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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Ok, I'm not exactly tall, and the Vision is one of the lowest touring bikes you can get. But it isn't low enough, and I need to do something about it.
My ride - 08 Vision Tour Premium
My goal - Lower the seat height by 1"
Thoughts: I don't want to change the suspension using a lower kit, or dumping the air out of the shock. The Vision has great ride and I don't want to change it. I'm not sold on reshaping the seat, because of past experience. Lastly I'm trying to keep the cost below $400.
Possible solution: Get an 8-ball seat, pull the heating system out of my seat and install it on the 8-ball seat.
Question: Before I dump $400 into a new seat and pull apart my seat, has anyone opened up a heated seat, and what challenges do you think I'm up against?
Edited by sgiacci 2010-04-30 7:48 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Ive never opened one up but i have to think the heat elements are molded into the foam. I do remember seeing a pic on the Utopia backrest website showing the wires but dont know if is still on there. I do know there is a lowering bracket for the rear shock but dont know what the price is.
mike |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 37
| Get the 2010 vision Ness seat $270.00 +tax and swop the heating element. A local auto upholstery shop moved the heat from the stock heated seat element to the new Ness seat $75.00 and it works great.
Edited by hdog 2010-04-30 8:45 AM
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lakeside,ca | went to arizona bike week a few years ago - talked to vic dealer that was there and they said they could
cut my seat back 2 inches- as I felt like I was crowding the tank/dash --so i sent my seat in after I got back to san diego-- got the seat back looked good but front section of seat heater no longer worked-- sent It back on my dime and said wtf?-- couple more weeks and got it back-- still didn't work--sent it back again-- 3rd time was the charm-- has been working ever since- when the few times arise that I need it--
gerry |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I have no experience with seat mods to achieve a lower stance. There is another method, however, that is free. You can lower the bike by approx 1" by raising the forks and lowering the shock.
Raise the forks in the triple clamps until the fork caps almost touch the handlebars. Then reduce the air pressure in the shock to drop the rear end by the same amount. I know you said you didn't want to dump the shock pressure, but it will only be a few psi lower. If you are a short guy then I assume your body weight is probably less than the average rider. You probably need lower shock pressure anyway.
If you try it and like it, you spent nothing and maintained the thick comfy functioning seat. If it doesn't suit you, you still spent nothing and everything can be returned to original factory condition very easily.
Good luck with whatever lowering method you choose.
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2010-04-30 10:58 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | sgiacci,
If your are looking to make the seat height one inch shorter then........ I would like to suggest riding boots with taller heels. I bought a pair of Black Oiled Snip Toe Chippewa Harness Boots that were taller than any other boot I wear.
http://www.metboots.com/c-chippewa-motorcycle-boots-brand-p-CH-2786...
Ride Safe |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | An alternative to pulling the heating system out of the stock seat might be to purchase an aftermarket heating system and install it in the 8-Ball seat. A good aftermarket setup can be purchased all over the net for a pretty fair price. And I assume it could easily be hooked up to the stock wiring and switches. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| hdog - 2010-04-30 8:42 AM
Get the 2010 vision Ness seat $270.00 +tax and swop the heating element. A local auto upholstery shop moved the heat from the stock heated seat element to the new Ness seat $75.00 and it works great.
Since I do not want to change the suspension, this is where I'm leaning. I went to the Ness site and could not find an aftermarket vision seat, but this isn't the issue.
The big issue is the heat and how it can be removed and put into a lower seat.
Again, I will not get the seat cut down.
Edited by sgiacci 2010-04-30 7:49 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Central Victoria, Australia | i went to a womens riding seminar with my partner,
One presenter who was a tiny gal, rode a KLR 650, she had been down the road of modifying suspension with all its limitations,
Her solutions was built up boots, she looked like a Kiss supporter but this allowed her to ride all sorts of unmodified bikes,
Cost $100
I have an article from her on the issue, if youd like to pm, i can forward to you
regards
Phil |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Ploz58 - 2010-04-30 8:15 PM
i went to a womens riding seminar with my partner,
One presenter who was a tiny gal, rode a KLR 650, she had been down the road of modifying suspension with all its limitations,
Her solutions was built up boots, she looked like a Kiss supporter but this allowed her to ride all sorts of unmodified bikes,
Cost $100
I have an article from her on the issue, if youd like to pm, i can forward to you
regards
Phil
I'm not that short and I'm not into cross dressing.
Edited by sgiacci 2010-04-30 9:19 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 37
| View the following link.
http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5610&pos...
See Victory P/N 2684354
I have no idea how they changed the heating element, but I will ask the shop I went to.
H
Edited by hdog 2010-04-30 10:42 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Central Victoria, Australia | hey sgiacci,
no offence intended,
I have short legs, thats one reason i ride a vision
my partner rides our BMW R1100S with raised boots,
If people like dressing in womens clothes why would they be cross, they should be happy!! go fiquire |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | We put a Vision 8-Ball seat on my wife's 08 Vision and it has worked out great for her! Ordered it from Maximpowersports.com
We have yet to do the heating element yet - can not get her to stop riding it long enough... |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Ploz58 - 2010-04-30 11:03 PM
hey sgiacci,
no offence intended,
I have short legs, thats one reason i ride a vision
my partner rides our BMW R1100S with raised boots,
If people like dressing in womens clothes why would they be cross, they should be happy!! go fiquire
It would take a lot more than that to offend an offesive person such as myself. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Stupid me - I checked the shock this morning before going for a short ride, and it had #27 in it. So I dumped it down to #6 and it was a little easy to manage since it lowered about a 1/2" and the ride was much smoother. I just would like to get another 1/2" lower, and I think it would be dead on. |
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New user
Posts: 2
| Hello, just had my 08 vision lowered by putting the two links on the rear shock that come on the 8 ball vision and lowered the forks about an inch . Works great no handling differance. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | ed radandt - 2010-05-02 2:38 PM
Hello, just had my 08 vision lowered by putting the two links on the rear shock that come on the 8 ball vision and lowered the forks about an inch . Works great no handling differance.
Has it affected the cornering clearance any? I would like to lower my bike a bit, but I don't want to give up any cornering clearance. Last year, while riding with two friends who were each mounted on GL1800's, I proved that the stock Vision has more clearance than the 'Wing, since they were both touching down frequently and I never did while following them.
Ronnie |
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New user
Posts: 2
| The bike is lower, but I have never touched down anything yet.
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Cruiser
Posts: 99
Cold lake Alberta | All I did was put a second layer sole on my riding boots, what a huge difference.
No suspension change? How about the 8Ball rear shock though? Might be worth it!
Worked for sonny barger,m his is lowered and no probelms apparenlty
sgiacci - 2010-04-30 6:44 AM
Ok, I'm not exactly tall, and the Vision is one of the lowest touring bikes you can get. But it isn't low enough, and I need to do something about it.
My ride - 08 Vision Tour Premium
My goal - Lower the seat height by 1"
Thoughts: I don't want to change the suspension using a lower kit, or dumping the air out of the shock. The Vision has great ride and I don't want to change it. I'm not sold on reshaping the seat, because of past experience. Lastly I'm trying to keep the cost below $400.
Possible solution: Get an 8-ball seat, pull the heating system out of my seat and install it on the 8-ball seat.
Question: Before I dump $400 into a new seat and pull apart my seat, has anyone opened up a heated seat, and what challenges do you think I'm up against?
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Cruiser
Posts: 99
Cold lake Alberta | ed, you just used the links, not the shock itself changed out? And on the front did you slide the forks up in the tree's one inch?
Thanks..looking at this myself. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Vancouver, B.C. & La Quinta, CA | Had Rich's Custom Saddles just outside of SeattleWA redo my saddle. So comfortable. He can lower, raise, set you closer or farther from the bars, heat, gel pad and generally make your saddle make you never want to get off. Each saddle truly custom fitted to each rider. Here is a link. http://www.richscustomseats.com/
Edited by DAL 2010-05-26 1:19 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 104
Plainfield Illinois | If you keep your wallet in your back pocket, change that habit. That's 1/2 an inch from one side and you'll sit straighter with less strain on your lower back. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | rdbudd - 2010-05-03 11:18 PM
ed radandt - 2010-05-02 2:38 PM
Hello, just had my 08 vision lowered by putting the two links on the rear shock that come on the 8 ball vision and lowered the forks about an inch . Works great no handling differance.
Has it affected the cornering clearance any? I would like to lower my bike a bit, but I don't want to give up any cornering clearance. Last year, while riding with two friends who were each mounted on GL1800's, I proved that the stock Vision has more clearance than the 'Wing, since they were both touching down frequently and I never did while following them.
Ronnie
I've learned that it is hard to scrap if you lean with the bike, or more to the inside. When I first started riding the Vision I could scrap all the time with it but found I was leaning oppisite which would push the bike down into the turn. Since I learned to ride to the inside, which has to be a conscience move at first, I never scrap, even it hard turns, and feel more in control.
Just a comment from my experience and find the Vision has more than adequate clearance. Now, I've not lowered mine yet, but I rode the 8-Ball hard in some tight turns and never scraped. (I hope nightvision doesn't read this...) |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Eagle Mountain, Utah | sgiacci, Hey i know what you are going through. i'm only 5' 2" tall and tried to ride the vision with it stock height is a challenge, barely tip toeing it, finally read a thread in here where you can get an adjustable link. So I called Off Road Express and they sent me a adjustable link for $150 included shipping, i had my dealer installed on the bike they charge an hour of labor and was able to lower the seat by an 1 1/2 almost 2. Been able to ride the bike almost flat footed, what a difference is make, i'm now much more comfortable handling this big beast with no problems, no clearing or cornering issues. you will be glad to make the change, give them a call, i think at current they are back order on the link. Let me know if i coud help. |
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Vision seat height