Topic: David Silver seats

[Scott S]

 Anyone have any experience with the aftermarket replacement seats that David Silver sells?

https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB550K0-1974-USA/part_196852/

 I was cleaning up the seat on my upcoming '73 CB500 project and, while the pan and foam are good, the cover split from being dry rotted. I'd be hard pressed to buy a good quality cover and have it installed for what a new seat costs.
 Also, it's my understanding that the '72-76 CB500 and 550 seats are the same (early '71's had a different latch mechanism), but DSS lists a different seat for the '73 CB500.

https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB500K2-FOUR-1973-USA/part_62097/

 I don't see any difference in the pans. The '73 seat is cheaper.....and out of stock.

[machacc]

I bought one for my 78 550 K4 and it fit the hinge and latch ok but it left a 3/4" gap between the tank and seat.  They did send me a second one they thought was longer but it fit the same.  Ron

[JBMorse]

I think the difference between the 73 and 74-76 is in the seat cover pattern only.

I bought one for my 71, which came with the wrong latch mechanism despite having provided them with the year and VIN. Fortunately I had a late latch assembly banging around and switched it all over.

When I first got the seat it didn't seem to sit right on the frame, but after using it a bit it looks fine.

The quality is nice for the money, but not like an original seat. The pan is plastic, the rubbers that sit on the frame not as substantial, and the cover pattern is embossed rather than actually sewn in. Also, it comes without the Honda stencil on the back.

On the plus side I'm happy with the foam. It's comfortable and seems to be holding up well after a riding season. The trim and vinyl look great and I think this seat will last a while.
Overall I'm very happy with this seat. It cost nearly $275 with shipping, so not cheap, but nice original seats are fetching that much on eBay these days.

[Scott S]

 This is all good information.
 Machacc, the '77-78 seats and tanks were different, so I can't compare that directly to my fitment.

 JBMorse, I'm not going for a 100% restoration, so the pattern itself doesn't really matter to me. BUT....when you're getting close to $300, I think I can have the stock seat done with a high quality custom cover for that price and keep the metal pan, good bumpers, etc.
 I sent an email to Nate Van Hofwegen after seeing the seat he did for CamRector. Really nice stuff.

[JBMorse]

One of my challenges was that my original seat pan was very rusty, so much that the edges were all distorted and chunks missing. If I had a good pan I probably would have had the foam and cover redone rather than buy the reproduction seat.

[Bankerdanny]

I bought one for my 78 550 K4 and it fit the hinge and latch ok but it left a 3/4" gap between the tank and seat.  They did send me a second one they thought was longer but it fit the same.  Ron

Do you have the stock tank with the flip up door covering the gas cap?

[qside]

Scott
If you want a seat I believe I have a NOS cb500/550 seat still in plastic. Never used never mounted. Again, I was saving for a project that never happened. I probably have 2-3 nice cb500/550 (K) type seats, but this is the nicest.
This is not a repro, but definitely NOS. Has the id tag with it. Looking for $250 and some shipping.
PM me if you are interested

Its amazing what I keep finding in my garage... I think I am a hoarder?

[Scott S]

 Definitely! PM forthcoming!

[Imago]

Not a 500 or 550 seat, but for those of you looking for a replacement seat for your CB750K, I can recommend this one, for only $99.00 US. It's a '72 pan with a seat pattern from '76.

They forgot the 3 replacement rubbers for the back 3 that are apparently, as it comes, a bit high, but promptly sent them to me, free, after it arrived.

I haven't fitted it yet, but it looks pretty good right out of the box. Not OEM, but pretty good.



https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K2-FOUR-1972/part_105077/

[drumstyx]

Not a 500 or 550 seat, but for those of you looking for a replacement seat for your CB750K, I can recommend this one, for only $99.00 US. It's a '72 pan with a seat pattern from '76.

They forgot the 3 replacement rubbers for the back 3 that are apparently, as it comes, a bit high, but promptly sent them to me, free, after it arrived.

I haven't fitted it yet, but it looks pretty good right out of the box. Not OEM, but pretty good.



https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB750K2-FOUR-1972/part_105077/

That's an amazing deal. The 77's and 78's unfortunately get a raw deal though...the only option is a $225 seat...shipped to Canada it ends up costing almost as much as a metal-pan seat from eBay -- though I haven't been able to find an original looking '78 seat on ebay

[Scott S]

 Damn.....That's a really good deal. Is the pan metal or plastic?
 

[Imago]

Damn.....That's a really good deal. Is the pan metal or plastic?

Metal, and it even comes with the little plastic compartment with a rubber snap closure to hold your owners manual. Not OEM quality but for $99 bucks, I was pretty happy.

[PeWe]

Damn.....That's a really good deal. Is the pan metal or plastic?

Metal, and it even comes with the little plastic compartment with a rubber snap closure to hold your owners manual. Not OEM quality but for $99 bucks, I was pretty happy.

That's really good! I saw cheap ones before without the small plastic compartment. This cheap one can be good for those with nice OEM needed to be saved for the future.

I invested in a NOS seat for my K6 2 years ago. It cost now + $200USD more plus the dollar has increased with 30-40%. The bike might get it one day together with other NOS parts. NOS seat has the rubber dampers and seat locking device fastened on the seat.

[machacc]

Boy, talk about not paying attention.  Yes, my tank has the door.  Ron

[Gordon]

Boy, talk about not paying attention.  Yes, my tank has the door.  Ron

Zombie thread!   

[Deltarider]

Would love to order a repro seat for mine, but haven't found one yet that has the handy document compartment underneath like the original. Strange they didn't think of it.