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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Rapide Seat Lowering
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<blockquote data-quote="CarlHungness" data-source="post: 132330" data-attributes="member: 2517"><p>I'd consider that the factory released the seat from the UFM in 1955 and suggest you do the same. First, the seat back moves up and down half of the travel of the suspension. I've often read praise from those who have removed the seat stays and built tubes to connect (technically to the engine to be absolutely correct) to the footrest anchors. Here are a couple of before and after seat mods I have made. Originally I made a totally cantilever set up that replaced the battery carrier and let the plot hang over the rear mudguard. I ran it for years, you can see it in the photo sans seat. Then I cut it apart and ran some down-tubes, but I didn't run them so far forward as to be connected to the engine (as they should be). You can see I constructed a new Rider seat and used the old foam for the rear. I must have lowered the plot a good 2-3 inches. Thus the passenger seat is now higher than the rider giving it the King and Queen of Harley effect, I'm pretty happy with the Rider seat height. To boot, I connected some huge aluminum panniers to the seat frame and ran them for about 15 years. I am now in the process of installing some streamlined fiberglass panniers that are nearly one off's. So sorry I don't have the man's name at hand who made them and passed away thereafter. I'll post the new pannier photo in the spring. My point is, release the seat from the RFM and you'll like the bike a whole lot better and in the process you can lower the seat. I have longer springs and I'm 6' (feet) tall and have found that even I have to stretch to pull in the side stand if I'm atop the bike. That's dangerous, I fell over doing it once. Forget modifying the existing mechanical set up and put the seat stays on a shelf.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CarlHungness, post: 132330, member: 2517"] I'd consider that the factory released the seat from the UFM in 1955 and suggest you do the same. First, the seat back moves up and down half of the travel of the suspension. I've often read praise from those who have removed the seat stays and built tubes to connect (technically to the engine to be absolutely correct) to the footrest anchors. Here are a couple of before and after seat mods I have made. Originally I made a totally cantilever set up that replaced the battery carrier and let the plot hang over the rear mudguard. I ran it for years, you can see it in the photo sans seat. Then I cut it apart and ran some down-tubes, but I didn't run them so far forward as to be connected to the engine (as they should be). You can see I constructed a new Rider seat and used the old foam for the rear. I must have lowered the plot a good 2-3 inches. Thus the passenger seat is now higher than the rider giving it the King and Queen of Harley effect, I'm pretty happy with the Rider seat height. To boot, I connected some huge aluminum panniers to the seat frame and ran them for about 15 years. I am now in the process of installing some streamlined fiberglass panniers that are nearly one off's. So sorry I don't have the man's name at hand who made them and passed away thereafter. I'll post the new pannier photo in the spring. My point is, release the seat from the RFM and you'll like the bike a whole lot better and in the process you can lower the seat. I have longer springs and I'm 6' (feet) tall and have found that even I have to stretch to pull in the side stand if I'm atop the bike. That's dangerous, I fell over doing it once. Forget modifying the existing mechanical set up and put the seat stays on a shelf. [/QUOTE]
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Tech. Advice: Series 'B' / 'C' 500cc/1000cc Bikes
Rapide Seat Lowering
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