Seat height/inseam comparison

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by mrgrumpy, Sep 19, 2015.

  1. mrgrumpy

    mrgrumpy New Member

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    I'm curious to know how many people are running the riders seat on the lower setting.

    I moved mine this morning and it's made a very tangible difference for me - less weight on my wrists, slightly more upright, not as difficult to reach the ground when stopped, and it's quieter too as the contact point from wind coming off the screen has moved up.

    I thought it'd be cool to get a comparison of people's measurement and their preference.

    For me -
    Height setting: low
    Inseam: 29"
    Flat foot to the ground: No.
     
  2. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    My guess is six or seven. Maybe more or less, more or less.
     
  3. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    Add some random confusing comments about filters, fuel or injector cleaner, garnish with excessively childish use of emoticons and this could be worthy of SOW, Billy. You sure you're not related?
     
  4. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    In response, I am positive I am not related to SOW. I have on occasion used the emoticons and to that, my plea is nolo contendre

    I may have, sometime in past, mentioned that I replaced the air filters on all my bikes with K&N's. The bikes being different of course, so are the air cleaners. The oil filters differ as well. OEM on the BMW and Yamaha and a Scotts's on the VFR and the 1200. I run premium in all the bikes. I have not felt or seen the need to use any injector cleaner in the 1200. The rest of the bikes are carbureted. All use Rotella by Shell. with no seal or gasket failures so far.

    With the exception of the 1200, the seats on the other bikes are custom made by Rich's, two have gel pads and one (the BMW) does not. My end seam is 32.5" and has been since I was roughly 13 years old allowing me to be flatfooted on every bike I have had since that time. Here I emphasize had, as in owned, and not just ridden.

    What might be done is for you to lend a hand to Mr. Grumpy informing all concerned or as it is, unconcerned, that not everyone has a bike with an adjustable seat or a 29" end seam. More importantly that he should expect some ribbing for assuming that anyone really cares if he gets a bit of wind or even a large bug in his face whilst off on a ride.

    To prevent this, there are sites that sell universal windscreens that with a bit of fiddling can block all manner of airflow, attacks by insects ect. They IMO, are butt ugly but functional when function over form presents.

    More importantly, again IMO, by lowering the seat height by one means or another the greater benefit would be providing the ability to stop on the bike flat footed, lest we or he suffer from any trauma competing with SOW as current champion of the most drops in the shortest time.
     
  5. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    I tip my hat to you, Sir, for introducing a dash of Latin to the Forum; much more of that and we can start calling this the Roman Forum. Touché (see what I did there with a soupçon of French?). You're clearly a man of some learning so most likely unrelated to SOW, just your own brand of specialness.

    Way back in 1982 (when I was still young, slim and attractive), I undertook a rider training school, and one of the points they drilled in to us was about learning to balance the bike at a standstill while seated, on ONE foot. Either foot would do, the left foot was preferred so you could keep the right on the brake. The other hot tip was when stopping on a side-to-side slope, never to try to put your foot down on the downhill side as that was a sure recipe for toppling over. Touchwood, I've never fallen off at a standstill (but have had occasions of unexpected horizontality whilst supposedly in motion).

    This business of seat height, inseam etc is a very complex one, as one of the missing factors in reaching the ground is the seat width. A tall bike with a skinny seat may be easier for a rider with shorter legs than a supposedly lower bike with a wider seat.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2015
  6. mrgrumpy

    mrgrumpy New Member

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    I'm starting to think maybe I shouldn't have asked....

    Complex issues and different geometries of people and bikes aside, I was interested to see what works for others given the metrics we know - the in seam, and the 2-stage adjustable seat on the 8th gen VFR. You're correct in that not all bikes have an adjustable seat, but I posted in the 8th gen forum, and all of them do... It seemed like a reasonable comparison to make for me, having only owned a VFR for 2 days.
     
  7. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    my-brain-is-full.jpg

    Sorry for my flippant attitude, Mr G. It's Monday.
     
  8. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    I don't own, or have ridden the 8th gen but would love to ride it and see if it fits me better.
    I've only been able to flat-foot a few bikes. A Honda magna and a Yamaha YSR50. I can tip-toe my 5th generation, and If I need to be on the ball of my feet I need to slide one cheek off the saddle.
    Height setting: Stock.
    Inseam: 28 inches.
    Flat foot to the ground: What's this you're talking about? lol
     
  9. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    If you've only had the bike for two days IMO you have not had the opportunity to, as we say here to have "wrung it oot" Actually we say out, but I live very close to Canada and do not want to piss off a bunch of Canadians who could invade us and all of a sudden everyone is talking funny and using metrics.
     
  10. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    One year of Latin taught by a Jesuit Priest was sufficient to get me to switch to Spanish. Jesuits are the fast guys of the Pope's racing team.. Many of the laws we observe are from English Common Law handed down from Roman Law no doubt debated by those in the Roman Forums. Thankee Jesus we did not adopt our laws from the French. Not only does the basic premise of guilty until proven innocent exist, that Napolean dude had a really short inseam and probably lifts in his boot and a burr under his saddle. Besides they talk funny too. I really like the Canadian Language; "eh" can be either declaratory or interrogatory and the discovery that oot really means out makes translations really easy.

    I am not so special. I am merely upholding my title. It's not a real title as such but more an honorific. Nevertheless it's mine and woe be to the usurpers..

    I too was younger in 1982. I think if we give this just a little more thought, unless "we" were not born yet, we were all younger. By then, what you were taught was great but only if the bike were standardized. As I recall all the German bikes with a few exceptions had shifter levers and brakes on the sides of the bikes we have today. The early Hondas followed suit. Many other bikes from different places and times have the levers and pedals on opposite sides and in some cases the shift patterns are reversed or the same as a Moto-GP bike. The list is very long and only addresses relatively newer bikes. The true vintage, classic and antique bikes had even different arrangements.

    Cutting to the chase, even a seat with a height adjustment could be modified incorporating narrowing, materials change, color, addition of a gel pad all withoot (Canadian eh!) sacrificing the wind in your hair (if present and bugs in your teeth, again if present.

    So if Mr. Grumpy has one of those BMWs that are really fast with an adjustable seat I am envious as hell. He didn't really say..
     
  11. macscuddle

    macscuddle New Member

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    I'm 5'10", 32" inseam (although I can generally wear 34's and do prefer them for riding). I'd say my torso is normal but my arms are a little long for my height.

    Anyhow, I've tried the lower setting even though I didn't need to. I also mixed in the large MotoPumps risers. It was definitely different. At first I thought, yeah, I'll ride like this on long trips...but by the end of the day I was like...those two rubber things I removed to lower the seat made a difference...much more jarring without them...and once temperatures got up around noon (80+F) I could really feel a heat difference. So, I'm back to high setting.

    I don't use the MotoPumps either, by the way. Feel they introduce vibration somehow. And yes, I checked the torque and everything.

    Honestly, though, after wasting time with all that, I just like the stock setup best and although those things definitely felt different, they had no positive effect. First impression was...Yeah!...impression after a long ride was...Nope!

    For me it has just been better to learn to ride the bike as designed (coming from a cruiser), strengthen my lower back, etc. I would assert that one should only use the lower setting if their height requires them to, and I have similar feelings about any risers.

    My time was much better spent getting the preload right for my fat ass. Now that made a huge positive difference.
     
  12. mrgrumpy

    mrgrumpy New Member

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    Thanks for the feedback everyone.

    My driveway slopes down and I have to turn off-camber going backwards (and I have no alternative) to get out of the garage - so the more foot contact I can get on the road, the better. Having said that I have come from a CB400 where I can easily get both feet flat foot on the ground, so it is all just what I'm used to.

    I was trained to keep one foot up on the right-hand peg wherever possible, only put down the 'high side' on a slope etc, so no issues there, but I like the extra security the lower seat affords with my short legs. I may put it up again at some point once I'm more accustomed to the VFR but for now it's working well for me.
     
  13. gotpowr

    gotpowr New Member

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    I'm 6' with a 31.5" inseam.
    I use the seat in the lowest position. I came from a cb500f and and the highest position felt weird to me (like I was sitting way too high). As soon as I lowered it (2nd day I had it), I felt a ton better.

    I have considered raising it again now just to see now that I'm more than comfortable with the bike, if my feelings on it are any different.

    I have a feeling either way it'll end up back in the lowest position for me.

    Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
     
  14. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Not much mention here other than in seams for walkin around pants. Sitting on a bike IMO, it's good to have maybe even pants that are up to even a couple of inches longer than what your tailor tells you.

    Y'all do have tailors I hope..;)
     
  15. fatshoutybloke

    fatshoutybloke New Member

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    I'm 5'10" with a 31" inseam and coming from the 6th gen I find the seat on the 8th gen is already lower, for me the riding position is very similar but with my knees slightly more bent. I certainly wouldn't want to put feet and seat even closer together. Both feet flat down which I couldn't do on the older bike.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2015
  16. John O

    John O New Member

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    I've got a 30" inseam and prefer the full seat height position. I tried the lowered position but my tank bag was too much in the way. Generally with the seat lowered I felt "behind the bike" instead of "riding the bike."
     
  17. Pete47

    Pete47 New Member

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    Height 5'8" Inseam 29". Although I could barely touch down with both feet with the seat in the high position I felt too high on the bike. The lower setting ended up way better for touching down and I feel more in the bike than on it. I'm actually looking for an aftermarket seat option to go even lower.
     
  18. Pjcliffo

    Pjcliffo New Member

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    5.8 30inch, find the lower height just right, one of the reasons I bought it. The pegs are a bit higher than I'm used to but am getting used to them. The lean angle is more than my street triple but apart from a slightly sore neck has been no problem. Enjoying the change so far. Bike feels very solid and planted and the suspension nicely supple.
     
  19. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Just think how really interesting it is that bikes are different. Lord help us if this changes.

    Considering that most bikes that us regular dudes can buy or ride have the shifter on the left and the rear brake pedal on the right. Forming the triangle IMO, the left leg/foot combo is the better choice for stops.

    Just one example. A stoplight or sign at the top or bottom of a grade or hill. Get your downshifting done before a completely stopped. Use the front brake for most of the hauling down. When stopped plant that left and to keep the bike from rolling apply the rear brake with (yes) the right foot. Futzing aboot with the front brake lever and throttle assembly on a bloody hill is gonna get ya in deep shit and a free membership to Randy's one drop shop club.
     
  20. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    Gee at least I have a good record here, only one drop last year.
     
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