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Message started by DrunkenDwarf on 08/25/09 at 18:52:41

Title: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by DrunkenDwarf on 08/25/09 at 18:52:41

I've performed a version of the famed Seat lift (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1109035237) as seen in "Technical Documents/Reference".

I've only ridden four 10 mile hops with it, but I'm not sure I like it.

I wanted to fix the sliding feeling I had. I felt like I had to keep shifting my butt back in the seat.

The way I did the mod was with 1 inch tall #5 rubber stoppers under the seat hold down strap. I also put 1 inch diameter heavy duty felt furniture pads under the rubber seat supports. They are 1/4 inch uncompressed and roughly 3/16 inch compressed. I put four under the front round rubber seat supports and two on the front and one on the back of the rectangular rubber seat supports. I left the rubber support that contacts the rear bumper alone. I wrapped electrical tape around the stacks of pads to hide them and add lateral strength.

It's not uncomfortable. I'm just not sure I like it. I find it harder to keep my knees along side the tank.

Maybe I just need more miles on it.

Anyone else not sure about the seat lift mod?

-D. Dwarf

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by bill67 on 08/25/09 at 19:11:22

I didn't do,I see no reason to do it.The seat is just like all other bikes to me.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by thumperclone on 08/25/09 at 19:13:26

i never liked the look of or the idea of the lift on the one piece seat so never did it on my 06,got an alaska leather "butt pad" Ed L forward controlls and have no complaints @ 5'9"
but we may have different riding styles if you like to squeeze the tank w/ your knees,i like the kicked back easy chair ride better,must be my age!!

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by clueless on 08/25/09 at 19:26:30

I have both the HD one piece and the 2 piece that came on it. Did the seat lift, ripped the guts out and re-made it. I also hacked up the HD seat. I like the 2 piece better. Realize also that I have neck and lower back damage, but the lift, stuffing and original Ed_L forward controls make it quite tolerable. May give the HD seat away!

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/25/09 at 19:30:33

A small hole & a short piece of broomstick & youll stop sliding around.
Just sayin...

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by clueless on 08/25/09 at 19:37:22

Justin,
I WILL give you the biggest compliment I ever heard. "Son, you ain't quite right". My reply was "Thank you". ;D ;D

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by boofer on 08/25/09 at 19:37:59

I have an '01 with 9000 miles and a very bad back. After 20 miles my lower back and tailbone ached. I got a memory foam mattress topper from Wal Mart in twin size for $40. An experienced upholsterer ADDED 1.5 inches to the top of the old foam and sewed on 2 new side panels for $20. I Armorall my seat and I don't slide around. Best of all 40 mile rides are no problem. The foam lets you "settle in" and works great for me. I have enough to do rear seat later, gave some to my cousin for his bicycles and my wife wrapped the rest around her pillow. (We have a memory foam mattress, also.) I read a lot of other internet posts that did not recommend it, but it works for me. Seat is now slightly rounded, but comfort is foremost for us old guys.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by BurnPgh on 08/25/09 at 20:23:44

i did the lift mod recently and expected more noticeable comfort. It didnt seem to do much...until i ran a full tank dry and realized as i was filling up that neither my back or a$$ ached. If you dont mind dropping the overall seat height the DJ seat mod is great in combo with the lift mod.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by Tonydtiger1971 on 08/25/09 at 20:27:47

534C1553415515220 wrote:

PICTURES, PICTURES!!

I would like to see this before I spend too much time making the Corbin seat work.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/25/09 at 20:54:28

What is the DJ seat mod?

I have bought memory foam also,from ebay,but I think widening the seat probably is the best thing for comfort.
And I'm building up the front of mine also,more like a saddle shape.

But,here I go again....too many different sizes of people to say what works best for everyone.
Too many people like too many different things.
I'm still also experimenting with different things,trying to find the best fit for me.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by thumperclone on 08/25/09 at 21:18:45

2C336A2C3E2A6A5D0 wrote:

she aint hardley warmed up at 40 miles!!

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by boofer on 08/25/09 at 21:53:25

Forty miles without stopping to walk around is plenty for me. And as for warming up, that's never been a problem with my Savage. I should have said earlier the new seat side panels were because previous owner wrecked and tore the fabric or pleather or whatever. Not required for just the foam fix. I took the foam to an old guy and told him to make it comfortable. My motto is to hire someone with experience, tell them what you want, and GET OUT OF THE WAY. I will try to get my wife's digital camera and figure out how to send pictures of my ride someday.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by BurnPgh on 08/25/09 at 22:08:55

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1245540151/0#0[url][/url]

Thats the DiamondJim (DJ) seat mod. Basically you just cut the foam off the stock seat pan, repad it with denser but thinner padding and reupholster it. Fair warning though, if you havent got Ed Ls forward controls you may be quite cramped depending on your inseam. With 4" forward controls and the seat lift/dj mod I FEEL like I have stock controls on. Not cramped but could be better.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/25/09 at 23:07:25

76696F6875724373437B69652E1C0 wrote:

A small hole & a short piece of broomstick & youll stop sliding around.
Just sayin...

Definitely need to see pictures of this mod! ;D

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/25/09 at 23:12:11

6A5D5A46784F40280 wrote:

Did something similar with the HD Sportster seat. Cut the foam back at the bottom and back and put in the denser padding (blue stuff). More room to the rear and firmer under the hip bones.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/26/09 at 04:03:23

I tried that Memory Foam stuff. It was Great, till it got old & got Alzhiemers. After that, it was just foam..

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by prechermike on 08/26/09 at 04:28:26

I raised the front of my seat, much like was described. After about a 45 minute ride, I was hating it. So I changed it back (that is one great thing about this mod!). Later I added Ed L's forwared controls and decided to try the seat mod again. This time it is much better, I am guessing because of the different foot position.

I think FreeSpirit hit the nail on the head.

The trouble with bucket seats is not everyone's bucket is the same size. :D

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by sakara on 08/26/09 at 09:26:06

I did a 1 inch lift and didn't like it. Got a half inch lift now with a couple of rubber grommets and it's just right for me, 5'10" 150lbs. Stock controls.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by DrunkenDwarf on 08/26/09 at 09:46:54

24363C362536570 wrote:

I did a 1 inch lift and didn't like it. Got a half inch lift now with a couple of rubber grommets and it's just right for me, 5'10" 150lbs. Stock controls.

I'm a short guy (5'6"), maybe I'll try a half inch lift.

-D. Dwarf

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by babyhog on 08/26/09 at 09:49:45

I didn't like the looks of the lift, so I cut some padding out of the original seat (used an electric carving knife, like you use for ham or turkey), scooped it to fit my a$$, and inserted Saddlemen raw gel that I bought online for about $45 or $50. The gel is awesome, comfortable, and also cuts down on vibration. This would be a little difficult to un-do, though, if you screw up the carving.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by sakara on 08/26/09 at 12:19:56

I've also heard of some people using the 10 dollar gel seat/pads for bicycles (two or three) and making their own gel seat. Just another idea for the comfort.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/26/09 at 13:21:07

2C2E393F34392E313537395C0 wrote:

The trouble with bucket seats is not everyone's bucket is the same size. :D

Ain't that the truth. I've got a Corbin on my VT1100. Nice seat, except the butt they used for the model was a little on the smaller side.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by DrunkenDwarf on 08/27/09 at 06:08:00

I think the seat lift is growing on me.
I'll need to do a longer (50+ miles) ride to really get a feel for it.

I think what I really needed was the middle lower, not the front higher. This'll do for now, but I'll keep looking at mods.

Thanks.

-D. Dwarf

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/09 at 06:40:34

Im still surprised that a dwarf needed to raise it in the first place. What? You one of those stilt wearin dwarfs?

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by DrunkenDwarf on 08/27/09 at 09:57:00

57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 wrote:

Im still surprised that a dwarf needed to raise it in the first place. What? You one of those stilt wearin dwarfs?

As I was tryin' to say, I didn't really need the front of the seat higher. I needed the middle of the seat lower.

Hard to keep from sliding off with these stubby legs. :D

-D. Dwarf

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/09 at 10:15:03

Dude, I done TOL' you how to fix that.. :)

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/27/09 at 15:55:20

223D3B3C21261727172F3D317A480 wrote:

Dude, I done TOL' you how to fix that.. :)

Justin, your going to have to draw him a PICTURE!

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by youzguyz on 08/28/09 at 02:06:10

474E4B42584F4B2A0 wrote:

[quote author=57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 link=1251251562/15#23 date=1251380434]Im still surprised that a dwarf needed to raise it in the first place. What? You one of those stilt wearin dwarfs?

As I was tryin' to say, I didn't really need the front of the seat higher. I needed the middle of the seat lower.

Hard to keep from sliding off with these stubby legs. :D

-D. Dwarf
[/quote]

I replaced the foam in my seat with an AirHawk pad. It sits a bit lower than stock. Couldn't tell ya how much without measuring. Been ridin with it that way for a long time. Works very well for me.

Title: Re: Seat lift - not sure I like it
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/28/09 at 04:42:50

637C7A7D60675666566E7C703B090 wrote:

I tried that Memory Foam stuff. It was Great, till it got old & got Alzhiemers. After that, it was just foam..

LOL...I have been sitting on a memory foam pillow in my pc chair for about a month.(for testing)
After about 1-2 weeks...it eventually lost its memory and is pretty uncomfortable now.My regular chair pillow is better.
The rehab dept where I work uses gel seats in the wheelchairs...and the people complain about those also after a week or two.

Any more suggestions on foam,gel or something completely different?

I may wind up going with the Airhawk!
(As I planned on a year ago!! Sometimes just not enough money for everything all at once,it takes awhile ::)

Although the things I mentioned didnt work for me,I'm not saying it wouldnt work for others! I think its trial and error type thing.