Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: Tri750 on February 25, 2011, 11:22:34 pm

Title: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Tri750 on February 25, 2011, 11:22:34 pm
So, here's a picv of our military demo with the factory low kit.

Note the gap between the rear tire and fender, the seat now being below the height of the passenger seat.

Rides just fine, no clearance issues, sidestand is fine.
Just too easy!

The shocks come in black but with the can of paint in the spares kit, you can fix that too.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: ScooterBob on February 25, 2011, 11:34:25 pm
That's pretty schweet! The seat looks "right" being a little lower than the pillion .... what I wanna know is - how did you get one with all the parts the same color? Hahaha!  ::) Nice bike!!
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: olhogrider on February 25, 2011, 11:58:27 pm
Wow! I don't need a lower seat but I'd like to do it just for the looks.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Tri750 on February 26, 2011, 12:33:04 am
I just ordered the seat lowering kit for the C5.
This is just the springs and installs fairly easy. This will get the seat down a bit without the expense of the whole kit or the lowering of the bike.
No pics, sorry.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Fox on February 26, 2011, 01:51:59 am
Holy crap, and I thought these bikes sat too low to begin with... and you want to make them lower?!  ;)

Of course, this is coming from a KLR rider...
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: ScooterBob on February 26, 2011, 01:57:40 am
Holy crap, and I thought these bikes sat too low to begin with... and you want to make them lower?!  ;)

Of course, this is coming from a KLR rider...

I love you man .......  ::) I was beginning to think that no one in the whole USA had an inseam longer than about 15" .......
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: r80rt on February 26, 2011, 02:59:43 am
I'm 5'5" with short legs and do fine with my stock  C5 :D
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Ducati Scotty on February 26, 2011, 03:08:09 am
I like the look of those beehive springs.  I also wonder if the slight angle change in the seat might make it more comfy.  After an hour or two I really can't take the stocker.  At least in another hour I go numb so I'm good for the day :P

Scott
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GreenMachine on February 26, 2011, 03:09:19 am
one of my bikes had been lowered by previous owner...look good but was ridiculous to ride..to much scrapping and had to take it easy over humps...needless to say, i changed it back to normal...bike handles much better now..
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: prof_stack on February 26, 2011, 03:19:17 am
The lowered seat might be TOO low when a well-developed RE rider sits his ample posterior upon the seat.  Those springs will take a beating. 
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Andy on February 26, 2011, 12:48:31 pm
Is the lowering purely for the aesthetics - because it does look better - or is it so the little people can ride, too?

I'm like KLR guy there.  I'm still trying to get used to the concept of having both feet on the ground.  I'm not sure I'd want my knees there, too!  :D
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Ragmas on February 26, 2011, 02:13:04 pm
I ride a G5 military, I like the seat where it is.  I am sure my wife would like it lowered.  What is that black box attached to the front of the downtube?

sam
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Ducati Scotty on February 26, 2011, 02:33:07 pm
California thing.  The fuel tank doesn't vent to the atmosphere.  The canister gathers evaporated vapors from the gas tank and then feeds them to the intake the next time the bike gets started.  This is why Cali just got RE's, they had to make this mod just for them.  They also get a round gas cap as part of the system.

Scott
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Tri750 on February 26, 2011, 02:37:47 pm
I ride a G5 military, I like the seat where it is.  I am sure my wife would like it lowered.  What is that black box attached to the front of the downtube?

sam

Lowering isn't for everyone. I'm actually 6' 4" but understand that many folks aren't .
If we can get another butt in the saddle by lowering than I'm all for it.
BMW recently came out with lowered versions of four bikes and we sell every one we can get.
Sam, the black box on the down tube is the Nitrous Oxide tank the Cali models come with.
Ok,ok, it's really the charcoal canister the Cali bikes have.  :)
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: olhogrider on February 26, 2011, 04:25:04 pm
And it lasts until you get home. I'm thinking of mounting a set of air horns there
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: snowkid03 on April 01, 2012, 11:26:28 am
any tips on lowering my g5 that wont void the warranty?  im short. 5'5... and on the balls of my feet- i like to be low!
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: barenekd on April 01, 2012, 07:23:51 pm
There are some lower seats available or the G-5. The Electra Low Seat will fit. It's available on Nfield Gear's website above on this site. You could also take your seat to an upholstery shop that should be able to shave the foam down and just pull the existing cover back down on the seat. I have done this myself on a couple of seats. If your handy with such things, you could probably handle it yourself. All it takes is an electric knife to cut the foam down and a sanding block to smooth the foam and some spray contact cement for the foam to reattach it.
You could go with shorter shocks, but I wouldn't recommend them. They'll change the handling in a "not" good direction. Much slower heavier steering, unless you change the front wheel to match, ie, go to an 18" wheel.
You reach the ground about like I do looking at your picture on the other thread. I've learned to deal with it. Actually this one is much better than my previous bike. A Triumph Scrambler that was taller and 100 lbs heavier! This one has been pretty easy.
Bare
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GlennF on April 01, 2012, 11:40:18 pm
snowkid ... I just replaced the stock dual seat on my B5 (never have a pillion anyway) with an unsprung trials style solo seat and a chrome rack.

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/clannagh/Seat_Rack-1.jpg)

 
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: BRADEY on April 02, 2012, 07:20:36 am
Bringing in the rear fender to close to the tyre has its own perils,
this has resulted in damage of wiring loom that goes very close
to the rear fender on the side facing the tire. This has resulted in
short circuits and damages to wiring which is expensive.......please
ensure that is not the case on your bike.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: snowkid03 on April 02, 2012, 02:01:06 pm
thanks bare, glenn and bradley...

bare- i was looking at the electra low, but its got too much of a modern style for me- maybe when i get better at riding if height is still an issue for me...  i also kinda want a brown seat :)  prob. my cheapest bet for right now would be to just get this seat shaved down an inch or two- the nice thing about us ladies riding is we only need a little padding in the seat cause our booties provide the rest of the padding :)  i road bike sometimes less is better!

glenn- is that the seat off of nfield gear- the classic comfort?  i was looking at that one because i like the minimalist design.  when putting it on did you have to fill holes in the rear fender after removing the bracket for the original seat?  does it change your positioning on the bike by sliding you back a few inches?  i like how my arms comfortably reach the handles (and how the clutch/break fit my small hands unlike other bikes where it is a stretch to the grips!)

and brad: what are you talking about with the fender being lower?  i know the seat holds it, but that isn't its only support is it?

i wish it was light out so i could go drink my coffee and look at my new toy :)

-kelli
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GlennF on April 02, 2012, 02:18:32 pm


glenn- is that the seat off of nfield gear- the classic comfort?  i was looking at that one because i like the minimalist design.  when putting it on did you have to fill holes in the rear fender after removing the bracket for the original seat?  does it change your positioning on the bike by sliding you back a few inches?  i like how my arms comfortably reach the handles (and how the clutch/break fit my small hands unlike other bikes where it is a stretch to the grips!)


Its actually a generic 350 seat I imported from india.  The rear mounts onto the shock bolt and the front didn't really need a mount, so I just padded it with some old hose.

The nfield classic looks similar but doesnt list a G5. Hitchcocks in the UK also have a classy looking trials seat.

My seat is quite long so you can sit forward or back - its up to you. The B5 does not have fender holes the stock seat used to attach to the side rails.

Note when looking for parts, your G5 uses a frame based on the older AVL/Electra models, not the iron bullets.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: snowkid03 on April 02, 2012, 02:29:04 pm
did it drop the height for you? how does one go about importing something from india?
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GlennF on April 02, 2012, 03:42:28 pm
Yeah, by about 2".

There are numerous online stores selling Enfield parts out of india. Simply search the web or ebay for enfeild parts. You generally pay by paypal.

The Indian parts suppliers are very cheap, even after freight.  However personally I only use them for accessories and non mechanical items like the seat I bought.  I am.not sure I would trust engine parts from an Indian online store.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GSS on April 02, 2012, 03:51:50 pm
did it drop the height for you? how does one go about importing something from india?
Kelli,
Welcome to the group!  Bulletwala in India has been very reliable for parts as have Hitchcocks from UK. However 75% of my purchases end up being from Nfieldgear. All 3 are reliable, and prices can be very similar if you factor in shipping.

GSS
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: Arizoni on April 03, 2012, 12:13:45 am
I guess I should add that almost all of the aftermarket parts don't seem to just "fall into place" when they are being installed.

New bolt holes or enlarging or elongating existing bolt holes seems to be required for almost all of the things I've added to my bike.
Title: Re: Lowered C5 pic.
Post by: GSS on April 03, 2012, 06:41:59 pm
+1.  Even RE "genuine parts" almost always need some coaxing and bending.