Topic: 1978 "SS" seat almost ready to crack (stock)

[BlackMax]

.....meanwhile, I'm about to sell it. 
There is a crease in the center of the seat that's about 3" long, that look really really close to cracking.  This is the stock seat (believe it or not).  I really don't want to spend $ that I (mostly) will not get back on a new seat.   What about a new cover? Is that a PIA for a DIY??   Thoughts??

I guess I could invest in a cafe seat, but again, I don't think I'll get much more for the bike than I will today, after a $300 investment.   

[Bailgang]

I picked up a new seat cover for my 77 SS from ebay and installed it myself. Not a big deal provided the seat pan "hooks" aren't rusted out and padding is still in good shape, you just have to be patient. If you DIY I would recommend that you mark where the holes are in the seat pan where the side trim goes through, you'll still have to feel for the hole once new cover is on but at least you'll know you're close. And do yourself a favor and remove the old seat cover before putting the new one on, mine turned out to have both it's original cover plus another replacement cover over the top of it. The seat had 2 layers of old hard vinyl which explained why the seat was so stiff.  

The cover I got off ebay was about $35 earlier this past summer if I remember correctly, it's not an exact copy of the original but it fit good and is comfortable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-CB750-F-1975-1978-MOTORCYCLE-SEAT-COVER-/220993810824?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item337441f188

[bjbuchanan]

What about a good vinyl and leather conditioner, only like 6$. Cleans, conditions and clears up some fading

I use ZEP from places like home depot

[Don R]

 I put an E bay cover on my 76 750F. It was like posted above. I used the large spring paper clips to hold the vinyl until I was happy with it. Then poked the tabs through it and trimmed the excess. It looks great. The old strap doesn't match so I left it off. Never was straight before anyway.
 On the sandcast site it says Avon skin so soft might help vinyl. I tried it with some success. If it's ready to crack it probably will anyway.

[Bailgang]

Just so you know the seller in the ebay ad doesn't sell the seat cover with the strap anymore. I guess the vinyl he uses makes for a good cover material but doesn't work well as a strap so he stopped selling them with a strap.

[bjbuchanan]

Just so you know the seller in the ebay ad doesn't sell the seat cover with the strap anymore. I guess the vinyl he uses makes for a good cover material but doesn't work well as a strap so he stopped selling them with a strap.

When he did sell it with the strap it came with a disclaimer that it was not to be used as an actual strap to hold on to. He probably dropped it to avoid any issues at all. I don't know who would even use the strap as a grab bar anyway

[Bailgang]

Just so you know the seller in the ebay ad doesn't sell the seat cover with the strap anymore. I guess the vinyl he uses makes for a good cover material but doesn't work well as a strap so he stopped selling them with a strap.

When he did sell it with the strap it came with a disclaimer that it was not to be used as an actual strap to hold on to. He probably dropped it to avoid any issues at all. I don't know who would even use the strap as a grab bar anyway

+1
I did an SS seat for my kid's 750 a few years ago and at that time the seller was selling them with the strap along with the disclaimer you mention. By the time I did the seat on my SS the seller had stopped selling the covers with the strap and I agree it was probably to avoid any issues.

[tomkimberly]

Is the pan cracked or is it just the cover?

Tom