Anyone found the Falco seat too hard?

Message

#1 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:23 pm

I wen t out for a couple of rides on the Falco over the weekend with my wife on the back, and after about 50 miles both of us were suffering with a pain in the arse. I realise a comment like this will be manna from heaven for the site humourists, but...

Has anybody else had the same problem, and if so how did you deal with it? Is it just a case of 'running-in' the seat foam? I have to confess that neither of us have too much padding in the nether regions (i.e. we've got bony arses), but 50 miles isn't a great distance before discomfort sets in.

If discomfort started about the same time as a fill-up was needed it wouldn't be too bad. Has anybody had seats refilled/modified or tried aftermarket seats (assuming they're available)?

HowardQ · #2 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:39 pm

My old CBR1000 has a very soft comfy seat, very comfy when you first get on the bike. When I first sat on the Falco it felt very hard after the Honda. Strangely it just got better for me on a ride, it is never soft but never really seems to get uncomfortable. I suppose it is different from one person to the next but, I got used to it and find it suits me fine, it does not have much padding but the shape is right for me and I just seem to bed into it somehow. I have done nearly 300 miles with only a couple of very brief stops and not had a problem. I get uncomfortable sooner than that on the Honda.
Like the rest if the bike, it takes a bit of getting used to, I should try it a bit longer and see how you go.
The pillion is possibly a bit different, it does not look too comfortable, but then again I've never tried it!
Still a million times better than your average sports bike.

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:13 am

There have been a number on the AF1 forum that have complained about this and the solutions they've found are replacement seats from Corbin and Sergeant. The Ausies seem to recommend sheepskin covers (sounds a bit dodgy to me)

.

Personally, I've always found it plenty comfortable.

I guess the alternative solution is to book a test ride on a KTM - when you get back on the Falco it will seem as comfortable as a feather bed.

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:15 am

short term solution - wear padded cycling shorts?

Took me and my rubenesque arse a while to get used to the saddle - but how have you set your suspension? maybe that is contributing?

PeteL · #5 Post by **PeteL** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:46 am

Mangosrazy, I did about 50miles last night and found the seat much harder than my hornet 600. I too have a boney bum. What about Tony Arcger in Huddersfield 01484 536 832. He has a good reputation for recovering seats, inserting gelpads etc.
Aladinsaneuk, could the suspension cause this? I'm sure mine is set up a bit firm as it skips about a bit over uneven surfaces. Will look at the set up.
Let us know how you get on Mangocrazy

#6 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:26 am

Cheers Pete, I'm sure he'd be a lot cheaper than Sargent ($300 for rider's seat ONLY...) I'll give him a ring after the Bank Holiday. I agree that the suspension could well be a contributory factor - the rear shock as standard seems too hard on compression and a bit soft on rebound. As it only has the one damping adjuster, improving the rebound would probably be at the expense of making the compression damping worse.

But to be honest, I haven't even run the bike in yet, so I'll give everything a bit of time to settle in. And I'm in the market for a new shock over the winter anyway. I notice that at the front, even with preload and compression on minimum settings it still feels too firm, and I've got 30mm of unused fork travel. So it's a bit on the punishingly firm side at both ends... (oo-er missus)

Big_AL · #7 Post by **Big_AL** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:48 am

i find the seat much more comfortable than the much softer seat on my previous bike. If the seat is too soft you get really painful pressure points. If i were you I'd give your bike a while to bed in if as you say it's relatively unused. When I got my falco it had 5K miles and the seat was fairly soft, so you might find it gives with time?

DavShill · #8 Post by **DavShill** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:50 am

I find it fine. I'm 12 stone and a bit. Did the long Euro trip last month and max daily mileage was over 430 miles. My pal on a RG1100 was suffering and thought mine felt like a gel saddle compared to his.

No complaints from me.

Nooj · #9 Post by **Nooj** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:15 pm

You have a woman's bottom, Mangocrazy!

Samray · #10 Post by **Samray** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:52 pm

Fausto · #11 Post by **Fausto** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:39 pm

The Falco is easily the most comfortable seat I have ridden. Previous bikes have all given me arse ache way too soon including the sofa on a 1200 Bandit ! In my view it's mainly due to weight distribution. On upright bikes most of the weight is on your saddle so that'll give trouble before the wrists do. On sportsbikes there is far more weight on the bars so the wrists complain before the bum.

One day I will work out a happy compromise by raising the bars on the Falco a little at a time until wrists and bum are equally inconvenienced.

#12 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:40 pm

Nooj wrote:You have a woman's bottom, Mangocrazy!

And your grandfather smells of elderberries!

OK - I'll give it time. File under 'first impressions'...

Nooj · #13 Post by **Nooj** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:41 pm

Still on the original rearshock? That won't help things.

Okamoto · #14 Post by **Okamoto** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:29 pm

Yeah !! ....I found mine really hard, it depends what year Falco you have...mine is the early 2000 model (with plank like seat)..my brothers is a 2004 model with two tone coloured seat which is much softer!
You could get yours rebuilt with softer foam...I managed to find a good priced sargent one with matching pillion from U.S ...usually ££££!

Im pondering over selling my Falco as I hardly use it

so there may be some goodies available...no deffo plan yet ...i'm trying to talk myself into it but when I look in the garage

Gio · #15 Post by **Gio** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:42 am

I love the Falco seat, its firm and supportive and almost as good as a Blackbirds seat (the best seat ever for me

)