Topic: Ducktail K0 Woes Anyone recognize cover and foam?

[AshimotoK0]

I bought a new Honda OEM Seat K1 and retained the pan, strap, and trim (it broke my heart to strip of the cover and sell it on Ebay!! many kind people on this site have confirmed that I  can use the K1 pan (736 in particular)

The attached image is of a Ducktail Repop Cover I bought froma guy in California, he could not remember where he bought it from. The foam is from 'Dis-Covers' in the UK. I am not saying too much here but there is an amazing similarity between this foam and Moretti/motorcycleseats.co.uk and the one Dave Silver sells. The image of the foam did not come from 'Dis-covers', it came from the manufacturer's, when my wife was considering buying me one as a Christmas present and the supplier asked her to check its 'suitability' before placing an order (he sent her the image). My K1 new foam has thin 'skirts' at the bottom to pad out where the sides of the pan are (can uplaod photo if required), but the repop one does not have these and the photo states 'You must trim bottom edge off before fitting' which I am confused about.

Does anyone recognize the cover? It looks very well made apart from the quiting in the panels which looks a bit thin. But there again I have never seen an original or a  Yamiya one. The cover does not marry up well to the Dis-Covers foam but the foam seems to fit the top contour of the pan reasonably well.

Has anyone used a Discovers/Moretti/Silvers foam with an OEM or Yamiya Cover?

I have a couple of options:
1) Take the whole lot including the K0 and K1 foam to an upholsterer and let him sort it out
2) Get a 'Discovers' / Morreti/ David Silver Cover and not use the cover I already have
3) Bung the whole lot on Ebay and pay big money for a Yamiya foam and Cover which I know is a struggle to fit but gives the  closest to to OEM and can be done without expert help (ie upholster)

Please help!!! - this one is driving me mad !!!! I am tearing what's left of my hair out trying to sort it out !!

The last Photo is of my bike as found not used for last 18 years - it is a rare genuine UK Model frame date 10/69 I think and was in the first batch imported into the UK in Jan 1970. It is now a pile of parts and my wallet is much lighter (new paint, HM300's etc, Powder coat, Chroming, Wheels - etc-)

[Johnie]

I had an OEM ductail seat that had an aftermarket cover.  I bought a Yamiya cover and installed it myself.  I then sold it.  Got good money for it and then bought a Yamiya duckbill for my KO with the orange foam.  You are correct, the OEM foam had a thin layer of foam that ran down to the bottom of the pan edge.  Then there was thin rubber trim piping padding that ran all the way around the edge of the pan to give some protection where the cover would bend under the seat.  It was hard to get on but that is what you need a tight fit.  If your fingers are not sore then you did not pull hard enough.  The quality of the Yamiya cover I put on was very good.  I was not worried about tearing it at all.  I used a hair dryer to soften the cover during application. Keep in mind this picture is of the complete Yamiya seat.  Excellent quality if you are willing to pay the price.  I believe at that time I paid $700 for the seat and $100 shipping.  Click the pic to enlarge...

[AshimotoK0]

I see wht you mean about the plastic edge protection on the pan. Luckily this in on the new K1 Pan I have for this Project. That bike looks really nice - and in the house too!

[Johnie]

I see wht you mean about the plastic edge protection on the pan. Luckily this in on the new K1 Pan I have for this Project. That bike looks really nice - and in the house too!

Yes, that is where I do my winter bike project...very understanding wife.   

[AshimotoK0]

Hi anyone out there - Do you recognize the cover in my original post? It was purchased in the US

[AshimotoK0]

Well - I gave up trying to identify the source of the cover pictured in this post and it's going on EBay. What I did was contact the retailer of the foam in the UK and told them that I wanted a better quality of padding on the cover than the standard item they sell. They contacted their supplier and I was amazed to find that he does do a 'better quality padding' version. I had this fitted by their supplier to my genuine new steel pan/trim/strap/buckles with the foam pictured in this post. I have to say that I am really pleased with the end result which I will post pictures of shortly. I think the problem is that the UK manufacturer of the covers makes the whole repro seat with plastic base for David Silvers and I suspect CMS in Holland  and others but they hammer him down on price so he does not fit his 'extra padded' cover and have the time to give the product that 'extra special' touch which we 'purists' would prefer.  All in all the extra cost of the de-luxe cover was less than 20USD more than the standard one. They do covers for almost every old Honda model but don't know if there are different qualities available within models.

[Old Scrambler]

Could you post the cover manufacturer contact data?  If they make good covers for other models, I am looking for a supplier with the original vinyl pattern from the '60s for the 250 and 305 Honda Scramblers.

[andy750]

Looking forward to the photos of the new seat and if possible could you post the cost.

thanks
Andy

[AshimotoK0]

Sorry for the delay in posting the seat pics guys but I have been tearing down my K0 engine and having cam woes until Hondaman sorted me out on the true specs. Anyway here they are. Not up to Yamiya standards but has a true steel new Honda base and trim and much better than the D. Silver and CMS 'replicas'

Price wise - hard to say because the 'go-between' lady who dealt with it did not wish me to link her with her 'supplier' or quote the price I paid

If you are going to fit yourself then I reckon on around 80 GBP plus our VAT (tax) and shipping for a foam and cover set (be sure to request the cover with 'Extra padding'. I would add around 35-40 if you want to send them your parts to fit the foam cover to but plesae don't quote me.

If there is any interest,I will contact the lady who dealt with my seat and ask her if she wants to deal with anyone or if she is happy for me to point you directly to the factory.

If you need any specific details then PM me.


http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv340/AshimotoK0/K0seatash1.jpg

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv340/AshimotoK0/K0seatash2.jpg

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv340/AshimotoK0/K0seatAsh3.jpg


BTW the 'unknown' cover I did not use (see original post) and is on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=140332531244

Also  the new Genuine K1 foam  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140332592501

Both are 25 GBP Buy-it-Now

[Johnie]

Looks like a nice job to me from the pics.  I think the metal pan is the right was to go.  Not only is it period correct but stands up better than the PVC.  There is a place in Oregon selling the ducktail seat with PVC pan that I bought and returned a couple years ago.  They never mentioned it was PVC.  The seat did not fit well at all.  I then bit the bullet and got the Yamiya which is correct in every way.  But I have to say yours looks very nice.  It will add a great touch to the bike.