I think I need some convincing . . .

. . .on whether to keep my VFR. Maybe I can get some insight from the regulars.

I traded my Suzuki DL1000 for the VFR in April. I don't regret the trade as I wasn't in love with the Strom. And there are certainly things about the VFR I REALLY like - the engine and how much more refined it is compared to the Suzuki. It is great on the highway. I'm not totally enamored with the suspension, but that can be tinkered with more if I keep the bike.

The problem is I don't find the bike very comfortable on trips. I don't mean 1000 mile trips, I mean 250 mile trips. My hamstrings started burning after 60-90 minutes. I got the bike as a sport tourer, but it's not much of a tourer if I feel bad after 100 miles.

I thought it was the knee angle, but my knees are actually fine. It is more my hamstrings. So, I think the issue is the forward lean. It has helibars and lowered pegs. I'm 5'8" and don't feel stretched out. My bike and wrists are fine. But I'm wondering if I'm using my legs to support my upper body. Maybe a Sargent seat would help, but my ass is fine with the stock seat (except for it pushing me forward). All my previous bikes were DS bikes and standards. Part of the reason I went for a VFR was because I wanted a sportier bike - something a little better to take on the twisties. But now I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off on a sportier DS bike like a Versys (1000 if they would bring it to the US) or an older Multistrada since I would be more upright.

It is hard enough for me to justify having a second bike as it is. And I'm not inclined to keep it unless I really like it. So as much as I like the VFR, if I can't get comfortable, it is pretty much a deal breaker. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Get the Sargents seat. The stock seat is worthless and had me ready to climb off after 90 miles. I found mine on ebay for a decent price and it has been the best upgrade bar none.

 

Did you find it just helped your ***, or did it make for a more comfortable ride overall? I'm not opposed to investing a bit more money if it will help. I just don't want to throw away another $300+ and then sell the bike a couple months later. As I said, the stock seat doesn't hurt my butt. But who knows what the slope of it is doing to make me compensate in other ways.

 

First off, HCorn, Welcome to the site and hopefully you give the VFR enough of a chance to meet your needs. Changing from a DS to a sportier style bike will find you in a different riding posture that may take a bit of getting used to.

If you feel like you are sliding toward the tank as you sit on the bike, the Sargent seat will probably help. I am looking in to getting one for my bike but at this point my rides seem to be relegated a little on the short side since most rides are with my son. We don't generally go much farther than an hour or two but I'm sure that will increase as he gets a bit older. To get back on topic, I too find that I tend to slide forward a lot while riding the bike and especially when slowing down. In order to compensate you will undoubtedly be using your legs to hold yourself in place. My wife has made the comment that when she rides on this bike (my last bike was a 97 and I had the seat custom tailored to suit my wife and myself) she tends to slide around a bit more and her legs, particularly what she terms as her horseback riding muscles, and her hamstrings would be included in this group of sore muscles. I have had occasion to ride a 5th gen with a Sergent seat and one with a Corbin and can honestly say that when riding the bike with the Corbin I did not move around as much when riding and did not notice the tendancy to slide forward to the tank. I think the Sergent and Corbin seats are shaped in such a way that you stay put in the seat a bit more and while the stock seat appears to slope down to the tank the Sergent especially slopes a bit upwards near the tank and keeps you from sliding forward.

If you did decide to get a Sergent seat and it still turns out that you don't find the bike comfortable then you should have no trouble selling the seat afterwards. The Sergent seat is a popular upgrade on the 5th gen and there usually numerous people looking for them and they get snapped up quite quickly. Good luck on your quest for the right bike and upgrade and hopefully you find the VFR becomes the bike for you.

 

The Sergent seat is wider, more plush and changes the seating position in a positive way. It has more support toward the outside where the OEM seat is round and crowned in the middle. I have been having problems with my left knee and the combination of Buell, lower, pegs and the Sergent seat have really made a big difference.

By the way, you won't be throwing money away. Buy used and if you don't like it put it back on ebay.

 

Could there be a bit of pressure on the back of your legs where they extend off the seat?
I'm tall and in some Japanese cars I find I get leg pains from pressure caused by a seat bottom that is too short in length.

There's a dude who does seat mods for $50. Check it out-
http://greatdaytoride.com

I agree with what someone else said about sliding fwd and pushing back potentially creating leg strain as well.

Have you tried stretching a bit before riding and seeing if that helps?

 

If you want the most comfort for the price. I would suggest that you look into a fully custom seat for you and if you had a rider them too. It makes a real difference. There are a lot of other threads about this on here but you can get a custom seat for you not a one size fits all seat from a factory and it should help to eleminate your pain.

Welcome to the forum

If you do decide later to sell the bike you should give these guys a chance to buy it first. Mostly because you know the bike will be loved and cared for.

 

I found that adding some tank grips helps with the sliding forward problem. I bought a set from Tech spec and they work well for the $50 price tag.

That said, +1 to what everyone else said about the seat. If you don't want to spend $300+ on a Sargent or Corbin, then buy a used stock seat on the 'bay and send it to Spencer (wwww.greatdaytoride.com) to get it custom modified. Might run you about $150 total.

 

Where are you located at? Maybe if another VFR rider was local, you could try swapping out the seat for a ride to see if that helps. If you're anywhere near NJ, you're welcome to try my Corbin.

You mentioned you're 5'8", and have both heli bars and lowered pegs. I realize being comfortable is up to each individual, but you're the first person I can recall being under 6' tall that had peg lowerers (yea, I made that word up). Seems that's usually for the taller folks. I wonder if having your pegs lowered, that while it feels comfortable, is actually putting too much of a strain on your hammies?

Hope you get it sorted out.

And I'll echo the comments about after-market parts. VFR riders are always looking for them, especially seats and heli's. You might take a small hit if you have to resell, but no doubt they would be swept up quickly.

 

I don't think the Sargent will help with this. Are you keeping your feet up on the balls the entire time? If so, no bike will be comfortable over 100 miles. You really only need to have them up in that position when riding around town and on the twisties. On the slab, flat foot it. At 5'8" I just can't see the VFR as being uncomfortable, especially with Helibars and lowering blocks. The change for me at 6'2" was a drastic improvement.

 

I tend to agree with marriedman. I really don't see where the seat is going to fix a hamstring issue. Sounds more like you need to do something with your hamstrings off the bike to over come this. At 5'8" you should not be cramped up in the legs at all. Unless you look like a new born calf and are all legs.

If I have been inactive for a long period of time, my hams tend to cramp up a bit especially when I get off the bike. A few days of stretching those out, and keeping myself well hydrated, seems to correct this. The only other thing I can think of is you are pinching a nerve somewhere in the sciatic area. Then see your doc or a physio therapist for proper advise.

 

Your hamstrings are the muscles at the back of your legs right? The quads are used for extension and the hamstrings are used to pull your legs up or back. Is it possible that your pegs are too far back and you are subconciously using your hamstrings to keep your feet from sliding forward off the pegs?

I'm 5-7 with stock pegs and bars and haven't experienced any discomfort in my legs other than stiff knees after multiple hours of riding.

Jorg

 

Thanks for all the replies - I appreciate the input.

I haven't tried stretching first. This probably would help to some degree, I just doubt it would make a big enough difference to move me into the "comfortable" camp. I remember thinking this weekend that I had wished I had stretched first.

Regarding my height, or lack of it, I should clarify. I don't feel cramped on the VFR. I'm just more comfortable with less of a knee bend. The lower pegs are actually a new add on.

I've found that on pretty much any bike I've owned, my hamstrings get uncomfortable after awhile. Some bikes had highway pegs (VStrom) and others were easier to stand up on. But the hamstring pain comes sooner on the VFR. Hamstrings may not even be the most accurate description either as the pain seems to originate just above the knees on the back side of my legs. I should also add that I have found (personally) that a lot of discomfort doesn't come from equipment, but from tensing muscles. This last trip had a lot of so I may have been subconsciously tensing up more than normal and this may have aggravated it.

The good news is that I don't need to make any decisions quickly (other than my preference to sell during the riding season if I end up selling). And although it's hard to ever argue against a good seat, I'm just hesitant to drop money if I don't keep the bike long enough to make use of the mod. But I think it's an excellent point that if I go in thinking I would sell the seat separately if I sell the bike, a $100 loss sounds a lot better than a $350 loss.

 

Get rid of the seat not the bike.

 

The stock seat is awful. I was always jamming my junk into the tank.

Then I bought a Sargent. That was better, but my sit-bones started to hurt after 300 miles.

Then I bought a custom seat. It took all day on and off with the saddle-maker, but that solved the issue. No sore wrists pushing to keep my *** from sliding. No sore legs from pushing to avoid sliding. Best mod on my bike!




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