Raising the ride height on a CG125

[pistonheadforum]

Hello,

What's the best way to increase the seat hight on a CG125? At the moment longer rides are giving a fair bit of back pain and increasing the height of the bike would go a long way to relieving this.

Thanks in advance.

[Iminquarantine]

Put towel on seat.

Reupholster seat with more padding.

Buy a bike seat cushion and put it on the seat.

Remember raising the seat height will also increase your forward lean.

[pistonheadforum]

Iminquarantine said:

Put towel on seat.

Reupholster seat with more padding.

Buy a bike seat cushion and put it on the seat.

Remember raising the seat height will also increase your forward lean.

Undestood - was hoping there was a replacement seat option that somebody knew about to make it a little less heath robinson.

[KTMsm]

Personally I'd buy some foam and duct tape it on to see if it solves the problem or causes others

If it works I'd then buy some 4-way stretch vinyl and recover the seat myself -have done similar with a KTM as the ergo seat was ridiculously hard- quite quick and easy on a simple bench style seat

[Drabbesttunic]

Increasing ride height wouldn't do anything at all as you are moving all the fixed points so you'd be in exactly the same position with bars, seat and pegs.
Just raising the seat will tilt you forwards so maybe do the seat and fit taller bars or bar risers?
Are you tall and all hunched up?

[pistonheadforum]

Thanks yes - somewhat hunched up and wondering if there is a bar riser that might be good as well. It's just the ergonomics that are not quite right for my height.

[Speed addicted]

Is the back pain due to the lean forward or the (relatively basic) rear suspension transmitting bumps up through your spine?

Bar risers or different bars would adjust the angle you lean at, as previously mentioned experimenting with seat heights may solve the issue.
You might also be able to get lower pegs which could help adjust your position.

I’ve found on some bikes (usually upright ones with short travel suspension) my lower back tends to ache because of the lack of shock absorption.
Having a bike where you lean forward a bit can actually help as the bumps aren’t transmitted up my spine so much.

Of course there’s always the option of buying a physically bigger bike like an adventure styled 125. It’s not ideal financially but if you intend to keep it a while it could be the best option.

Edited by Speed addicted on Wednesday 16th February 23:08

[carinaman]

Having seen your other thread, I wonder if the Varadero 125 would offer more comfort, but there's the cost to change if you go down that route.

[stang65]

Are you sitting too far back? Try sliding towards the front of the seat if there's room as that'll straighten your back. As you're closer to the bars it doesn't noticably increase the forward lean. You may need to adjust the gear lever and foot brake to keep them easy to use. I have to make a concious effort not to slide back on one of my bikes, if I sit forward it's all-day-comfy but if I get lazy and sit further back it's about an hour until back ache. Costs nothing to try!

[pistonheadforum]

carinaman said:

Having seen your other thread, I wonder if the Varadero 125 would offer more comfort, but there's the cost to change if you go down that route.

Exactly this! Should have bought one years ago! I'm just getting back into biking so working with what I have - think I would ultimately like a Honda CRF300 rally but need to see if it's still as much fun being outside in the rain as I remember so making the most of what I have.

[catso]

Iminquarantine said:

Reupholster seat with more padding.

This is what I di with my old Guzzi. When I bought it, it came with a spare seat: one original and one that had been cut down (the Le Mans is such a low bike - who would need to lower it?). Anyway I took the cut down seat to a local upholsterer and they re covered it 30mm higher than the original.

It's still a low bike but it made a big difference, mainly to the angle my knees have to sit at due to the high rearsets plus, any more lift would have looked wrong.

As for the bars, I fitted adjustable clip-ons to replace the ridiculously low (and short) originals, as such I've made it more rideable - it's now almost as comfortable as my 916.

[pistonheadforum]

stang65 said:

Are you sitting too far back? Try sliding towards the front of the seat if there's room as that'll straighten your back. As you're closer to the bars it doesn't noticably increase the forward lean. You may need to adjust the gear lever and foot brake to keep them easy to use. I have to make a concious effort not to slide back on one of my bikes, if I sit forward it's all-day-comfy but if I get lazy and sit further back it's about an hour until back ache. Costs nothing to try!

Thanks - yup trying all the cheap options - might invest in some gaffa tape and some foam though.

[carinaman]

pistonheadforum said:

Exactly this! Should have bought one years ago! I'm just getting back into biking so working with what I have - think I would ultimately like a Honda CRF300 rally but need to see if it's still as much fun being outside in the rain as I remember so making the most of what I have.

Other than comfort and an old bike in a cupboard that could be brought back into service there's some similarities with my situation with regard to returning to motorcycling. I wished I'd got back on a motorcycle years earlier. I don't use a motorcycle to commute. It does me good to spend an hour too out in the countryside on one, agreeing with what Shakey Byrne said in his Johnny Smith interview about motorcycling being good for the head.