Many customers have asked what I could do to make their motorcycle and scooter seats more comfortable. I’ve always recommended installing a gel pad – which only measures ½” thick, but feels like a couple inches of foam.
There are two ways to do this job – depending on a customer’s preference and the amount of comfort desired.
The first and more comfortable option is to glue a gel pad directly over a seat’s bare foam cushion. However, this tends to give seats a thicker look that many customers don’t like.
The second option is to cut out a section of a seat’s foam and replace it with a gel pad. While this keeps the seat’s original profile, it’s the less comfortable option.
Both, however, are definitely more comfortable than no gel pad at all.
I recently installed a gel pad using the second option. Here’s how I did it:
After stripping the seat’s cover, I marked the cushion’s center and outlined the section where I wanted to install the gel pad. Install the gel pad where the customer feels the most discomfort.
Using a sharp razor blade, I cut out the section where the gel pad would be placed.
I drew a line on all sides of the cut section measuring ½” from the bottom. Discarding the bottom section and using the top enables me to keep the factory curve of the seat.
To keep the foam steady while cutting it, I glued it to a piece of wood.
I glued the top half of the foam back inside the seat, but only after tracing it on a gel pad. This guarantees that the gel pad – once cut – will be the appropriate size.
I cut the gel pad and glued it on top of the foam I just re-installed.
I cut a piece of headliner material large enough to cover the entire motorcycle seat.
I glued the headliner material over the entire seat. This ensures a uniform look that is free of bumps or creases once the seat cover is installed.
I then trimmed the motorcycle seat in ostrich-grain vinyl.
And there you have it, a more comfortable motorcycle seat!
I buy my gel pads from a Philadelphia-area supplier, George Shaw & Associates, for $55. I’ve experimented with other pads that cost less, but they tend to repel glue. The pad that I use has a thin plastic-skin covering that glue adheres to very well.
The installation process takes time, but isn’t too difficult. I like offering the service because it allows me the opportunity to up-sell customers who need a new seat cover, as well as attract those who are just looking for a comfort fix.
What are your thoughts on gel pads? Do you use a particular brand that you think is best? Or do you use memory foam instead? If so, what are the pros and cons of using one over the other?
* Naseem Muaddi is owner and proprietor of Delaware County Auto Upholstery – the Philadelphia-area’s premier custom trim shop.
I have a solo seat that already has memory foam attached. I wanted to add a gel pad then cover it myself. Is it okay to put the gel pad on top of the memory foam and then cover with some thin batting of some sort?
I use 3 different gels depending on the type of seat it is to be fitted to. I also make my own gels, to help with the grading I can add firm segments which stop the seat feeling squishy.
My gels don’t absorb heat as much and my foam/gel mix helps with a more traditional feel.
Gel has its issues but with a little thought most can be worked out and a comfortable ride can be achieved.
In the UK a warm seat is a comfort not a problem, I even add seat heaters under the gel, but in hot climates some gels can retain heat my tip is don’t let them warm up in the first place not easy I know but it is worth the effort because any seat with a gel fitted is going to be far more comfortable than one without. But beware I have come across many badly made gels that have no benefit at all even some production seats have useless 5mm gel in them. Do your homework and use quality products fitted correctly will be worth it in the end.
Marty, how do you make your own gels?
ive recovered several harley seats that had gel formed into the foam bun. they are always in the bottom of the bun though. i wonder if you followed the direction in this tutorial but instead put the gel under instead of on top if that would cut down on the heat issue
Hello, I think we really have to listen to our customers issues and then use the appropriate solution for the problem. We never try to push a product on a customer just to make an upsale. A lot of customers come in with. No problems and want gel installed, if you don’t have a problem adding gel might create one. Our experience is a good orthopedic gel really helps with certain issues ( butt burning , fatigue , sore buttocks …)on some of the Strret bikes and real low seats you really need a dense material that doesn’t collapse easily. Our biggest gripes come from customers that have purchased biker gel that is real soft and offers no support. We also remove memory foam from our local competitors because it feels good at first however once compressed it looses all support and breaks down.we also have had to remove air bladders and have not had good results with the Sqwoosh pads. I do agree that layering foam is the key and really gives us the edge from large manufactures who have not yet figured out the perfect foam , however it does take years to find the right foams. And we offer a limmited lifetime warranty on our comfort pack seats . By doing this warranty we insure customer satisfaction as well as are able to keep track of what foams and gels we have the best response from for each rider.
i have no idea about How to Install Motorcycle Seat Gel Pads , but my friend suggest to search online and i see your post. This post give me great information and details….
I install gels in motorcycle seats I use all my scrapes and melt them down and make a new sheat of gel but all gel pad are diffent you can not mix the gel
I use a clear looking gel
Reading these comments is interesting. There are several different ways to install gel pads, and my company offers both straight gel and foam/gel combinations. We have had great success with our product, and we never complaint softness nor the gel and/or foam breaking down.
I have been installing gel in seats now for 25 years. I use medical gel only. By using Naseem’s method your costs are lower than using other foam and I have never had a complaint. I also put a layer of insulating material over the pad as gel can get hot.
I started back then as a favor for a friend who is a parapalegic. Trikes are still a big business for me.
Thanks very much for the info. Just did a 1000km two day ride on our Kawi Vulcan and it was great except for the sore bum and lower back. Going to see if I can buy some gel locally to put under the seat vinyl. Would not mind if the sear is a bit higher.
I’ve also installed gel pads in many bike seats using a method similar to this one, but I reverse the way that the foam/gel is replaced as done in the way demonstrated here. Gel underneath, cut down original foam on top.
From my experience with memory foam, it’s lifespan is somewhat shorter than poly foam. Actually, considerably shorter.
When recovering/rebuilding the pilot/co-pilot seats that have had memory foam installed in the past, if the seats are more than a few years old, that memory foam is dead. Either permanently compressed or it has begun to literally turn to crumbs.
Sure, in that situation, the seats are utilized for much longer periods than a Moto-seat, but it’s something you & your customer should be aware of.
We used the memory foam from Skandia in the aircraft. Not saying that that’s a poor product, but it does have a shorter life-span.
Also, memory foam is heat sensitive. The warmer it gets, the softer it becomes.
So if you are going to use memory foam, use a denser grade than what you feel is required.
IIRC, the pink is the softest, so I wouldn’t recommend that. The blue is the one that I’ve found works the best.
But, in the end, I still prefer to use progressive densities of regular foam when building bike seats.
From the pan, up. Thin layer of very dense/thicker layer of medium dense/thin layer of soft.
In this way I can build seats that appear thin & minimal, yet provide a decent feel of ‘cushiness’.
Seat shape also plays into the comfort zone, too. Seats that have distinctive sides & tops with square transitions between the two tend to cut off circulation much more than seats that have a more round transition. Owner’s & especially passengers that are smaller with shorter legs appreciate a less square seat.
Excellent knowladge.
Excellent knowledge.
Thanks!
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Where are you located, I would like for you to do my seat, thanks.
I have a 2003 dyna low rider. Not the most comfortable seat as you probably know. .Can you help me.
where do I get a 12″x12″x1/2″ piece of gel pad?
Has anyone tried removing all of the foam and putting gel pad the full size of seat, then reattaching the foam? Although a little higher the upper surface would look original and hopefully the cover would still stretch over enough assuming the gel isn’t too thick, maybe 10mm?
Cheers.