Seat won't unlock (FIXED) Never had a problem before, 5th gen,stock seat. The key turns the lock easily and the helmet hook drops down but the seat release won't move .It looks like the cable is trying to move but the latch mechanism at the seat is jammed. I've tried lubricating the lock and putting pressure on the seat but no luck. Anyone have a trick for manually releasing the latch?
I have same problem with my 6th gen, damn near broke key off 20 miles from home. Do you have the plastic cowl on the back of seat still on? My problem was I really wasn't pushing down on seat under cowl to release catch. I don't remember how I got it off the first time, but after lubricating catch and cable, it was still hard till I pressed down directly over catch on the seat. Bingo. I put a piece of stiff foam between cowl and seat, and have not had a problem since.
The latch mechanism seems to get a bit stiff over time and benefits from the occasional lube. I use "Rust Check" because it penetrates and protects from future surface corrosion. You still need to push down on the seat a bit while turning the key, but you only need a little pressure. As already mentioned, it's tricky to push down on the seat when the cowl is installed. I like the foam idea between the seat and the cowl!
I've found that instead of pushing down on the seat, if I work the tips of my fingers under the end of the seat (with or without the cowl) while turning the key and pull straight back, the seat comes off easily every time. I'm then able to pull straight back less than an inch before it releases completely and I can pull the seat up and off.
Fixed Fixed If you own a 5th gen go directly to your bike and loctite the bolt that holds the latch mechanism to the subframe. Mine had loosened enough to let the sliding latch and the spring pop out of place. There is also a small 1 / 4 " square piece of tin that sits on top of the slider that may fly out. To get the seat off I had to remove the grab handles and drop the bodywork enough to get at this bolt, a real pain with the seat in place. Couldn't just tighten it because that piece of tin had fallen out so I removed with small needle nose pliers.
You had to remove the grab handles with seat in place. Now THAT would be a huge pain in da arse. Glad you got the issue fixed though. Thanks for the tip though, would be a good thing to check on the bike when I go out to wash it later.
That is what I do too. Similar for my VTR1000f. With the sargeant seats I found it is a little tighter. Glad you got it fixed.
Super old post. However, I had the same problem and researched until I found this post. Helped a TON. I took off my Givi Wingrack 2 and rear cowl with the seat still in place like the OP said (which was a challenge) and loosened the latch by hand. Then put blue loctite on the latch hold down screw. Fixed Thanks VFR World Ted Edwards https://roaddirt.tv/