Topic: Two-up cafe seat design

[turkey2143]

http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/seatspics.html

To the hypothetical metal fabricator, but hey why not to the amateur seat pan maker:

Take a look at the seat at the bottom with the removable cowl.

I plan on venturing off and trying to replicate this as best as I can, but I do have an entire metal shop at my ex-high school to do this.

They use metal to make the pan, how would you design this?

Would I be better off using just sorta-thick sheet metal without a frame? Or should I make a frame and use thinner sheet metal to get the curves they use where the bumstop is?

Also, what about mounting? I want to be able to remove it to access my battery and stock airbox.


Any input is appreciated, thanks

[Zaipai]

What year/model bike is it? It could make a difference.

[turkey2143]

#$%* totally forgot, 77' CB550K

[martin99]

Here's how I did mine - not what you're looking for I know, but might give you some ideas.

First, make a cardboard template on the bike so you know it'll look how you want it. Then lay out the separate pieces on your sheet metal and cut out the shapes.


Bend as needed and weld together (I can't take the credit for this-my father in law is an expert welder!)


Think about how you're going to attach it...


Here's how it looks before upholstering


And finished


I built up the seat with closed cell foam and shaped it with an electric carving knife until I had the shape I wanted, then got it covered in vinyl  locally. Total cost about 40.00 GBP ($60 ish?).

Oh, and the T bars have gone in favour of the stock bars and instruments now. Looks much, much better!

[Zaipai]

I like that seat..Nice work on the design oldskoolnuts.

[grandelatte]

nice work.  that's inspirational.

Here's how I did mine - not what you're looking for I know, but might give you some ideas.

First, make a cardboard template on the bike so you know it'll look how you want it. Then lay out the separate pieces on your sheet metal and cut out the shapes.


I built up the seat with closed cell foam and shaped it with an electric carving knife until I had the shape I wanted, then got it covered in vinyl  locally. Total cost about 40.00 GBP ($60 ish?).

[turkey2143]

Wow that seat turned out great, good idea with the cardboard mock-up. What gauge steel did you use, and how well the shape holding?

[martin99]

Can't remember the gauge exactly, just measured an offcut and it's 1.4mm thick (so 16 or 18?). The seat is extremely rigid where it is shaped and welded, the longer flat part is supported on both sides by the frame rails and crossmember that the battery box bolts to, and it is attached at both ends. I'm approx 170 pounds and have covered 2K miles on this seat, often two up, and it has retained its shape no problems.