Bum deal: The science of motorcycle seat discomfort explained

Motorcycling can, over long distances, quite literally become a pain in the backside. Well now ComfortAir have discovered why and may have a solution.

During their research and development programme to create the ultimate seat cushion, ComfortAir commissioned a specialist lab with pressure-mapping facilities to carry out controlled testing.   

The tests involved a rider sitting on a static bike fitted with a standard seat for ten-minutes, then for the same period with a ComfortAir Cushion fitted. A detailed pressure map was taken of each session to get an accurate reading of weight distribution.

The results were threefold, finding that riders sit in an unnatural position regardless of the style of motorcycle they ride, this in turn creates pressure points which restrict blood flow to certain areas of the rider, increasing discomfort.

Finally, the test found that pressure points increase in heat resulting in perspiration which leads to an accelerated loss of electrolytes, adding to muscle discomfort.

ComfortAir’s Wayne Harrison said: “The test results really underline why it is that once you start to feel uncomfortable on a motorcycle, it’s difficult to improve the situation. Each factor contributes to and exacerbates the problem.”

He added: “Interestingly, the research also showed that people seem to display ‘buttock bias’ – putting more weight on one buttock rather than evenly across both. This causes a slight misalignment of the spine, which is enough to put the rider in an uneven position and cause pain to spread to the lower back and shoulders.”

The same test, when using a ComfortAir cushion which use pockets of air to distribute weight more evenly, showed improvements in all three areas.

Harrison added: “We definitely won’t be sitting on these results, we’ll be using the data to inform the development of the next generation of ComfortAir.”