Jump to content

Lower seat options


Recommended Posts

I found a few threads with questions about lower seats - but few answers. Hopefully folks have had some more experiences since then.
 
What are the best options for lower seats - as far as comfort? Is the Yamaha option any good? It looks like Corbin's option would make it a little easier for me to get my feet down. Are they really worth nearly $500? And it looks like Sargent is still working on it. 
 
Are there other good options for lowering and good comfort?
 
 
For the record, I find the stock seat to be pretty uncomfortable. Granted, I only have 600 miles on it and this is my first bike that puts me in such an upright position. 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Option #1. If your a do-it-yourselfer, lower your own seat link. I lowered mine by 1.5-1.75" when finished.  Also shaped it to my anatomy and have been happy for up to a tested 450 mile day. I was ready to get off though.
 
Option #2. OEM lowered or eventually an aftermarket lowered but I haven't scene any options available as of yet. More comfortable, yes, hopefully. But it has to be comfortable and lower. So aftermarket has not been an option.
 
Option #3. Custom build using your OEM seat pan. I'm sure there are motorcycle specific experts, hopefully in your area, who can accomplish this.
 
Option #4. Lowering links. Downside is the oil pan-drain plug hitting. I still have a set on my work bench but I'm happy with my custom OEM lowered seat so far. Will have both front and rear recovered eventually.
 
Option #5. Modify your OEM seat and or add 1" of sole to your boots. Any Cobbler should be able to help with this.
 
I don't see how one could narrow the OEM seat. Look or feel the bottom edge of the seat pan. Pretty well even with the FJ's trim. Maybe gain 1/4 to 1/2" on each side if heated up with the foam and cover removed. It might be worth it. I didn't do any of that to mine and its still OK for me. Other then that, not sure of anyway to narrow it.
 
If there was a lowered Bagster option, like the one Wessie has [/url]link, I just may be in seat heaven. He doesn't focus or mention anything about it being uncomfortable so that's gotta be good. Plus its bloody gorgeous.
Everyday's a good day when your able to ride
 
15 FJ-09 - 2WDW ECU flash, Givi SV201, Nelson Rigg tail bag, OES sliders, Koubalink extenders, Ermax Sport, Vista Cruise, OEM seat mod, (smiles)
07 Honda ST1300A (sold)
06 Kawi KLR650 - Big Gun full exhaust, Corbin, Givi, PMR racks, carb mod (keeper)
97 Honda VFR750 - Traxxion Dynamics, Penske, Givi 3 piece, carbon exhaust (keeper?)
20+ years of snowmobiles
Link to comment
Share on other sites

panooch - thanks for the VERY thorough reply.
 
#1 - Interesting. Not sure if I'm ready to take a knife to the seat, but it is nice to have that write up if I do.
#2 - I suspect the Yamaha lowered seat would not be so comfortable. I do wonder if the Corbin (which some people seem to love and others, not so much) would actually provide additional reach for my legs. Seems like it would from the description. 
#3 - I'm outside of Phoenix, so that probably is an option. Will have to research.
#4 - Don't want to go there. 
#5 - Adding 1 inch to the soles of my boots is actually a pretty good idea. I only need a little more reach (at 5'7", 31 inch inseam), so that might do the trick. And I'd have that 70's disco style too. 
 
And yeah, that Bagster saddle looks really nice. 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm 5'7" also with 30" inseam. The OEM lowered seat was the only option when I modified mine and was reviewed as being uncomfortable by most. I felt options would become available in time and decided to purchased the FJ with that notion. New standard OEM replacement was only $85.00 IF I destroyed the one I had and I was done with the stock set up. Luckily I'm still pleased with my results. Just don't think about my seat anymore. It does its job and I experience no discomfort. But I'm keeping an eye out for something low, comfortable with the Bagster appearance. :)
 
I've wondered how a custom Corbin would turn out. I have an off the shelf Corbin on my Shetbox 650 and the firmer foam works fine on that. But the current FJ design of the Corbin I'm not crazy about. Eventually I'll schedule a ride over to Hollister and let them plop one on just to see how it feels. Then hopefully they'd let me know if a design change and lower option could be made. I'm somewhat certain they can but my next expense will be suspension upgrades.
Everyday's a good day when your able to ride
 
15 FJ-09 - 2WDW ECU flash, Givi SV201, Nelson Rigg tail bag, OES sliders, Koubalink extenders, Ermax Sport, Vista Cruise, OEM seat mod, (smiles)
07 Honda ST1300A (sold)
06 Kawi KLR650 - Big Gun full exhaust, Corbin, Givi, PMR racks, carb mod (keeper)
97 Honda VFR750 - Traxxion Dynamics, Penske, Givi 3 piece, carbon exhaust (keeper?)
20+ years of snowmobiles
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5'9", 30" inseam here. Got Yamaha OEM lower seat when I bought the bike. Feels like a vinyl covered cinder block, but I mostly commute on this bike short distances. Have an F6B for when the thit gets real.... ;-)
 
I ride with River Road traditional square toe boots and I've had a shoe/boot place add 1/2" or so to the heel. This small rise actually makes a BIG difference because you are adding it directly to your leg length. Hard to explain until you try this cheap option.
 
Lower seats help, but only if also no wider where the legs spread. Lowering links=problematic for already low oil pan drain plug and potentially needing shorter kickstand.
 
Get your boot heels lengthened. Really the cheapest and best bang per inch (can I say that on public forum?!).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
So, I've ticked over 1000 miles (yay) and still find the seat to be really uncomfortable. It doesn't seem hard - just hurts after not too long. I'm coming from a bike with a more aggressive posture, so maybe I'm not used to the whole "sitting up" thing yet. 
 
Anyhow, given the lack of comfort I thought, what the hell, spring for one of the lowered seats and see how that goes. The extra inch it is supposed to provide is all I need. 
 
The lowered seat arrived yesterday. As I was installing it, I thought that it looked remarkably like the seat that came with my bike. And when I tried it out, it seemed to have the same reach. Took it off and looked at both of them - identical. WTF. Either this person shipped me a standard seat or else my bike was sold with the lowered version. I've looked around on the web at pictures of the lowered version and is seems to be what I have - down to the numbers printed underneath (2PP OOS  >PP<). I can't find a picture of the "standard" seat to see if it looks markedly different. Maybe the lowered seat IS the one the bike comes with and the "comfort" seat is the other option? I'm confused. 
 
So, a couple of questions.
1. Does anyone know if it is standard practice to sell this with the lowered seat? What did yours come with?
2. If you have a "standard" seat, can you look on the back and see what numbers are there? 
 
At any rate, looks like I have to pursue other options to fix the comfort/standover issues. 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Measurement needed! 
 
I'm looking into getting a better reach to the ground by lowering the rear subframe (which will lower the seat without effecting the ground clearance, suspension, center or side stands.) The FZ-09 and the FJ-09 use the same frame, forks, engine etc. but the FJ got a longer and taller rear subframe to accomodate the sidebags and a passenger for sport touring.  
 
My thought is that a good welder could shorten the lower diagonal braces on the FJ rear subframe to lower the upper portion that the seat is mounted to.  Potentially a small job for a welding/fab shop.  (Two cuts, and two welds.)   The mod would change the angle of the seats but that could be modified with a little "electric knife carving" of the foam.  (I have had good luck with this technique modifying two seats on FJR's.)
 
I'm currently riding an FJR with a lowered seat and I highly recommend the boot modifications mentioned above.  I had 3/4" added to the bottom of my riding boots two years ago and wonder why I didn't do that mod years ago.  I have struggled with the seat height issue for a long time.  I'm 5' 3 1/2" inches tall (shrunk from 5'5) and I currently measure 29.5" from my pants crotch to the floor (ground).  My bikes over the past 20 years have been several Concours 1000's and two FJR's.  
 
I currently don't own an FJ-09 but I am looking to shed 200 lbs and step down from an FJR to the FJ-09 (I'm 63 years old).  Could one of you friendly FJ-09 owners take a minute to measure clearance from the top of the rear tire to the inside of the rear fender.  The bike would have to be on the center stand so that the suspension is fully extended.  Spec's for the FJ-09 state a rear suspension travel of 5.4 inches.  I need to know how much extra space remains for lowering the rear subframe.  Holding a short straight edge across the crown of the tire and measuring to the highest point inside the fender should give me what I need.  
 
I'm lusting to make the switch to this bike.  I test rode one yesterday and the weight (or lack of weight) compared to the FJR makes it feel like a very fun toy to own.
 
Thanks 
Bill Hamilton
 
 
 
 
  
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With tape measure I'm getting approximately 7 1/2".
Everyday's a good day when your able to ride
 
15 FJ-09 - 2WDW ECU flash, Givi SV201, Nelson Rigg tail bag, OES sliders, Koubalink extenders, Ermax Sport, Vista Cruise, OEM seat mod, (smiles)
07 Honda ST1300A (sold)
06 Kawi KLR650 - Big Gun full exhaust, Corbin, Givi, PMR racks, carb mod (keeper)
97 Honda VFR750 - Traxxion Dynamics, Penske, Givi 3 piece, carbon exhaust (keeper?)
20+ years of snowmobiles
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re lower seat question
I took the standard seat to an auto seat specialist who cut and narrowed the seat then took out a section out and replaced it with a much Harder foam
Thus now I can touch the ground and don't feel like I am just sitting on the seat base .good job and only coat £40.00p
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×