Quick Release Seat Bolt Mod.

[patk12345]

So, I did Hired Goon's Quick Release Seat Bolt Mod. and I just wanted say what a great this idea is. As a result, I have made a point of looking at all the Tech Tips on the site a lot more carefully. I would encourage all newer users to do the same. There's a lot of great stuff to be found.



It's also nice, not having to carry a wrench around in my jacket anymore. Every time I felt it in my front pocket, I couldn't help but think of how much it would hurt to land on that thing at speed.



There are two ideas I had about the mod.
The first is that, if you go to your local bicycle shop, they will likely have a box of new unwanted quick release bolts lying around, and will probably let you have a pair for free. The reason is that a lot of people prefer a traditional nut and bolt for there seat posts, and usually have the shop swap them out when the buy the bike. I went to my buddy's shop and he tried to get me to take the whole box! This will save you about 20 bucks.
The second is that HG suggested using a spacer with the bolt, I drilled out the aluminum nut that comes with the quick release and used that as my spacer, it's width helps to keep a firm hold on the frames seat brackets and they don't go to waste.

For anyone who hasn't checked this mod out here's the link...

http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-tips/modifications/other/209-quick-release-seat-bolt-mod.html

[natemoen]

I just can't find those things anywhere to do the mod.

[patk12345]

Nate,
Like I said, hit your local bicycle shop. The bolts in question are used to keep the seat post in place, and the quick release makes it easy to slide down to fit your bike in the car, or to pull the seat off when your locking it up for the day.

[rb240tuner]

I have a set of those on my old Mongoose mountain bike. I should just use those but I kinda want to fix that to ride. Gas here is 4 bucks a gallon... I can only imagine what it's like outside the midwest lol I know someone with a bike shop, I will try there. Chances are you are right lol

[patk12345]

It occurred to me that if you do go to the bicycle shop, you should mention that you want to use them on your motorcycle. A. The bike shop guy won't feel like he's giving you a part for your bicycle, that he could be selling to you, B. Bike shop mechanics like to tinker and mod stuff too, and C. Motorcycles are cool.

[b.walker5]

Gas here is 4 bucks a gallon...

Awww, quit ya whinin'

Gas is $2.20 a litre here, or $8.36 a US gallon and $9.90 an Imperial gallon. At todays exchange rate thats USD $6.45 a US gallon, and $7.75 an Imperial gallon.

I'm still ridin', only just, but still ridin'. Cars parked up though. It's got a 70 litre fuel tank..

Good mod on the seat, havent seen that one before.. Might have to check the Tech tips more often.

[petejw]

Awww, quit ya whinin'

Gas is $2.20 a litre here, or $8.36 a US gallon and $9.90 an Imperial gallon. At todays exchange rate thats USD $6.45 a US gallon, and $7.75 an Imperial gallon.

I'm still ridin', only just, but still ridin'. Cars parked up though. It's got a 70 litre fuel tank..

Good mod on the seat, havent seen that one before.. Might have to check the Tech tips more often.

and i thought we had it bad here at $1.55 a litre.

[CatatonicBug]

I tried this mod a year or so ago, and it wouldn't work. I went to a local bike shop (actually several, since the first few didn't have any of those levers) and got the levers for about $10 each! The one and only problem with it is that the distance that the levers clamp down is not enough to compress the rubber seat dampers and make a solid clamp. As soon as I say down on the seat (compressing the dampers even more), the clamps let go.

[DAVINCI]

I did this mod a few years back, and it took some experimentation, but the bolts that come with the levers have to be altered (shortened) to make this mod work.

[jwhughes3]

I blame the beer not the clamps...

As soon as I say down on the seat (compressing the dampers even more), the clamps let go.

Bug,
Your issue may be the same as mine - too many beers!

I will try this mod after I lose a few pounds then....

John

[cywelchjr]

Awww, quit ya whinin'

Gas is $2.20 a litre here, or $8.36 a US gallon and $9.90 an Imperial gallon. At todays exchange rate thats USD $6.45 a US gallon, and $7.75 an Imperial gallon.

I'm still ridin', only just, but still ridin'. Cars parked up though. It's got a 70 litre fuel tank..

Good mod on the seat, havent seen that one before.. Might have to check the Tech tips more often.

I'm not whining, I know most other countries pay more, but he's whining about $4 a gallon and we are at $4.40 for Reg and I'm paying $4.50 for mid grade which is what Brutus insists he wants or he complains (so he generally gets what he wants). It's still sticker shock for me though, cause I remember going down to get gas for the lawn mower at .35 gallon and I remember my folks filling the car for .25 a gallon and the guy did the filling, checked the oil and belts and such, check the tire pressure and washed all the windows as well. Now we pay over $4 a gallon and are lucky if they provide the water and a squeegee so we can wash our own windows, and you have to pay for the air if your tires are low, and of course check your own oil (they did charge of course if your oil was low even back then, and it wasn't unheard of for some of them to cut fan belts or radiator hoses).

[James England]

It costs £1.40 a litre in the UK. That's US $ 2.27 a litre.....

[cywelchjr]

I tried this mod a year or so ago, and it wouldn't work. I went to a local bike shop (actually several, since the first few didn't have any of those levers) and got the levers for about $10 each! The one and only problem with it is that the distance that the levers clamp down is not enough to compress the rubber seat dampers and make a solid clamp. As soon as I say down on the seat (compressing the dampers even more), the clamps let go.

Having the vetter bags, carrying a socket and ratchet for the seat isn't a big deal for me anyways. I just keep it in there with the rest of my home made toolkit that I carry with me, that includes my tire plugging kit. I just need to add a small compressor to the kit now. I can see this mod being of use to naked riders, but us fully dressed riders have much less use for it, since I don't think I could get to the quick release levers without removing the bags anyways.

[patk12345]

I tried this mod a year or so ago, and it wouldn't work. I went to a local bike shop (actually several, since the first few didn't have any of those levers) and got the levers for about $10 each! The one and only problem with it is that the distance that the levers clamp down is not enough to compress the rubber seat dampers and make a solid clamp. As soon as I say down on the seat (compressing the dampers even more), the clamps let go.

Well Bug, I'm 6'5" tall and weigh in at over 3 bills and I haven't had a problem with it yet, I find that you can actually get quite a bit of torque on these bolts. For me it has actually been more reliable than the original seat bolts. This may be due to the fact that loosening, and tightening the original seat bolts bugged the crap out of me, and I probably didn't do it as carefully as I could have. Using the quick release is actually fun in comparison. I look forward to taking the seat off now. I guess it's that sense of satisfaction you get from using something you've made.
In any case it's easily reversible, and if you can score a pair for free, then no harm done.
I think it's easier to score them for free or for a buck or two now, because they've fallen out of favor with cyclists in recent years.

[b.walker5]

It costs £1.40 a litre in the UK. That's US $ 2.27 a litre.....

Now thats expensive gas, equates to $2.88 over here, but the fuel companies (mostly BP) are saying that we'll see three bucks a litre before the end of the year.

Sorry, didnt mean to hijack.