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2003 seat and handlebar change question

7.5K views 14 replies 8 participants last post by  Jezzder  
#1 · (Edited)
I love my bike. It's the black and red. I put a taller windshield that is clear and put some wire covers that are red so it looks kinda cool. The seat is killy my butt after an hour or less. Is there anything out there besides a $450 seat? Is there a really nice cover? I have a red seat so it would be nice if it's red.

Has anyone swapped out the handlebars for ones more comfortable also? Maybe just a slight rise or slight shift toward the rider.
Thanks
 

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#4 ·
Thanks Jerry,

I did finally find a website selling KLR650 mirror vibration isolators. I put what it fits below. Do you know offhand since they are both Kawis that it should fit my z1000. If it does then I'll order them. If made for offroad I would think it should be great for street unless it doesn't stop the high frequency vibrations I'm trying to screen out.

Mirror Vibration Isolator
  • Fits all 10mm Standard Right hand thread applications
  • A must have on the KLR650 (will not fit Yamaha)
 
#7 ·
Are the renthal bars lower than stock so combined with the 2" riser it ends up being like 1" taller? Or do you have a 2" rise so really comfortable? Are the renthal bars wider? What makes them better than stock? I'll google about them. Thanks Benroe
 
#8 ·
I bought the bike that way but the bend on the renthal bars looks lower than stock. So with the risers you may be right about the 1" total increase in rise. I know it feels a lot like a dirtbike or supermoto. I actually put CR low bend bars on one of my previous bikes and that made it too twitchy. These renthal street bars hit the sweet spot.
 
#10 ·
I love my bike. It's the black and red. I put a taller windshield that is clear and put some wire covers that are red so it looks kinda cool. The seat is killy my butt after an hour or less. Is there anything out there besides a $450 seat? Is there a really nice cover? I have a red seat so it would be nice if it's red.

Has anyone swapped out the handlebars for ones more comfortable also? Maybe just a slight rise or slight shift toward the rider.
Thanks
I have the same bike. As you probably know, black is fastest. I like my bars, but my seat only lasted a coupla thousand miles. I bought a Corbin for like $250 back then, and probably the best mod to the bike. I've put in 1000 mile days and 6 consecutive 800 mile days on it. It takes maybe 2000 miles to break in, but then you're good. Don't buy used, they tailor the seat to your weight, height, etc.

Mike
 
#12 ·
Beware of corbin - some guys on here have had horrible experiences with them.

Not sure if Sargent will custom make a seat for the z1000, but it's worth looking at, judging by the experiences of others on this forum. I'm looking for a new seat too, and I wanted to go with Corbin, but now I'm really leery about it.

If I do, it will be paid for by credit card so that I can reverse the charges if they give me a runaround and a bad seat....
 
#13 ·
I have changed the bars for MX bars, bit taller and a bit wider than standard very comfy for me and the bike manoeuvres with so little effort. Also got a corbin seat which lets me ride a lot further than before without a break.

You can get standard seat recovered and gel inserts fitted, but if you do make sure you get the front built up more otherwise it just wants to tip you into tank
 
#14 ·
any suggestions on who does the seat recover/build up?

+1 on stay away from corbin. just about to send the 2nd passenger seat back because it doesn't fit my 03 z1000 at all. bought my bike with the rider seat from corbin which seems nice and wanted to make my wife more comfortable but that didn't work out...
anyways, if you have to deal with corbin, ask for Jessica, she was the only helpful person!
 
#15 ·
Check out www.luimoto.com

they look to have some nice covers (and can do some pretty awesome custom work) and with the addition of their "Gold Gel", it might make it a pretty good seat.

You'll have to do the work yourself, but it will cost you less...