XR650R Seat Upgrade Report!

Roostn · 06-19-2009, 08:46 PM

So I am leaving on June 28th to do the Great Divide Ride on my XR650R. A couple weeks ago I went and did a test run to the Four Mile Freakout to see how the XR works while fully loaded. I learned a lot and fixed some things as a result. But the biggest thing I learned was my stock seat SUCKED!!! I rode 225 miles in one day and my butt was worn out. I needed to do something as I knew I could not do 2500 miles on that seat without becoming an Octapalegic before it was over.

SO, I took my seat over to Bitchin' Stitchin' in Lakewood Colorado. Dan is a dirt biker who makes a decent living creating custom seats for all types of bikes. We talked, look at pics on the internet and settled on a plan. He made me a full gel seat that is 4 1/2 inches wider and one inch taller. Man what a difference! Here are some pics of the finished product compared to my Moose seat that is a replacement for the stocker.

The Moose seat (same shape as the stocker)

Here is the new seat compared to the old seat!

Top View

Mounted up- BIG Difference!

Pretty good job. All antislip cover on the top. Full Gel insert in entire seating area. I'll let you know how it turns out. I got a good price and a 2 week turn around! I forgot his card at work or I would post his number and website. Next week i'll do that. Great guy and a very cool shop! Let's hope it works! Anything is better than the stock seat.

Sycamore · 06-19-2009, 11:03 PM

width is what makes a difference for comfort. I went wider on my 650R seat as well.
But when you gotta stand on the pegs and throw the bike around a wide seat can get in the way.

Roostn · 06-20-2009, 07:01 AM

That is why I kept it narrow at the front. It is just slightly larger where my knees lock in.

Shercoman · 06-20-2009, 07:20 AM

That seat is awesome! I'd like to have him make me one.

I have the same rear rack you have.I was worried about the strength of only one tube going to the subframe and the single point load on the subframe. After one ride this came loose with the rack flopping around on the way home. I removed the threaded insert from the subframe and fabricated a steel bracket that spreads the load over a larger area.
I'll provide pictures if anyone is interested.

Roostn · 06-20-2009, 07:51 AM

I'd like to see it before I peel out on the trip! I had the rack come loose once as well so I Loctite'd the crap out of it but am still concerned. You busy this weekend?

kenaroo · 06-20-2009, 08:41 AM

nice.. I bet that will be one comfy seat on the long sit down sections..

screwit · 06-20-2009, 10:16 AM

That seat looks great, but what's a "good price"

Roostn · 06-20-2009, 01:06 PM

$225

Kahndad · 07-14-2009, 07:59 PM

did it work? I'm in Lakewood and suffer from chapped ass after 100 miles on my r.

screwit · 09-07-2009, 06:53 PM

Yea, did it work?

Roostn · 09-07-2009, 07:05 PM

Ride report:

This seat saved my life! Well, not actually my life but certainly my A$$. If I could make one change it would be 1" lower but overall I thanked myself 100 times over for getting this saddle made. Go see Bitchin Stitchin! You will not regret spending the money!

My luggage rack on the other hand...

dos equis 1 · 09-22-2009, 08:26 PM

you have a phone number?does he need a seat base?

SCflyer · 09-22-2009, 08:41 PM

http://www.bitchnstitchninc.com/sevices.html

bout 5sec worth of yahoo search

MSH · 09-23-2009, 08:36 AM

Are those pictures still floating around?

HighwayChile · 09-23-2009, 06:18 PM

i had a similar seat made wide out back, flat deck, custom foam, $280 w/ ship from rick mayer, good work,no springs just foam. may not have that deal now so $229 IS a good deal. I am very happy with mine, a number of trips, longest was 900 dirt miles in 3 days, ass was happy.

I have never felt the "wings" of the seat but dont ride it on hard core single track either, hey its a BRP with soft dirt bagz, I sold a LC4 400, really a nice bike, but it smashed my 'nads something bad, I should tried a custom seat on it as other then that that was a perfect bike for me. I really hate bikes with a U shaped nut smashing type of seat as the LC4 has, give me a flat deck seat or a tractor style ala guzzi quota

its not worth the pain a a shitty seat, get yours redone if'n your ass is hurtin'

06-19-2009, 08:46 PM	#1
Roostn ^OP On the Throttle Stop Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Pine, Colorado, USA Oddometer: 291	XR650R Seat Upgrade Report! So I am leaving on June 28th to do the Great Divide Ride on my XR650R. A couple weeks ago I went and did a test run to the Four Mile Freakout to see how the XR works while fully loaded. I learned a lot and fixed some things as a result. But the biggest thing I learned was my stock seat SUCKED!!! I rode 225 miles in one day and my butt was worn out. I needed to do something as I knew I could not do 2500 miles on that seat without becoming an Octapalegic before it was over. SO, I took my seat over to Bitchin' Stitchin' in Lakewood Colorado. Dan is a dirt biker who makes a decent living creating custom seats for all types of bikes. We talked, look at pics on the internet and settled on a plan. He made me a full gel seat that is 4 1/2 inches wider and one inch taller. Man what a difference! Here are some pics of the finished product compared to my Moose seat that is a replacement for the stocker. The Moose seat (same shape as the stocker) Here is the new seat compared to the old seat! Top View Mounted up- BIG Difference! Pretty good job. All antislip cover on the top. Full Gel insert in entire seating area. I'll let you know how it turns out. I got a good price and a 2 week turn around! I forgot his card at work or I would post his number and website. Next week i'll do that. Great guy and a very cool shop! Let's hope it works! Anything is better than the stock seat. __________________ Mean Streets Tactical Training- Primary Instructor WR450 Yamaha, R1150GS, XR650R- Plated and Ready to ROCK!, 1980 TT500- Pated and Ready to Roll! US Army Airborne, Air Assault

06-20-2009, 07:01 AM	#3
Roostn ^OP On the Throttle Stop Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Pine, Colorado, USA Oddometer: 291	That is why I kept it narrow at the front. It is just slightly larger where my knees lock in. __________________ Mean Streets Tactical Training- Primary Instructor WR450 Yamaha, R1150GS, XR650R- Plated and Ready to ROCK!, 1980 TT500- Pated and Ready to Roll! US Army Airborne, Air Assault

06-20-2009, 07:51 AM	#5
Roostn ^OP On the Throttle Stop Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Pine, Colorado, USA Oddometer: 291	I'd like to see it before I peel out on the trip! I had the rack come loose once as well so I Loctite'd the crap out of it but am still concerned. You busy this weekend? __________________ Mean Streets Tactical Training- Primary Instructor WR450 Yamaha, R1150GS, XR650R- Plated and Ready to ROCK!, 1980 TT500- Pated and Ready to Roll! US Army Airborne, Air Assault

06-20-2009, 08:41 AM	#6
kenaroo I am because i ride Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Austin Tejas Oddometer: 794	nice.. I bet that will be one comfy seat on the long sit down sections.. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- what does your garage look like http://www.garage-interiors.com

06-20-2009, 10:16 AM	#7
screwit One more time Joined: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico (yes it is a State) Oddometer: 824	Nice seat That seat looks great, but what's a "good price"

06-19-2009, 11:03 PM	#2
Sycamore d00b Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Oddometer: 1,692	width is what makes a difference for comfort. I went wider on my 650R seat as well. But when you gotta stand on the pegs and throw the bike around a wide seat can get in the way.

06-20-2009, 07:20 AM	#4
Shercoman Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Pine,Colorado Oddometer: 425	That seat is awesome! I'd like to have him make me one. I have the same rear rack you have.I was worried about the strength of only one tube going to the subframe and the single point load on the subframe. After one ride this came loose with the rack flopping around on the way home. I removed the threaded insert from the subframe and fabricated a steel bracket that spreads the load over a larger area. I'll provide pictures if anyone is interested.

06-20-2009, 01:06 PM	#8
Roostn ^OP On the Throttle Stop Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Pine, Colorado, USA Oddometer: 291	$225 __________________ Mean Streets Tactical Training- Primary Instructor WR450 Yamaha, R1150GS, XR650R- Plated and Ready to ROCK!, 1980 TT500- Pated and Ready to Roll! US Army Airborne, Air Assault

07-14-2009, 07:59 PM	#9
Kahndad Kahndad Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Lakewood Oddometer: 19	what's the verdict? did it work? I'm in Lakewood and suffer from chapped ass after 100 miles on my r.

09-07-2009, 06:53 PM	#10
screwit One more time Joined: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico (yes it is a State) Oddometer: 824	Waiting to hear the result Yea, did it work?

09-07-2009, 07:05 PM	#11
Roostn ^OP On the Throttle Stop Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Pine, Colorado, USA Oddometer: 291	Ride report: This seat saved my life! Well, not actually my life but certainly my A$$. If I could make one change it would be 1" lower but overall I thanked myself 100 times over for getting this saddle made. Go see Bitchin Stitchin! You will not regret spending the money! My luggage rack on the other hand... __________________ Mean Streets Tactical Training- Primary Instructor WR450 Yamaha, R1150GS, XR650R- Plated and Ready to ROCK!, 1980 TT500- Pated and Ready to Roll! US Army Airborne, Air Assault

09-22-2009, 08:26 PM	#12
dos equis 1 n00b Joined: Sep 2008 Location: new mexico Oddometer: 2	you have a phone number?does he need a seat base?

09-22-2009, 08:41 PM	#13
SCflyer Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2007 Location: Back in NC Oddometer: 1,309	http://www.bitchnstitchninc.com/sevices.html bout 5sec worth of yahoo search

09-23-2009, 08:36 AM	#14
MSH The Salt Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Utah Oddometer: 3,026	Are those pictures still floating around? __________________ *~ BMWF800GS* ~ "Not all those who wander are lost"

09-23-2009, 06:18 PM	#15
HighwayChile greetings from Wa state Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Bow, WA USA Oddometer: 4,096	i had a similar seat made wide out back, flat deck, custom foam, $280 w/ ship from rick mayer, good work,no springs just foam. may not have that deal now so $229 IS a good deal. I am very happy with mine, a number of trips, longest was 900 dirt miles in 3 days, ass was happy. I have never felt the "wings" of the seat but dont ride it on hard core single track either, hey its a BRP with soft dirt bagz, I sold a LC4 400, really a nice bike, but it smashed my 'nads something bad, I should tried a custom seat on it as other then that that was a perfect bike for me. I really hate bikes with a U shaped nut smashing type of seat as the LC4 has, give me a flat deck seat or a tractor style ala guzzi quota its not worth the pain a a shitty seat, get yours redone if'n your ass is hurtin' __________________ “I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.” .....Steve McQueen

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