Lower your seat for no cost?

[alp]

Just thought you might be interested.
I loaded up my bike with heavy full panniers and top bag and found that the bike seemed a touch too top heavy for my foot contact on the ground with the suspension set for rider and luggage. This is especially so when trying to move the bike forwards and backwards when parking. My seat is a standard, set in the low position.
With the suspension set for rider only, it sits lower with the luggage fitted but maybe this would adversely affect the handling so I checked the price/delivery of a low seat and decided to see if there is an alternative for my Garmisch trip next week.
There is. I removed the 2 thick rubber sleeves where the front of the seat mounts and fitted 2 pieces of thin rubber oil hose in their place. This reduces the seat height at the front by around 10mm and I can feel the difference when I sit on it.
The slight downside is that it is possible to lift the front of the seat a bit by hand but this doesn't seem to make any difference when sitting on or getting off the bike.

 

[DING-DONG]

Wait till ya arse starts hurting as i found the stock seat no good for touring miles.

 

[Magnon]

Just thought you might be interested.
I loaded up my bike with heavy full panniers and top bag and found that the bike seemed a touch too top heavy for my foot contact on the ground with the suspension set for rider and luggage. This is especially so when trying to move the bike forwards and backwards when parking. My seat is a standard, set in the low position.
With the suspension set for rider only, it sits lower with the luggage fitted but maybe this would adversely affect the handling so I checked the price/delivery of a low seat and decided to see if there is an alternative for my Garmisch trip next week.
There is. I removed the 2 thick rubber sleeves where the front of the seat mounts and fitted 2 pieces of thin rubber oil hose in their place. This reduces the seat height at the front by around 10mm and I can feel the difference when I sit on it.
The slight downside is that it is possible to lift the front of the seat a bit by hand but this doesn't seem to make any difference when sitting on or getting off the bike.

Good ideas my friend so made these

 

[Magnon]

You can feel the difference. Works just as you say. You have a good brain sir.

 

[Magnon]

Two bits of plastic bar and four o rings. Sweet job.

 

[batman1]

Good ideas my friend so made these

So the above are eccentric plastic bushes that can be swiveled around and re-tightened to where you want them...Correct?

 

[Magnon]

So the above are eccentric plastic bushes that can be swiveled around and re-tightened to where you want them...Correct?

Yep that's it pretty much it. They don't tighten just stiff on the spindle.

 

[Jumblemo]

Where'd ya get the bushes from? I've used some garden hose to similar effect, but I'd rather do it your way so the seat is better secured.

 

[SMB]

Just thought you might be interested.
I loaded up my bike with heavy full panniers and top bag and found that the bike seemed a touch too top heavy for my foot contact on the ground with the suspension set for rider and luggage. This is especially so when trying to move the bike forwards and backwards when parking. My seat is a standard, set in the low position.
With the suspension set for rider only, it sits lower with the luggage fitted but maybe this would adversely affect the handling so I checked the price/delivery of a low seat and decided to see if there is an alternative for my Garmisch trip next week.
There is. I removed the 2 thick rubber sleeves where the front of the seat mounts and fitted 2 pieces of thin rubber oil hose in their place. This reduces the seat height at the front by around 10mm and I can feel the difference when I sit on it.
The slight downside is that it is possible to lift the front of the seat a bit by hand but this doesn't seem to make any difference when sitting on or getting off the bike.

I too have made a lowering system alone the lines of Magnon.
Though it lowers it only a little bit, the difference is profound.
MANY thanks for posting this ALP.

SMB

 

[bellyboy]

Great ideas, any instructions?

really think this lower seat is for me.. how did you make them? please

 

[GSWizz]

What about thicker boot soles?

Probably opening the door to a lot of abuse but what about combining the small seat drop with thick soled touring boots to give a bit more leg length. My current boots have a thin sole and hopefully a thicker soled touring boot would add a bit more support and effectively longer legs. My 32 inch inside leg on standard seat is to short for a comfortable full flat foot down. Where did the plastic bar come from?

 

[batman1]

Two bits of plastic bar and four o rings. Sweet job.

Do I spy the red turbo chip plugged into the loom socket?

If so can you feel a difference in performance?

 

[Magnon]

Do I spy the red turbo chip plugged into the loom socket?

If so can you feel a difference in performance?

No it makes no difference to performance, allows enduro pro mode and memories ESA settings (soft/normal/hard) in the riding modes, others who have read the manual will know what else it does

 

[Magnon]

really think this lower seat is for me.. how did you make them? please

I have lathe and other machine tools but to make them I started with 31mm dia length of Delrin (because that is what I to hand) turned two grooves to hold 'O' rings to give nice fit to seat parted off to length then drilled a 11.5mm hole in each at max offset before breaking into O ring groves in four jaw chuck.

That's is pretty much it - hope this helps

 

[GSWizz]

Will give it a go

I have sourced the O rings but the Delrin is a bit harder. Have you countersunk the inner edge where it goes up against the plate? I have got hold of some 30 x 5 mm O rings and can get 30 mm Delrin. Just need to find a small engineering shop to turn the edges, O ring grooves and drill identical holes. Other wise it would end up wonky.

 

[Magnon]

Opportunity

A few of our vertically challenged brethren have contacted me about making for them the lowering bobbins that ALP invented and have very generously offered crisp new folding ones in return, sorry guys its not what i do or want to do to be honest. So if there is anybody out there with the wherewithal please make yourself known here and you might make a few bob.

Cheers

Magnon.

 

[GSWizz]

Found a shop that will make them

I have found a local plastic specialist that is willing to cut, drill and machine up the supports at £36.00 inc VAT a pair. I am just waiting the O rings arrival before I go in to see him as he needed them to make sure he machined the grooves just so. I am happy to be the experiment and if it works I will post up their details. If you could let me know if you countersunk them on the inner edge it would be a help.

 

[Magnon]

Yes the inner facing side is countersunk just make sure with the bobbins fitted to the seat carrier the overall width is just less than the seat location width.

Magnon

 

[GSWizz]

Could you be so kind as to tell me how wide your delrin parts are. The original rubber mounts are 30mm wide and I was going to get the new ones made to the same width.

 

[Shamone]

Any updates of whether anyone will make and sell these?