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Hip replacement and seat height

3K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  maverick9611 
#1 ·
4 weeks into anterior total replacement and scared to death of popping the hip as I’m to short to flat foot and the seat spreads my hips. Anyone have advice on a lower profile seat or have gone through this experience?
 
#2 ·
Not familiar with your particular problem, but, might recommend that you talk to my buddy Jon Revilla. He does custom seats, and, has had hip replacement surgery.

theseatguyjon.com

Tell him Garry Bird of YMRacing sent you and get charged double!

Best to you!
 
#6 ·
Thanks. I just sent John Revilla a message asking for a recommendation. Looks like he knows what he’s doin
g
Jon is a great guy. I used to race with him and he's the ultimate, professional gentleman.

Can't imagine he'd steer you wrong.


"Skilled labor isn't cheap, and Cheap labor isn't skilled!"
 
#4 ·
A local upholstery shop could take as much as 2 inches of foam out of the forward 2/3rds of the oem seat. Still leaves room for most passengers.
Makes a nice flat stepped seat like sport bikes of the mid '80s thru mid '90s had. With enough room to still move around some.
 
#11 ·
I have a 30" inseam and the KLR is lowered 2". My hip replacement is 20 years old and my only concern is falling on the right side. I have no issue with straddling my KLR or my Harley. The thing I would be concerned with is you have to give the implant in your femur time for the bone to grow into it. With the normal leg spreading deal, there is no risk of popping the ball out of the socket. As far as your surgeon not wanting to discuss riding, mine told me I could do anything I already do, just don't try to learn to rollerblade or anything new.
 
#14 ·
Had my left hip replaced back in March. My '09 KLR, with OEM suspension, and with 32,000 miles, sags so much LOL, it allows me to flat foot both feet comfortably. I have a Sargent "low" seat, and am 6' with 32" inseam.

My hip was sore for a while, and I had to really take things easy at first. But all's well now. I ride anywhere, and have recently survived two get offs none the worse for wear (good gear).
 
#15 · (Edited)
I have the Sargent World Sport Adventure Touring Seat "Low Model" which is 2" lower than stock and I also lowered my bike another 1" using Devol 1" lowering links and dropping the the triple tree on the fork tubes a corresponding 1" so I'm effectively sitting 3" lower than stock even though I've only lowered the suspension 1". (you can see the seat and the fork tubes raised in the attached pictures) The seat has a nice slim profile on the forward part of the seat so it doesn't spread my hips when I'm reaching for the ground with my 29" inseam. I like this setup because it doesn't significantly change the suspension and steering geometry. I could even lower it another inch if I wanted too but as it is I can stand almost flat footed and get the balls of both feet on the ground with no problem so I'm leaving it as is. Good luck.
 

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#17 · (Edited)
Ditto - shiny metal bits there (total hip replacement) but was up walking next day. I was in mid-50s at the time and was off the bike for a month or so. Then the ocassional ride to work before extended all-day jaunts through the Sierra foothills. Hip joint was sore before the operation but nearly perfect afterward. Before the replacement I was pretty active, no jogging or running but did ride the pedal bike for 50-75 miles per week to keep cardio and muscle strength. Even long walks would leave me limping, but the pedaling the bicycle was trouble-free.

After the replacement, well for me -I was also very anxious. Kind of like trading in the old beater POS for a new car. Gotta take real good care of the new one so I don't screw that up.

I did have a bad get-off about year or so after the hip replacement, with a busted-up shoulder and all the ribs on one side, collapse lung, life-flight kinda crap. Hip was basically unscratched. So my ortho doc had done great work and all the new parts still working fine. That was years ago and I've adjusted my risk tolerance somewhat but mostly do the same rides. I try to check the superman sense.

I'm average height and have a Seargent seat that works very well on the commuter scooter ('Red '07 KLR), but also have a dipped Corbin I use on the Orange playbike ('87 KLR with mods).

Dipped Corbin is easier to step over the seat for sure.
 
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