Modified seat on G650GS

In my last post, I mentioned that there were a few things about the G650GS that did not exactly please me. I already covered the exhaust and air intake modifications, and in the distant past, I mentioned a driving light bar, rear master cylinder protection, taller windshield, handguards, hard wiring a GPS, and Touratech fork protectors.

Well, today I'll talk about a modified stock seat.

While I did not find the stock seat particularly uncomfortable, it left something to be desired. The longest day I've done on the stock seat was just short of 700 miles, and my butt was hurting by the end of the day. This will probably hold true on any seat though. My main issue with the stock seat was the fact that no matter how I positioned myself, I would end up sliding forward, and had to adjust my underwear (yeah, I said it), and almost every stop. The stock seat has an awkward angle where it pushes the rider forward.

After researching the usual aftermarket seats, and some varieties from Wunderlich, I decided to modify my own seat instead. Part of the decision was that there is no magic, one-seat-fits-all variety, and part of it was that my budget is, lets just say, poor.

Having found a used stock seat in need of TLC (ripped cover), I was one step closer to getting what I wanted.  While I've done seats in the past with a decent success, I decided to use a local upholstery shop instead.

First, I removed some foam from the seating area to make it more flat. I then brought the seat to the upholstery shop where we added extra foam in the seating area, extra padding in the crotch area, and raised the rear section by about 1" so I would have a firm support behind my butt. The first attempt to cover the seat in an ostrich-print vinyl (textured) did not go well (the seat looked awesome, but did not match anything on the bike - well, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision), so the seat was recovered in carbon fiber-like vinyl.

This is a closeup of the smoother contour, which provides more support and limits sliding forward.

As viewed from the other side, you can see how the passenger seat area was shortened and pushed back a little, plus the raised rear support.

And a view from the top. Notice how the seating area is larger and smoother than on a stock seat.

Working with a local business is always preferable (for me), and in this instance it worked well. Not only the seat looks nice and is comfortable, but I was also able to achieve a custom fit for under $100 (not including the seat).