Raising 650GL seat

[Guest]

I've done some searching on the forum and from what I can tell, I can't swap a different seat onto my 650GL. With that being the case, does anyone have any suggestions on raising my seat? I'm just too tall, and I feel cramped on my bike. I'm considering finding a seat pan and shaping a custom seat for it. My concerns with that are finding a seat cover that will work with it. Any suggestions or resources that I can look into?

Thanks
Brent

[gsrick]

I've done some searching on the forum and from what I can tell, I can't swap a different seat onto my 650GL. With that being the case, does anyone have any suggestions on raising my seat? I'm just too tall, and I feel cramped on my bike. I'm considering finding a seat pan and shaping a custom seat for it. My concerns with that are finding a seat cover that will work with it. Any suggestions or resources that I can look into?

Thanks
Brent

I'm not trying to be a smart azz, but I suggest getting an 850GL 1000GL or 1100GL. They all use the same frame. If you're cramped on a 650, then you need to get a bigger bike. A 750 is a little bigger, but are chain drive. Depending on your height I say an 850 especially if you want to stick with a shaft drive.

[VintageLad]

While I agree with you, a different bike just isn't in the cards for a few years. We're having a baby in May, which is why I'm just looking to modify what I already have. Plus I just like tinkering on this thing...

[salty_monk]

Sargent will add foam & re-cover. About $300 though...

Cheapest way is to add Carpet foam & make a cover yourself.

[Steve]

Until recently, my older son had a 650L. You can click the link in my sig and see it. My wife has an 850L. Again, click the link.

I am not what very many people would call "short". I can GUARANTEE that if you think you are a bit 'cramped' on your 650L, you will LOVE the room on an 850L. As gsrick said, it shares the same (large) frame as the 1000L and 1100L of comparrable years.

Yes, the 650 is a bit of a pocket rocket with a decent power to weight ratio, but if you are not comfortable, what's the point? By the way, have you changed the handlebars? If you still have the "L" bars, you can do a LOT to improve comfort by simply changing the bars to something a bit lower and flatter. I don't know the name of the bend, but I was reasonably comfortable on my son's bike for over an hour. When we sold the bike, the new owner wanted some taller bars that could be angled back to him (he's kinda short), so we kept the lower bars. Let me know if you might be interested in them.

.

[VintageLad]

Steve, no I have not changed the bars yet, that is on the to-do list in the next few months here. I've been looking at some daytona bars. Im sure anything will be more comfortable than the stock bars!

Part of my thinking with the seat was, if I can get a slighly taller and flatter profile, I can slide back on the seat some if I need to stretch out some. With the stepped seat that doesnt work too well

[Steve]

No argument there. However, if you looked at the picture, you should have seen that my son's bike still had the stock seat. Even with that, the lower bars (and the windshield) made the bike a LOT more tolerable.

Let me know if you might be interested in the bars, I'll let them go cheap.

.

[gsrick]

Ok, if you're going to stay with the 650GL for a while, go with some different bars like Steve said. I had a 650 for a very short time as it felt cramped to me, but it was a blast to ride. Even an 850GL can feel cramped with the stock pullback bars. I didn't do anything to this bike, but bring it back to life. All custom touches were done previously, but these bars made it tolerable.

[eil]

I know you already said another bike is not an option right now but I just want to mention that the 1981 GS750E is most certainly made for tall people. (I'm 5'10" and it put me on my tip-toes with both feet down.)

[Rust_to_Redemption]

I've done some searching on the forum and from what I can tell, I can't swap a different seat onto my 650GL. With that being the case, does anyone have any suggestions on raising my seat? I'm just too tall, and I feel cramped on my bike. I'm considering finding a seat pan and shaping a custom seat for it. My concerns with that are finding a seat cover that will work with it. Any suggestions or resources that I can look into?

Thanks
Brent

New bars and risers would help out considerably, probably more so than adding foam to the seat. And, its probably cheaper to start with that (I got my new bars/risers/new cables for under $100) rather than jump into something that will be considerably more pricey to get done.

[Mr.humbucker]

Last year I took a GS550L with the stepped seat and swapped it out for a GS550T seat which is higher slightly but flatter thereby allowing you more horizontal space to position you butt on the seat in a more comfortable spot. The GS550T was a one year production bike in 81 and seats are a wee bit hard to come by in good shape but the replica covers are available on eBay for $89 and they are perfect. I am pretty sure this would be a good solution for you without buying another larger frame model as suggested here. Steve is right about the bars too. I put on a set of straighter bars and I love the look. The only othe thing to be aware of is that with the change to the seat the side covers for the L model don't quite follow bottom edge/profile of the T seat. The T is flat or close to parallel to tne ground where the L seat is angled for the "chopper'ish" look they were trying to replicate witht the L models I'd suggest. Here is a picture of conversion-seat-cycle from the GS550L to a Gs550T.

DSC_0082.jpg

[VintageLad]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I’m looking into doing new handlebars and cables sometime this month probably. We’ll see how much that helps

[Mutashio]

Hi, did you put that seat on this bike @GSRICK?? I like it! I need a new seat as my is rusted AF! And i very much like the look of that one!

[Admiral Beez]

I’m six foot, so in my search for a 650 I went for the GS650G rather than the L. Reading this, I’m glad I did, as the L sounds cramped.