Largest rear in an S3

[Tribonnie]

My wife tells me I must stop riding bikes, she’s probably right !
Looking for an S3 Caterham project but age and gravity have not been kind to me not sure I will fit.
Can anyone tell me the width between the inner of the prop tunnel to the outer panel, ie max seat base width ?
Thanks Richard

[CanAm]

My metric () tape measure says 41cm, plus a couple of mm wiggle room. If you're really struggling you could always try one of those expanding foam filled bag seats that the racers use.

Edited by CanAm on Wednesday 9th August 15:29

[Tribonnie]

Hello thanks for reply, just about ok.
Getting in ok, gravity on my side.
Getting out, luckily I have a hoist in the garage
Thanks again Richard

[Richard Hewitt]

I think this depends on the type of seat.

Our first S3 had leather seats and we had ‘loads’ of room.

Now we have another S3 but this time with Tillett seats and it's very very tight. However, I am not slim with 40-inch trousers and can ‘just’ fit.

On a track, this means I don't move at all, and makes the seat feel like it is molded for me.

I hear the Carbon seats are a little bigger, but have never sat in one so I can’t confirm this.

[Tribonnie]

Thanks for reply, shame the SV didn’t take off for the more mature figure
Richard

[Sidecar Man]

Any reason your wife thinks a Caterham is safer than a bike?

[kiethton]

Richard Hewitt said:

I think this depends on the type of seat.

Our first S3 had leather seats and we had ‘loads’ of room.

Now we have another S3 but this time with Tillett seats and it's very very tight. However, I am not slim with 40-inch trousers and can ‘just’ fit.

On a track, this means I don't move at all, and makes the seat feel like it is molded for me.

I hear the Carbon seats are a little bigger, but have never sat in one so I can’t confirm this.

Lucky you - I've "only" got a 37" waist but bridged between the transmission tunnel and door on the one caterham I tried

[mickrick]

Go for the Sv.
I had an S3 nearly 20 years ago.
I've been building an SV for an embarrassing amount of years since then (see my Nuvite thread), and I recently went for a ride in a colleague's S3, and I can tell you, when it came to getting out, am I glad I opted for the SV!
And I'm a 34 inch waist.....

[Tribonnie]

Know what you mean, went to dealer and tried S3 and SV …… now looking for SV
Unfortunately few and far between in the “lower” price range

[Tribonnie]

Sidecar Man said:

Any reason your wife thinks a Caterham is safer than a bike?

Well I don’t think she really knows what a Caterham is (which is a bit of luck) and therefore a car is inherently safer
For me its more and more difficult to enjoy them, what’s the point in having a fast bike and not riding fast. So selling them off and looking for a 4 wheel project.
But I think age and size is cramping my style a bit with regards to Caterham

[mickrick]

Tribonnie said:

Well I don’t think she really knows what a Caterham is (which is a bit of luck) and therefore a car is inherently safer
For me its more and more difficult to enjoy them, what’s the point in having a fast bike and not riding fast. So selling them off and looking for a 4 wheel project.
But I think age and size is cramping my style a bit with regards to Caterham

I still ride bikes. But a Caterham is the most fun you'll have with your clothes on.
I used to love getting out on a Sunday in my old K series R300, getting up into the mountains, and doing a bit of "Bike Baiting", behind some fast lads who knew the roads. I could keep up with them, just, on the short straight bits, but they slowed me down in the corners.
They enjoyed it as much as me, I always got a friendly wave when they pulled in at the Bar in Lluc, Mallorca.

Edited by mickrick on Friday 25th August 17:06