Shaved Seat Instead of Lowering VFR

Shaved seat.

Well, now.

.

 

Yet another subject of conversation where pix are not a necessity.

 

FWIW, maybe there's a couple pointers in it for Anne, or anyone else that's vertically challenged [DLMURL]http://m.womenridersnow.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenridersnow.com%2Fpages%2F5_tips_for_short_riders_handling_tall_and_big_motorcycles.aspx&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com#2899[/DLMURL]

 

I read the above advice and thought I would throw in a warning about road camber. At the stop, if the road drops to your left, and your entire plan is to put your left foot down, you may find 530 lbs falling too rapidly onto your left foot. Also, what if there is an oil spot or a wet painted stripe where you are putting that foot down? You may be doomed.

Thus, continue to make sure you pay attention to establishing the safest stop location to put down either of your feet, and especially with a slanted road (off-camber) be prepared to occasionally violate your standard routine for the situation at hand.

Lastly when I stop I try to concentrate on my leg angle, to burn it into my muscle memory. Sit on your bike and put your leg down. Now move your foot out one inch. Now two inches. Can you see that there are an infinite number of stop positions for your leg? Get to know the feeling of your leg against the tank/bike, and burn that into your routine/muscle memory. Now use that feeling to get your foot on the ground as close to the bike as possible. The closest you can put your foot down to the bike, the less the bike tips, and the more leverage that you have. This may sound obvious, but I do not think any technique is obvious, not until you feel it and pay special attention to it.

 

Hi Anne, I was reading this about lowering the seat. I wonder if my seat will be different since my bike is a 1986 VFR 750 not a 2008. I'm going to buy an old seat off ebay so I will still have the original seat from my bike and try to do this. I might add a high impact foam to the front of the seat where I sit.

 

Highlander ....

You can flip the triangle mount on the rear shock and drop the triple further down on the forks on the 6th gen. I'm not sure if its the same on the early models.

Careful to keep the geometry the same. Measure the height on the front and rear and keep them proportional.

Also watch your ground clearance.

Shave your seat first or see a local upholstery place to customize your current seat, then see how much more you need.

AM did an awesome job on hers. Though, she could probably use about another inch.

I look like a circus bear when I ride her bike with her seat. Lolzzz

 

Most of the popular cookiecutter seats use a single layer of foam. Lots of types of foam oot there with known qualities.

My buddy Rich at Rich's Seats in Kingston, Washington (this is not a plug for Rich's Seats in Kingston, Washington) has a vid on foam whacking using a tool he made from an old hedge trimmer. (this is not a plug for hedge trimmers)

Heating the seat cover is fine for stock seat covers that are being re-used. Best IMO to test any other materials using scrap first. Leather especially.. A hair dryer is less aggressive a heat source than one of those handy-dandy Milwaukee heat guns that can make foam look like Peeps in a microwave.

This is not a plug for muh peeps.. LOLzedzed

 

I had a seat doode re-foam my kawasaki seat with different densitys, he re-used the old seat cover with the same staple holes. It turned a low cost commuter bike into something you would ride anywhere. (Shameless plug) the the doode was Spencer, Spencers seats maybe? My arse is thankful. Vfr seats are ok. Nice job Ann Marie

 

This has been so helpful. You have no idea because I was going to sell my bike. I found out that lowering the bike's suspension causes handling issues. With this bike that would be a crime it handles so nice. Does anyone know where to put sliders on a 1986 VFR 750. I have looked at this bike and do not see where they would be attached except the swing arm but where in the front?

 

I've never seem them on this generation of the bike, but I suspect much like the 6th gen, you'll likely be drilling through the fairing.

I would hop over to the 2nd gen area and create a new thread there to get attract some new attention to the question.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

Day late and a dollar short, but thanks for posting AM.
I am not the tallest myself at 5'9" ish lol (more like 5' 8.25")
No clue how that translates in meters.

But point is the vf700 I got is just a bit tall for me to flat foot, especially with the 130/90 cruiser tire the PO had on it. Went to a 140/70 (130/80-18 is stock). I still have to have it balanced before putting it back on. But it should be good for about a cm ,or two lower seat height.

What is most interesting is that you noted that the revised seating position gave you a better feel. I too have noticed feeling like I am up on top of the bike. I have some experience with reupholstering seats, I even bought a pneumatic stapler/Brad nailer when I recovered my Blaster seat
I will likely try shaving a cm or two off the seat. The only other option which I will likely not get around to is to go slightly lower when replacing the factory air assisted shock and having the extension made.
I will likely get a somewhat newer vfr and retiring the 700 as a collectable, before going to this extent.

Regards
db
;;,;;

 

I may try this if I get more pressing issues with the bike fixed.
Putting on the LSL handlebar conversion helped get my feet on the ground better than with the stock clip ons.
Would still be nice to get more boot on the ground though. I don't guess my inseam will be getting any longer.