>ns.
>  What I would like to know now is: What about seat pads or air
> cushions? Before I spend any of my hard earned green-backs, I would
> like some input from others experience.

I would suggest you just save the money for the cushion and just buy
a high quality seat.

There are only two reasons you aren't comfortable on a longer ride;

1.) Poor quality seat made of inexpensive materials that don't evenly
distribute the weight and restrict the flow of blood at the capillary
level. Regardless of what the seat looks like it's what went into the
design and the materials that determines the comfort. They're
expensive. Comfort costs $$$,...how much is the comfort worth to you?
I'm sorry but I don't think that the proper philosophy goes into
anything the Moco markets - it's all about getting your $$$ not
making the best seat you can build. If the seat's crappy enough
you'll buy another one, and so it goes.....by then you've already
spent the $$$ necessary to have bought a good one up front. Look at
it as an investment that pays dividends. I'm still riding the same
Corbin that I've had for the last 8 1/2 years. It's more comfortable
now than it was when it was new.

2.) Too little time spent riding and getting used to the seat. Like
any other sport or hobby motorcycle riding takes a certain amount of
conditioning to get comfortable and establish some stamina. If you
just go on 10-30 miles jaunts regularly you probably won't develop
the necessary toning to endure a longer ride comfortably. However if
you mix in a liberal amount of 200-300 miles rides, like at least
once a week, you'll find yourself becoming more and more comfortable
on the longer rides. That's the difference between touring and just
going for a ride.

One of the little things usually overlooked by many riders is the
practice of carrying things in your jacket or vest pockets rather
than your pants pockets when you're riding. Loose the wallet, put it
in your jacket or vest. Those top covers have pockets for a reason,...use 'em.

Over a period of time the accumulated upper body stress that comes
from steering your bike via weight shift and realigning yourself to
the center of gravity develops your torso, chest, back and abdominal
muscles in such a way that you won't get fatigued on a longer ride.

The practice of changing your leg positions makes a big difference as
well - I personally prefer forward controls to stretch my legs out a
bit but I still use those passenger pegs regularly for a change of
position. It makes a big difference when you're talking about being
in the saddle the bulk of the day.

I've organized a local riding group that meets once a week (primarily
late Spring, Summer and early Fall), Sundays at 9:00-10:00 AM, and we
take a 200-350 mile ride. We call the rides "SANITY SUNDAYS",...it's
the opportunity to break your routine and get some wind in your hair.
We have a selection of mapped and plotted rides we have developed
over a period of time and those coupled with the regular change in
the scenery and the food stops makes for an enjoyable all day ride in
the company of people in the same frame of mind. You don't mind an
all day ride if there's something interesting interspersed with the
journey. And there's ALWAYS something interesting.

Then when the day's over you sleep like a hibernating bear that night.
Mike - 2000 883C - Tax Paid,...and then some.
Redmond, OR
www.c-o-s-t.com