Review - RX3 short seat, carbon with colored stitching

[detours]

Also, forum user Marzhere from Parker came up to try out the saddle. She was looking for something shorter than stock and wanted to try it out.

But strangely, even though my initial impression was that the 'short' comfort seat was a bit shorter than stock ... when I put the original saddle back on for comparison, it turned out to be slightly shorter than the comfort seat.

My recommendation ...

• For the shortest seat possible, stick with the stock seat.
• For more comfort, with less than 30 inch inseam, get the short comfort seat.
• For more comfort, with more than a 32 inch inseam, get the tall comfort seat.

If you're right at 30 inches like me, you have to decide if you want more or less height. For now, I'm keeping the short saddle (because I've already bought it), but the extra height of the taller seat might be calling my name.

[SpudRider]

Thanks for posting the update.

[jct842]

Might attempt to sell it to a shorter rx3 owner and then buy the taller one.

[ElectricCircus]

Originally Posted by detours

My recommendation ...

• For the shortest seat possible, stick with the stock seat.
• For more comfort, with less than 30 inch inseam, get the short comfort seat.
• For more comfort, with more than a 32 inch inseam, get the tall comfort seat.

Maybe is time to include another ítem for the RX3 2016 wishlist:

[SpudRider]

[woodlandsprite]

Thanks for posting the review and photos!

Hmm. My new boots are actually shorter at the heel than my current boots - I don't know what my actual inseam length is, I suppose I should go and figure that out :P

[marzhere]

Originally Posted by woodlandsprite

Thanks for posting the review and photos!

Hmm. My new boots are actually shorter at the heel than my current boots - I don't know what my actual inseam length is, I suppose I should go and figure that out :P

And after sitting on Detours new and original seat (he was kind enough to put the original back on, so we could compare the two) and our thinking the stock allowed me to be not quite so much on my tippy toes when compared to the new seat, I decided to keep the original seat and try to modify it myself. After all, if it didn't work out, I could just buy a new one...anyway, I pulled all the staples and removed the cover. DH Mark got out the bread knife and started sawing. We ended up taking some off both sides and a little off the top. He then hit the foam with an angle grinder that had sandpaper on it. We put the cover back on and stapled away. I will admit it's not as smooth (under the cover) as stock, but we called it good enough.

Mark then adjusted the shock so there will be more sag. He rode it to work yesterday and said those two mods definitely had him more flat footed than before. He's going to bring my motorcross boots back from the cabin this weekend, so I'll try those. They are shorter in the heel, but maybe they are taller in the toe area, than my other boots.

Now, I'm just waiting for the lowering link, that should be an additional inch of help. It was ordered yesterday (along with the 13t sprocket)...

[detours]

Marzhere, I was just thinking about something else you could maybe look at to shorten the bike. You might be able to slice a little off the rubber bumpers under the seat. That's what I did on my Vstrom and I got an extra 1/4 inch.

You just want to make sure shaving the bumpers won't put the seat directly on the frame or plastic panels or you'll rub paint and feel more vibration through the seat.

[marzhere]

Originally Posted by detours

Marzhere, I was just thinking about something else you could maybe look at to shorten the bike. You might be able to slice a little off the rubber bumpers under the seat. That's what I did on my Vstrom and I got an extra 1/4 inch.

You just want to make sure shaving the bumpers won't put the seat directly on the frame or plastic panels or you'll rub paint and feel more vibration through the seat.

Excellent thought. Will check into that possibility.

[Riceburner]

Originally Posted by detours

Marzhere, I was just thinking about something else you could maybe look at to shorten the bike. You might be able to slice a little off the rubber bumpers under the seat. That's what I did on my Vstrom and I got an extra 1/4 inch.

You just want to make sure shaving the bumpers won't put the seat directly on the frame or plastic panels or you'll rub paint and feel more vibration through the seat.

Detours, Marzhere, I don't think you can shorten the rubber bumpers. The starter relay is under the the seat and about middle, it sticks up above the frame rail. I wanted to lower my seat pan and relocated the starter relay back under the passenger seat. cut out the seat pan a bit and was able to lower the seat base about a half inch. I used my CAD design knowledge (Cardboard Aided Design).

I thought the seat was OK before I had it covered, hadn't been able to test ride it but when I got it back and have since done about 60 km, it's OK, not quite right, close but no "chocolate chip cookies"; figured from the beginning I'd have to re-do it. After the covering was on it seems to be higher than I'd expected and it's not wide enough under my thigh and even with cutting part of that back slope out, it still slops too much for me. I'll ride it for a bit before I modify it again. And I made it too wide on the sides, I think it ended up being wider than stock.

I ordered a second OEM seat on Taobao, I'm going to cut that one down and dish out the back where the slope is, I'll have a metal pan built for the center and get a better saddle shape to it.

[marzhere]

Thanks Riceburner. Appreciate the insight.

[detours]

Quick update ... Went on another 4 hour ride on Saturday and the seat is holding up really nice. The stock seat had me sore in 2 hours. But the new one is comfortable for 4+ hours. I'm sure the tall seat is even better.