Long trip on S3

[tri650]

OK, it wasn't really that long. I decided to take a ride today given that the temps were in the 80's - after about 2 weeks in the high 90's and 100's.

Have not put more than 50 miles at a time on this bike so I decided to pack it up and put on a few hundred. Planned a route on the back roads down through the central part of Missouri. Great ride, great weather, nice scenery.

My only complaints were the seat and the rear suspension. My ass still hurts, even with the alaska leather pad. I bought the pad for my KLR650, given that the seat is a real plank. The S3 felt about the same after 250 miles.

I guess they don't set up the suspension for guys at my weight -235. I was ready to get off after 250 miles - and I have done a lot more miles in the past on other bikes. Maybe a new seat will help. Anyway, here is the 250 mile ride set-up.

[Catenaccio]

I've done a number of 500 mile day trips on Speedy and can hardly walk for a week after, I feel your pain!

[VWTim]

I did about 250 on Wed. The seat took while to break in, or for my butt to break in to it. I've found even on 400 mile days, a long shower and some Ibuprofen and I'm good to go. Although a Corbin is on the list of things to get eventually.

[worthy1]

Rode back from France on Wednesday, just over 600 miles and all i can say is, "thank god for Corbin!"
I rode this distance a while ago on the stock seat and was in agony, could hardly walk the day after. This time it was much better with the aches setting in after 300 miles or so but nowhere near as bad.

[T-bone]

Don't get dicouraged on distance... I'm 235lbs and with a few changes this thing can be a legitimate sport tourer... A few of us road up to the US GP in July... On Thurs. we rode 450 miles to get to our camp site, and the same on the way home... Including the rest of our riding we cover a total of 1203 miles on the trip... I added a few cranks on the preload at the rear, threw together a luggage rack and added a Corbin seat... It was a piece of cake!!! I've since added a Givi wind screen which punches a nice pocket of calm air that would have made the slab portion even better... I love my speedy and I would not be afraid to tackle some serious road trips with this beasty!!! It sure was a lot of fun on the PCH!!!

[Tricks]

You guys need a medal!
I find anything over 100 miles a ball ace. My shoulders, my arse and neck all give in.

[Max_NYC]

I'm a weekend rider, not a commuter rider, I rarely put less than 200 miles/day on my Speed Triple with its stock seat, 300 miles/day quite common (especially during trips). I've read somewhere that the Corbin and Sargant seats were slightly decreasing the seat height, and being 6'3'' tall, I can't afford that. I really got used to the stock seat anyway, it's not an issue for me. I take breaks every 50-70 miles, and during my breaks I walk and stretch a little. That being said, I would never ride between 350 and 500 miles/day on a Speed Triple, I really don't see the point. (And if you ride that kind of distance, there's got to be a lot of highways ridden. Again: what's the point?). I prefer to ride less, but make my itineraries fun, not painful.

[XavyBaby13]

I rode mine from nashville to chicago 600 miles when I bought it (bought it in nashville) . the seat was complete agony . after an hour on my way back I knew I was going to hate the ride back . I had to stop every 40 miles or so to stand up . Funny though, when in complete pain I could stand up for 10 seconds and feel completely recharged and ready for another 40 miles:

[Scarpa]

I've just done 4000m in 15 days, longest day was 500 miles, longest duration 11 hrs in saddle. Just love the padded cycling shorts under the leathers though

[Speed3]

I do a 1200 mile weekend every June to VT and back, and the ride up is close to 400 miles. I have the Corbin and can do the ride up with a break for lunch without a problem. It makes a huge difference from stock, and doesn't lower the seat height any if at all on my '01.