| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
Okay guys, this post is a bit of venting and a bit of honest curiousity on my part. Why is the Buell seat height so high? Is there a good engineering-related reason why the seat is high? Isn't it ironic that everything on the Buell puts weight lower, then they put the rider HIGHER? I have an '06 CityX and at 5' 9" (rather short legs unfortunately) I have to tippy toe it around. This it the ONE thing i dislike about the Buell and the ONE thing that I am a bit jealous about when I see the Jap bikes and their shorter riders about to flatfoot it no problem. I have written this comment in the many after-purchase surveys I was sent. I guess I hope that with enough complaints, when it is time to buy my next Buell in a couple years, they will address this "problem". Your thoughts/opinions out there? (Message edited by fresnobuell on November 01, 2006) | ||
| Cycleaddict |
i only use my feet when i stop, and only one of them then ! if you are having trouble backing up ... get off the m/c and push the bike . (left hand on the handlebar and the right hand on the seat hump !) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
i only use my feet when i stop, and only one of them then ! if you are having trouble backing up ... get off the m/c and push the bike . (left hand on the handlebar and the right hand on the seat hump !) I already do this...I just wish I didn't have to that's all. No matter what, I am always going to be more unstable than someone who can easily reach the ground with his feet. Like I said, this is so un-Buell like in my opinion. | ||
| Irideabuell |
I'm 5'6" and have a 2004 Lightning with the select seat. I don't have any problem with the seat height. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Is there a good engineering-related reason why the seat is high? Yes. Resting your fun bag on a hot cylinder head is uncomfortable. Try this:  | ||
| Xbduck |
Buy a 9Low model seat and put it on the bike. I wanted just a little more height with mine so I bought a CityX seat and put it on my 9Low. I will say this though, the CityX seat is more comfortable for longer rides so don't get ride of yours | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yes. Resting your fun bag on a hot cylinder head is uncomfortable If this is the case, I concur. BUt then, I have never heard that a high seat is an inherent characteristic of Twin engines. I was on a Ducati today and I was able to flatfoot comfortably. | ||
| Kdan |
My XB9S was too low, so I traded seats with a short CityX guy. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If this is the case, I concur. BUt then, I have never heard that a high seat is an inherent characteristic of Twin engines. I was on a Ducati today and I was able to flatfoot comfortably. Agreed, but with the 90 degree v-twin, the rear cylinder doesn't extend as far back toward the rider. In order to keep the wheelbase short, the only way to keep the rider off the top of the engine is to increase height. | ||
| Jaimec |
LOOK at the bike. It should be fairly obvious why the seat is so high. The ENGINE is very tall, and the seat is practically on top of it. Why? In order to keep the wheelbase short, that's why. In order to make the seat any lower you'd have to move the seat back away from the engine. There's a whole line of bikes that use that philosophy... just look across the showroom floor from your Buell and you'll see what I mean. The latest issue of Fuell has an interview with Erik that is very good at explaining the design of the bike. Why is the engine up high enough to put that massive exhaust down below it? In order to get the lean angle he was looking for. Once he saw how high the engine sat, he realized the space below the engine was perfect for a big, heavy muffler. Placing a tall engine up high, and keeping the wheelbase short necessitates a high seat. Frankly, I don't find that seat any higher than most bikes I've ridden over the years. Want a low seat? Buy a Harley (or some other cruiser). Want a sportbike? Get used to tip-toeing. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Am I missing something here? Why would some one buy a CityX that's too tall for them and then "bitch" about it to the manufacturer (do you hear the Vonage theme music playing in the background)? Buell has addressed the "shortie" issue with the Lightning CG.  | ||
| Trojan |
The seat on the XB isn't particularly high, but it is quite wide. It is this that makes it harder for shorties to reach the ground much more than the actual seat height. If you have a cityX model then swap the seat for one from a stock XB9 or the XB9 low. Lowering the suspension is not the greatest idea is it upsets the handling if you go too far  | ||
| Macbuell |
Fresno, have you adjusted your suspension for your weight? I'm 5'9 but a very stocky 190 lbs. I had no problem touching the ground flat foot on my bike before I adjusting the suspension to my weight. Once I increased the rear suspension settings it raised the rear ride height which then forced me to tip toe the bike around. It isn't a problem for me when riding in the slightest but it can be an annoyance. American Sportbike sells a Penske rear shock that is fully adjustable including a rear ride height adjustment. I've been told that this will cure the problem I have described. It is on my purchase list but way near the bottom as the performance mods I want to make are far more important at this time. Like I said, I'm not sure if this will help your situation or not. | ||
| Trojan |
It is on my purchase list but way near the bottom as the performance mods I want to make are far more important at this time. fully adjustable aftermarket suspension is the biggest single performance mod you can fit to your bike. It will make you far quicker than expensive engine mods. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
well . . .buy a gurney "alligator" , they are working on a s&s powered version !!! | ||
| Bumblebee |
Besides the Uly, is't the CityX the tallest of the lightnings? The CityX has the "Skyline" seat, the thickest and tallest. Try out one of the lower seats, they ought to fit just fine. The select seats look good to me.  | ||
| Elff |
Buells actually have one of the best variety of seat heights, all you had to do was choose one that fits you. Aside from the Ulyses you bought the Buell with the highest seat. You could have bought one with a standard height seat[The XB12S or XB12Ss] or one specially designed to be lower[The XB12SCG] If you read the description of the CityX. It was designed that way on purpose to aid the rider with visibility in traffic. The other buells have seat heights all similar to other sport bikes and standards. Soooooo You got what you paid for and that included a higher seat. You can easily replace the seat with a different one to help lower it. In another note I am 5'6" on a good day and was able to tippy toe my CityX. If I was 3" taller I could have flatfooted it with the stock seat. I have a 29" inseam For the record I can touch the ground easier on my Firebolt [XB12R] than I could on my Honda CBR600RR (Message edited by elff on November 01, 2006) | ||
| Punkid8888 |
I thought the whole point of the CityX was to be taller in trafic so you can see over Cagers. And give you a more Motorcross feel Also I think its pretty cool that you have I think 3 or 4 seats to choose from the Buell parts bin that can change the height almost 2 inches. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Maybe he has fat thighs?  | ||
| Phantom5oh |
You could always trade it in for the XB12Scg which has a 1.5" lower seat height then the typical 12, or 2.8" difference with the CityX... Or you could do a suspension conversion and swap seats for the cg setup (Message edited by phantom5oh on November 01, 2006) | ||
| Fullpower |
the corbin saddle has more of a depression and a narrower thigh section, you might give them a call. | ||
| Rubberdown |
You want to know high? Here's high:  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Good info/opinions. I am glad that there is a sound reason why the seat is so high. I figured as much. Did I mention that I love everything else about the Buell? (save the powder blue graphic on the tach and speedo, which just doesn't fit the image of a Buell) this post was NOT to bash on the bike, just to elicit an explanation from those more knowledgable about the Buells design. and yes, I believe that the width of the seat adds to the perception that the seat is higher than it actually is--but that should make for a more comfortable ride.... (Message edited by fresnobuell on November 01, 2006) | ||
| Elff |
Fresnobuell Click on my name to see a pic of my ex[sniff sniff] CityX. {I traded it in on a 2006 Firebolt} I converted mine to a single seater with the purchas of the Trojan Eurofighter seat. It was alot easier to touch the ground due to it being lower and narrower. It also looks Uber Cool. I ran the Corbin seat before that and it was very comfy and lower as well. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Get yourself a cg seat (ebay). I'm 5'7" and can almost flatfoot on my cg. These days I run a Corbin. It's much more comfortable and is narrow at the front. So, even though it's actually thicker, I can get my legs closer together and resultantly reach the ground easier because of the narrow front profile (Even though I typically only put down my left foot while sitting at lights). Like others mentioned, there's lots of seat options out there. Look around and find the one that fits you. Being a Bueller, I'm sure you want to make it yours with custom parts anyway. | ||
| Sgthigg |
Trojan hit the nail on the head the seats arent high. They are just a little wide. Buy a Scg seat. | ||
| Phantom5oh |
Get yourself a cg seat (ebay). I'm 5'7" and can almost flatfoot on my cg. The Scg seat will knock about 2" off the seat height compared to the CityX seat. But the XB12Scg suspension is also about 0.8" lower than the XB9SX, so unless you swap the suspension it won't be as low as the Scg. I don't think you're looking for it to be that low though. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Judging by what he's saying, the seat swap would probably do him a world of good. Besides, with the Scg suspension, you have to be extra careful not to bash in the muffler. Speed bumps are definitely not my friend. Can't make it over most of them and have to remember to find a way around them. | ||
| Phantom5oh |
Tx05xb12s I have noticed the same problem on my Scg. You could always wheelie over the bigs ones like I do. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
FYI, I have the Select seat, which is a bit lower--but pretty wide, which pretty much offsets. I found it to be just a tad bit lower than the stock seat. Really, I have gotten VERY used to putting my right leg down only. The only time I think about the high seat is backing up--sometimes even a little upslope is really hard to overcome. And my foot slipping is really easy too, which can put you in an awkward offbalance situation at times. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. |
