Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: holodeck on May 25, 2011, 04:23:38 pm

Title: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 25, 2011, 04:23:38 pm
How much foam can I cut out and still have a little comfort?
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: 2bikebill on May 25, 2011, 05:16:45 pm
Well ---  yes....... ???

About as long as a bit of string  -  say...?
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 25, 2011, 05:41:01 pm
There is 3" of foam in the seat. Someone on the forum cut out 2". If anyone else lowered the seat that way, how much did they cut and how did it work out. I'd like to get an idea before I start hacking away. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: The Garbone on May 25, 2011, 05:46:04 pm
Another option is you can remove the pad entirely and replace it with a thinner jell pad or some such.  They are common on ebay.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: 2bikebill on May 25, 2011, 07:17:13 pm
I was being my usual facetious self, Holo - don't take it to heart   :) ;)

Be aware that the foam in the seat will probably flatten down about an inch over time anyway. My G5 seat is around an inch lower than it was new - I noticed it quite a while back so it took less than a year - I was on it a lot for the first six months. I'm not heavy - about 160 pounds.
Also, there is a lower seat available - check out Hitchcocks, Royal Spares etc - but make sure it will fit your bike specifically (it wont fit G5).
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 25, 2011, 07:58:06 pm
No worries mate  :)

The problem I have now is that the B-5 is new to me. Combine that with my move into oldfarthood, a bad left knee, a really bad right knee, the loss of my one time cat-like agility and I really need to have both feet on the ground with knees a little bent.  As it is now it feels dangerous to ride.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: 2bikebill on May 25, 2011, 08:17:31 pm
I know what you mean - tippytoes is toooo risky. First stop on a gravelly slope and it'll be over.  Ask me how I know..... :-\
I can now flatfoot mine with knees very slightly bent.  I also found that new Engineer boots gave me almost another inch.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 25, 2011, 08:48:46 pm
I allways wanted a pair of cowboy boots 8)
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: Andy on May 26, 2011, 12:27:22 am
A boot upgrade is helpful, actually.  When I was riding a DR750, which had a 36" inseam, while my skinny ass could barely muster 32" when straight, a stout pair of rubber-soled boots made all the difference.  I'd try that first before hacking away at the bike.

On the amusing side, while rummaging through the army-navy store I found a pair of unusual boots - sort of a combat boot with a completely flat, inch-thick sole.  They only had one pair, they'd been on the shelf as long as they could remember, and no one knew what the heck they were for.  Someone suggested a "roofer's boot".  They fit, so I bought them for use as a Frankenstein's monster hallowe'en item.

When I picked up the DR a few years later, those boots came in mighty handy!  People called me Herman Munster a lot, though.   :D
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 26, 2011, 12:56:01 am
Hey pards what ya all think ah this ?

A rider leg extention tool !  


http://www.rentonww.com/Assets/ProductImages/62497.jpg 

$95 plus tax
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: olhogrider on May 26, 2011, 04:25:07 pm
Hey pards what ya all think ah this ?

A rider leg extention tool !  


http://www.rentonww.com/Assets/ProductImages/62497.jpg 

$95 plus tax

YEEEEHAWWWWwww!

But seriously, the C5 lowering kit involves shorter seat springs AND shorter shocks. You might look at the shocks.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: drbvac on May 27, 2011, 12:36:40 am
I lowered the foam on the seat 1 1/2 ' in the front half but it is just as important to keep it narrower so that your legs can come together to get some more lenght.

Second you can order shocks that are 2" shorter than stock and sprung custom made for your weight and type of biking. http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/

Their is a seat from NFIELD  with the barrel shaped springs you can replace with 2 " rather than the stock 4 and get some more room.

http://nfieldgear.com/enfield-store/aftermarket-parts-accessories/seats/deluxe-solo-seat-black.html

I am 5'3" with probably a 25" inseam and with my boots on - almost flat foot. riding lower lets you fling the bike around a little easier cause you are "down" between the wheels more.
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: holodeck on May 31, 2011, 03:26:46 am
On Saturday I took the seat to a local upholstery shop and asked for 1 1/2 ' off  the top. On the way way home I decided to stop by the western wear store to just look at the boots I posted the link on. they were suprising comfortable, so I bought em.

Picked up the seat today, $50 total and a perfect job.

Went for my first comfortable ride around the lake to break her in and to let her break me in. My first impression was, wow this, little bike sure can corner.

 http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2011/05/30/bikepics-2217005-800.jpg

Photo from one of the boat moorages.




Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: 2bikebill on May 31, 2011, 08:03:35 am
Now you know, and we know, that you didn't go in there just to look at those boots...... :D

If the B5 handles anything like the G5, it sure does corner. Not sure what tyres it comes with - looks like Avon Speedmasters from the little I can see of the rear in your photo. Put a set of AM26 RoadRiders on if you really want to see how it can corner...... ;)
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: GlennF on June 28, 2011, 06:18:00 am
I picked up nearly an inch on my B5 stock seat by removing the thick rubber front spacer and bending the middle seat brackets into more of a "C" shape so the seat sat lower on the frame at the front.

Not sure if these pics will show much but basically the front of the seat now sits just high enough to get a spanner on the nuts for the central bracket:


(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/clannagh/b5800.jpg)


(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/clannagh/handle800.jpg)
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: ryanof on June 28, 2011, 10:47:14 pm
Hey GlennF

Is that the up swept silencer from the C5?
I was told it would not fit.
Maybe you got it direct from India?

Ryan
Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: GlennF on June 29, 2011, 11:46:17 pm
The exhaust was fitted from new by the Australian dealer. I am pretty sure its a standard Royal Enfield accessory over here, not aftermarket.

No idea if its the same as the C5 one. However the B5 frame seems identical to the old Indian 350/500 iron bullets so it could just be an iron bullet part.

Title: Re: Lowering the stock seat on my B-5
Post by: Arizoni on June 30, 2011, 05:52:16 am
The Aussies may not have the sound restrictions that the U.S. DOT folks put on us here. 

I think that the 85db sound limit  plus the catalytic converter is what led to that massive thing we have.