Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: prof_stack on September 23, 2010, 04:08:33 am

Title: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 23, 2010, 04:08:33 am
Edited Thursday, 23/09/2010:  New pillion seat purchased and ... and ... and ... installed.  Pix below.

Royal Enfield Seattle (aka Ducati Seattle) returned the C5 to me today after spending a week repainting some factory glitches.  Ralf said CMW approved the repainting rather than shipping new fork covers and side covers from India.  They also installed the 7" headlamp and visor for a "new do".  

The gas tank had to be buffed out good and rewaxed.  Those are first day of Autumn clouds reflecting off the tank.
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/ProfsC5_01.jpg)

The bigger headlamp is definitely an improvement in visibility from the OEM light.
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/ProfsC5_02.jpg)

Look at that reflection in toolkit cover!   :D
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/ProfsC5_05.jpg)

The visor is longer than my Harley Electra-Glide's.  I like it!  
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/ProfsC5_04.jpg)

The shop has brought in another black C5 and Military C5 after the first two sold.
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: singhg5 on September 23, 2010, 05:07:49 am
Prof:

You have a fine and shinny C-5.  Really beautiful bike.
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: Roger on September 23, 2010, 05:13:37 am
Sweet!
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: r80rt on September 23, 2010, 01:58:49 pm
Man that's a purty bike, looks great.
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: Andy on September 23, 2010, 02:59:10 pm
That's gorgeous.  I would have had to wait two more months for the black one or ride out the door with the Military.  I should have waited.

This may be a 'tard question, but did you need to get a new casquette to fit the 7' eye?
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: Maturin on September 23, 2010, 09:36:00 pm
This grinning guy reflecting in the toolkit cover apparently acquired a good taste for motorcycles  ;D
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: Cabo Cruz on September 24, 2010, 12:19:17 am
Very, very cool, Br. Prof... you can't wipe the grin off your face... can you?  :D
Title: Re: New Look for my C5
Post by: gashousegorilla on September 24, 2010, 01:12:33 am
liquidy, Nice !!!! ;)
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 24, 2010, 03:40:51 am
Yeah, I went to Royal Enfield Seattle after school to pick up the original headlamp and ring.  I saw their red demo now with pillion seat (w/ matching red paint) and also upswept muffler.  Rather loud, but I'll demo it Saturday to be sure.

Anyway, parts guy Sunny said that he had the black pillion seat in stock.  That was too easy a sale for them.  $190+ tax and I headed home to install it.

OMG, what a wrestling match!  I won after much give and take.  Grease on the long bolt bolt under the seat got it more easily pushed through.  A little pry action on the back mount got it around the right shock mount unit.  A little bend of the grab rail got it flush with the left side.  A little rubber mallet action got everything aligned.

Anyway, I think it completes the C5 for look and function.  Now I have a place to perch the Cortech bag until I get some type of saddlebag setup. 

Yeah, it doesn't touch the fender.  Barely.
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/pillion_01.jpg)

(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/pillion_02.jpg)

(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/pillion_03.jpg)

(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/pillion_04.jpg)

It's a clever setup but the rear setting is not quite wide enough to make it an easy bolt on operation.  I'll be using the touch-up paint around the top shock mounts.  Or a black Sharpie.   ;)
(http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k409/prof_stack/pillion_05.jpg)
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: r80rt on September 24, 2010, 03:50:18 am
That looks great! now I 'll have to have one too :D
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: qgolden on September 24, 2010, 01:24:18 pm
Looks good,
Does not touch the fender?  Is it fully supported from the front?   

-Q
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 24, 2010, 02:34:48 pm
Looks good,
Does not touch the fender?  Is it fully supported from the front?   

-Q
Yes.  There is a support already in place, a tube, under the seat forward of the shock mounts, that the pillion bracket goes around.  The long screw holds it in place. 
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: qgolden on September 24, 2010, 03:37:15 pm
What is your degree of confidence that if you put the weight of a passenger on it, that it would still not touch the fender?
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 24, 2010, 06:24:47 pm
I have one.  I weigh 230# and I've sat on it.  It doesn't move.  It's a very solid piece.

I didn't install it, bought it that way from the shop but I can remove or install it in 10 minutes with no trouble.  I wonder if my just lines up better. 

Scott
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 24, 2010, 08:53:26 pm
I have one.  I weigh 230# and I've sat on it.  It doesn't move.  It's a very solid piece.

I didn't install it, bought it that way from the shop but I can remove or install it in 10 minutes with no trouble.  I wonder if my just lines up better. 

Scott

Thanks Scott, you said it better than I.  Your reply has more, ahem, weight than mine.   ;)

I think if I were to bend outward a little the mounts over the shocks I could get it off and on rather quickly, too. 
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 24, 2010, 10:45:13 pm
Interesting.  Mine slides easily over the shock mounts.  The part under the seat is a loose fit and I have to really tighten that bolt to pull it together.  Like many things RE, it seems fit and finish are not up to Japanese standards yet.

Scott
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 25, 2010, 04:01:29 am
The guys who put the pillion seat on the demo model at Royal Enfield Seattle had a bear of a time.  The rear mounts were too wide and had to be squeezed in a little.

So, Scott, you got lucky.  Having said that, if I could put on the pillion seat I think most any RE owner could do it, and probably in less time.   :D
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 25, 2010, 04:45:26 pm
I guess they all need a little "custom fitting".  And it's pretty thick metal so it would probably take a vice and some serious persuasion to get it moving.  I think it's worth it though, because then install/removal is a piece of cake.

Scott
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: r80rt on September 25, 2010, 05:18:16 pm
Do either of you guys know how hard it would be to remove the pad on that thing? I want to make a luggage rack out of one.
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 25, 2010, 06:29:22 pm
Pics of top and bottom coming, give me some time, really busy lately.

Scott
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 25, 2010, 06:43:21 pm
Scott probably will do it faster.  I think you have to remove the pillion to get the cushion off.  I am not ready to do that, yet.   :D 
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: r80rt on September 25, 2010, 07:50:14 pm
No prob, it's a winter project.
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Kevin Mahoney on September 25, 2010, 11:58:36 pm
The vagaries of a handmade motorcycle unfortunately
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: Ducati Scotty on September 26, 2010, 01:03:38 am
Ah!  So the parts are perfect it's just the motos that are different.  I thought it was the other way around. :P

Scott
Title: Re: New Look for my C5 - NOW with Pillion!
Post by: prof_stack on September 26, 2010, 02:04:42 am
The vagaries of a handmade motorcycle, unfortunately.
No, that's the CHARM of the handmade motorcycle!   ;D