Considering a Thor seat for the Q45, advice needed...

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alansills

Member
I love many aspects of the Q45, the seat / seat pad is definitely not one of them. I'm finding the top of the seat is digging into my mid-back (right about at T7 (thorasic vert. #7) and causing lots of discomfort shortly after I start riding my Q45. My chiropractor is suggesting a seat with a higher back. It looks like the Thor seat (the EASY model in Medium) is about 5" longer than the CruzBike stock seat. I'm assuming that most of that 5 inches is in the back height and not in the butt - safe assumption?

So, here are my questions:
1) Am I on the "right track" to be thinking that the Thor seat may address my issue?
2) I'm 170 cm tall (and I weight 100 kg), so according to Thor, I'm a "M". The "L" is made for folks who are 175+ cm tall. But... the EASY seat in "L" is an additional 2 inches longer, given my goal, would it make sense to go for the large over the medium?
3) I'm NOT a very handy guy personally, so, I'm going to need to have the seat mounted to my bike (holes cut, etc...) Can a good bike shop do this? Or do I need some other kind of expert to cut the holes? (From what Gregorz says the Carbon fiber is stronger (and lighter) and more durable than the glass alternative. So, I'll be ordering the carbon fiber.)
4) For those who have bought the Thor seat, how long did the order take to arrive after placing it?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts & insights and feel free to bring up any issues/points I have not considered.
 
C

cpml123

Zen MBB Master
Here are my 2 cents...
1. I have S40. 6 ft 173lb. I ended up getting a Thor GS large. It supports my upper back much better.

2. Not sure.

3. It is a pain to try to get it installed. I just wanted to ride the bike comfortably and don't really have time to tinker around. I totally understand your dilemma. I imagine a bike shop could do it, especially if you buy the rubber block or thermo plastics for them. Drilling holes wasn't hard. It just kills the drill bits as carbon fiber is hard.

4. I ordered at the end of May and got it in less than 2 weeks. Pretty fast.

I also ordered the ventisit comfort. It's kind of thick. You may want to get the classic version.

Michael
 
A

alansills

Member
Cpml, thanks for your input. I don't even know what rubber block or thermoplastics are used for or what I'd purchase for the bike shop. If not a bike shop, who would I turn to to prep the seat?
 
rx7mark

rx7mark

Guru
Where do you live? You might see if there is another tribe member in your area that would be interested in helping. As an example if you are anywhere near Seattle, I would be willing to help. I have a T50 with a GS Easy Thor seat. I had to fabricate a custom mounting bracket and cut one of the stock mounts, but I have the tools to do those things, so not a big deal. But I am not sure a bike shop would be able or willing to do that type of work.

Mark
 
rx7mark

rx7mark

Guru
I think the medium is the right size, I'm 188cm and fit the large well. Made a huge difference in comfort level, and the distance I could ride without a break, so this is probably worth the effort.

My Thor took 6 weeks, but that was in Dec. Last year over the holiday.

Mark
 
A

alansills

Member
rx7mark said:
I think the medium is the right size, I'm 188cm and fit the large well. Made a huge difference in comfort level, and the distance I could ride without a break, so this is probably worth the effort.

My Thor took 6 weeks, but that was in Dec. Last year over the holiday.

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark, Thanks! What had to be done to the seat after it arrived to prep it for the bike? Can a bike shop handle the type of work required? Al
 
rx7mark

rx7mark

Guru
Seat prep was minor, drill some holes in the right places. But the Thor seat has two structural rails that the upper T50 mounting bracket wouldn't fit between. So I had to fabricate a new one. Search on T50 forum for some pictures and description of my installation. I used some rubber blocks off e-bay, but they had to be cut, filed, and drilled also.

I don't know what is required for an S45, as I have never seen one. But some bike shops might think this is too custom, or not in there best interest. But it does not hurt to ask around.

Mark
 
dtseng

dtseng

Well-Known Member
Mounting Thor seat on Q45 would need a handy person to do it. Most likely you would have to make the mounting brackets using aluminum or titanium strips of proper thickness. The tools needed are a vise (better still a sheet metal bending machine) and an electric drill. On the back of Thor seat, there are two structural ribs, the space in-between is about 90 mm. Would the mounting brackets on CB seat fit in there? When you receive the seat, Greg would mark the two mounting locations on the back of the seat using masking tape. On Q45 top tube, there are two horizontal mounting tubes. The front one may be a bit too far to the front, the rear one may be a bit too far back, I am not sure. Perhaps you can mount the Thor seat on the rear tube. If you can weld another tube some where in between would be the best. I would suggest that you go to a sheet metal shop, not bike shop.
 
A

alansills

Member
Mark, thank you. There are some premium bike shops I'll contact about this.
Dtseng, hmmm... I gotta admit, your post scares the crap out of me! I'm the kind of guy who just wants to RIDE the thing, not BUILD/DESIGN the thing! I'd love to hear from any Q45 owners who did put a Thor seat on theirs - is this as much of a potential nightmare as it sounds with Dtseng's analysis?
 
A

alansills

Member
rx7mark said:
Where do you live? You might see if there is another tribe member in your area that would be interested in helping. As an example if you are anywhere near Seattle, I would be willing to help. I have a T50 with a GS Easy Thor seat. I had to fabricate a custom mounting bracket and cut one of the stock mounts, but I have the tools to do those things, so not a big deal. But I am not sure a bike shop would be able or willing to do that type of work.

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark,

I live in a 5th wheel and I travel . I'm spending the summer doing RV consulting/sales in Casper Wyoming, but I'm planning to leave soon (next 2 weeks or so). I will settle into somewhere in Colorado for the winter (I'm a ski instructor), but not until November. In between, I plan to travel and I may head to western washington to escape the heat!

Al
 
rx7mark

rx7mark

Guru
I will be on vacation the next 3 weeks, returning on 8/21. If you are in my area after that PM me and we can make arrangements to get together to mount a Thor seat.

Mark
 
dtseng

dtseng

Well-Known Member
Al, please don't get me wrong. Mounting Thor seat on Q45 is not a big deal. Since I don't have Q45, I give you Thor seat back space of 90 mm. If CB bracket is wider than that, you can either make it smaller to fit or you can make a new one by bending aluminum strip into U shape. You need 2 U shape things.
 
A

alansills

Member
rx7mark said:
I will be on vacation the next 3 weeks, returning on 8/21. If you are in my area after that PM me and we can make arrangements to get together to mount a Thor seat.

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark, I will reach out to you if my travels take me in that direction. Al
 
A

alansills

Member
dtseng said:
Al, please don't get me wrong. Mounting Thor seat on Q45 is not a big deal. Since I don't have Q45, I give you Thor seat back space of 90 mm. If CB bracket is wider than that, you can either make it smaller to fit or you can make a new one by bending aluminum strip into U shape. You need 2 U shape things.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I just know my limitations! I'm going to check in with some bike shops today and make a decision on whether to purchase the seat. Al
 
G

Gary123

Zen MBB Master
Haven't seen one on a q45 but have on s30 and vendetta. I've considered it on my quest but really don't ride it enough to justify it. I think u should be able do it. If u want to go a cheaper route contact power on cycling in Tennessee. I got a slightly damaged seat there for cheap. A little different than thor but same style. Very comfortable. Half the fun is doing it yourself. Good luck.
 
A

alansills

Member
Gary123 said:
Haven't seen one on a q45 but have on s30 and vendetta. I've considered it on my quest but really don't ride it enough to justify it. I think u should be able do it. If u want to go a cheaper route contact power on cycling in Tennessee. I got a slightly damaged seat there for cheap. A little different than thor but same style. Very comfortable. Half the fun is doing it yourself. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Gary, thanks for the thoughts. I'm a "go out and ride" kinda guy, not a tinkerer - so, I'll be happy to pay someone to "make it all work". As of yesterday afternoon, mine is ordered and will ship soon... now the wait.
 
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