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Getting a Vibration through the seat - anyone offer a seat cushion to offset? Any tips/hints?

Papa Hoc

New member
Good morning to all! Coming from a 2012 RT that had one of the best sounding engines (the Rotax v-twin) I may be spoiled. That engine didn't sound stressed right up to the redline, but I digress. I seem to be distracted by the engine vibration on this bike, removing the backrest for the driver transmits less, but it's still there. I have ordered handlebar weights from Sling Mods, and I can live with it, but I'm curious, does anyone offer a driver seat cushion, perhaps gel, that offsets that vibration? I have also noticed it's a bit wide at top and presses into my thighs a bit. Anyone with experience here, even if the fix is not seat related, I would love to hear!!
 
My 1330 cc triples have all smoothed out after they have run in a bit.

They aren’t the smoothest triple but they get better with miles on them.

They are a high torque long stroke motor, there’s not much point revving beyond 5,000 rpm.

The Sea to Sky seat is much better which, I think, is the comfort seat option.

I find if my hands are beginning to get a bit numb I’m gripping the bars too tight.
 
Engines vibrate. To me, it's just part of the experience. Ride a 441 BSA Victor, or a Mach III 2 stoke tripple, or a 650 Triumph Bonniville. Now those vibrate. The 998 V-Twin Rotax is a very smooth motor compared to a lot of machines.

Everyone is different. But to me, I don't have a problem with it at all.
 
Engines vibrate. To me, it's just part of the experience. Ride a 441 BSA Victor, or a Mach III 2 stoke tripple, or a 650 Triumph Bonniville. Now those vibrate. The 998 V-Twin Rotax is a very smooth motor compared to a lot of machines.

Everyone is different. But to me, I don't have a problem with it at all.
Try a 180 degree crank Laverda Jota 1000cc triple.

After a few hours your vision goes blurry.
 
My 1330 cc triples have all smoothed out after they have run in a bit.

They aren’t the smoothest triple but they get better with miles on them.

They are a high torque long stroke motor, there’s not much point revving beyond 5,000 rpm.

The Sea to Sky seat is much better which, I think, is the comfort seat option.

I find if my hands are beginning to get a bit numb I’m gripping the bars too tight.
Actually the bore is larger that the stroke = oversquare. Bore And Stroke: 3.31 x 3.14 in. (84 x 80 mm) Max HP Power: 115 hp (85.8 kW) @ 7250 RPM Max torque is at 5000 rpm 96 lb-ft.
 
Fair enough, what I probably should have said, relative to to the 998 it is a longer stroke motor.

It's marginally over square at 1.05 to one as opposed to 1.44 to one on the 998 engine.

Most triples available today vary from moderately over square, like the Triumph 1215, to very over square like the Yamaha 900 triples.

The 1330 cc is very much on the longer stroke end of contemporary bike engines.

This gives it a generally lower level for peak torque and even peak power. It behaves more like an automobile engine than a motorcycle engine in that regard.
 
Not trying to start anything here, however, would that not be masking a potential problem.
In a lot of years messing with Spyders, I've never heard of them.
Wonder how many people use them?
If the vibration is being created by some sort of malfunction, yes. But vibration created by the proper operation of a machine, no. Handlebar weights have been around for a very long time. In general, motorcycles used to vibrate a lot more than they do these days. What with spinning counterweights, etc. Handlebar weights don't cure the problem. But they can lessen it.
 
S
...but I'm curious, does anyone offer a driver seat cushion, perhaps gel, that offsets that vibration? I have also noticed it's a bit wide at top and presses into my thighs a bit. Anyone with experience here, even if the fix is not seat related, I would love to hear!!
So, what happened to answering the OP's question? I don't have a vibration issue nor do I use a seat cushion, but I was interested in any answers about seat cushions.
 
AirHawk Pad and/or Sheepskin. I use them together on my RTL and am comfortable in all conditions.

FYI that gel pads have a tendency to retain heat, so if you're in a hot area, it may become a bit uncomfortable if used without a sheepskin or some other cover.
 
I'd love to ride a Laverda Jota.
There's basically two different versions of the Laverda triple in Jota tune.

The earlier ones had a 180 degree crank, two pistons up whilst one piston is down with basically a balance weight which simulated another piston to balance like a four cylinder. They vibrated a lot. The engine can best be described as raw.

The later ones had a 120 degree crank like the Spyder, which was a lot more refined than the earlier ones, too a point.

They were difficult to ride as the frame was very tall. The brakes were the same Brembo calipers as everything else for that time from Ducati, to Moto Guzzi, to later BMWs. They kind of worked but were very wooden and needed a good heavy squeeze. The clutch was immensely heavy. The alternator was way too low an output to ride with lights on during the day. The low bars were painful on the wrists especially with the clutch and brakes being so heavy.

They were truly the muscle bikes of their era, the Jota tune was actually done by the UK importer, really for production bike racing. They were loud and a bit brutal. Handling was pretty good for the era, but it took a lot of muscling around. Mechanically they sounded like a bunch of bolts in a tumble drier.

They were reasonable reliable, but a constant love hate relationship. Brilliant on a decent run but the last thing on earth you wanted to ride in town. Electrics were OK from an Italian motorcycle perspective apart from that weak alternator.

I'd love to own an early one again, but it would be to sit and look at. Riding it would be beyond my aging body.

The best looking motorcycle ever made.
 
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