[mitchontheroad]

hi guys. i tried to switch to a single seat that i shipped back to the usa with my bike. got it in karol bagh and the man said it was all the right stuff with it.
well, when i opened the crate and put the bike together i took off my old seat and replaced it with the single BUT the seat sits so high that when i turn a corner i go one way while the bike goes the other! like i am drunk on a boat. so i took it off right away.
the springs seem huge to me. leaving the rectifiers open to the elements too.
also, because of the thickness of the spring metal, there is not much thread on the bolts coming up from the frame to tighten the springs down.
are larger bolts available?
are smaller springs available?
i am thinking of using smaller springs(if i can locate them) and maybe a 2" piece of delrin (a very tough plastic) rod drilled through to support the seat.
since the full seat has no springs, do i even need springs for the single seat? would my butt take a beating?
any ideas will be great.
i hope the photos make it.

[TheARUN]

Mate, you inspired me to take the plunge.

I was contemplating getting the CLASSIC single seat for my bike, but your comments about the spring in the seat was the proverbial last straw, I immediately decided to get myself a normal seat.

Here are some pictures. Hope you like it

[bblost]

Find a decent lathe and reduce the spring's height to what you want.
That should work I guess.

[mitchontheroad]

looks nice arun. is it comfortable?
bblost, i saw some 3" springs available and i also saw one guy who had a welder cut down some shocker springs to the desired height.
should be back in india in feb so i can work things out then.

[jingaboysr]

here's what I have.. i find it comfortable, no problems yet....

[RECL350]

Had been to Kerala recently, stopped at some place on Kottarkara-Trivandrum road because of rain and found this cool looking bull and took these photos, very neat spring seat.

[TheARUN]

I don't have springs on the seat.

The way I think, spring seats are from an era when bikes did not have suspensions. Hence the only suspension you got were from the springs on the seat. Since the bike has suspension, guess we should be going for seats without springs in them.

Afterall, don't the twin seats come without springs?

Comfort wise, the seat is a revealtion. Suits one's backside better, is better shaped, and makes you feel more one with the bike. Also its pretty low and brings down the center of gravity. You feel like going faster and tilting more while turning.

I'm planning a long ride this weekend, would be better placed to comment on the comfort angle after the ride.

Its sure an attention grabber. Screams out 'Im single'

[smenon]

Originally Posted by TheARUN

I don't have springs on the seat.

The way I think, spring seats are from an era when bikes did not have suspensions. Hence the only suspension you got were from the springs on the seat. Since the bike has suspension, guess we should be going for seats without springs in them.

Afterall, don't the twin seats come without springs?

Comfort wise, the seat is a revealtion. Suits one's backside better, is better shaped, and makes you feel more one with the bike. Also its pretty low and brings down the center of gravity. You feel like going faster and tilting more while turning.

I'm planning a long ride this weekend, would be better placed to comment on the comfort angle after the ride.

Its sure an attention grabber. Screams out 'Im single'

I've been thinking of getting this seat for my 500 LB. Do you know what it is called? I went to perfect in JC road in bangalore yesterday, and was trying to explain what type of seat I wanted. In the end, all I could do to convince him was to tell him I wanted the non-chetak type single seat :-)

Also, how's the comfort level? Must be way better than the stock I guess.

[Darth Sid]

@mitchontheroad - I KNEW IT! I really, really wanted to go for a spring seat for my '79 Standard but dropped the idea because I remembered riding somebody's Bullet with a spring seat a few years ago and experienced the problem you're facing. Sure, it felt comfortable but the issue is that such a seat detaches one's backside from the bike. You just can't feel what the bike is doing. So, I decided to go for a solo seat without springs.
What you can do to resolve bolt issue is either go for longer studs in the frame to secure the springs better or grind just a bit of metal off the tips of the springs to make it thinner. But, not too thin obviously. Shaving the springs a little should help get a turn or two more on the nuts on the frame. Also, if you search Karol Bagh a bit, you might be able to find shorter springs. I suggest shorter springs and a shorter front to lower the seat.
And, your butt won't take any more of a beating with this single seat without springs than from a stock seat. I have a solo seat sans springs and it's pretty comfortable. It's just too low for me but I'm getting used to it. I was more comfortable with a desi stock seat mounted on 1-inch studs where you have the springs mounted. Hope this helps some.

@jingaboysr - Is that seat really comfortable? It was one of the options I was looking at but the seat area looked small and the edge of the seat was a concern. Looked sharp enough to make one's inner thighs sore when stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

[Darth Sid]

Originally Posted by TheARUN

I don't have springs on the seat.

The way I think, spring seats are from an era when bikes did not have suspensions. Hence the only suspension you got were from the springs on the seat. Since the bike has suspension, guess we should be going for seats without springs in them.


Its sure an attention grabber. Screams out 'Im single'

It's really cool to make one's bike look like it's from that era. Personally, I'd prefer a spring seat for its looks but the springs, as you would agree, adds a second suspension and detachs the rider from the bike. The rider can't feel what the bike is doing. I have a lightish brown solo seat on my '79 Standard.

And yes, it does scream out, "I'm single" but also adds, "but not ready to mingle!" for obvious reasons.
I'm hoping the ladies listen to only the first scream!

[Rennjit]

.. a spring seat for its looks but the springs, as you would agree, adds a second suspension and detachs the rider from the bike. The rider can't feel what the bike is doing. ..

use a spacer support (or bolt) inside the spring fastened at top & bottom. This makes a rigid mount seat but looks spring mount. Since spring ain't functional cut down length, can support using base plate matching spring outer dia.
By making a bore-pin slider in place of spacer said above it is possible to have functional spring with no side sway but limit spring up-down travel may be 1" or so. Teflon or delrin or pvc should do for slider. To simplify its like rear suspension w/o damper.

[TheARUN]

Originally Posted by smenon

I've been thinking of getting this seat for my 500 LB. Do you know what it is called? I went to perfect in JC road in bangalore yesterday, and was trying to explain what type of seat I wanted. In the end, all I could do to convince him was to tell him I wanted the non-chetak type single seat :-)

Also, how's the comfort level? Must be way better than the stock I guess.

You want a single seat, its got to be Shivaji Nagar.

There is this guy called Rao who has been making BULLET seats for generations. He's the guy who can make you anything. His shop is full of BULLET seats, and you can see a few BULLETS stripped off their seats getting a make-over, anytime you are near his shop.

(The RD350 guys swear by his seats)

I myself got a MACHISMO type seat made for my STD at RAOs.

They guy has single seats, but he quoted 1000 bucks for one. I found another guy called 'BULLET Nawab' a stone's throw away from RAO, and he sold me the same seat for 500 bucks.

BULLET Nawab is again a BULLET spare parts specialist, you can acutally manufacture a bike in his shop and ride it out.

If interested, go to Our Lady's Basilica in Shivaji Nagar, Mother Mary Church, then ask for the 'gujali'. Its like the spare parts flea market. When in the gujali, ask any shop keeper for BULLET Nawab, they will guide you on into different gullies, and then, lo and behold you arrive

If you want, you can say Arun your friend sent you there, and he bought a single seat for 500 bucks last week. It would surely save you the bargaining.

[jingaboysr]

Originally Posted by Darth Sid

@jingaboysr - Is that seat really comfortable? It was one of the options I was looking at but the seat area looked small and the edge of the seat was a concern. Looked sharp enough to make one's inner thighs sore when stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

I must admit that I do feel a bit uncomfortable in stop and go traffic but not too much to stop loving it for long rides, it is really good.
I think this problem can be greatly reduced by decreasing the height, mine is a bit too high.

Also if you feel too disconnected, try reducing the spring height or putting firmer springs...

[Maibaa]

Originally Posted by TheARUN

If interested, go to Our Lady's Basilica in Shivaji Nagar, Mother Mary Church, then ask for the 'gujali'. Its like the spare parts flea market.

Its pronounced "GUJREE" and not GUJALI :-)

[Beast_of_Burden]

Originally Posted by Darth Sid

It's really cool to make one's bike look like it's from that era. Personally, I'd prefer a spring seat for its looks but the springs, as you would agree, adds a second suspension and detachs the rider from the bike. The rider can't feel what the bike is doing. I have a lightish brown solo seat on my '79 Standard.

And yes, it does scream out, "I'm single" but also adds, "but not ready to mingle!" for obvious reasons.
I'm hoping the ladies listen to only the first scream!

Mostly agree it is for the looks, I have seen a green CI500 and a LB500 with these light tan seats that dont have springs and bikes do look good. But these looked rather thin without much cushioning, not sure if they are more comfortable compared to a regular seat. On the older bikes, the suspensions are fairly stiff and my friends Harley-inspired bullet with a lambretta seat offered fantastic comfort. The best part about these seats is that they can be adjusted for load based on the rider's weight and needs. Tighten the spring and the seat will come into play only when the going gets really rough. Want a more cushy ride, loosen as necessary. My friend did not have a corner carver in mind when he modded the bike, raised handle bars et al. This kind of seat works well with an upright riding posture.

Originally Posted by Maibaa

Its pronounced "GUJREE" and not GUJALI :-)

I saw that too, but you couldnt resist pointing, could you? Have been there myself a few times, picked up the mini bullet's t-stem that went on my own std350.