Well two days ago i was rolling the 48 down my driveway getting ready to head off for work. After starting the bike, i set the kick stand to let it warm up a few moments before i pull away. Next thing i know im falling backwards onto the back fender then the ground







The hinge below the front of the seat broke right off. . . . Kinda scary to think what would have happened had i been on the highway @ 70 when this happened.

I've contacted Rich Phillips about the issue and hopefully will get a new hinge.

Anyone with a springer like mine may want to check their hardware from time to time to prevent/predict this happening to them.

 

Holy Crap! Thank your guardian angles that didnt happen at speed... wow!

 

Wow... that makes me pucker just thinking about what could have happened. Seems like that bracket is inherently flawed... is it pot metal? I don't know that I could put another one on there and not constantly wonder when it was going to kill me.

 

Holy crap! That is indeed a scary thought! Although while holding on to the handlebars you would of been ok it still could of lead to a dangerous situation!

 

Yeah.....that bracket looks like they pulled it off a kitchen drawer!
Scary stuff indeed.

 

^^^yeah and the h/w kit from them aint cheap either. that's freakin nuts dude. glad it happened in the driveway though. ever think of rigid mounting the seat instead? that's how mine is mounted and if my hinge ever broke like that i doubt i'd fall off the bike.

 

Well i got a hold of the manufacturer and they are replacing the piece free of charge. He said that i may have overtightened the hinge causing it to stress the metal when the springs compress.

**Not to self . . . DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN SEAT HINGE haha

 

Um, as BMX noted, for the price they want for those install kits...you'd think the part made to hold the DAMN SEAT ON would be made of something more thicker than Erector Set pieces.

 

I guess this is why people just fabricate their own. I would tend to build it to twice as durable as it needs to be.

 

Agreed!
Before I put the new one on I'd fire up the MIG and beef it up first. Or better yet fabricate one myself.