My first Suzuki

**chanceyy** · 16th January 2011, 20:26

very nice Mr H .. love that color, and no other choice really but then I am prob slightly biased

enjoyed your write up, look further to plenty of installments as you take your new bike on the adventures around NZ

congrats

**kewwig** · 16th January 2011, 21:08

Originally Posted by gonzo_akl

When you find out could you post here, I had a go on my one without a great deal of success. I wanted to raise the seat for a planned long ride, it seems ok on my commute so i left it until morning of the ride. I needed more time to decipher the various combinations of rubber feet and getting the seat to fit back on the bike.

cheers

From what I have seen, the seat is the same as the GSF1250, and there's a great step by step tutorial with photos at: http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=9058.0

I have done it several times and it's about a 15 minute job, most of which is unscrewing fasteners. The rubber buffers rotate through 180 degrees and you lift the bolts at the front of the seat to the next position and the plate at the rear of the front seat also goes to the next position. Once you've done it, it's a no brainer.

I managed to score a factory GSF1250 gel seat, which is a lot more solid and comfortable than the stock seat. Some owners report great success with fitting GSX600F seats, which are one piece and fit the Bandit 1250.

I have pics of the gel seat on my blog: http://kewwibike.blogspot.com

(go to Sept 2010 - "the gel seat"). The gel seat is actually harder than the stock one, as the discomfort is due to the stocker being too soft, compressing and then pressing on various bits of your arse and thighs. A comfy seat in the shop turns to a devil's platform after a 100ks as a result.

From Suzuki NZ the gels seats are $1100 (yes, $1100), but I got one through Ebay for $187 USD. I prefer to support local dealers, but not with this price differential!!!

Great choice of bike. There's a lot of helpful forums with loads of useful information

**Hitcher** · 16th January 2011, 21:18

Originally Posted by kewwig

From Suzuki NZ the gels seats are $1100 (yes, $1100), but I got one through Ebay for $187 USD. I prefer to support local dealers, but not with this price differential!!!

Great choice of bike. There's a lot of helpful forums with loads of useful information

Good tip, thanks. And yes, I am discovering the wealth of information available online. I found the Banditalley seat instructions and that's my job for tomorrow night! I fully expect the stock seat to be an arse-eater, but not quite to the same extent as is the stock seat on a V-Strom.

**BMWST?** · 16th January 2011, 21:18

re the seat Mr Hitcher Rotary Motor Trimmers in Newtown (hanson lane I think) do bike seats.I have no personal experience of their expertise but they did a really nice job on my car seats recently.Worth a call perhaps?

**gonzo_akl** · 16th January 2011, 21:34

Originally Posted by kewwig

From what I have seen, the seat is the same as the GSF1250, and there's a great step by step tutorial with photos at: http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=9058.0..

Cheers, thanks for that.

Might investigate the gel seat idea, I don't find the seat too bad, I just feel that a bit more height would be welcome.

**YellowDog** · 16th January 2011, 21:53

Congrats on the new ride.

Sweet looking piece of kit

**Gremlin** · 17th January 2011, 02:02

Congratulations. Now are we going to see it on the TT or Southern Cross?

**blackdog** · 17th January 2011, 05:32

Originally Posted by BMWST?

re the seat Mr Hitcher Rotary Motor Trimmers in Newtown (hanson lane I think) do bike seats.I have no personal experience of their expertise but they did a really nice job on my car seats recently.Worth a call perhaps?

The owners name is Lance.

He's an upholstery magician.

**Hitcher** · 17th January 2011, 07:34

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Congratulations. Now are we going to see it on the TT or Southern Cross?

Frayed knot. I'm all out of leave and I don't know much...

**Hitcher** · 17th January 2011, 07:35

Originally Posted by BMWST?

re the seat Mr Hitcher Rotary Motor Trimmers in Newtown (hanson lane I think) do bike seats.I have no personal experience of their expertise but they did a really nice job on my car seats recently.Worth a call perhaps?

Thanks. Are you trying to do me out of a ride to Tauranga or something?

**sinned** · 17th January 2011, 18:16

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Thanks. Are you trying to do me out of a ride to Tauranga or something?

I sent my seat (speed triple) to McDonald's by courier so missed a ride. I am with you on this Hitcher; why try someone else when McDonald Motor Trimmers have done 100s of seats to owner's satisfaction and, they ride motorcycles.

BTW: in your search for the perfect motorcycle did you consider the Triumph Sprint? I did and then choose a Zook - similar to yours although it revs a bit higher.

**Hitcher** · 17th January 2011, 20:08

Tonight I followed the excellent online instructions at Banditalley and raised the GSX's seat by 20mm. That made a big difference in the legroom stakes.

**Pussy** · 17th January 2011, 20:38

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Tonight I followed the excellent online instructions at Banditalley and raised the GSX's seat by 20mm. That made a big difference in the legroom stakes.

Just get your legs shortened!

You're welcome!

**BMWST?** · 17th January 2011, 21:00

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Tonight I followed the excellent online instructions at Banditalley and raised the GSX's seat by 20mm. That made a big difference in the legroom stakes.

let me guess...about 20 mm?

By no means abort your trip to Tauraunga,but I merely offered a tip.I assure you the workmanship on my car was bloody good.I can not of course say that will transfer to reshaping a bike seat but i assure you the cover will be bloody good!