Lumber support in seat
- Thread starter Jim Scott
- Start date
Im not sure about the GT as I have the X. I did consider this even on the C400X as I am quite tall 6'4" and a bit of extra room would be good, but on the X this would require remodelling the seat plastic structure and then a helmet wouldnt fit underneath so probably not worth it. Would be interested to see any mods on seats
It looks like the X model has a stepped one piece seat so I can see the difficulties with that. The GT has a separate lumber “ lump” bolted through, which can easily be removed ( 3 bolts form underside of seat) This lump also has a plastic frame, or seat pan as they probably call it, and I propose to take this to a seat upholsterer and ask him to “reduce” the amount of padding as much as possible. It may only give me an extra inch or so room, but that will help. I am not tall but have a duff knee. Apart from that I feel the scooter riding position puts you uncomfortably “on top” of the bars compared to a conventional bike. I want to stretch my arms more than my legs. Good luck with your situation.
Hi Delray, I used to travel in the USA, and myself and my American associate always commented on us being two nations divided by a common language. I guess you must come across this regularly in your profession. We do not use the word lumber in the uk, it would either be timber or wood. A 2x4 is unheard of, if we referred to dimensions it would always be largest dimensions first, so 4x2. When you brake on your bike you slow “up” we brake to slow “down.” There are dozens of other examples. Funny old world. Ride safe and best regards. Jim
Delray
Well-known member
Interesting. As soon as I understood you were a Brit, I wondered if something had gotten twisted in translation. In this country, with several states filled with barely literate people, "lumber support" looks as if the writer is dumb, and clearly you are not. The English take a backseat to no one in elegant use of the English language (now, if your countrymen will produce another series of "Sherlock," we'll really be making progress!)
Delray
Well-known member
"check out a Utopia brand back rest"
I KNEW there was a reason I was correcting a total stranger's spelling!
I am super interested. I had my first backrest on a Burgman 650 two years ago and loved it.
Utopia's website says you order it for $225 plus optional bracket cover for $18, which I would buy. Installation looks simple. Did you order yours?
Does it come with the built-in purse? I have to think a girl on the pillion might like that.
Here's the link to Utopia's GT page: https://www.utpr.com/bmwc600.html
I KNEW there was a reason I was correcting a total stranger's spelling!
I am super interested. I had my first backrest on a Burgman 650 two years ago and loved it.
Utopia's website says you order it for $225 plus optional bracket cover for $18, which I would buy. Installation looks simple. Did you order yours?
Does it come with the built-in purse? I have to think a girl on the pillion might like that.
Here's the link to Utopia's GT page: https://www.utpr.com/bmwc600.html
Thanks for your suggestion but this Utopia seat backrest adds to the height of the lumbar support. My objective is to move the OEM support towards the rear, i.e. to give more arm stretch distance to handlebars, hence reduction in size seems to be only solution.
Yes I had one for my Heltx clone that I never installed (was to afraid to cut hole in seat). Ordered one for the 650 and it was easy to install. Came with the purse. It won’t help if you need more space to the rear.
Delray
Well-known member
"Ordered one for the 650 and it was easy to install."
Just ordered a Utopia backrest and bracket cover. Manufacture and ship date is December 13, so a little Christmas present to myself.
The ability to lean back should give me what the OP seeks, extra leg room. Not much in my case, but. just enough where I can stretch my legs out fully, which is how I love to ride.
Plus, in Florida, where red lights feel like they're measured in half-hour increments (to let all the Old Ones wake up and hustle through the light), it's so nice to lean back and relax at stop lights, like I'm in a recliner -- a few moments respite from the sober job of staying alive.
Just ordered a Utopia backrest and bracket cover. Manufacture and ship date is December 13, so a little Christmas present to myself.
The ability to lean back should give me what the OP seeks, extra leg room. Not much in my case, but. just enough where I can stretch my legs out fully, which is how I love to ride.
Plus, in Florida, where red lights feel like they're measured in half-hour increments (to let all the Old Ones wake up and hustle through the light), it's so nice to lean back and relax at stop lights, like I'm in a recliner -- a few moments respite from the sober job of staying alive.
Just to round up this post with regard to the initial posting. On my C400 GT I have had the “Lumbar” support reduced in thickness by a bike seat upholsterer.
Because of the plastic moulded backing frame it was only possible to reduce the padding by about 1.25” (30mm) but even this has made a big difference. Better seating and arms position with much better view in mirrors. Hope this helps.
Because of the plastic moulded backing frame it was only possible to reduce the padding by about 1.25” (30mm) but even this has made a big difference. Better seating and arms position with much better view in mirrors. Hope this helps.
Johng
New member
I wish the 650 one would fit to 400GT Does anyone know if it does Utopia does not make one for the 400GT
wspollack
Active member
I happen to know a little bit about this, regarding Utopia vis-a-vis the 400. Let me explain.
Back in the oughts and in the teens, I had Utopia backrests on, respectively, Valkyrie and a Victory baggers/dressers. And, obviously, liked them.
Fast forward to late November 2022 (about half a year after I bought my C 400 GT). I initiated some email correspondence with Utopia, asking whether they made a backrest for the C 400 GT. The answer from Andy McPherson there -- [email protected] -- was that they don't make a C 400 backrest, but that if I were willing to ship the seat to them, they would fabricate one for the scoot.
Additionally -- I'm summarizing several emails here -- they would pay for shipping both ways, and the backrest charge would be $375. And that it would NOT be one of their quick-release backrests (I had that kind on the Victory, but not on the Valkyrie), given the particular seat pan and its construction found on the C 400 GT.
I decided not to do this, because I wasn't thrilled with removing the seat (I had just finished doing a lot of farkles, and was a little tired of working on the bike) and because, given the way my wife gets on the bike, the lack of a quick release didn't thrill me. But that's me.
Now that you're hereby armed with the back story and an email address, feel free to pursue this with Utopia yourself, if you like.
Johng
New member
Johng
New member
Mate I have the same story only he did not offer to pay to ship my seat. I have the email etc and have spoken to Andy many times. The cost of shipping a seat from Australia just far outways the need for a back rest. I did have someone in the US prepared to it but they pulled out
J
J
Hello all - this is the closest thread or info I've found on that rider lumbar support for the 2022 C400gt - I think I'm going to pull the trigger and do it - I just spoke with Andy and got the details - it requires me to send my entire seat to them - 3 week process to get it to come back if they can do it - I'll post pics here if I do.....
Delray, you were right. In the UK the correct spelling in this context is indeed "lumbar". "Lumber" is most often used in the UK as a verb meaning to either move in a slow, laboured fashion or to burden someone with something. I'm a bit of a spelling, punctuation and grammar bore by the way.