Here are two pics of my spare seat damper from the salvaged Forza:
as the pic shows, the damper is Made in Germany by Stabilus.....
http://www.stabilus.com/home/
They also have a CAD configurator page to design your own lifter!
http://stabilus.cadclick.com/index.asp
two observations:
1) they seem to work better after a few hundred lift cycles
2) mine was install reversed from the service manual picture, which not so clearly shows cylinder on seat, piston and rod extending downwards
Mine was installed exactly opposite of that but is working OK after some attention (oil on the shaft and a few hundred lift cycles)....
but based on the picture, I may reverse it next time I have it apart just to see what effect that has on it's holding power.
It could be interesting to see how other riders seat damper is installed and if the orientation of the damper affects its operation?
Or just redesign one on the Stabilus CAD site and make it strong enough to act as an ejector seat?
Don't push that button!!
I think the damper was spec-ed before Honda added the seat hump.