round trip, always puts a smile on my face. The number of times car drives think they can out accelerate me often leaves them looking very foolish in my rear view mirror! I love it, big grins on my way home

But what about that painful seated position after 50 miles? This year I need to put some serious mileage on an old bike, which is now 25 years old and it's time for me to consider a gel pad. Any thoughts and opinions, advice and products greatly appreciated. I see some gel pads raise the seat height by about 3 cm, which is good for me - long lanky legs at junctions and traffic lights etc. Anyway, gel pad it is, any thoughts appreciated.

Clive (60 yrs going on 6 )

 

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I always found the seat of my EX550 to be more comfortable than my Beemer K75, even though the Beemer was supposedly the long distance tourer. However, after 200 miles, I wouldn't describe either seat as a "comfy armchair". I think a lot depends on your physical stature and the topography of your butt, so individual results vary. The sad reality is that you need to stop and limber up more often as you become a "mature" rider.

Various people have told me about a pad called an Airhawk, but I've never actually got around to trying one myself. You can google it. They are affordable at about 100 USD, come in various sizes and shapes, and because they inflate rather than rely on gel, they are somewhat adjustable.

I got a deal on on a Saddlemen gel seat for my Yamaha R3 over the winter, but I'm still buried in snow and have nothing to report yet. It feels nice when I sit on it in the shop, but we know that means nothing.

 

[Clive]

Thanks, I'll check them out. It would be easy to just Google everything really, but I'm hoping someone has direct experience and can advise. A numb bum is one thing, achy balls quite another!

 

[yorkie]

However after about 50 miles I get the aches and pains so familiar with a GPZ riding position and the "nether regions" start to ball ache too.

50 MILES !!!!!, How do you last that long after 25miles I get the pain across the shoulders by 35 miles the lower back is aching if I don't stop and walk around a bit by 45 miles my legs have gone numb.
once did a charity run east coast to west coast total mileage 240 miles (because I had to get to the east coast first then get home from the west coast), I was walking like John Wayne and had a stoop like Quasimodo for almost a week.
I'm definitely the wrong body shape for the 500 for sure.

 

[Clive]

The really strange thing for me is when I sit in the car, no amount of adjustment will give my hips relief. I feel the pain immediately. Yet on the bike, I never have pain in the hips! Obviously a driving/riding issue. The perfect excuse perhaps to continue riding? But yes, even a trip to Aviemore and back, A9 fast road, then back via Grantown (scratching) has my shoulders and back killing me, and of course bum ache!