Gel Saddles
I've just got about 3400 on my '07 I bought new back in December. -Use it mainly for yeoman's chores running to the market, the theater or a brief jaunt to the canyons to relax. I've noticed neutral got better about 600 miles and that, like many past bikes, there was a big smoothing out of the power delivery that began about 1000 miles and, to this day still seems to be sweetening.
I did want to take this opportunity to weigh in on saddles and, especially gel applications. I've done beau coup bicycling and, early on experimented with a great number of saddles of various technologies. Surprisingly, I found gel saddles to be very promising initially, but once out on a longer ride, to substantially disappoint. They became too giving on the tail bones and strangely unpleasant: there were "hot spots" at the bone pressure points and the general feel was of a queasy stress in the tail region. It turned out that a standard, rather hard at first, leather saddle by Ideal of France was the most comfortable once broken in.
My long term rides on gel bicycle seats may translate to a motorcycle seat, although I have never ridden one. I could pick up my rear and set it down any number of times on a long ride and never feel I could change the growing discomfort.
I highly recommend purchasing a saddle made of high tech foam instead. 1. See what the custom builders use or recommend the most. 2. Both after market, mass produced saddle makers Corbin and Sargent use foam. I've owned two of the later and was more than good to go from day one. Corbin offers many custom choices and can really be used for custom work as well. Many show bikes (I know, not a recommendation for a traveler) are fitted with Corbin saddles that look way trick.
Lastly, here is a section from the Corbin Q&A that talks about gel that might add some weight to the above. (I have no personal experience riding on a Corbin nor own any interest in the company. I can say they have been around for a very, very long time.) On gel saddles, then . . .
Recently I've seen some information about "Gel Seats". Why doesn't Corbin offer this?
Mike extensively tests every new foam technology that comes to market. Over the past 30+ years, we've done much testing on the gel padding and its possible usage for motorcycle seats and found that our advanced Comfort Cell foam is superior in both comfort and durability. Gel padding was originally developed as a prosthesis for mastectomy patients and was never intended to support more than its own weight. Gel has been tried as a cushion in running shoes, bicycle seats and gloves among other things (in fact, Mike has a gel seat on his exercise bike at home!) Gel is also very cold and is an inadequate cushion for most serious enthusiasts. Even when new, gel can apply pressure to areas of the body that are not well suited to load bearing. When subjected to heavy pounding, gel deteriorates developing pockets or holes. This situation worsens as the gel deteriorates.
Cooling air flow is blocked by gel and the material itself has what we call a Thermos Effect. Basically this means that when he gel gets hot, it stays hot and when it gets cold, it stays cold. Instead, Corbin saddles are contoured to distribute loads without applying pressure to sensitive tissue or blocking air flow. Instead of using a liquid displacement technology as in the gel foam, Corbin uses air as a cushion. (ask Nike about air pockets and support.) Corbin does this one better by combining the strength of closed cell foam and the air trapped inside to give the best possible support and impact protection! Corbin foam adapts to your body and provides you with evenly distributed support.