Tiptoeing around

[pritch]

no piont adding 25mm to your heels, need it at your toes!

The people I know who added height by starting at the bottom had it done to both sole and heel. They'd be forever walking up hill otherwise.

[red675]

Nice idea for the vertically challenged, similar to the comfort control on some Goldwings

now that's something I missed when doing my Google research (which didn't throw up anything similar) - what exactly is Comfort Control a la Mr Honda ?

[red675]

....or more simply, just add 25mm to the sole of your shoes.

I tried thicker soles (and heels as I didn't want to walk downhill all the time)
and dropping the pre-load (front and rear)
and a lighter rear spring
and longer drop links (dog bones in the rear suspension)
and raising the front forks
and less foam in the seat
most of the above made the bike handle worse or lost ground clearance

the only one that worked was the thicker soles but they're out of fashion and hard to find

[T.W.R]

now that's something I missed when doing my Google research (which didn't throw up anything similar) - what exactly is Comfort Control a la Mr Honda ?

Some of the earlier Goldwing models (mid 80s) had comfort control built into the seats (think the Aspencade model etc) that was a series of air bladders controlled by the on board air compressor (also used for the suspension too) . It'd be fairly standard item these days.
There are aftermarket items like AirHawk cushions for them too

Just did a quick google

[Devil]

I think you need to mentally get over the perceived need to have both feet on the ground. One solid foot is worth at least 3 tip toes :P

Seriously, get used to one foot down and you can ride anything. You have complete control over which foot goes down just by giving the bars a gentle tweak as you stop. It really is that simple.

[roogazza]

xxx

[MarkH]

You just need the right technique!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRFyw57o_Ic

[Big Dog]

I tried thicker soles (and heels as I didn't want to walk downhill all the time)
and dropping the pre-load (front and rear)
and a lighter rear spring
and longer drop links (dog bones in the rear suspension)
and raising the front forks
and less foam in the seat
most of the above made the bike handle worse or lost ground clearance

the only one that worked was the thicker soles but they're out of fashion and hard to find

Any good boot repairer could add half an inch to your existing soles without any drama.
I have had some trimmed down for opposite reasons, but I had 1/2 an inch added to an ex's boots. Boot maker (the guy under the escalators in the mall in New Plymouth 20 years ago) said it was cheapest / easiest to do when replacing a sole but any sole can be lifted off and a layer of cushioning grade sole in 1/4 1/2 or whole inch thicknesses to any combination to reach the height that is required.
Most common in someone wanting one leg longer but why not two legs longer?

Ex had to adjust foot controls to suit but no different to walk in. Just Half an inch taller.
Was the equivalent to taking about 2 inches out of the ride height at less than 10% the cost of a seat.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[nzspokes]

Fed up arriving precariously at the lights or destination on tiptoes and over trying to out-think the designer by changing linkage geometry, I made an air-powered seat so I could drop a couple of inches when desired. Maiden voyage went beautifully until some Wally left his side road without permission, then I discovered brain overload put dropping the seat down the priority list. Obviously I needed to automate this bit.

So I added circuitry that instigates the process every time I slow down below walking speed while retaining manual control over rise and fall using a left hand operated switch (discounting a foot operated switch after I found my feet left the pegs for numerous reasons I hadn’t previously envisaged). My insurers must already be as Happy as Larry (given the risk of a stationary fall is already way down on before) but to improve things further I’m planning a ride to Wellington to see what that throws up in terms of scenarios I haven’t envisaged. Filtering is currently my biggest concern, so if anyone’s been there and done that I’d welcome the benefit of their greater wisdom before setting off....

Where and how do I pay for one?

[PrincessBandit]

You just need the right technique!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRFyw57o_Ic

Hahaha, now that's something else! I would never have dreamt of doing my bicycle mount and dismount for my motorbike! (I ended up going for the platform buildup on my boots...)

As a vertically challenged person (at least my leg length is in proportion to the rest of me, height-wise anyway) I've always been happy as long as one foot is able to be flat on the ground, even if the other ends up being a bit tippy toe. The problem for me is that if my bike starts to tip while stationary it takes a great deal of will power and focus to stop it getting to the point of no return whether my feet are both on the ground or not! The worst was hurricane like winds in Wellywood on one of our SI jaunts and we had to keep stopping due to not being able to find the entrance to our motel (didn't match the GPS). I was almost crapping myself over every horrendous blast of wind as hubby, who was in the lead on his fat-ass burgman, kept stopping in such a way that I was always broadside to it On the other hand maybe I just need more muscles rather than longer legs??

[red675]

I think you need to mentally get over the perceived need to have both feet on the ground. One solid foot is worth at least 3 tip toes :P

Seriously, get used to one foot down and you can ride anything. You have complete control over which foot goes down just by giving the bars a gentle tweak as you stop. It really is that simple.

my problem is BOTH feet are on TIPTOE and that's on the level, trying to get the thing vertical if I park on too steep a camber is Mission Impossible, there is no technique that's going to compensate for that (unless of course BMW have an approved way of leap-frogging the thing into the middle of the road)

So I made a solution that works. Apparently it has been done before (see other posts) though I'm struggling with how short you'd have to be to have the same problem with a Gold Wing or Suzuki Burgman that I have with an adventure bike

[red675]

Where and how do I pay for one?

it's cost me around $1k but that included a lot of prototypes and also a lot of learning how to do things well enough (plastic welding, leak free seeming, building logic circuits using electrical relays and using a really sharp knife free-hand)

[Ocean1]

There are aftermarket items like AirHawk cushions for them too

A friend has one on his BMW1200S. In fact it's been on all of his last few bikes.

Fucking horrible things, feels like you've shat in your nappies and have to sit in it all day.

[nzspokes]

it's cost me around $1k but that included a lot of prototypes and also a lot of learning how to do things well enough (plastic welding, leak free seeming, building logic circuits using electrical relays and using a really sharp knife free-hand)

I think you missed my point. When can you make me one and how much?

Can you make it work on a bike with a mechanical speedo?

[T.W.R]

A friend has one on his BMW1200S. In fact it's been on all of his last few bikes.

He must think it's OK if he's had it only his last few bikes & current one

Fucking horrible things, feels like you've shat in your nappies and have to sit in it all day.

Just another average day at the retirement home huh?