Leaning towards a H2

[Fitz]

To be fair I havn't done them. But I think anyone looking to tour etc, should look into some of the ergo mods. Plenty of reworked seat options. Someone is working on a bar riser/slight angle change. There's a few options for just raising the bars 3/4 inch. Recently some cheaper peg lowering options were posted aside from the expensive Viking one. I'm about to give an airhawk pad a try in preparation of a 10 hour ride home from Kansas on a ninja 400, but some like them for the H2 at least for more touring. (For the twisties I'd say probably bad idea)

I'm gonna also give padded bike shorts/pants a try kinda like this.

I've never felt the need for them, except for really long hauls. I recently did CO to SLC UT. Up to hour 6 I was starting to get uncomfortable with fairly brief stops every 1-2 hours. Hours 7 and 8 though and I was joking I was selling the bike and flying home, it was really getting quite extreme on the pain.

My normal day to day is commute up highway an hour to work and it's just perfect for that and I still a year later am loving the pull once the super is going. Nothing like taking a shitty short on ramp and still be going a a fair bit over the highway limit to control where you want to merge in effortlessly.

Unrelated, but if buying, personally I kinda hate the kawi bags. Awkward shape, gotta hold shit in place while you try to slap the door closed. I think I'd look at the aftermarket cheaper soft sided nylon type bags. Being lockable and removable is about the only plus sides to them and they are pretty pricey.

[stk0308]

I don't find the H2 SX any more uncomfortable for touring than the '08 Sprint ST it replaced. Ergonomically. The seat could use, something, but I'm not sure what, yet.

I always wear MSR compression shorts as a base layer. I've found them more comfortable than any regular cotton underwear. They don't have extra padding, just a chamois type crotch lining. And now I see these shorts have been discontinued, lol Any compression shorts should work, though. Mainly to reduce hot spots from seems.

[danham]

... I'm about to give an airhawk pad a try in preparation of a 10 hour ride home from Kansas on a ninja 400, but some like them for the H2 at least for more touring. (For the twisties I'd say probably bad idea) ...

Quick comment on the AirHawk. I never rode without mine on my BMW, including several trips down the Tail of the Dragon. It was fine in the twisties and really helped salvage what was a pretty nasty seat on that bike. The trick is to avoid over-inflating. The AirHawk is supposed to fill in between you and the seat, not perch you on a cushion above the seat. The latter would indeed be a nightmare in the twisties, but with it properly inflated it works fine and does not interfere with body positioning in corners. Best method to inflate it properly: fill it up with air, sit on it, open the valve slightly and let air out until your butt bone just barely touches bottom.

Now, back on-topic: I tried the AirHawk on my H2 and quickly concluded I didn't need it. Much better seat than my BMW.

-dan

[Burmashave]

...I'm gonna also give padded bike shorts/pants a try kinda like this....

I ride with Moto-Skiveez on longer rides, and they do help. The thing about bicycling shorts is that bicycle seats are very different from moto seats, so the padding in bicycling shorts may not be good for motorcycle riding. Moto-Skiveez are designed for motorcycle riding.

[SDH2Mike]

Have a pair of the Moto Skiveez, comfy and are made for motorcycles. Not airhawk comfort but they help keep the jewels cooler.

[CoolDaddyGroove]

I have not found a stock seat that I could ride longer than 4-5 hours in the 16 bikes I've owned. To my delight. The H2SX seat is the most comfortable I've ridden. I've tried every type of base layer, cycling shorts, pouch underwear like SAXX etc and the best solution I have found under leathers is to wear full length tights (no underwear underneath). There is a huge difference in comfort between butt comfort wearing leathers versus Jean's or ballistic nylon.

This allows the leathers to slide over the tights. Your butt doesnt stick to the seat, and that helps immensely. If riding in extreme heat, a generous dousing of Monkey Butt (like, do it standing in a shower and use lots everywhere) extends your day significantly.

"Monkey Up" we always say

[Verizoncellular1]

Your welcome to PM me, I have 27,000 miles and no regrets. I've done 1100 miles 22hours and 2100 miles in about 45 hours. It's a great bike and reliable.

[Imoutdoors]

I’m in the same boat, reading these responses with interest. We’re just NE of Atlanta, an used to do TWO regularly. Now I’m riding again, I was just up in that area last weekend. Was in Ft. Myers a few years myself. Glad to see folks comfortable 2-up for distance. I’ve got family in Louisville, and a blast up there on a bike would be quicker and more fun than driving

[Imoutdoors]

awesome, yes I frequent there, been going since it was just called TWO. heading left out of their parking lot down 60 to morgan town is one of my favorite stretch of roads. My father has a place in Blairsville and I go up there regularly

sounds good, just let me know

We were just there, my first time in 10 years, and I realized how much I missed it! Very rusty riding skills, but it was an awesome day! Also love Wolf Pen Gap rd uphill towards TWO!