2001 EV-TALL bike

[drburt]

Hey y'all,
  Picked up the 2001 EV from Austin Saturday and rode it home to Amarillo this weekend (635 miles).
I'm fairly new to riding (almost 1 year since I started) and this is the longest/farthest I've ridden yet.
(Ow, my butt)
No problems once it gets going, but it sure is tall at stops and I'm going to have to fix that.
As rocker59 noticed in my "Possible 1st Guzzi" post, the seat has been raised and for me it seems pretty top heavy when stopped. Had to wrestle it once in a parking lot to keep from dropping it.
I'm 5'11 with a 30" inseam in bare feet. With tennis shoes on (not what I ride in) my heels are around 3 inches from the ground when straddling the bike.
Is it a waste of time for me to mess with the stuffing in the seat or should I just send it off to Neds?

Do you think these bikes are too tall/top heavy to ride around in town?

I do enjoy riding my Virago around town and might just keep it for that.
On the highway- Virago=Model T, EV=Cadillac or better.
It was a very nice ride home (except for the butt agony).
And I do love this machine!
Thanks,
Brent

[Rich A]

I'd look for a stock seat on EBay and try it out, then sell the one that is now on the bike. Be advised that there are a number of Cali variants from that vintage and not all seats are interchangeable.

Rich A

[guzziknight]

Also, you could call Ned's and just get a lower front saddle. I have a 29" inseam, and use a Ned's seat, but not a lowered one. I'm on my tip toes if I put both feet down. The solution: leave my right foot on the brake, and only put the left down. Works great.

Only problem comes when you have to straddle walk the bike, then I usually get off it and push it.

It is a top heavy bike, but very well balanced. Once you get some time riding it, you'll find it more comfortable at low speeds, especially if you're used to the Virago.

[normzone]

I have it's close relative, a '99 Bassa. It's a blast on the road but a little bit of work around town. No more than you would expect though.

[jcctx]

I have a Hang 10 seat (orig for a Goldwing) that has been modified to fit an '01 EV. Take a little fiddling, but it worked well for me after setup; yours for the cost of shipping!! I am just short of 5'10" with 29" inseam???

[oldbike54]

 A lower seat should solve the problem , these bikes aren't horrible around town , in fact the weight is carried fairly low and the steering is light .

 5'11" with a 30 in inseam , just the opposite of me , 6'0" with a 34" inseam , or at least when I was younger , seem to have shrunk 1/2" lately 

 Oh , welcome to the family 

 Dusty

[Mark West]

I'm 5'11" with 31 inseam and had no problem with my Cal Special, which is basically the same as the EV. The seat height isn't as big a deal as the seat width, which keeps you from getting your feet down as much.

Get the seat reworked so it's a little lower and narrower and I think you'll find it to be no problem. Congrats on the purchase. I always liked that color scheme.

[drburt]

Rich A: Good idea on trying to go back to stock and working from there. The seat that's on there now seems like a modified non stock seat. Wide in front and wider in back. When I look at the picture of the seat at Harpers, it looks narrower in front (than mine) and wide in back. The plastic base of my seat is wide up front. There is a sticker on the bottom of my seat that has 03460500 on it which is the number Harpers lists as the EV front seat.   I don't know what's up with that.

guzziknight: the left foot down and right on the break is usually how I end up when I stop, but I also end up both feet down. That straddle walking thing does make it look like I've got a bike too large for myself (reminds me of my wife on her Road King), but when I'm riding it seat height is perfect. I think I'm going to go for trying to narrow up the front end of the seat (like Mark West suggests).

Normzone: first chance today to try riding around town some. Not too bad after getting more used to it. It is a blast (but all that engine tapping and clanking is still disconcerting). Need to go to one of the rallys and let some experienced people ride it just to make sure the noises are normal!

jcctx: That is an awesome offer! Seriously. I'll keep that in mind if I can't get happy with a few mods of the seat I have

oldbike51: Thanks! It's good to be here. Yeah, I think I'm getting down closer to the 5'10" mark myself. Hoping I can get a bit more surefooted by narrowing the front of the seat because the height seems great for riding.

Mark West: Thanks. I think the narrower direction should help. The only problem is that the base of the current seat seems to be made wider than the stock seat (even though it has the 03460500 part sticker, other things look like it may be a seat modified for this bike though).

Anyway, I'll see if a local guy that the Harley Shop recommended can carve me out some leg room in the front of the seat and if that doesn't work I'll look for a stock seat and see if the Ned Seat route gets me where I feel I need to be. Just trying to be thrifty at the moment.

Thank you EVERYONE for your advice!
Brent

[pehayes]

Nice bike!  That looks a lot like a Rich Maund seat and yes, they are higher than stock.  The stock seat pan had a nasty right-angle relief area to clear the old P8 computer.  Your 2001 has the newer, smaller M15 computer but still has the stupid seat pan.  The relief area can be cut away to allow for lowering the upholstery.
Your front tire is probably a 110/90.  You can install a 110/80 to get a little lower.
Your fork clamps can be loosened and the fork tubes raised about 20mm above the top clamp to get a little lower.  That will quicken the steering but some think that is a good thing.
Your rear shocks can be replaced by some 1" shorter but then it will be a struggle to launch onto the center stand.
All of these mods done to Regina's 98 EV and she handles that just fine.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Tom H]

Nice bike!  That looks a lot like a Rich Maund seat and yes, they are higher than stock.  The stock seat pan had a nasty right-angle relief area to clear the old P8 computer.  Your 2001 has the newer, smaller M15 computer but still has the stupid seat pan.  The relief area can be cut away to allow for lowering the upholstery.
Your front tire is probably a 110/90.  You can install a 110/80 to get a little lower.
Your fork clamps can be loosened and the fork tubes raised about 20mm above the top clamp to get a little lower.  That will quicken the steering but some think that is a good thing.
Your rear shocks can be replaced by some 1" shorter but then it will be a struggle to launch onto the center stand.
All of these mods done to Regina's 98 EV and she handles that just fine.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

I did the fork and the shocks on my 2004 EV Touring. Made a big difference. 31" about inseam and can comfortably touch the ground with my boots on. Still may narrow the front of the seat a bit.

A caution. I lowered my forks 1/2" if I remember right, somewhere I found the travel for them and this gave me about 1/8" clearance per the specs when fully compressed. Also, if your bike has the linked brake proportioning valve. Shortening the shocks (per the caution in the manual, not really a caution, more like DO NOT DO THIS) will change the braking bias from the front to the rear. Lower shocks makes the valve think the bike is heavier in the rear and will ad more rear brake and less front. I did not notice a difference in braking when I did my bike.

One more thing. It took me a bit to get used to the size of this bike. The loops feel much lighter. Felt heavy at first. After about a week I was zipping around on it like my oldies. Does not feel heavy now.

Nice bike! Have fun!
Tom

[pat80flh]

I'm in my second season on a 00 Bassa, they are big bikes. Fairly nimble around town, I think, but I have had problems in parking lots, I've had one foot kick out while backing a couple times on loose gravel or slippery garage floor, and I've had to fight to keep it up.  I'm just real  deliberate when foot walking.  I don't think it's top heavy, just a weird angle.

Great all around bike in my opinion, enjoy it.

[Mark Harpell]

I have a 2001 jackal...very low for me stock seat....if they interchange, I would consider swapping....
Experts chime in on interchange....than ks
....

I do have the pillion as well....

[Rich A]

I have a 2001 jackal...very low for me stock seat....if they interchange, I would consider swapping....
Experts chime in on interchange....than k

I do have the pillion as well....

I'm purty sure they'd swap (I have a 2000 Jackal)--sounds like a winner for all involved. Best to turn them upside down and exchange pics to compare how they mount. Or you might go to the Corbin site and see if one of their seats fits both bikes.

Rich A

[drburt]

pehayes: Thanks! I'll post a pic of the underside. Does this look like a stock pan? (See pic) I don't see how this could get as narrow as the pictures I've seen of the stock seat (like Bikes posted)
I'll consider the bike lowering, but I think I'll tackle the seat height first.

Tom H and pat80flh: I am getting used to it. This is my first week trying the city riding. Handles great. Those stops and walks are just freaking me out. Need more foot/ground contact.

Bikes: That's a great idea! But...first...I talked to the local upholstery guy today and he's going to charge me 60 bucks to trim it down some. As he said, he can always put what he cuts out back in if it doesn't work. I'm going to see what happens. Thanks for the idea and offer. We'll see.




What do you think. Does this look narrow enough in front to be stock?

Thanks guys

[pehayes]

pehayes: Thanks! I'll post a pic of the underside. Does this look like a stock pan? (See pic) I don't see how this could get as narrow as the pictures I've seen of the stock seat (like Bikes posted)

Yes, that is a stock pan.  I see that someone  has already cut away the nasty 90 degree relief  area required by the earlier P8 computer.  That is what you see where all the pop rivets are located.   So, you could use lower, denser foam to get the seat surface down to your liking.  Here is what the plastic pan would have looked like before being cut away.




Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Texas Turnip]

Keep riding and you'll find how nimble the Guzzi can be. Set up some cones and practice riding around them.
Come to Lindale for the GRIT rally and watch short legged Beaver ride a Guzzi.

Enjoy,
Tex

[drburt]

pehayes: thank you for the confirmation and picture. It's great knowing exactly what I'm dealing with.

Texas Turnip: I =am= finding how nimble it can be. Very effortless (except at a standstill on my toes, but that will soon be remedied I hope) Don't think I'm ready for the cone thing yet though (LOL).

[fotoguzzi]

That is a Beautiful bike! would be a shame to alter a Maund seat but if you can get a local guy to fix it for little $ go for it.

[drburt]

Thank you fotoguzzi
The more I ride it around the more I get used to having only one flat foot down at a time at stops.
I'm really leaning towards keeping the seat as is because it's perfect while riding
(I am =SO= enjoying this bike)
Figuring out the "rev it" thing too.
Thanks all!

[Tom H]

Glad to hear your starting to feel comfy on the bike. Just takes a bit to get used to the weight, but it is still much lighter than many "touring" class bikes and much more nimble.

I was re-looking at the picture of your bike and the seat height compared to my 2004 EV Touring. I think your seat is a bit higher than my seat. I have the combo drive/passenger seat, so it's a entire seat to change. You have the two piece seat. I wouldn't mind a taller driver section to help with the knee angle, but I want to touch the ground at a stop, but it's kinda expensive to change the combo seat.

Just a thought. You might want to look for a "stock" driver seat which I believe is shorter than the one you have. You might like it for around town, maybe touring, and touch the ground (especially with lower shocks and forks). Keep your comfy seat for when you plan a long distance trip where sitting comfort overrides touching the ground comfort.

Edit: I'm probably in the minority on the RPM thing, but... I'm quite happy rolling down the freeway in 5th gear at about 3500rpm (+/-100) at 73mph (per a GPS). The bike feels like it's happy, no lugging, no high revving. Plenty of power to pass provided you don't need to scream by them. If I need to scream by them at this speed I kick it into 4th. JMHO

Enjoy!!!!
Tom

[Mr Revhead]

^ Not a bad idea.
That seat on your EV looks miles taller than the one on my 03 EV. It's huge!

[HDGoose]

You may need a lower seat as well, but many people fail to narrow the seat to allow straighter angle for your legs.

[rodekyll]

You may need a lower seat as well, but many people fail to narrow the seat to allow straighter angle for your legs.

This.

[drburt]

Kinda like this? (pic from internet)



Compared to this (my seat)

[Bill N]

ON my EV, I've shaved down the stock seat and narrowed it. I'm fine on it with a 29 inch inseam. Other cruisers in this weight class allow short of leg riders to flat feet both feet. The EV being taller allows for much better cornering clearance which makes it capable of a more sporting ride. I'm comfortable on mine in the city and think it ideal for traveling and sporting rides in the country. With some simple mods and with time I think you'll love it.
Bill 

[bugite]

I've got mine down to less than 28" seat height with custom made solo seat and moving the top shock mount forward 2 1/4 there is a hole there needs to be drilled out and make the proper spacers and bolt,dropped the tubes 1 1/2+ .I love the way it handles 

[rodekyll]

Got pics?

[normzone]

"  first chance today to try riding around town some. Not too bad after getting more used to it. It is a blast (but all that engine tapping and clanking is still disconcerting). Need to go to one of the rallys and let some experienced people ride it just to make sure the noises are normal! "

It's noisy by design - mine literally drove me mad with worry until I learned to ride in earplugs. Seat them deep and ignore/enjoy the sound.

And make sure you seat them equally, or you'll do like I did, and worry all the way home that the bike has blown an exhaust gasket on one side.