Reshaping the seat 2: Difference between revisions
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I'm not sure what changed, but after 25,000 miles on my bike (many of those with a [http://www.beadrider.com/ BeadRider pad]), my butt sure started to hurt. The tank-ward slope of the Ninja's seat became unbearable, making me sit too close to the tank. I would slide onto my "soft tissue" area too much, and it also put too much pressure on my legs. So, I figured it was time to reshape the seat. I envisioned making the seat shape close to the banana seat of an older [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Japanese_motorcycle UJM]: flat and smooth. | I'm not sure what changed, but after 25,000 miles on my bike (many of those with a [http://www.beadrider.com/ BeadRider pad]), my butt sure started to hurt. The tank-ward slope of the Ninja's seat became unbearable, making me sit too close to the tank. I would slide onto my "soft tissue" area too much, and it also put too much pressure on my legs. So, I figured it was time to reshape the seat. I envisioned making the seat shape close to the banana seat of an older [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Japanese_motorcycle UJM]: flat and smooth. | ||
[[image: | [[image:DSC05338.jpg|150px]] | ||
I wanted to flatten the seat so that I would (a) not slide forward and (b) be able to sit a little more rearward on the seat (so my legs were not bent at such an acute angle). I used my pregnant wife, a level, and a blue sharpie to identify the area to remove. | I wanted to flatten the seat so that I would (a) not slide forward and (b) be able to sit a little more rearward on the seat (so my legs were not bent at such an acute angle). I used my pregnant wife, a level, and a blue sharpie to identify the area to remove. | ||
[[image: | [[image:DSC05342.jpg|150px]] | ||
This procedure did not use advanced weaponry. Proper tools, like in IanJ's [http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Reshaping_the_seat FAQ article], would have been great to use. Since I didn't have an electric carving knife or a grinder, I improvised. | This procedure did not use advanced weaponry. Proper tools, like in IanJ's [http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Reshaping_the_seat FAQ article], would have been great to use. Since I didn't have an electric carving knife or a grinder, I improvised. | ||
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[[image:DSC05344.jpg|150px]] | [[image:DSC05344.jpg|150px]] | ||
I draped the vinyl back over the seat and went for a five minute ride. Brilliant! I stapled the vinyl back on and went for an hour ride. Brilliant! It felt amazing and looked pretty good. | I draped the vinyl back over the seat and went for a five minute ride. Brilliant! I stapled the vinyl back on and went for an hour ride. Brilliant! It felt amazing and looked pretty good. I'll need to add a couple staples to the vinyl and pull it tighter in a couple places. As you can see, the vinyl still looks much like it did before removing foam. | ||
I'll need to add a couple staples to the vinyl and pull it tighter in a couple places. As you can see, the vinyl still looks much like it did before removing foam. | |||
[[image: | [[image:DSC05347.jpg|150px]] | ||
[[image:DSC05348.jpg|150px]] | |||
[[image:DSC05346.jpg|150px]] | |||
The seat is now quite a bit flatter. I have fallen in love again with my Ninja. This is a great comfort mod for having spent no money and about two hours in the yard. With the foam nearly level (when the bike is standing upright) I don't have the same "falling on the bicycle frame" sensation that I once did. | The seat is now quite a bit flatter. I have fallen in love again with my Ninja. This is a great comfort mod for having spent no money and about two hours in the yard. With the foam nearly level (when the bike is standing upright) I don't have the same "falling on the bicycle frame" sensation that I once did. | ||