Sliding down the slippery slope

[magge52]

...into Moditus! I've had the bike for 3 weeks and about 275 miles. Time for some updates, mainly working on ergonomics at this point. At 5'8" I have a couple of issues with the Corbin seat. The reach to the bars is a bit too far and it seems to be too hard. A shorter driver's seat would probably work and give more passenger space to boot. So I started out with RPM risers. Installed them last night, they help but still a bit of a stretch. I bought an oem seat from Derek Young. He's gonna ship it from WCR to save me some cash so I'll have that in a few weeks. I'm hoping it and the risers will do the trick. Also ordered a Powerbronze flip screen, dark tint, to give more wind protection. If these mods work out it will be on to the suspension and brakes.

Oh yeah, also bought led brake lights. Have them on the Duc and installation was a simple splice into the brake light but I don't see how to remove the lens to get at it on the FJ. How would you change out a blown bulb? Please don't tell me you have to take off the grab handles and all the plastic!! I pulled out the abs computer to try to get at the wiring underneath but it's pretty crowded under there with the abs hardware.

BTW, RPM is awesome, ordered the risers on the 13th and they were in my mailbox on the 16th, from CA to NH, not bad! Really nice quality pieces too.  

Ciao,
George

[Arnie]

Access to the tail/brake lights is from INSIDE the tailpiece. :-)
You remove the seat, remove all the stuff you've stored in the tail section including the tool kit, fold down the flap which is hinged at the bottom, and then you can remove either of the lamps.  Takes less time to do, than to type this set of instructions.

[markmartin]

"At 5'8" I have a couple of issues with the Corbin seat. The reach to the bars is a bit too far and it seems to be too hard. A shorter driver's seat would probably work and give more passenger space to boot"

If the Corbin seat you had was the Gunfighter, don't discount Corbin until you try the Gunfighter and lady seat which is their 2-up seat.  It sits the driver closer to the tank than the Gunfighter 'solo' seat.  At least that was my experience.   I had the same issue with finding the reach to the bars a bit of a stretch.  I sold the Gunfighter and bought a Gunfighter and lady.  Like you said, the bar risers help too.

[Pat Conlon]

Take a close look at how Frank modified his Corbin seat...it keeps him nice and close to the tank.



Send your Corbin seat back to them and they will do this for you...i

[andyb]

I'm approximately your height, with what are apparently short limbs if the fit of some clothes seems to imply.

Keep the corbin for the time being.  Take the other seat and have it reupholstered (or use it while sending the Corbin back in, but they were really expensive compared to the local upholsterer's shop).  In the process, have them add some cushion to move the butt-stop area forwards a bit (leave yourself some wiggle room or it'll be like a crap hotel....) and have the area where it rides up the tank made as thin as possible, while bearing in mind what a lack of cushioning in that area will do to you during unexpected hard braking.  Honestly I liked the stock seat, it just needed to be filled with significantly firmer foam.

Bar risers there are, but bar-bringer-backer-to-your-damned-seat-ers I've not seen.  This may or may not be a curable thing with a handlebar conversion and a customized bar bend (there will be an eventual limit between the tank and your thumbs at full lock).

Also, keep putting some miles on before spending a fortune, unless you have the fortune readily at hand.  (I accept donations, if that's the issue.)  It takes the body awhile to get comfortable and build the muscles in strange places when you first get a new-to-you bike, not unlike the first long ride of the year being best prefaced by some shorter ones for the same reasons.  The muscles in strange places will protest a bit until you're fully in the swing of things again.

[magge52]

Access to the tail/brake lights is from INSIDE the tailpiece. :-)
You remove the seat, remove all the stuff you've stored in the tail section including the tool kit, fold down the flap which is hinged at the bottom, and then you can remove either of the lamps.  Takes less time to do, than to type this set of instructions.

Arnie, it's not quite so easy with the ABS stuff packed inside there. Had to remove the computer and bracket that holds it place to get at the taillight wiring to splice into it. Not difficult but made me a little nervous messing with the computer. There are connectors and other stuff attached to the bracket as well so I didn't want to accidentally disconnect something. It's working so I guess I didn't mess anything up too bad.

[magge52]

I like the idea of retrofitting the seat but I'll wait to see how the risers work out and the oem seat.  Planning a good day ride tomorrow.
The tank is full and the forecast is for sun and near 70.