Topic: Looking For Custom Seat Build for CB550F

[taccuardi]

Looking for a cafe style two person seat for the bike...
Really like the look of this seat, believe it was custom fabricated...
Anyone interested in taking on the job or know a good source to go to?

[taccuardi]

EX2

[sirdaft1]

Can you make it yourself? Plenty of DIY walkthru's out there... I'm in the middle of making mine and it's the same +2 style you're looking for, here's a pic (not my seat)...

You can either make the seat pan from sheet metal and pound it into shape, or make a fiberglass mold. I have a contact who does custom interiors who is making the custom leather seat for $85 and I'll be mounting it up myself. 

[taccuardi]

I have no experience with fiber glass or pounding out sheet metal. How large of an undertaking is it. That seat is EXACTLY what i am looking for.
Where is the best place to find these walk thru's and are there any that are specific to 550's?
Thanks for the response!

I was sort of hoping to find someone who has the ability to fabricate one for me just because I have zilch experience with fiberglass or sheet metal.
Obviously work out some sort of financial agreement. That being said if its not to difficult - creating it myself would def be awesome and ad the extra personal factor to the bike

[jason41987]

no advice yet, but im very interested in more information as well, i also have a cb550F without a seat and have been thinking of a 2-seat cafe seat... and the one shown above is gorgeous... im curious, can the sheet metal pan actually support the weight of a rider? and does it work with the seat latch?

[sirdaft1]

EX2

It's been a bit of an undertaking. If you want it done like many people do it, you'll want a rear hoop installed on the tail to clean it it first. Then you can find a million videos on how to make you own seat pan on YouTube. I was originally gonna go fiberglass (never used fiberglass before), but after looking at it I started bending some 16 gauge sheet metal with a hammer and next thing I knew, I had a seat pan.

Also, I have no idea how this would hold up, but I've seen some guys actually use a skateboard to make the seat pan.

Do you have a welder or any access to one?

[jason41987]

the skateboard idea isnt a bad one.. i mean, not actually using a skateboard, but it does give me an idea of using thin pieces of wood to make a laminate...

 i could layer thin pieces of wood on the frame, with a layer of glue in between each layer, then use a canvas or something like that and some bungee cords to press the layers together... when its hardened the lamination would be a lot like a plywood that would take on the shape of the frame...

 then i could get a 2 or so inch thick piece of high density foam cit to shape, sew together a seat cover to stretch over the seat pan and glue down to the bottom of it... seal the wood before putting the seat together of course, and install a trim piece on the bottom to hide the edges of the seat cover

the laminated wood would probably be sturdier than a thin piece of sheet metal and gives a more custom/rustic aspect to the bike

as for the seat cover, someone could make a seat cover like sirdaft has in his photo... someone with the proper leather stitching/sewing equipment could make the ridges like that in the top of the seat.. probably wouldnt even have to use leather.. anything waterproof should be good too, like neoprene or vinyl and be lower maintainence, though wouldnt have the quality of a good piece of leather... maybe ill cure a piece of deer skin this fall for that purpose

never noticed before, but my CB550F doesnt have any loops like that on the back of the frame... im definitely going to have to change that.. i have access to an arc welder, no MIG

so.. taccuardi, there are some ideas for you for fabricating your own

[taccuardi]

oh man the plot thickens!
i think thats great that people use skateboards! not a bad idea! haha i have been skateboarding for more than half my life so that would definitely add some personal touch!

sirdaft - to answer you question i spoke with a friend the other day who is a certified welder (i have no experience with welding what so ever) we noticed that the tail end of the frame that would have originally supported the rear part of the seat is gone. is that the rear hoop that you are talking about. we really couldnt tell if perhaps something had been cut off the original frame to accommodate the seat that is on the bike now (profile pic)

is this something that needs to be welded on before continuing with the plan for the 2 seater or is that the purpose of the 'rear hoop' you speak of. I've been thru the OEM parts guide looking for what could be that part with no success.

[sirdaft1]

oh man the plot thickens!
i think thats great that people use skateboards! not a bad idea! haha i have been skateboarding for more than half my life so that would definitely add some personal touch!

sirdaft - to answer you question i spoke with a friend the other day who is a certified welder (i have no experience with welding what so ever) we noticed that the tail end of the frame that would have originally supported the rear part of the seat is gone. is that the rear hoop that you are talking about. we really couldnt tell if perhaps something had been cut off the original frame to accommodate the seat that is on the bike now (profile pic)

is this something that needs to be welded on before continuing with the plan for the 2 seater or is that the purpose of the 'rear hoop' you speak of. I've been thru the OEM parts guide looking for what could be that part with no success.

You don't need a rear hoop necessarily but it provides added support and cleans up the tail nicely. If you don't use a hoop, just make sure to support the seat enough, however you do it.