# Motorcycle folks: Help me with a stupid question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067 "2002-07-09T13:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/1 "2002-07-09T13:29:52Z")
A friend recently bought a used 1998 Honda CBR600F3 (Smokin’ Joe Edition!), unfortunately, neither he nor I nor two other friends can figure out how to take the seat off. This is driving us totally nuts, and he’s been forced to carry his registration and insurance in his wallet. I’ve searched high and low on the net for any hint of this, but to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel really stupid for asking this… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/2 "2002-07-09T13:34:29Z")
Check the owner’s manual. It should be under the seat. 😃 Every bike I’ve ridden has had a lock under the seat, on the left side in the centre. You should be able to unlock the lock (you may have to press down on the seat) and lift the seat up from the rear. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/3 "2002-07-09T13:56:30Z")
Either there will be a lock or possibly a seat release under the tail. The ex’s 250 had something like that. Or as in the case of my Shadow it’s bolted on. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/4 "2002-07-09T14:51:29Z")
Maybe bite your tongue and go to a Honda shop that is out of town, so you’ll never have to show your face there again? ---
**Author:** ![Boobka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Boobka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boobka)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/5 "2002-07-09T15:43:53Z")
Simple, take the rear plastic off, all three pices. There will be 2 bolts holding the seat to the bike under the plastic. And wholla the seat is removed. ---
**Author:** ![milo\_minderbinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@milo\_minderbinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milo_minderbinder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/6 "2002-07-09T23:28:34Z")
If the bike has a helmet lock on the rear subframe, try turning the key in the opposite direction than you would to open the helmet lock. milo ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/7 "2002-07-10T11:18:32Z")
Thanks for the replies, all. We’ve been trying like crazy to locate a keyhole, but no luck. I believe Frank (who bought the bike) did play with the helmet lock as well. We didn’t try taking off the plastic to see if the seat was bolted on, however. I’m sure we’ll feel really stupid once we figure this out. If the person who sold him the bike would return calls, this would be a non-issue. When all else fails, we’ll try UncleBill’s suggestion and go to the Honda shop. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/8 "2002-07-10T11:39:56Z")
It would seem odd to me if the seat were bolted on. I can understand it on a race bike, but a street machine has to be a little more user-friendly to deal with such realities as having access to the registration and insurance documents as you mentioned, and checking the battery. Let us know where it is! ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/9 "2002-07-10T15:12:50Z")
I used to race a '95 F3. Granted it was a racebike, but I think the seat and mounting arrangement was stock (it used the stock seat, not a one-place race seat). And yes, it took the removal of the plastic and then unscrewing two bolts to get it off (actually, I had drilled holes in the plastic to make it easier to remove the seat, but I don’t suspect you’d want to do that to stock plastic). I never thought of it, but it is a stupid design for street use. ---
**Author:** ![Boobka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Boobka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boobka)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/10 "2002-07-10T15:27:19Z")
BTW I have a 96 CBR F3 There is no key that holds the seat down as Ski said, you have to remove the rear fender to get the seat off. ---
**Author:** ![Boobka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Boobka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boobka)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/11 "2002-07-10T15:28:49Z")
P.S. The reason the seat doesn’t remove easily is there is no true trunk under the seat, just a small cubby to hold a tool set which came with the bike ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/12 "2002-07-10T16:03:49Z")
I carry my registration and insurance in my wallet anyway; I can’t imagine getting stopped by the police and making a cop stand around while I pull the frigging seat off my bike. Hell, I don’t even get off the bike; I don’t even take off my helmet (unless it’s really hot). ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/13 "2002-07-10T16:50:39Z")
IIRC this is one of those DOH! design flaws, to get at the onboard toolkit, you need a toolkit to get at it, yup you have to remove the side panels and then you can undo the bolts holding the seat on. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/14 "2002-07-10T17:26:07Z")
> [@](#): > > IIRC this is one of those DOH! design flaws, to get at the onboard toolkit, you need a toolkit to get at it Well, [that got me to looking](http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mchonda/99f4.html)… > [@](#): > > Here we go beyond the pale. An actual key-removable seat and storage area that does not require tools from the tool kit (under the seat) to remove it. Annoyed F3 owners will curse you daily. I also found [this](http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/trunkkits.html): > [@](#): > > LP USA’s newest Trunk Kit for Honda CBR600F2/F3 allows instant seat removal with the turn of a key and push of a hidden button. Electric solenoids replace the annoying bolts that keep you from removing your seat. You also save the tabls on your side panels since the tool kit is now easily accessible. Provides 2.5 liters of storage and will work with Trick Kit Fender Eliminators. > > 400-1001…$89.95 (Mods: I know it’s commercial, but I feel it’s germain to the OP.) This is the guy who designed the F3: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/15 "2002-07-10T22:31:43Z")
as far as i can recall, this will be the ONLY flaw this bike has designed-in! The F3 was one great bike! (i used to sell em, and got to ride them once in a while. real good bike, even compared to much more expensive machines) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-folks-help-me-with-a-stupid-question/118067/16 "2002-07-11T03:10:06Z")
When Frank and I were looking, we talked about the possibility that the fender would have to be removed first. However, we both agreed that it would be a pretty stupid design (go figure). I hope when we do get that seat off, there’s an operator manual under there somewhere. In any case, I guess I’ll make it a point to pop the seat off on my ZR-7S whenever I’m around him (just to rub it in). I may not post on here a whole lot, but this is one of the reasons I love reading this board: Lots of knowledgable folks willing to help. Thanks again!