Topic: Need help from cafe modders

[jn895]

So I'm trying to figure out how to mount my cafe seat on my 1975 CB750K. The main impediment to this as far as I can tell is a pair of little ears sticking out from the part of the frame, as seen in the first picture.

The seat is sitting on those two little tags, and so has a rise from front to rear which you can see in the second picture.

Is it okay to just hacksaw those things off and then file the base down? I think the seat will fit over that crossbar then, but I don't want to take off anything that has a purpose.

Also, if anyone has any insight as to how to bolt a seat of this nature down, I'd greatly appreciate hearing it. I've been told to bolt through the battery box, but am not sure how to go about attaching things to the fiberglass itself.

[OakBehringer]

Dude! Those are your helmet locks! Where are you going to put your $300 Davida Cafe-Style helmet if you saw them off!

[timdhawk]

Modders 1st law of cafeing: If it aint needed or its in the way - hack it off!!!
Modders 2nd law of cafeing: It it was needed, weld it back on!!!  

as far as bolting the seat down, it all depends on the construction of it and what it will allow.

[jn895]

Looks like I am compelled to follow the first law then!

The seat is made out of fiberglass.  Do you advocate drilling through it?  Perhaps through the bottom underneath the foam? 

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I use industrial velcro to hold the pan down.  I did do one that hinged like the OEM seat but was solo and had a rear cowl in steel.  I have a few cafe bikes on KingCustomCycles.com with pictures.  If you need any details, mail me. 

[JS550]

Cut 'em off. I did the same on my 550. I wish I would have thought about the velcro thing. I might try it now. I drilled & bolted mine down. On the 550 there is a flat cross piece that looked good to me, about mid way between the tank & rear inside fender. However, after getting the seat bolted down the bolt heads now line up perfectly with my ass cheek bones! 

[jn895]

Ouch.  Velcro is a really good idea, I'm going to check that out.  Thanks for your help everybody.

[Canada]

Velcro works very very well for holding the seat to the frame. I can't see any reason for a hinge to be quite honest.

[eurban]

I use industrial velcro to hold the pan down.  I did do one that hinged like the OEM seat but was solo and had a rear cowl in steel.  I have a few cafe bikes on KingCustomCycles.com with pictures.  If you need any details, mail me. 

Do you have a brand / supplier's name for "industrial velcro" ?  How about a link?  Thanks.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Literally "Velcro.com" industrial strength.  I got mine at WalMart. The website is printed on the box. 

When setting the seat, I attach one side of the Velcro to the frame and the other to the seat with spacers sometimes needed to get good contact.  The hardest part is allowing for the velcro thickness to get a neat, yet secure, fit.  Too much Velcro with too little wiggle room and the seat won't come off without major prying.  Too little and it will move around while riding.  If the adhesive doesn't stick well to the parts, squirt some 3M weatherstrip adhesive on it. The picture shows a seat attached with Velcro.

[jn895]

My concern is that I don't have much flush surface between the seat and the frame.  Here's a couple pictures of the bottom of the seat so you can see what I mean.  Any dealings with this sort of seat before?  I imagine I could use a spacer of some sort. 

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I doubt it will jump out of that box and install itself....that being said, you need to install some shaped wood blocks and fiberglass over them and then attach the velcro.  Now you see what I mean when I say the hardest part is determining the space required.  It is custom and it is what seperates cool from uncool.

[troppo]

I doubt it will jump out of that box and install itself....that being said, you need to install some shaped wood blocks and fiberglass over them and then attach the velcro.  Now you see what I mean when I say the hardest part is determining the space required.  It is custom and it is what seperates cool from uncool.

Take some epoxy type foam, its solid but will crush  if pressure is applied and hold the resulting shape. use a light glue and glue it to the underside of the seat. Put the seat in about the position you want it and park your bum on it, wiggle about a bit till you have it in a comfortable position.
Get off and take the seat off the bike.......The foam will be the right shape for your blocks. Depending on the foam you can glass right over it or use it as a model for wooden blocks