Seating position/bars on my 2002 Stone no longer agree with me

[motoray]

Hi all.

I bought my 2002 Stone about a year ago and have put a couple thousand miles on it. I love the bike, but about two months ago while riding it, my old herniated disc decided it didn't like the ergos anymore. I ended up missing my summer vacation and have the bike up for sale now as a result.

My neck/back recovered (go go ibuprofen) and I've been out on the bike a couple of times since. I'd really rather keep it but I have to do something about the ergonomics...a taller, flatter seat would help a lot. I dug up a couple of posts on here where folks have done Californias up similarly to older Guzzis...making them more standard-style bike. They look great like that but I'm wondering how much would really be involved. Any thoughts?

Including a cool shot of the bike as an offering to the Moto Guzzisi



Thanks,

Ray

[rodekyll]

Simple mods for bar and seat will make a big difference in the riding comfort.  Some cost nothing -- like rotating or rebending the bar.  Some cost little, like bar risers and seat cushions.  Some are expensive, like bar and seat replacement. 

If you're going to try continuing as a rider with your back issues you're going to run in to this position problem with any bike you get.  If you like the Stone, keep it and tweak it.  If you replace it with something else you'll still have to mod the replacement to suit your back.  So replacing it just adds the complications of replacing it to the still-existing problem of ergonomics.

$0.02

[jlburgess]

I see we have the same sheepskin seat cover.  I have an airhawk under mine that might help you a bit too.  A bad back is my genetic gift so I prefer a bike that allows me to unweight the seat with my legs.  That seems to be the easiest way for long distance comfort IMHO.
My other tip is to try a product called True Back.  I bought one a few years ago on a tv ad and it works!.  I hunch over forwards a lot.  This is a plastic thing you lay on and puts the natural curve back at the base of your spine.  Some people hate it but I have had good results!

Linky:  www.trueback.com

[Chuck in Indiana]

Change out the bars for a forward lean. Maybe move the foot controls aft. You need to be able to put your weight on your legs occasionally.
Get a sport bike.. 

[jlburgess]

Change out the bars for a forward lean. Maybe move the foot controls aft. You need to be able to put your weight on your legs occasionally.
Get a sport bike.. 

Yeah, get a Ducati 916.  Your back will seem pain free compared to your arms 

[fotoguzzi]

Going from a Bassa to a V11 Lemans did wonders for my back!

oh and that 6 speed, SMOOTH!

[krglorioso]

Change out the bars for a forward lean. Maybe move the foot controls aft. You need to be able to put your weight on your legs occasionally.
Get a sport bike.. 

Chuck is correct.  I have two Stone Touring models (one for each hand) and the OEM "beach bars" and low seats were killers on longer rides.  I got a pair of Jackal handlebar risers and clamp and fitted 27mm EMGO "Low flat track bars".  Then, a Ned's seat with firm foam with flat rider seating and about 2" taller than OEM.  Finally, I made up a set of slightly (3 1/2") rearset controls (Tarozzi folding footrests and Fast from the Past linkage) and it's a much more usable bike for longer rides. 

[motoray]

krglorioso,

Your mods sound like good ones. Would love to see any photos you might have.

Everyone else...thanks for the thoughts--including the sportbike suggestions. There's nothing like moving the pain a bit to take your mind off other pain.

Ray

[guzzinka]

Krglorioso - the bars, seat and pegs sound like great modifications, any way to get some photos?  I have a stock Jackal that could benefit from those changes, being very much like motoray's Stone....

[guzziownr]

SP II and SP III pegs, hangers and levers bolt right on...

[motoray]

Did not know that. Very nice.

[Mark West]

Switching to dirt bike bars with Rox Risers made a huge difference in comfort as well as handling. One of the best changes I made to my Cal Special. After I did that, I could do long day rides on the stock seat without an airhawk without it killing me.

If you have stock shocks, switching those out to something that actually absorbs shock will likely help your back as well.

[Dean Rose]

'98 Centaur [bars on my '02 Dean

[motoray]

Switching to dirt bike bars with Rox Risers made a huge difference in comfort as well as handling. One of the best changes I made to my Cal Special. After I did that, I could do long day rides on the stock seat without an airhawk without it killing me.

If you have stock shocks, switching those out to something that actually absorbs shock will likely help your back as well.

Dirt bike bars on Rox Risers, eh? I've looked hard at the bar/riser combo on the bike and wondered about changing that out. The stock bar looks like a larger diameter than 7/8, though. What did you end up going with?

Oddly I've always felt like the stock suspension on the Stone is pretty good--at least compared to the bouncey springs on my Ural Patrol.

[krglorioso]

Guzzinka and Motoray:  You can e-mail me at krglorioso@hotmail.com for photos of the footrest conversions.  Frankly, I like the looks of Guzziownr's Jackal with the SP hangers better than what I did.  Really a nice modification and I never realized the SP hangers would fit right on.   Darn, I wish I'd a known that!

BTW, Guzziownr, did you have to remove the sidestand rubber bumper on the frame to fit the SP hangers? 

Ralph

[Sheepdog]

A Sargent saddle with a seat surface raised 3/4", Stone touring bars, and rearranging the foot constrols to make more room on the footboards did the trick on my Vintage. I now have much more comfort and room to move around:

[Mark West]

Dirt bike bars on Rox Risers, eh? I've looked hard at the bar/riser combo on the bike and wondered about changing that out. The stock bar looks like a larger diameter than 7/8, though. What did you end up going with?

Oddly I've always felt like the stock suspension on the Stone is pretty good--at least compared to the bouncey springs on my Ural Patrol.

As I recall Guzzi switched to fatter bars in 2002. My 01 had 7/8 bars or the metric equivalent. I went with Renthal bars I picked up at  the local honda shop and then removed the padded cross bar. Since the bars were narrower, my Napolean mirrors didn't stick out far enough so I picked up these knock off bar enders off ebay. They actually worked really well. Looked like this.



Out and about....

[guzziownr]

BTW, Guzziownr, did you have to remove the sidestand rubber bumper on the frame to fit the SP hangers? 
Ralph

I believe "Bolts right on" does not include the use of an angle grinder so, no



I did all this and only had to relocate one sensor (air temp?) from the frame as it fouled the tank.  It not only used the stock sidestand the (modded) stock seat latch worked:

[Dean Rose]

I've got 98 Centauro bars and a Guzzi King/Queen seat on my '02 EV, works great. The K/Q seat raises you up about an 1 1/2 " and the Centauro bars are real comfortable.


Dean

[motoray]

I believe "Bolts right on" does not include the use of an angle grinder so, no



I did all this and only had to relocate one sensor (air temp?) from the frame as it fouled the tank.  It not only used the stock sidestand the (modded) stock seat latch worked:

That's really nice. Looks a bit like the newer V7s...with a bit more kick downstairs. Very nice work. I don't suppose you have a parts list?   

[motoray]

As I recall Guzzi switched to fatter bars in 2002. My 01 had 7/8 bars or the metric equivalent. I went with Renthal bars I picked up at  the local honda shop and then removed the padded cross bar. Since the bars were narrower, my Napolean mirrors didn't stick out far enough so I picked up these knock off bar enders off ebay. They actually worked really well. Looked like this.



Out and about....

Those are really nice looking bars there...and really like the bar enders too.

[guzziownr]

That's really nice. Looks a bit like the newer V7s...with a bit more kick downstairs. Very nice work. I don't suppose you have a parts list?   

Rummage, rummage, ah!  Here it is:

http://guzziownr.tripod.com/

[motoray]

Rummage, rummage, ah!  Here it is:

http://guzziownr.tripod.com/

Nice...thank you.