V7 Stone Stock Seat is a Butt Buster

[flatop]

Well here I go with another gripe about my V7 Stone, Where can I get a comfortable seat to replace the stock seat.
My pain threshold appears to be about 2hrs of saddle time then it`s time to get off and stand a while, even after placing a gel
pad over it barely makes an improvement. I read a blob on this web site that someone actually purchased a replacement gel/foam
MG seat for his bike and it didn`t help either, matter of fact he went on to say it was a rip off. Has anyone out there found a comfortable saddle for the V7 Stone?
Let me just say that the only two things that bug me about the bike are the cold start issue and the hard seat other than that I
love the bike.

[radan2]

So is the stock seat on the Breva 750! When I heard the prices for replacement seats, I went with an AirHawk seat cushion instead. AirHawk is made by Roho, and cost about $200-250, whereas a custom seat costs hundreds more. I have been very satisfied with the AirHawk, once I learned to inflate it properly.

I have heard that the reason for our discomfort is the high quality of Guzzi materials. All Guzzi seats are made only of the finest Carrara marble.  And if you ride on one for more than about 2 hours, your butt better be made of marble as well.

[Kev m]

I've had some bikes with AWFUL seats (Jackal, Sporty), and some that were excellent (B11, R1100).

I think the V7 is decent, but it cuts into my buttocks on the sides where I, uhhh, overhang a bit.

I don't know that there's an answer other than to make it wider there, but I'd be willing to try the gel seat too.

[Loftness]

Well, for starters I've never experienced any discomfort on my Stone seat.  As in zero.  Granted the longest stint I've put on it at one given time was about two hours, but compared to many other seats I've placed my bum on the V7 is far from the worst.  As a direct comparison the seat on my previous "like" bike, a 2009 Bonnieville, caused me discomfort within 1/2 and hour, and downright pain at times.  My wife, however, as a passenger, loved the Bonny seat and hates the Stone seat, so go figure.  She actually prefers the Stone as a bike, but after 30 minutes or so she starts to get tailbone pain. 

As for the gel seat, we have one at the shop for customers to try, and honestly, unless you need the lowered height, it's not worth it.  It's actually uncomfortable for me.

[flatop]

Marble Seat, you described it to a tee, LOL, Wonder if thats how they came up with calling it the STONE, Ha-Ha

[Kev m]

As for the gel seat, we have one at the shop for customers to try, and honestly, unless you need the lowered height, it's not worth it.  It's actually uncomfortable for me.

I'm under the impression they have a regular height gel seat as well?

[Buddy Shagmore]

The V7 Café seat is better, IMO. I usually want to get off any bike after an hour or so anyways though.

[Kev m]

The V7 Café seat is better, IMO. I usually want to get off any bike after an hour or so anyways though.

Hmm, I don't know what to make of that since I'm good on the stock seat for about 100-150 miles which, due to the low HP of the V7 (;)) is more than an hour. :D

[Aldo]

I've spent 8-10 hours of time traveling on both the stock Stone seat, and the lowered gel seat.  I can honestly say that the lower gel seat becomes uncomfortable much quicker than the stock saddle from my experience. They also make a standard height gel seat, but haven't tried it. I also own the Cafe seat, which I find quite comforable, but have yet to go long distances with it.

Seats are a personal matter...everyone is made differently, so sometimes 'custom made' is the only solution, unless what's already out there works for you.

[Remy]

Hmm, wonder how I will get on with the stock seat which is having foam removed to reduce it's height for me - might have to wear very padded trousers!!  :o

[gclark8]

You (OP) give no indication of you height and build.   It could be the bike is the wrong size!  :o   

Did the selling dealer do a bike fit?   :bike

As well as the 4 *other saddle options from Gussi, lower foot pegs, racer foot pegs, higher or lower bars should be considered in the fit calculations.

*
Gel saddle
Lowered Gel saddle
Cafe Saddle
Racer Saddle

On a more personal note, Chaps or Kevlar?  :-[

[jas67]

I'm in the market for a 2 up seat for my soon-to-arrive V7R.

[bpreynolds]

We know there are many options to have a stock California seat reworked in a much improved and even good lookin way - I even liked the look better of my Neds Comfort Saddle on the Jackal I had.  Has anyone seen a tasteful or attractive reworking of a V7 seat?  Any pictures?  Seems like the banana seats might be harder to reshape and still have it fit the lines of the bike?

[Kev m]

I don't think I've ever seen a reworked V7 seat.

The lines might be one reason.

[Remy]

I'll have to post a pic when mine is done - I was thinking too that there can't be a lot done with it to keep the aesthetics of the bike.

Has anyone tried memory foam seats?

[Aldo]

Corsa makes some 'modified' seats...they don't look too different from stock, but from the pics they 'seem' more padded.  Quite expensive, though. Imagine you could have an original modified for less:





http://www.corsaitaliana.com/index.php?f=data_v7_classic_&a=0

[lucydad]

I like my lowered gel seat better than the V7R cafe.

Go get a custom saddle done?

[Rotten Ralph]

A pillion Airhawk and sheepskin cover are working fairly well. As mentioned the trick is proper inflation - basically not too much air.

[gclark8]

I like my lowered gel seat better than the V7R cafe.

How much easier is it to put your feet on the ground?

[Zinfan]

I had Bill Meyer rework my V7 Stone seat







The new seat covering is a bit slippery compared to the stock cover and they said it takes 1000-1500 miles to really break in but after 600 miles I really like it.  I did a drive in fitting so they could custom fit it but I think they could have done just as good a job with a photo of me sitting on the bike which is what they do for most seats they rework.

[fossil]

Just yesterday I have been at my dealer (who was in the process of starting a tour to Mandello with some fellow Guzzisti then-lucky guy). As I also have some problems with the seat after an hour or so I asked whether a comfort seat is available. According to his online list a comfort seat is in preparation. It will be gel-filled.

I will try this seat as soon as it is in delivery state. It´s price here in Germany seems to be around 155,- Euros, which in my opinion is not too expensive.

[Rotten Ralph]

I have had several custom seats over the years and the various density foam saddles are more comfortable for me than the gel seats.

[Loftness]

I'm under the impression they have a regular height gel seat as well?

Yes, they do...and for the life of me I can't feel how it's more comfortable.  But admittedly I haven't spent much time on one. 

[lcalero]

  These french guys used to have custom seats for the V7, but right now they only have a leather one. Cool but expensive:

http://www.baak-moto.fr/en/product/v7-en/v7-classic-saddle-leather-moto-guzzi-motoguzzi-vintage-brown/

[jas67]

To answer the question about the Gel seat, there are both a regular and low gel seat:

Gel Seat: B063597
Lower Gel Seat: B063598

[Kev m]

I thought so, but the REAL QUESTION is (probably rhetorical) ARE THEY COMFORTABLE?

[jas67]

I thought so, but the REAL QUESTION is (probably rhetorical) ARE THEY COMFORTABLE?

Very good question.   If it is anything like the gel seat on the Breva, then, I'm sure it is.
Unfortunately, now that I've seen the red-stitched 2 up seat for the Racer, I'm going to have to buy one of those for my Racer.

But, for now, as the Tom Petty song goes, "The Waiting is the Hardest Part."    I should have it in a little more than a week!   :D

Now back to the seat thread.....  ;-T

[Loftness]

I thought so, but the REAL QUESTION is (probably rhetorical) ARE THEY COMFORTABLE?

As I mentioned above, for my butt, no.  No more than the stock I should say.

[Kev m]

And does anyone have a Gel seat they bought but are disappointed with and want to sell?

[Rotten Ralph]

I bought my Norge with both seats. I found the lower gel seat to be more uncomfortable than stock so personally I would be reluctant to try another MG gel seat.

Of course I should add that car seats and living room chairs also get uncomfortable for my old, skinny butt so I guess I should think about going back to moving around on all fours! ::) ::)