'07 Yamaha Virago 250

Message

jasper9652 · Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:16 pm

I've got almost 150 miles on my first bike and really enjoy the experience. Now for the situation I need advice on.....After 20-30 miles my tailbone is just aching. When I first sit on the bike it feels very comfortable and I feel no unusual pressure points from the seat. Could my riding posture be wrong? I am 6ft and 175 with a 36 inseam. Maybe I should adjust the rear shocks to absorb more road shock? Are there any aftermarket seats available for this bike? All helpful suggestions appreciated, Mike.

TrueFaith · #2 Unread post by **TrueFaith** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:52 am

I just checked the Corbin website and although they make plenty of after market Virago seats, I didn't see one for the 250. It might not be the seat, but could actually be the cruiser seating position of your bike. I owned a Yamaha 250 Exciter at one time and it was basically the same bike. At 6' tall that laid-back position got to my back on long rides. It puts too much pressure and weight on your lower back. I doubt adjusting the rear pre-load would do much good, but at least make sure you're not bottoming out the rear suspention. That would certainly be very bad for your back.

Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:34 pm

How about getting a gel saddle cushion to try? They are a couple of inches thick. That may help your riding postion as well as absorb some vibrations?

And yes...your posture could very well be wrong. It could be as simple as adjusting your handlebars, or your seat height.
Also...you have only 150 miles experience. Everyone gets a sore butt when they first start to ride.

Sometimes a simple sheepskin can help.

Dragonhawk · Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:39 pm

blues2cruise wrote:And yes...your posture could very well be wrong. It could be as simple as adjusting your handlebars, or your seat height.
Also...you have only 150 miles experience. Everyone gets a sore butt when they first start to ride.

I recall when I first began to ride, my left hand was REALLY sore from having to use the clutch.

It sounds funny to talk about it now, because now I don't feel a thing. But that first week - wow. My left and was all cramped from riding.

Like any other physical activity, motorcycling involves the use of muscle-groups that might not ordinarily get used in that manner. Often takes your body a few days to adjust, even if you're in great shape.

Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:32 pm

Aside from the left hand getting fatigued, I had a problem with my shoulders. It took quite a while before my shoulders quit aching and felt strong.

I know a lot of people who had problems with a pain in the butt until they got divorced...

haha...just kidding.....
until they got a new saddle.

#6 Unread post by **MZ33** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:04 am

I saw this on the web: http://www.bikersfriend.com/ What interested me most was the little back roll involved.

D'ya supppose it might help?

TorontoBoy · Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:48 pm

I don't think it's your seat, but maybe your seating position/posture. You sit on your iliac crests, the two bum bones on either side (one per cheek). Your tailbone (coccyx) is behind and higher than your bum bones, so would not touch the seat if sitting straight up. If you follow your crack from top to bottom (I don't believe I'm explaining this) you can feel your tailbone until it ends, just before the o-ring.

Are you slouching in your seat, so that your legs are out front and your tummy is far back, like riding with highway pegs on a cruiser? If so, ditch the highway pegs position and see if this helps. This postion would pivot the pelvis/hips backward and therefore load your tailbone. The tailbone is composed of 5 fused vertebra and not made to bear the weight of your upper body, thereby giving you pain.

It's difficult to say this is a pain in the a$s, because technically the tailbone is part of your back. Pain in the back?

#8 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:02 pm

blues2cruise wrote:How about getting a gel saddle cushion to try? They are a couple of inches thick. That may help your riding postion as well as absorb some vibrations?

And yes...your posture could very well be wrong. It could be as simple as adjusting your handlebars, or your seat height.
Also...you have only 150 miles experience. Everyone gets a sore butt when they first start to ride.
Sometimes a simple sheepskin can help.

+1 on the sheep skin. Did wonders for my cross country ride last year...