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Thread: Air Powered Seat

  1. #1
    Join Date
    12th May 2006 - 15:24
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    Tiger 675
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    Auckland
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    Air Powered Seat

    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
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  2. #2
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    5th January 2007 - 14:58
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    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)

  3. #3
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    26th January 2008 - 07:37
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    91 R80GS
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    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.
    In life as in dance Grace glides on blistered feet

  4. #4
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    27th April 2008 - 21:37
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    Nothing new

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

    Fit it inside the foam

    GSers

  5. #5
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    12th May 2006 - 15:24
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    Quote Originally Posted by GSers View Post
    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.

  6. #6
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    12th May 2006 - 15:24
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    Quote Originally Posted by sidecar bob View Post
    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

  7. #7
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    24th December 2012 - 21:49
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    Quote Originally Posted by red675 View Post
    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.

    READ AND UDESTAND

  8. #8
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    12th May 2006 - 15:24
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    a couple of pics to throw some light on things

    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
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    Last edited by red675; 27th May 2015 at 18:57. Reason: i hate typos

  9. #9
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    5th January 2007 - 14:58
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    Quote Originally Posted by GSers View Post
    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.

  10. #10
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    20th June 2011 - 20:27
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    This is brilliant. I presume a small compressor is hidden away under there.

    Will be in touch soon.
    Quote Originally Posted by Katman View Post
    but once again you proved me wrong.
    Quote Originally Posted by cassina View Post
    I was hit by one such driver while remaining in the view of their mirror.

  11. #11
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    23rd February 2010 - 18:49
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    Quote Originally Posted by sidecar bob View Post
    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). 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

  12. #12
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    17th July 2003 - 23:37
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    Very cool to hear you got it sorted.


    Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

  13. #13
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    14th October 2003 - 11:53
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    That looks like a cool idea for a common problem.
    www.AdventureRidingNZ.co.nz NZ's dedicated Adventure Riding Community
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  14. #14
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    5th April 2007 - 11:58
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    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

  15. #15
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    12th May 2006 - 15:24
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    Quote Originally Posted by swarfie View Post
    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). 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
    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

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