Author Topic: Replacement Seat Cover (Read 16037 times)

Pain · « **on:** March 02, 2011, 11:37:16 PM »

Ok. This is already available in other threads, but I thought I'd compile the information into one that's better. Correct anything you think is wrong, or add to. Here goes...

Anyone who wants to replace a seat cover close to OEM. The best option I have found is ebay seller "gumtwo". Important things to know, 1) his seat covers do not come with foam, 2) his seat covers do not include the chrome trim strip.

Where to get the foam: http://www.rochfordsupply.com/product_listing.asp_Q_CatID_E_412_A_SubCatID_E_459_A_ProdID_E_3235

Where to get the strip:
http://www.brandsport.com/trmg-2105-c.html

Final step.. beg someone on forum to mail you old seat foam to trace.

Right?

I didn't find any feed back to feel confident enough in david silvers seat covers, which do come with the strip:
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/cgi-bin/dss2-cgi/Catalogue.pl

Tom in Newcastle......Ontario · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2011, 06:07:30 AM »

If you are going to get a seat cover from Gumtwo

Contact him directly, David ..... shuling@shaw.ca you will save a few $$ and not feed e-bay

Pain · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:04:36 AM »

this just in...

"Thank you for your e-mail, I can sell you that particular seat cover, off eBay sell ONLY, for $65.00 each and $10.95 shipping (to USA and Canada) and mail it out today."

Duanob · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:42:40 AM »

Keep in mind that gumtwo's seat cover pattern is sewn not heat pressed. For those of us that live in wet climates that will make a difference. Water can seep into the sewn pattern but the heat pressed is as water proof as the material itself. Once the foam gets soaked it takes forever to dry.

FWIW I am super impressed by the seat cover I bought from pit-replica:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180551909336&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

Thye include a strap but not the buckles.

The chrome strip from this EBAY seller 'your_car_dealer'

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290404485311&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

he sells enough to do a seat and a tank. His stuff has glue on the inside of the u-channel for a permanent hold.

I may have cheated and took everything into an upholsterer but I am happy with the finished product. I can't post a pic for a couple weeks but when I get back home I will.

Tom in Newcastle......Ontario · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:38:18 AM »

"""" Keep in mind that gumtwo's seat cover pattern is sewn not heat pressed. For those of us that live in wet climates that will make a difference. Water can seep into the sewn pattern but the heat pressed is as water proof as the material itself. Once the foam gets soaked it takes forever to dry. """

Very good point ,and considering that some of the K model seat pans have a rust out issue in the front any way..

I have used two of Gumtwo's( 78 550 K's) what I have done too make install easier, is put plastic between the cover and the foam,not for water resistance which I never thought about ,but too make the cover slide easier.

So hopefully with the plastic I now have an extra barrier,

Next seat I will have to give Pit -replica a try.

nancy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2011, 03:34:45 PM »

Guys,
I used that type of door trim on my recovered seat and it sucks. Maybe you have a better base to work from and it might be OK,..but be aware if u mount the "U" seat trim on the base like this, it follows every contour of the base with the folds of upholstery. So u get a rippling look and a bit of up and down. The original seats that I am familiar with originally had trim mounted on the face of the seat a few mm's above the bottom lip. I ripped off all my U channel trim and chucked it and bought some better stuff from an auto upholsterer. It mounts on the base still but because it is an L shape and has an adhesive strip on it, it mounts to follow a straight line or smooth curve as you need it. Cost me $6.00 and is 100% better than the U channel stuff. IMO.
Regards
Mark

cameron · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2011, 04:45:03 PM »

Ditto on that chrome trim sucking.

But I have a better option:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=83397.msg939315#msg939315

Pain · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2011, 05:23:46 PM »

Looks a little thick.

cameron · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2011, 10:00:26 PM »

thats what she said.

Actually. though, you might be right.. it could be a little thicker than OEM.. There are skinnier ones though. I was kind of going for an Uber-Stock look....
The key is that you gotta use stick-to-the-side trim... the U-shaped stuff isn't big enough to go on very well. I tried it, and it looked like crap, then fell off.

Upon further review.. here is a pic of a real stocker:
http://www.sportwheel.com/Collector%20Bike%20Images/76%20Hon%20CB550F%20$%20dk.JPG

if you compare visually, its not that far off.
I dont know the stock measure off the top of my head.. maybe someone does?

nancy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2011, 11:15:15 AM »

Dead right Cameron - stick to the side is best. Clip on and push on the bottom lip means it will look poxy. I have stuff that looks exactly like yours - but I have the thinner strip. ..which runs right around the seat. The U channel can't be run around the curves properly.
Mark

grant301277 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2011, 11:32:14 AM »

i just got a seat cover from gumtwo last week and have installed it but would have to say that i was'nt overly impressed with it.the ad said highest quality material available but i would consider the material to be a fairly cheap grade.i recovered a snowmobile seat a month ago with -30 heavy duty vinyl and it was waaay thicker so i know what good stuff looks and feels like.the fit was'nt the best either ,stretched tight as in some spots and pretty loose in others but maybe that was just my fitting efforts.i spoke to gumtwo about it and he end up giving me some money back ,so i don't know what that says about his confidence in his own " high quality product " but i guess for the price "you get what you pay for " .starting to wish i had have got the local upholsterer to do it for double the price,because if the cover does'nt last the summer ( which i don't think it will ) i am going to have a ton of trouble when i snap all the "teeth" off that hold the cover on !!! not sure what i will do to hold the cover on then ??!!

nancy · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2011, 02:00:42 PM »

Grant
My cover was probably similar to yours = cheap. It looks original, fitted snuggly and has the nice gold HONDA logo on the arse end, but material was thinnish. These are still sold here online and cost about US$60. I have had this on for 17 months and about 10,000kms of my arse and the wife's as pillion and it still looks OK - as new.
The pins used to grip and hold the cover on - can be overcome if they snap off. All mine were sound - but there is a product sold that glues onto the inside of the seat pan in a strip form. The strip is embedded with fresh pins. Dunno who sells them but I saw an internet clip of the guy using them, selling them. You could make your own. Fashion out of firmish plastic and shove some sharp tacks through and glue it on, supported with a few rivets or similar.
Mark

Pain · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:09:45 PM »

I emailed this guy. It's from another thread. I'll follow up when I hear back.

"I've heard some good things about this outfit in England.....traded a couple of e-mails back and forth with the guy about getting a replacement seat cover (again) that looks a bit better than the eBay one that I got and he has a couple different ones that fit the 500/550. I've asked for a price a couple of times but he hasn't divulged that info yet...so I can't tell you just how much they are. They do come with the chrome trim and look OEM, though. I think I read a post from someone on here recently that their cover cost under $100 shipped.

http://www.motorcycleseats.co.uk/honda.htm

Hope that helps."

Free Booter · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:12:18 PM »

I have the original seat cover in just about mint condition...for a cb750 k5. Foam was tossed ages ago...I'd be willing to give it to you unless you want to trade something for it to cover the shipping (which is likely cheap).

Free Booter · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:16:30 PM »

...as for the beading or edge or what ever.. Just use freakin u-channel. They sell it everywhere for dirt cheap and it lasts for ever. The kind they use on door trim for cars. Comes in short lengths or in huge rolls in different widths in chrome or black. I bought a ton of the black stuff for cheap to edge some steel on some computer cases I made.

cookindaddy · « **Reply #15 on:** March 04, 2011, 04:23:21 PM »

I have used gumtwos seat cover and I have **nothing but good things** to say about his product (I suspect it is his wife's work!).
I use a overall motorcycle cover because I worked really hard on the crappy rusted seat pan that I had and I want to keep the rain off the bike everywhere, not just the seat.
The quality of the final result has a lot to do with the effort and care put into installing the seat cover I think. Mine looks great and feels great. Thank you gumtwo! The Honda logo on the back is very nicely done.
As far as the sewn versus pressed suggestion, I note that most of the damaged original seat covers that I've seen break along the pressed seams. I think the process makes them weak along the seam, but maybe that is just me?

Pain · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2011, 07:00:04 PM »

Thanks for the offer Free Booter, but I need a '76 CB550F seat cover. I'm sure someone else is looking for that cover though, especially original.

Cookindaddy, did you replace the foam or trim?

GammaFlat · « **Reply #17 on:** March 04, 2011, 08:20:39 PM »

Quote from: Free Booter on March 04, 2011, 04:12:18 PM

I have the original seat cover in just about mint condition...for a cb750 k5. Foam was tossed ages ago...I'd be willing to give it to you unless you want to trade something for it to cover the shipping (which is likely cheap).

Quote from: Pain on March 04, 2011, 07:00:04 PM

Thanks for the offer Free Booter, but I need a '76 CB550F seat cover. I'm sure someone else is looking for that cover though, especially original.

I"ll get in line and pay or trade for the seat cover if it's available. What kind of parts do you need Booter?

cookindaddy · « **Reply #18 on:** March 05, 2011, 05:01:29 AM »

The foam looked bad but it was mechanically in good shape so I reused it. It is comfortable for 4 hours at a stretch.
I did add a layer (as gumtwo recommends) of a fabric material I got easily at a fabric shop which I forget the name of but it is like 1/4 inch white cotton mesh/foam between the Honda seat foam and the cover.
I did extensive welding repair to the seat pan and the hardware but did not have a trim strip for the outside. I used an automotive trim piece (like a U section around the bottom of the seat pan to protect the seat cover where it wraps underneath. Most of the sharp spikes were rotten or missing so I drilled holes and glued small stainless steel bolts all the way around the outside bottom and punched holes in the seat cover edge to fasten it to the bolts with stainless hex nuts and washers.
Gumtwo also provides a new seat strap and I had quite a bit of restoration to the hardware to get that in place.
It was a lot of work that seat, but it is now very nice.

Pain · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2011, 03:09:31 PM »

found this in another thread, there's pics too if you follow the link:

"Ordered a new seat cover for my 73 CB750 from Moretti LTD: http://www.motorcycleseats.co.uk/

Received it in about a week, all the way from the UK to NH, USA. Total cost including shipping was less than $70.00.

The cover came with the seat strap and chrome trim. Quality is exceptional and the customer service even better. Thought I'd give a much deserved kudos to Bob from Moretti and would recommend him for all your seating needs."

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68346.0

cameron · « **Reply #20 on:** March 06, 2011, 01:37:49 PM »

I emailed Moretti for a few MONTHS trying to get a cover... he never did quote me a price, and eventually I gave up.
The $26 cover I got on ebay is working like a charm. I threw it on anticipating rain, and it is great so far.

I had Gumtwo's in my hands once...and it looked perfect as well.

Moretti makes foam, and has trim...so if you are really looking for replica-stock.. he is your man. Total cost for shipping alone will probably be $70, though.

Pain · « **Reply #21 on:** March 06, 2011, 02:21:54 PM »

i think i am going to get morretti. my gf is paying for it lol

bollingball · « **Reply #22 on:** March 06, 2011, 03:15:15 PM »

I'm trying to contact Morreti but can not get my phone # entered Std code is +1 for USA correct? any -- or spaces don't seem to work it just keeps kicking it back does someone know the format to enter phone# for the USA?

Pain · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2011, 03:22:14 PM »

u have to dial 011 for international access. then 44 for uk country code. then drop the 0 from the beginning of his number, just dial 1531 - 890323.

u have nation wide calling? i want to call him too. maybe i'll get a calling card. can you ask if he has seat foam to go with the cover for a '76 CB550F? i'd appreciate it.

pain

bollingball · « **Reply #24 on:** March 06, 2011, 03:56:14 PM »

Pain i am not trying to call. On ther site they have a place to contact them email but the require your name add and phone # I wrote all info about bike and all required feilds but not getting my phone # entered correctly it keeps telling me to enter phone# with correct std

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Author Topic: Replacement Seat Cover (Read 16037 times)

bollingball

bollingball