Forum

[sofiaspin]

Hi all - I am about to acquire a new Classic Chrome Euro 4. Has anyone 'lowered' the riders saddle, perhaps by fitting shorter springs? An extra inch would be useful!

[2cvandy]

Mine's an Electra not a classic, but I took the springs off and made up some struts to put the seat at the height I wanted it. The springs are really only there for fashion's sake, you don't need them on a bike with rear suspension.

[binary]

I agree with 2cvandy. A friend with a Harley made struts for his single saddle. It is solidly mounted and he has it at exactly the right hight. Without the seat bouncing up and down on the springs he has it as low as it can go. He bought a short set of chrome springs and put the struts up the centre of these and the seat has springs but they are only there for show. Solid mounted seats are ok on a motorcycle that has a full suspension. Forks at the front and shock absorbers with the swing arm at the rear.

[sofiaspin]

Thanks agree entirely with the points about suspension - I have a girder fork pre war bike.
The suggestion of struts is a new one, useful, thanks.

[Leon Novello]

If you weigh enough, the springs inside the saddle will break and the saddle will lower itself.

[Presto]

Having ridden a C5 Classic EFi for over 500 miles in 24 hours I can say that you definitely do need the springs! The rear suspension is not ‘soft’! And even with springs the C5 seat after 50 miles becomes an excruciating device seemingly from a mediaeval torture chamber. I exaggerate! But you may get the point. Shorter springs may help. But struts IMHO would be a definite 'no way'.

[sofiaspin]

That was a useful and helpful contribution Presto, thank you.

[papasmurf]

Some people already have a "sprung seat."

[2cvandy]

Well as I said, I've never ridden a Classic, but the original seat on my Electra was bloody uncomfortable too, maybe worth trying a different seat while you're tinkering?

I went with a Harley style one from Hitchcocks,,,,,, and very comfortable it is too (even without the springs). As you can see, there's very little in the way of padding, but it's wide enough to give very good support, and my rear shocks aren't even on the softest setting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[binary]

My 350 RE with a solid mounted duel seat is very comfortable to ride. It does not have to be bouncing around on springs to provide a comfortable ride. The motorcycles suspension is more than enough for a comfortable ride. If they needed springs under a motorcycle seat for the comfort of long rides then they would have put them under the seats of all makes of motorcycles but they do not. There is nothing wrong with solid struts under any seat, what ever the shape. Motorcycle manufactures have been doing this for years. The only time that you need springs under a seat is if you have a rigid frame bike that has no suspension at the back at all.