Air Powered Seat

[red675]

So I’ve got this Tiger 800 XC (which I'm now going to keep) with knobbly tires and legs that fit Levis with a 30” inside leg – it’s not good

Pushing the bastard up off the side-stand when the camber is really steep is almost as bad as sitting in crosswinds at the lights with a pillion and luggage (though they do compress the suspension a bit)

So I tried most of the regular remedies

1. Take half the foam out of the seat (and put up with the wrinkled look and numb bum) – up to an inch or more in seat height reduction available
2. Buy an aftermarket Low Rider seat (same as the above but more conservative and looks better) – maybe get 10 mm reduction or thereabouts
3. Aftermarket dog bones (rear suspension drop links) – approximately an inch but you can go silly with the bottle jack type (of course then you need another side stand)
4. Less Pre-Load or softer springs – don’t forget to do something with the other end and the World’s your Oyster though the handling might become a little weird
5. Smaller wheels
6. Thicker heels (and soles if you’re sensible) – could get you ½ inch or so
7. Lower profile tires – yes you can save 10mm of so provided you change both front and rear
8. Cut off the nobbly bits (the tire’s height is the same as a road tire’s with the same profile height even though it has regular tread depth – who knew ?) – OK you wouldn’t try this one

So I thought “#$@!-][” I’ll make my own solution and I have. It works well and comprises two steps:

Take the standard seat and replicate the function of the accessory Low Rider seat (but by lowering the seat base rather than removing some of the foam)

And then add air

When I raised the subject on a general forum I variously got told to learn to ride and/or live with it, so I’m simply raising it here as there may be others who don’t fit the envelope and can’t understand why something can’t be done about it without ruining other of the bike’s characteristics.

Bonus : by choosing how long to inject air into the seat I can determine the firmness of it (which is good during a long ride as a change is as good as a rest)

Anyone interested but not wanting to make one themselves can send me a private message

[sidecar bob]

Good on you for coming up with something constructive. Ive discovered that the people that have the nastiest things to say about adventure bikes are invaribly about 5ft6 or less. at least you are doing something about it rather than bitching because you cant ride all the best bikes ever made. (R1200GS owner)

[Padmei]

have you made one already or are wanting input? If you have made one I would be interested in seeing pics or a short vid of it.

Another consideration could be a variation on seat dropper posts that MTBers have been using for years. A toggle switch to drop the seat for dismounting & the hydralics/spring to return it to riding height when riding.
The one I had was made in China by a company making office chairs.

[GSers]

Nothing new

http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-r.aspx

Fit it inside the foam

GSers

[red675]

Nothing new

http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-r.aspx

Fit it inside the foam

GSers

the airhawk is a cushion which sits on top of the seat, so you understood the premise completely - the seat I've modified will reduce in height just about down to it's plastic base which is a real drop in seat height. Congrats for reading carefully.

[red675]

Good on you for coming up with something constructive. Ive discovered that the people that have the nastiest things to say about adventure bikes are invaribly about 5ft6 or less. at least you are doing something about it rather than bitching because you cant ride all the best bikes ever made. (R1200GS owner)

I've showed a few people over the last couple of days and the consensus seems to be that I should patent it - that's not possible so when I find someone who can help make a decent vid I'll put it on youtube and a link at the end of this thread

[eldog]

3. Aftermarket dog bones (rear suspension drop links) – approximately an inch but you can go silly with the bottle jack type (of course then you need another side stand)

How did you find the handling once you have installed the dog bones? curious.

[red675]

one shows the seat from the side most of the way down

the other shows the 2 waterproof buttons on the left fuel tank molding which manually control raising and lowering while on the go

in the background there are some electronics drawing a signal from the road speed sensor which automatically lower the seat as the bike comes to rest - this helps when I forget to use the down button

[sidecar bob]

Nothing new

http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-r.aspx

Fit it inside the foam

GSers

Did you actually read what this guy is doing, or just read the title & instantly dis him.
Not sure how the airhawk pumps up & down.

[nzspokes]

This is brilliant. I presume a small compressor is hidden away under there.

Will be in touch soon.

[swarfie]

Did you actually read what this guy is doing, or just read the title & instantly dis him.
Not sure how the airhawk pumps up & down.

We, as in the wife and I have a couple of Airhawks and really like them for longer rides (the missus uses hers nearly all the time...but she is a bit soft:yes:). They need to be manually adjusted by simply blowing them up by mouth. I find they seem to be best by simply opening the valve and allowing them to equalize on a warm day and then closing the valve. The comfort is great and I find I can ride for hours. The only down side is that they add to the seat height somewhat.

Great idea Red675 and hope you can make it pay off in some way. I am about 5' 9" and one of my bikes is a CCM 604 Dual Sport which has a board for a seat and needs a step ladder to climb onto and is WAY worse with the Airhawk but I simply can't ride it any more than about 50km without it. It's a cool bike and so much fun but really is a pain in the arse...literally:sick:

[Big Dog]

Very cool to hear you got it sorted.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Eddieb]

That looks like a cool idea for a common problem.

[pampa]

I don't touch the ground on my bike with flat foot (both same time) ... my take is to improve my balance, isn't that an option?

there are some vids of Jimmy Lewis on drills to achieve / improve better balance

[red675]

We, as in the wife and I have a couple of Airhawks and really like them for longer rides (the missus uses hers nearly all the time...but she is a bit soft:yes:). They need to be manually adjusted by simply blowing them up by mouth. I find they seem to be best by simply opening the valve and allowing them to equalize on a warm day and then closing the valve. The comfort is great and I find I can ride for hours. The only down side is that they add to the seat height somewhat.

Great idea Red675 and hope you can make it pay off in some way. I am about 5' 9" and one of my bikes is a CCM 604 Dual Sport which has a board for a seat and needs a step ladder to climb onto and is WAY worse with the Airhawk but I simply can't ride it any more than about 50km without it. It's a cool bike and so much fun but really is a pain in the arse...literally:sick:

Thanks swarfie - basically I use a compressor because it inflates and deflates every traffic light and life's hard enough as it is without having to bother doing all that

[red675]

When I first posted about my efforts ("tiptoeing around") Triumph had sold out of their Low Rider accessory seat option for their Tiger 800 family (a Tiger 800XC is what I've been playing tunes on). And that was at the UK factory level (ie Global Supply) so demand had outstripped their expectations.

When they came back into stock at the beginning of this month I bought one so I could compare the relative merits of the approaches (remove some foam from inside the seat vs replace some foam by adding some air)

Then I posted this thread
Now they are out of stock at the factory again - so demand and supply continue to be mismatched

and the really funny thing ????

Why aren't there hordes of people on this forum making their points on this topic

[sidecar bob]

Why aren't there hordes of people on this forum making their points on this topic


Maybe they can all reach the ground & its a mute point to them?

If you want to develop this system for a R1200gs you are welcome discuss the use of mine off forum, although it may be easier for you to find one closer to home.
Mine came with two front seats, I dont use the optional low rider one.

[red675]

I don't touch the ground on my bike with flat foot (both same time) ... my take is to improve my balance, isn't that an option?

there are some vids of Jimmy Lewis on drills to achieve / improve better balance

of course improved balance and better riding skills are an option (though teaching an old dog new tricks is a slow business), but how does that help when I've parked near a kerb where the camber is pretty steep and I want to get it off the sidestand - pushing a well lent over bike with one set of toes is a big ask and then there's no way of stopping it should you manage to push too hard ... or standing at traffic lights when there's a gale blowing and you can see lamp posts flailing about ... or arriving at a gas station to find someone's left half their purchase on the deck ... or just ambling around rather than going for it: nothing like a foot unexpectedly swinging in space to concentrate the mind

[george formby]

Why aren't there hordes of people on this forum making their points on this topic

Ok, I'm provoked.
I was waiting for more info on how your bum balloon works. I ride with a couple of stunches and they have to be smart about where they put there bikes. No safety net, which is what your system seems like. And I do like. Seems to be a lot easier and more "maintainable" than air suspension.
I follow with interest.

[red675]

Ok, I'm provoked.
I was waiting for more info on how your bum balloon works. I ride with a couple of stunches and they have to be smart about where they put there bikes. No safety net, which is what your system seems like. And I do like. Seems to be a lot easier and more "maintainable" than air suspension.
I follow with interest.

first term at Uni, a class of 30 would generate 30 different takes on it, by the last there would be a handful of collaborative designs

I simply figured a balloon (filled with air as leaks wouldn't matter the way they might with water or a more expensive/conducting/viscous fluid) controlled by a solenoid valve and filled by a compressor would happily do the job of 60mm of seat foam. It does, but the shape of the balloon, method of fabrication and provision for the plumbing were up for grabs - I settled on what suited the Tiger 800's form and after 6-7 prototypes I had something that was worth butchering an almost new seat for. As mentioned the compressor and solenoid are controlled by a couple of switches linked to a few relays and there's a safety net provided by a road speed dump circuit that switches in at walking speed. So it's simple and you quickly learn why a bare seat base isn't a good idea

It's more maintainable than air suspension because the pressure is lower and you can top up on the go (if you had a slow leak) without seriously compromising handling

My point about expecting hordes of comment was simply based on the belief that the shorter half of the population (which is quite a few of us) would already have a view having tried what's on offer and I'd like to hear it because that would be like being back in engineering school

[red675]

which I must redo with sound

http://youtu.be/txHfxWti0e8

[nzspokes]

Do you have to stand for it to inflate?

[bart]

I think it's a brilliant idea. Being a bit of a short bugger myself, I can't ever recall owning a bike that I could comfortably 'flat foot'. As mentioned, I've always riden around the problem by improveing balance, throttle, and clutch control. Because of my shortness, I've always owned lighter nimble bikes (sports bikes on the road, dirt bikes for off road and adventure). A device like yours could open the door to larger touring type bikes. Good on ya.

Now, who's got a 950SE for sale...

[red675]

https://youtu.be/isIYwP7d8QA