How's the seat?
 

Hey, I'm pretty much set on buying this bike and one of the biggest reasons is the seat height being so low with my short inseam of a whopping 28 inches! 31" is perfect for me and my girlfriend both.

My question though is if the seat is very comfortable at all? I've honestly had over 10 or 12 different bikes never felt a seat that was comfortable really except my 2007 V-Strom (stock by the way). Whats the general consensus? Is it a must replace like so many other bikes? No real great options? etc?

It's the only real concern I have. Thanks!

Some have lived with it, some have personalized, some have bought custom from CSC.

It's all down to the individual.

Personally, the saddle doesn't bother me at all. I ride all day on the stock saddle, without compaints. However, as Jay stated, it's purely a personal matter. ;)

If you don't like the stock saddle, CSC is selling both narrow, and tall versions of an aftermarket saddle. :)

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/SEATS-s/208.htm

gotcha, I just am so used to bikes where the stock saddle is generally agreed to feel like a board. for example the WR250R, ktm 950 adv, terra 650, etc, etc

good to know some people find it comfy, hopefully I'll love it like I did my stock v-strom :D

and wow thanks for responding so quickly, nice to know theres such an active community behind the bike!

Incidentally, welcome to these forums. :hi: We are glad you joined us. :)

I don't think the stock saddle is hard. However, I've been told I have an 'iron butt.' :lol:

Justinope, don't know where you reside, have you seen an RX3 in person?

By the way, most of the time I'm okay with the stock seat padding other than the scoop shape. Sometimes it makes me rock my pelvis forward and causes discomfort to the *software*. Cold weather it's not so bad, if you get my drift.

All over the different forums and on Facebook, you will find other RX3 riders simply having fun and enjoying these neat little machines. Some even own V-Stroms.

I havent gotten to see one in person, I'm kinda buying it off the spec sheet really. there is one nearby in richmond someone offered to show me though so I may head down there sometime and take him up on that!

I'm in lynchburg, VA so it does get cold!

Cold is a relative term. ;) When I awakened Thanksgiving morning, I discovered 6 inches of new snow on my driveway. Friday morning the low temperature was minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The high temperature today was 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

I hate winter. :tdown:

Hi and welcome! I'm good for about 2 hours on the stock seat. After a break for lunch and 2 more hours riding home, I'm ready to stay off the saddle for the rest of the day.

Then I bought the short seat from CSC and it's a lot more comfortable. Now I can easily last 3-4 hours with short breaks for gas or taking pictures. For anyone with an inseam longer than my 30", I would recommend CSC's tall seat.

oh ok, which seat is the short seat on the website?

BTW, I was told that the aftermarket seats that CSC sells are by Seat Concepts, not Saddleman.
Seat Concepts gets lots of rave reviews on ADVRider.
I got the tall seat because I like more seat to foot peg room and I'm used to high saddles - well, not KTM height.
I only have 200 miles on the bike so far, but I'm liking the bike and the saddle.

Dan

You are correct. I have rectified the error in my previous post. ;)

As with the tall saddle, there are two versions of the narrow/short saddle. ;)

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/product-p/csc-300s.htm

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/product-p/csc-200.htm

pulled the trigger on the tall Seat Concepts seat this morning to take advantage of the 20% discount.
Crossing my fingers that it somehow gets to Ohio from CA before next weekend. Next Saturday is supposed to be 50 and sunny. Thinking about a late night Friday run to Southern Ohio after work, a motel and waking up Saturday already down in the good stuff and spending the day wandering home.
Problem with these short daylight days is that it takes half the daylight just to ride to the good stuff.

I've put on some decent miles with the tale CSC. I find it quite a bit more comfortable then stock. For one I'm 6'1" so seat height is not an issue and slight decrease in knee bend from the tall saddle has kept my knees from banging the engine guards. I can ride a full day with out the need for a sheep skin like I had been using on the stock saddle.

Zonal cold.
 

I'm referring to the area above a man's knees and below his navel, the bits that sag in heat and contract to tuck neatly away in a chill breeze.

Addressing Inseam.
 

In addition to the Low/short seat, you might also consider having the 1" lowering link installed when you order. Depending on how much off-roading you are planning, ground clearance my or may not be important.

If you are on Facebook, here is one active group. I'm sure there are more.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4126...109/?pnref=lhc

They call it the 'narrow' seat on the CSC site. I have the narrow carbon gripper saddle with red stitching.

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/SEATS-s/208.htm

the stock seat....... in my opinion.. it's brutal! I put in 92 miles today on the RX3. I had a great time riding through the twisties and canyons and the Pacific Coast Highway.. I would've put in 200 miles today if my butt would've been up to it... I have the nice sheep skin gel seat cushion that I bought from CSC.. which helped some i'm sure. But honestly the only reason I headed back to the house as early as I did was because my hind end was aching! I see an after market seat in my very very near future!

I've ridden many long, hot days on my RX3 stock seat. It seems that just like a 10 spd bicycle seat your butt needs to "adapt and conquer". And the seat needs to break in also to fit your behind and form to your tush. Every bike I've owned I read terrible things about the stock seats and yes to begin with maybe they are "not the most comfortable" but given time I've found my seat and motorcycles seat will become "one with the universe" .Your behind may very. And I'm sure aftermarket seats can be an improvement, I just like to give a stock seat several thousand miles to break in before looking for a replacement . rj

That might very well be true... I only have 1100 miles on my RX3.. I'll wait it out another 900 or so before I commit to a new seat.... It makes me wonder how the guys did on the Western Americas tour... Today as I was riding home.. knowing I was 30 miles from the house I kept having the thought over and over... how did they do over 300 miles a day? I'm not 100% sure my butt could handle that...

http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

Tested & approved by butts everywhere.

I put a airhawk on mine (used from my previous bike) and it made the bike quite comfortable. The stock seat is ok for a short trip but not all day for me.

Airhawk makes it an 8-12 hour ride machine for me.

My MG Stelvio has the best stock seat of any bike I've ever had. That thing is very comfortable.

I've got 2000 miles on my RX3 already and made up my mind a few tanks ago to proceed with seat update. Sheepskin helped (as it does on any saddle I've tried....it's always been a salve, not a solution)
With the 20% discount it seemed worth it. I'll enjoy the taller, flatter shape. It's what I envisioned:clap:
Will post up a few pics I'm sure when it's on, hopefully before this Saturday.
Supposed to be sunny and 50:yay:

I'm having great luck with the airhawk pad, but for nearly the same price you can just replace the seat.

It's going to be 50 this weekend in upstate ny, so rare december riding for me!

CSC shipped my Seat Concepts seats, but UPS has lost the package >:(

Supposed to be 50 here tomorrow too Lee....so I will be heading out to see how many deer hunters I can piss off tomorrow.

Actually, weatherman is saying warming trend coming for at least two weeks...NEXT Sat is supposed to be close to 60!!

How much height does the tall seat gain over the stock seat?

I wish I freaking knew Keith, my package is still showing that they have lost it.

Will certainly give quantifiable data once here, including actual distance to ground, etc (which is affected by 19" F wheel and Shinko big block knobbies)

Sorry, that really stinks

X2. :ohno: Please do keep us updated.

I know for me the seat is better than my TW200, but even with the Airhawk DS pad during 220 miles my comfort level was not what I would have liked. I will be making some kind of change. I could definitely use some more height in seat to pegs. Another 1" to 1-1/2" would be nice.

It sounds as if the CSC Tall Saddle should fit you well. ;)

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/product-p/csc-300t.htm

http://cdn3.volusion.com/qsgah.sptja...jpg?1442504041

Do you know what it adds in height Spud? I was thinking of that seat as well. I wonder if Seat Concepts will be providing the kits for our seats. Being frugal as I am the Seat Concepts kits are usually $159 - $169, so double that for the gripper seat is seams a little high. Although for ones comfort it is not. But with no guarantee well :hmm: maybe I should have jumped on the 20% off deal.

I think the tall seat adds about one inch of saddle height. :shrug: Someone here owns the tall saddle, and I'm sure he will reply with the correct measurement. :)

Not sure how, but tracking shows the lost package as being delivered today. Which means that it was sent but the scan was missed, making them assume it was lost.
Will mount tonight and take a few measurements. Straight edge with level bubble on three areas of seat. Front center and rear. Will do stock and the tall SC seat for comparison in real world

:clap:

X2. :tup: Thanks for your contributions, and your willingness to help. You have the true spirit of China Riders. :)

Kinda wish I had thought to take advantage of the 20% off sale to get the narrow seat - I can't flat foot the bike as it is, so the tall seat was right out - but I have a feeling I'm going to be wanting the narrow seat once I start riding longer distances/times.

I look forward to your measurements on the tall seat tho :) Hope it's arrived safely!

so here's my official unofficial in the dark below freezing observations and measurements:
Side shot stock seat. Bike is level. You can see the mark where the steel rule lay midway on the seat. This is where the measurement to ground was taken. Again, bike was level and rule that was measured from was level (using bubble level app)
Stock seat at that point measured 32-1/8"
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...pshzdjlbqs.jpg

Seat Concepts tall seat, measured same spot, 32-7/8"
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps2txzbmqo.jpg

The new seat, though overall not that much taller, is MUCH flatter and wider in the center-to-rear section, right where my fat ass resides. You can sit nearly all the way to the passenger seat on level surface.
A few more pics
matching passenger (a very snug fit)
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps4r25splk.jpg

If you check out your stock seat, you will find a "tongue" of sorts in the front where the seat cover and padding extend out from the seat base upwards. This fills a niche in the rear of the tank perfectly.
The Seat Concepts builder added no such extra material or "tongue" on the front of the (obviously) stock seat base, so there is a gap between the Seat Concepts seat and the tank.
I kinda don't mind. I have my power cable for heated clothing coming out there inside a leather sleeve, and it fills the area fine. See here
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...pssmasb7pa.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...pscftjl2sy.jpg

Hope that helps some. It feels a LOT better on the short spin I took. The foam is firmer than stock as well, and the cover material is much nicer than the stock's condom-like feel.:D

I'm glad your saddle finally arrived, Dan. Thanks for braving the freezing weather to make the measurements, and take the photos. :)