I ordered the Suzuki Gel Seat from Oneida on July 8 and received it July 15 (from New York to Western Ohio). With only about 75 miles sitting on it, I can say that I'm pretty happy with the purchase. $144.99 + $20shipping.
My personal issue with the stock 650 seat is it's shape. It is arched side-to-side and curved (concave?) front to back. If I scoot back, I slide forward and get a wedgie. If I scoot forward I mash my stuff. In the "center" all of my weight is concentrated on the boniest part of my inner pelvis and is just plain uncomfortable. I have ridden 8500 miles on the stock seat, so it surely isn't a break-in issue.
The great thing about the gel seat is that it's shape is noticeably different. It has a definite flat area in the center, is not nearly so sloped toward the front, and has a visibly sharper pitch up in the back (of the driver's seat area). Instead of arching side-to-side, it seems to be slightly raised at the edges and then the center is flat, if not slightly lower than the edges. This makes it harder for my feet to touch the ground when I'm stopped, but makes it way more comfortable when my feet are on the pegs.
Overall the seat is taller than the stock 650 (I can see over my windshield a tad better). I don't have very long legs, and had already lowered the bike 1". I'm back to tip-toeing when stopped. I'm okay with the trade-off.
My personal issue with the stock 650 seat is it's shape. It is arched side-to-side and curved (concave?) front to back. If I scoot back, I slide forward and get a wedgie. If I scoot forward I mash my stuff. In the "center" all of my weight is concentrated on the boniest part of my inner pelvis and is just plain uncomfortable. I have ridden 8500 miles on the stock seat, so it surely isn't a break-in issue.
The great thing about the gel seat is that it's shape is noticeably different. It has a definite flat area in the center, is not nearly so sloped toward the front, and has a visibly sharper pitch up in the back (of the driver's seat area). Instead of arching side-to-side, it seems to be slightly raised at the edges and then the center is flat, if not slightly lower than the edges. This makes it harder for my feet to touch the ground when I'm stopped, but makes it way more comfortable when my feet are on the pegs.
Overall the seat is taller than the stock 650 (I can see over my windshield a tad better). I don't have very long legs, and had already lowered the bike 1". I'm back to tip-toeing when stopped. I'm okay with the trade-off.