Seat height for race bike

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:10 PM

HI i was wondering if i could get some advice, i just bought new seat foam for my ninja 250 race bike (just the thin flat foam you see on motogp/ superbikes) and was going to replace the foam on the stock seat i have with it for better feel since the new foam is alot harder and thinner, but when i took apart the stock seat, the foam on the seat was a lot thiker than i thought it was and takes up most of the seats shape (see picture) so if i put the new foam on, it would lower the ride height by 2 or 3 inches. is till havent figured out how to attach the new foam. i was wondering if this would be better/ worse for the handling of the bike to have my weight lower on the bike?
thanks

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:17 PM

seat pic.jpg

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:18 PM

okay i was just looking up center of gravity, and a lower seat height lowers the center of gravity and a lower center of gravity makes for sharper turning, so maybe the bike will handle better?

broken neck · February 4th, 2014, 07:26 PM

The only drawback would be your leg room with the thinner seat...

As long as you still feel comfortable and not cramped with it, it can't be bad as you wrote...

adouglas · February 4th, 2014, 07:38 PM

The foam they sell for race bikes is meant to go on "superbike" race bodywork, which is effectively the same shape and height as the stock seat, but in fiberglass. A superbike tail replaces both your tail section and your seat.

A typical sbk tail vs. a standard race tail that uses the stock seat (representative only... the SBK tail is not a Ninjette part):

I don't think you can use that sheet of foam on your stock seat pan... Doesn't it have various lumps and projections all over it that allow the stock foam to be located positively?

Don't forget that if you remove two inches of stock seat foam and lower yourself down, the bike's ergonomics are going to change radically. If you've got rearsets you might find they're now way too high. The tank will also seem to be much taller and the handlebars will seem higher as well.

A lower seat will indeed make the bike rotate around its longitudinal axis faster... less rotational inertia.

alex.s · February 4th, 2014, 07:40 PM

they make glue in a can. you spray it onto the foam then spray it onto the seat. let it sit a minute then stick them together. you buy it at the upholstery store. i think its called spray-on upholstery glue.

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:41 PM

Yeah I was thinking about attaching the foam to the stock plastic seat. But I haven't figured out how yet as it has bumps too

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:42 PM

Yeah I think the foam has adhesive on the bottom

mgentz · February 4th, 2014, 07:43 PM

buy thicker foam and shave it. dirt bike guys do this all the time.

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 07:47 PM

i imagine having the weight lower on the bike will tkae more weight off the front in hard breaking, so it will probobly change the compression and feel of the front going into turns. i wonder if this will be bad or good

timone1002 · February 4th, 2014, 09:54 PM

i think what ive decided to do is to attatch the foam to the fron tof the plastic seat with glue or some other method, and since the foam is small im going to use the back of the normal foam as the back of the seat, also i was sitting on my bike with just the plastic seat and i have short legs so it felt comfertable but the bars did seem a little high, so i was thinking about taking off the clip ons and putting them under the tripple clamp, as the triple clamp is as about as thick as the foam seat so it should even out, i think this combined with a lower seat will make the bike alot more ergonomic for racing since i will be closer and farther down on the bike for cornering both my upper and lower body.
what do you guys think?

mgentz · February 5th, 2014, 04:56 AM

Be careful of the bars hitting the bodywork. You may also run into legroom issues.

shane liberty · February 10th, 2014, 12:12 PM

What I would recommend is that you fiberglass a new seat pan that will add some height to your seat and allow you to stick the race pad to it.

Just a question. Why did you remove the stock seat? Speaking as someone who raced with a super bike tail in the past I can tell you there's nothing nice about running the thin foam pad. The stock seat is great for racing and it doesn't tire you out nearly as much after several laps from all of the vibration a thin pad would do. We only sit on the seat in the straights anyway so it's not like there's much advantage to running a less comfortable seat.

Dmented · February 13th, 2014, 10:15 AM

I agree... I tried a thinned out seat before. just hurt my knees more since the pegs are so high.

Dmented · February 13th, 2014, 10:16 AM

...p.s.
you wouldn't want to lower the pegs either. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

timone1002 · February 13th, 2014, 10:22 AM

yeah luckily im pretty short so it feels comfortable, though the fairings are in the way of the lower handle bars, i was thinking about cutting the fairings so my hands will fit, but idk if that will be race legal, i will post some pictures when im done, im hoping to have my hands fit like they do on moto 3 bikes between the fairings: https://www.google.com/search?q=moto...ke%3B950%3B534 but currently the fairings attactch to the gas tank which is where it hits, but i dont think removing the upper part of the fairing will reduce aerodynamics

Dmented · February 13th, 2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timone1002

yeah luckily im pretty short so it feels comfortable, though the fairings are in the way of the lower handle bars, i was thinking about cutting the fairings so my hands will fit, but idk if that will be race legal, i will post some pictures when im done, im hoping to have my hands fit like they do on moto 3 bikes between the fairings: https://www.google.com/search?q=moto...ke%3B950%3B534 but currently the fairings attactch to the gas tank which is where it hits, but i dont think removing the upper part of the fairing will reduce aerodynamics

lotta guy's round here cut thier fairings to make it all work.

RacerX113 · February 16th, 2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timone1002

yeah luckily im pretty short so it feels comfortable, though the fairings are in the way of the lower handle bars, i was thinking about cutting the fairings so my hands will fit, but idk if that will be race legal, i will post some pictures when im done, im hoping to have my hands fit like they do on moto 3 bikes between the fairings: https://www.google.com/search?q=moto...ke%3B950%3B534 but currently the fairings attactch to the gas tank which is where it hits, but i dont think removing the upper part of the fairing will reduce aerodynamics

My clipons had clearance issues with the race fairing so I trimmed it up. No problem in WERA, shouldn't be an issue.

Xtina · February 21st, 2014, 11:14 AM

Why refoam the seat in the first place? Leave it stock

February 4th, 2014, 07:10 PM	#1
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	Seat height for race bike HI i was wondering if i could get some advice, i just bought new seat foam for my ninja 250 race bike (just the thin flat foam you see on motogp/ superbikes) and was going to replace the foam on the stock seat i have with it for better feel since the new foam is alot harder and thinner, but when i took apart the stock seat, the foam on the seat was a lot thiker than i thought it was and takes up most of the seats shape (see picture) so if i put the new foam on, it would lower the ride height by 2 or 3 inches. is till havent figured out how to attach the new foam. i was wondering if this would be better/ worse for the handling of the bike to have my weight lower on the bike? thanks

February 4th, 2014, 07:38 PM	#5
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	The foam they sell for race bikes is meant to go on "superbike" race bodywork, which is effectively the same shape and height as the stock seat, but in fiberglass. A superbike tail replaces both your tail section and your seat. A typical sbk tail vs. a standard race tail that uses the stock seat (representative only... the SBK tail is not a Ninjette part): I don't think you can use that sheet of foam on your stock seat pan... Doesn't it have various lumps and projections all over it that allow the stock foam to be located positively? Don't forget that if you remove two inches of stock seat foam and lower yourself down, the bike's ergonomics are going to change radically. If you've got rearsets you might find they're now way too high. The tank will also seem to be much taller and the handlebars will seem higher as well. A lower seat will indeed make the bike rotate around its longitudinal axis faster... less rotational inertia. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

February 4th, 2014, 07:40 PM	#6
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	they make glue in a can. you spray it onto the foam then spray it onto the seat. let it sit a minute then stick them together. you buy it at the upholstery store. i think its called spray-on upholstery glue. __________________________________________________

February 13th, 2014, 10:15 AM	#14
Dmented CVMA#747 Ⓓⓜⓔⓝⓣⓔⓓ ⓡⓐⓒⓘⓝⓖ Name: Darren Location: Torrance (satyromania) Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 250R * 09 Yamaha R6 * 08 CBR 1000RR * 04 NSR 50 * 02 KX 250 Posts: A lot.	I agree... I tried a thinned out seat before. just hurt my knees more since the pegs are so high. __________________________________________________ CVMA#747AFM#747RM1GP#77LeoVinceRaceTechHotbodiesCyclemallBridgestone * MotoradDainesePolyMotoWoodcraftVisit The Dmented Racing Youtube Channel

February 13th, 2014, 10:16 AM	#15
Dmented CVMA#747 Ⓓⓜⓔⓝⓣⓔⓓ ⓡⓐⓒⓘⓝⓖ Name: Darren Location: Torrance (satyromania) Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 250R * 09 Yamaha R6 * 08 CBR 1000RR * 04 NSR 50 * 02 KX 250 Posts: A lot.	...p.s. you wouldn't want to lower the pegs either. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. __________________________________________________ CVMA#747AFM#747RM1GP#77LeoVinceRaceTechHotbodiesCyclemallBridgestone * MotoradDainesePolyMotoWoodcraftVisit The Dmented Racing Youtube Channel

February 4th, 2014, 07:17 PM	#2
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	seat pic.jpg

February 4th, 2014, 07:18 PM	#3
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	okay i was just looking up center of gravity, and a lower seat height lowers the center of gravity and a lower center of gravity makes for sharper turning, so maybe the bike will handle better?

February 4th, 2014, 07:26 PM	#4
broken neck ninjette.org guru Name: Thomas Location: Montréal Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Special Edition (sold), 2017 CRF250 Rally Posts: 384	The only drawback would be your leg room with the thinner seat... As long as you still feel comfortable and not cramped with it, it can't be bad as you wrote...

February 4th, 2014, 07:41 PM	#7
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	Yeah I was thinking about attaching the foam to the stock plastic seat. But I haven't figured out how yet as it has bumps too

February 4th, 2014, 07:42 PM	#8
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	Yeah I think the foam has adhesive on the bottom

February 4th, 2014, 07:43 PM	#9
mgentz Board Member Name: ... Location: WI Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250R (street), 250R (dirt) Posts: A lot.	buy thicker foam and shave it. dirt bike guys do this all the time.

February 4th, 2014, 07:47 PM	#10
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	i imagine having the weight lower on the bike will tkae more weight off the front in hard breaking, so it will probobly change the compression and feel of the front going into turns. i wonder if this will be bad or good

February 4th, 2014, 09:54 PM	#11
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	i think what ive decided to do is to attatch the foam to the fron tof the plastic seat with glue or some other method, and since the foam is small im going to use the back of the normal foam as the back of the seat, also i was sitting on my bike with just the plastic seat and i have short legs so it felt comfertable but the bars did seem a little high, so i was thinking about taking off the clip ons and putting them under the tripple clamp, as the triple clamp is as about as thick as the foam seat so it should even out, i think this combined with a lower seat will make the bike alot more ergonomic for racing since i will be closer and farther down on the bike for cornering both my upper and lower body. what do you guys think?

February 5th, 2014, 04:56 AM	#12
mgentz Board Member Name: ... Location: WI Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250R (street), 250R (dirt) Posts: A lot.	Be careful of the bars hitting the bodywork. You may also run into legroom issues.

February 10th, 2014, 12:12 PM	#13
shane liberty ninjette.org member Name: Shane Location: San Diego Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): None Yet Posts: 134	What I would recommend is that you fiberglass a new seat pan that will add some height to your seat and allow you to stick the race pad to it. Just a question. Why did you remove the stock seat? Speaking as someone who raced with a super bike tail in the past I can tell you there's nothing nice about running the thin foam pad. The stock seat is great for racing and it doesn't tire you out nearly as much after several laps from all of the vibration a thin pad would do. We only sit on the seat in the straights anyway so it's not like there's much advantage to running a less comfortable seat.

February 13th, 2014, 10:22 AM	#16
timone1002 ninjette.org member Name: Alex Location: pleasanton ca Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): ninja 250, used to own ninja zx6r, and drz 400 sm Posts: 28	yeah luckily im pretty short so it feels comfortable, though the fairings are in the way of the lower handle bars, i was thinking about cutting the fairings so my hands will fit, but idk if that will be race legal, i will post some pictures when im done, im hoping to have my hands fit like they do on moto 3 bikes between the fairings: https://www.google.com/search?q=moto...ke%3B950%3B534 but currently the fairings attactch to the gas tank which is where it hits, but i dont think removing the upper part of the fairing will reduce aerodynamics

February 21st, 2014, 11:14 AM	#19
Xtina ninjette.org guru Name: Christina Location: Toronto Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300, 2007 Gsxr 600, R6-sold :( Posts: 270	Why refoam the seat in the first place? Leave it stock

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Seat height and width	archaeofreak	General Motorcycling Discussion	23	July 4th, 2017 11:07 PM
[RoadRUNNER] - MotoMojo: Seat Height & The Factors That Contribute To It	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	December 3rd, 2014 03:12 AM
tires changed ride height	mikedabike64	General Motorcycling Discussion	13	March 6th, 2014 11:06 AM
Adapting bike/suspension to my weight/height?	peterpayne	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	5	July 28th, 2013 07:49 AM
Height and Comfort	mSoueiD	General Motorcycling Discussion	13	July 17th, 2010 02:42 PM