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[Killroy]

Electric Terry with Vetter cut the rear/seat frame to lower the rider for areo. 

I would look into that before messing with the suspension.

[emoowear]

So the bike came and left this morning. Everything was looking good until we tried to start it up. Gave a 2-1 error? A quick search on the boards tell me that it's has something to do with the contactor? Perhaps a motor control board problem? So they had to reload the bike and is now back at Hollywood electrics. Haven't received an update so I'm not sure how long it will take this time. We're just itching to ride soon.

At any rate, the ride height is considerably lower. I'm 5'9" and I'm just about flat footin' it plus, I was wearing flip flops. So, with the stock seat shaved and new suspension in, I'm going to guess and say it's been lowered about 2.5-3". I'll get more accurate estimates once they re-deliver. My friend wasn't able to sit on it today because of work but I'm really hoping this is low enough for her. She's gone and bought some boots to increase her stance as well so we shall see.

[Manzanita]

I don't think there is that much space under the seat. I've looked under mine and the seat is quite thin, and also it is mounted quite close to the frame. OK, I guess maybe one can shave off 1" if it is reworked to be barely higher than the frame.

If you remove the seat brace bracket and tuck the fuse box into the wiring harness, it creates about 3.5 inches of space below the original seat level--now some of that will have to be used up by padding, and this is also without a fiberglass pan protecting the electronics. So maybe 2-2.5 inches lower with relatively thin padding.

OEM seat (note the background as a reference):

Seat removed and electronics covered with tape:

[Kocho]

Thanks for the explanation! I see what you mean. The front of the seat is very close to the gas tank and I did not even consider lowering that area. I was thinking about the rear of the seat, where there does not appear to be almost any room for lowering. I looked at lowering the rear because I wanted to lower the rear of the seat keeping the front just as high as stock or even rising it, so that I don't slide forward as much as I do now, plus the rear is wider and much more comfortable for me, being tall. But yes, if you can sit in the front, then lowering that makes sense. I am way too forward and close to the handlebars if I sit in the front area - if anything, I'd want to be even further back from where the stock seat puts me in its current wide spot..

On a separate note: when I looked at that bracket that was removed in your photos, I thought it had a structural role too. Doesn't it weaken the rigidity of the frame when removed?

I don't think there is that much space under the seat. I've looked under mine and the seat is quite thin, and also it is mounted quite close to the frame. OK, I guess maybe one can shave off 1" if it is reworked to be barely higher than the frame.

If you remove the seat brace bracket and tuck the fuse box into the wiring harness, it creates about 3.5 inches of space below the original seat level--now some of that will have to be used up by padding, and this is also without a fiberglass pan protecting the electronics. So maybe 2-2.5 inches lower with relatively thin padding.

OEM seat (note the background as a reference)[/img]

Seat removed and electronics covered with tape[/img]

[charlesb]

emoowear - how much were you able to shave off of the stock seat?  How much padding is there on the stock seat?

[emoowear]

emoowear - how much were you able to shave off of the stock seat?  How much padding is there on the stock seat?

With what I saw and felt initially, i'll have to guess and say 1.5-2"? I'll take better pics once we have the bike back and will try to show how much padding is still available along with more accurate numbers on exactly where the savings in height is with the seat and suspension.

[Manzanita]

On a separate note: when I looked at that bracket that was removed in your photos, I thought it had a structural role too. Doesn't it weaken the rigidity of the frame when removed?

I can't say for sure, but I don't think so. It looks like it is there to support the front mount of the seat. The other evidence to support that would be that it is wishbone shaped where it bolts to the frame in the back, so not exactly a rigid structure. Also, the bolts that attach it to the front frame member under the tank were very small, like body trim bolts, so not really designed to take much stress. You could make a flat cross brace where the two back bolts attach. I just thought to look at photos of the frame alone, and it seems the welded tube directly under the seat area would be pretty rigid, look half-way down this page: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/features.php

[Kocho]

I think you are right. https://www.facebook.com/BenRidesElectric/photos/pcb.802611619872193/802611303205558/?type=3&theater

[Manzanita]

https://www.facebook.com/BenRidesElectric/photos/pcb.802611619872193/802611303205558/?type=3&theater

Yes, this is identical to my bike. The funny thing is that the zip ties on the power cables are way too tight, and so cutting a few of those allows them to relax and lay down flat. The fuse box there tucked away nicely in a pocket just underneath where it is sitting on the brace. My first idea on lowering the seat was lowering the seat mount by creating a custom seat brace bracket that was simply lower (imagine if the bracket butted up against the front support instead of sitting on top of it). But if you're not a welder that sort of work will be pricey. Also, what I notice in this photo is how the entire mount in front is raised up above the main frame member, and I think the only other thing it supports is the plastic tank cover. So that if you cut it down an inch, it would lower the seat mount by that much (and you could have a bracket come up and support the tank cover). Lots of options if you can weld or are willing to pay someone. But the lowest you can get in the front of the seat would be to remove the bracket.

[Manzanita]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO64VW-MPjHRcr3W1-t85-AfiZOVz9_JLMUXKxpQYr8Ge-ZKhpdUmj2ovVxuiXNmw?key=dnl0S2RqNExkQllUcDNpSk8xV3NMUU1Oay0tU2Fn

The cool thing is I can bolt the OEM seat on top of this 'seat' so I can convert it back and forth for myself and my girlfriend.

[mrwilsn]

I came across this video and thought of this thread.  The guy filming is a total rube and I weep for his kids but the rider is a bad ass and my hero.



Where there's a will there's a way.

[quixotic]

I came across this video and thought of this thread.  The guy filming is a total rube and I weep for his kids but the rider is a bad ass and my hero.



Where there's a will there's a way.

Rube is right.  And when the video ended, youtube offered me up a veritable army of further rubish idiocy to contemplate.

But yeah, the rider's calm mastery of the situation does sort of balance things out.

[Manzanita]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO64VW-MPjHRcr3W1-t85-AfiZOVz9_JLMUXKxpQYr8Ge-ZKhpdUmj2ovVxuiXNmw?key=dnl0S2RqNExkQllUcDNpSk8xV3NMUU1Oay0tU2Fn

The cool thing is I can bolt the OEM seat on top of this 'seat' so I can convert it back and forth for myself and my girlfriend.

Just an update; we've done three weekend training sessions and my 5'0" gf with no previous riding experience now has no problem riding my Zero S in the above modified state. She is not flat-footed, but is not straining either. I don't want to detail what I've done under the seat (as it is very half-ass) but I will say you need to protect the connector on the front right side; the wires coming out of the harness need to be protected from being pinched. Please do a better job than I did. Basically, she is sitting on the power cables. A hard fiberglass pan would be ideal, it could rest on the frame on each side.

[togo]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO64VW-MPjHRcr3W1-t85-AfiZOVz9_JLMUXKxpQYr8Ge-ZKhpdUmj2ovVxuiXNmw?key=dnl0S2RqNExkQllUcDNpSk8xV3NMUU1Oay0tU2Fn

The cool thing is I can bolt the OEM seat on top of this 'seat' so I can convert it back and forth for myself and my girlfriend.

I think this is a candidate for the quick-release pin mod.

[togo]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO64VW-MPjHRcr3W1-t85-AfiZOVz9_JLMUXKxpQYr8Ge-ZKhpdUmj2ovVxuiXNmw?key=dnl0S2RqNExkQllUcDNpSk8xV3NMUU1Oay0tU2Fn

The cool thing is I can bolt the OEM seat on top of this 'seat' so I can convert it back and forth for myself and my girlfriend.

... Basically, she is sitting on the power cables. A hard fiberglass pan would be ideal, it could rest on the frame on each side.

Yeah, definitely put something there to support the person's weight- you don't want the big power cables mashed.  Fiberglass, enough layers, a piece of cut pipe of the appropriate diameter, for for less weight, layers of carbon fiber, layers of noncompressible lightweight material, and more layers of carbon fiber.  You want the weight transferred to the frame, not the wires.