Topic: Seat Repair

[Harper]

Hi everyone,

my seat cover is starting to split along the side seams (right at the edge of the seat, at the corner as it were, the seams that run parallel to the bike). The PO did a pretty ugly job with heavy thread and waterproof glue, stitching together one side, but this is starting to flake and come apart.

Is there a good method for keeping this together? Things to watch out for? A preferred sealant? Or should I just spring for a new seat cover entirely?


Thanks,


Harper

[Alan F.]

I'd say new seat, or another seat.  Seat covers are available from the usual suspects, but local automotive upholstery shops have been known to do great work on motorcycle seats for surprisingly little money.
-Alan

[myhondas]

when posting a question one should always put as much info in their statement so that others will have some basis to give their answer. for some reason, on this forum more than any other I frequent, people forget to post their bike type & yr, or their location. they probably wouldn't have to if they would put it in their profile for all to see. love to give my $0.02 worth but I can't.

[Harper]

Point Taken, my apologies. (I'll put it in the profile too)

it's a 750 K5, in NY. The damaged seat is the flat seat (not sure if there's a name), not the humped, two-leveled one.

[Alan F.]

when posting a question one should always put as much info in their statement so that others will have some basis to give their answer. for some reason, on this forum more than any other I frequent, people forget to post their bike type & yr, or their location. they probably wouldn't have to if they would put it in their profile for all to see. love to give my $0.02 worth but I can't.

Agreed, anyone without their bike listed in their profile is hereby encouraged to do so. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14605.0

...but this question was fairly generic, could have been a different make for all it mattered...the answer would be the same this time.
-A

[myhondas]

not necessarly, later bikes equipment can be had a lot easier and for less $ that some of the older ones. so now, my answer would be this. how much are you willing to spend? You can either buy a new one, get a seat cover and recover it, or try to jerry rig it and seal up the PO crap. IMHO

[Harper]

I'm working on a tight budget, so the less, the better.
That said, however, I don't want to half-as$ a fix.
My overall goal right now is functionality. I need to learn a lot more (and save some more money) before I attempt a full rebuild. My big plan for the spring is a Long Bike Ride. So I want things in great running condition (and the seat in very sturdy, if not completely-beautiful condition) without going too far towards aesthetic perfection.

Thanks,

Harper

[myhondas]

in that case i would suggest you go with a seat cover. cheapest way to get a new seat out of it.

[Alan F.]

I'm working on a tight budget, so the less, the better.
That said, however, I don't want to half-as$ a fix.
... So I want things in great running condition (and the seat in very sturdy, if not completely-beautiful condition) without going too far towards aesthetic perfection.

I'm detecting a conflict here.

FAST
CHEAP
GOOD

You can only pick two.

[Harper]

Fast as in go fast or done fast?

I'd pick CHEAP and GOOD from that list, if I get two.

Harper

[GammaFlat]

I have faced the seat problem a couple times. 

Once, I covered with a Travelcade cover.  It's about $75 and is probably better material than factory but is not "factory looking" and you still have the issues of strap, buckles and trim to deal with.  This is a very functional solution. 

I've also bought the entire saddle for about $225 ($250-ish now I think).  If you can afford it, they're really sweet.  You get the whole tamale including hinges and latch. 

The solution I have not tried is the new cover that has "HONDA" stamped on it and makes your seat look new (less the strap and buckles).  I think this last option is pretty inexpensive - probably similar to a Travelcade cover in cost.  If your pan and foam are in decent shape, this is probably the best option. 

[Harper]

Yeah, GammaFlat, I was looking at the HONDA one also. The foam and pan are fine... I'm not sure I understand how the repair job works once I have a new cover though..
Does the pan unbolt? or do I sew it on after removing the old?

Harper

[coldright]

I recovered my seat for less than $20 in some nice matte finish faux leather vinyl.   Use the old seat as a pattern.  This, of course will require that you or someone you know can sew.

[vames]

anybody know of anywhere that sells OEM-shaped seat foam in a modern-ish type of foamy material? In my case it would be for a 400f. I put a new cover on but the old foam is just kinda mushy

[BeSeeingYou]

I had a 1 inch seam tear on my XS650's original seat and I cut a small oblong patch out of back vinyl and glued it on with vinyl glue.  It held for years until the rest of the seat went bad and then I had a new one made.    Would not pass for a restoration but it looked fine and was totally functional.