My motorcycle seat is too slippery

[kidtwist]

I recently had my seat redone by Rick Mayer. I choose the vinyl "basket-weave" pattern to cover it with and now when I ride I slide all over the place.
It makes riding quite uncomfortable. I don't know if different riding pants would help (I currently wear BMW's city denim pants), but I'd prefer a cheaper solution anyway.

For a while I was considering rubbing the seat down a bit with steel wool, but that might not work and I don't want to damage it.

I was wondering if there's some substance I can put on the seat that will make it a little grippier but won't end up staining the back of my jeans. Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions?

Thanks.

[deilenberger]

I suspect most of the problem is in your pants.. (God that sounds odd..) Too smooth a fabric.

If you ever used a vinyl treatment on the seat, you might try scrubbing it down with some detergent/water and a stiff fingernail brush. Never use anything containing silicone on the vinyl - it can be dangerous (DAMHIK - I just do..)

If that doesn't work - there are these gooey/gel-like rubber non-slip pads made for dashboards where you want to rest something like a cell phone or GPS with a bean-bag base. They DO work.. I'd predict you wouldn't be able to slide your butt at all with one of these on the seat.

[BigEasy]

Another thought might be some of that sticky sponge rubber matting that is used to keep area rugs from sliding around on hardwood floors.

[Lost Rider]

I've been riding for years with the BMW City pants.... It's not the pants.

You could try what Don was saying about scrubbing it, or maybe scub it with a foot callous pad, or scotchcbrite or something not too abrasive. If it's vinyl and not leather then who cares?....

You could get an airhawk pad cover only, not with the pad and attach that if it's such a problem.

There's passenger anti-slip pads on ebay under R1200R, maybe there one for the front.

Have you called Rick Mayer to see what he suggests?

[kidtwist]

I've been riding for years with the BMW City pants.... It's not the pants.

You could try what Don was saying about scrubbing it, or maybe scub it with a foot callous pad, or scotchcbrite or something not too abrasive.

I'll probably try that.

I've ridden other bikes with these pants and not had this problem and I didn't have it with the stock seat. The seat is not slippery to the touch and it hasn't been treated with anything like Armor All or anything like that. I just slide around when riding it. I was thinking of trying rosin but first I think I'll try some light abrasive. I'd prefer not to put any kind of pad on it because I don't like the way they look, but if that's the only thing that does it, maybe I'll end up trying that.

[hjsbmw]

I recently had my seat redone by Rick Mayer. I choose the vinyl "basket-weave" pattern to cover it with and now when I ride I slide all over the place...

I have one of those seats, same material, but I don't slide. However, I don't have those same pants. How long have you had the seat? A little break in time can work wonders. You may just need to get used to the slightly different riding position, and the seat also will take on the shape of your rear after a few thousand miles.

[kidtwist]

How long have you had the seat? A little break in time can work wonders. You may just need to get used to the slightly different riding position, and the seat also will take on the shape of your rear after a few thousand miles.

That's encouraging. I've had the seat since May, but I have ridden very little in that time. Probably less than five hundred miles, so I hope you're right about the break-in.

[Lost Rider]

500 miles since last May?.......






There's your problem!!!!!


Go ride the bike for crying out loud!!!!!!!
You have no relationship with you bike..... you don't even know if your bike burns oil...
Spending dollars on a fancy seat can help, but go ride at the very least a few thousand miles and get to know it will help more.

[angellr]

500 miles is not enough to form any kind of opinion on your seat. Go put a few thousand miles on it and then see how it feels. Bicycle seats are like baseball mits, it takes time to work them in and get them the way you want them. As soon as the weather warms, start riding weekends ... this will help you break it in.

[kidtwist]

I knew the 500 miles would get a response. I admit I've ridden a lot less than I would have liked (for various reasons).

But the fact is, I've owned a number of motorcycles (and seats) over the years and have never had the experience of sliding around like I get with this one no matter how many or few miles there were on them. Also, according to Rick Mayer's website, the break-in period is "a few hundred miles." I'll definitely put some more miles on the seat and I'll email Rick to see what he says.

[mogu83]

[quote="kidtwist"]I knew the 500 miles would get a response. I admit I've ridden a lot less than I would have liked (for various reasons).[quote]

No need to explain kidtwist. I'm pushing 70 and was the youngest of a group of guys that rode from the late 50s till they couldn't get on a bike. Because of various reasons most of the old gang don't ride much at all but do keep a bike in the garage, and on 'good days' they get out. A few days a month out in the wind is what keeps a few of them alive.

When I was a lot younger I used to question about the 'old guys' that didn't ride hard or long, I don't do that anymore. I'm just enjoying my ride as long as it lasts.

Welcome to the forum.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

I have a BIll Mayer vinyl seat on my bike. I remember it as slippery when I first got it. Now I don't get that feeling at all. Don't know if the seat changed, or if I just got used to it.

[Lost Rider]

You're just down the road from me, anytime you want to break in your seat shoot me a PM, I'll be happy to show you some nice roads.

[hjsbmw]

...Also, according to Rick Mayer's website, the break-in period is "a few hundred miles." I'll definitely put some more miles on the seat and I'll email Rick to see what he says.

Break-in may be a flexible term. I don't know what RM's take on it is. It took a few thousand miles for my seat to take on my shape. It now has dents where my sit bones are and feels more 'custom' than out of the box.