Seat Making

Roughidle · 03-23-2007, 04:22 PM

Hey all,

Has anyone made/ modified ther own seat? I have a 06' 950a and I hate the seat. I just picked up a used one with the intention of sending it to renzaco. but they are busy till june so I figured I would try shaping my own seat.

My plan is to get some High-density Foam, and maybe some 1" carpet pad.
I will glue it down with 3m spray adhesive, and use a power carving knife to shape it. then I will warm-up the stock cover and strech it back over.

What do you think? I worst comes to worst and I will just send out the seat as planned, any suggestions?

DAKEZ · 03-23-2007, 04:25 PM

top it off with 1/2" carpet pad not 1"

Lone Rider · 03-23-2007, 04:47 PM

I wanted to try this too, making/re-fabbing my seat, but blew it cuz of time. Still have large pieces of foam...maybe some day...

This is a very good thread for The Garage.

mike54 · 03-23-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roughidle

Hey all,

Has anyone made/ modified ther own seat? I have a 06' 950a and I hate the seat. I just picked up a used one with the intention of sending it to renzaco. but they are busy till june so I figured I would try shaping my own seat.

My plan is to get some High-density Foam, and maybe some 1" carpet pad.
I will glue it down with 3m spray adhesive, and use a power carving knife to shape it. then I will warm-up the stock cover and strech it back over.

What do you think? I worst comes to worst and I will just send out the seat as planned, any suggestions?

Where are you getting the high density foam from?

Lone Rider · 03-23-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike54

Where are you getting the high density foam from?

Confor Foam is one brand name.
Different densities, sheet sizes and thickness available through their distributors.
You can feel easily the difference in densities.

CMWoody · 03-23-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Confor Foam is one brand name.
Different densities, sheet sizes and thickness available through their distributors.
You can feel easily the difference in densities.

Blue for most, Green for most ADVRiders.

Two things I found out is that it doesn't compress well till its warm and needs a layer or two of some softer vibration isolating foam on top of it. Also, its not something that you want to put on too thick. Half inch will be fine for it. By itself, its no magic bullet.

I got it from McMaster-Carr

Lone Rider · 03-23-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmwoodys

Blue for most, Green for most ADVRiders.

Two things I found out is that it doesn't compress well till its warm and needs a layer or two of some softer vibration isolating foam on top of it. Also, its not something that you want to put on too thick. Half inch will be fine for it. By itself, its no magic bullet.

I got it from McMaster-Carr

I got my lead from you and then got samples from the mfgr and a TX distributor.

I'm sitting on a couple of sheets of 'blue' (1" and 1/2", I think) on top of my shtty office-style chair as I type.

I don't think there's an art to this, I think there's a catch.

CMWoody · 03-23-2007, 05:48 PM

I think its an art. Too many variables, too much trial and error. That said, its pretty easy for someone to improve upon what they have in most cases... just 1 a-holes opinion of course.

ChuckS · 03-23-2007, 06:33 PM

I HATED the stock seat on my WeeStrom. It took me over a year to get it right, but it's now perfect.
I went through lots of trial & error with different densities/types of foam (I own a canvas shop). "Memory" foam from a WalMart pillow worked pretty well. I cut out a pocket for it in the original and shaped a plug to fit.

The final solution was to trip much of the foam away, reshape it, narrow it, at throw an Airhawk on top. So far, I haven't had any trouble with the Airhawk staying put.

Lone Rider · 03-23-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckS

I HATED the stock seat on my WeeStrom. It took me over a year to get it right, but it's now perfect.
I went through lots of trial & error with different densities/types of foam (I own a canvas shop). "Memory" foam from a WalMart pillow worked pretty well. I cut out a pocket for it in the original and shaped a plug to fit.

The final solution was to trip much of the foam away, reshape it, narrow it, at throw an Airhawk on top. So far, I haven't had any trouble with the Airhawk staying put.

I tried a $200 (yeah, way back then) Airhawk on a stock GS seat and it do anything for me.

One day...yes, I predict this...there will be quality air bladder seats that you can suck and/or blow to fit your own personal rearmost needs. Twon't be too must longer....

johnjen · 03-23-2007, 07:56 PM

Oh yeah it's an art.
Especially if you want to position your self 'properly' on the bike and maximize the contact patch between your sit-upon and the seat. After watching Rich work his magic on several seats, it became quite apparent just where the magic came into play.

JJ

Roughidle · 03-23-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike54

Where are you getting the high density foam from?

Here in South east michigan there are lots of hot rod/ car resto places, and even a few textile only shops. infact there is one called mighigan textiles about a mile from my house. I called'em up and they have high density foam for $10 a square foot or $70 for 10 square feet. im gonna shoot over there on monday and hit the home depot for carpet pad on the way home.

Doghouse_Riley · 03-24-2007, 03:28 AM

You can check out this web page to possibly get a few ideas/tips:
http://www.clarity.net/paul/bikes/custom_seat/

ehatcher · 03-26-2007, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doghouse_Riley

You can check out this web page to possibly get a few ideas/tips:
http://www.clarity.net/paul/bikes/custom_seat/

Thats an informative link with good sources listed, thanks!

Eric

R_W · 03-26-2007, 07:14 AM

One caveat: most custom seatmakers can't/won't recover the seatpan if it has been redone already--too many stapleholes in the pan for them to get a good reliable hold and most want the stock foam as original to take up all those stupid grooves and bumps in the plastic pans.

I did it while waiting for renazco, but my attempts were nowhere near as good. and I ended up spending a LOT of extra money to realize James is an artist

03-23-2007, 04:22 PM	#1
Roughidle ^OP Super Star Destroyer.... Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY, Earth, Sol System, UNIVERSE! Oddometer: 1,490	Seat Making Hey all, Has anyone made/ modified ther own seat? I have a 06' 950a and I hate the seat. I just picked up a used one with the intention of sending it to renzaco. but they are busy till june so I figured I would try shaping my own seat. My plan is to get some High-density Foam, and maybe some 1" carpet pad. I will glue it down with 3m spray adhesive, and use a power carving knife to shape it. then I will warm-up the stock cover and strech it back over. What do you think? I worst comes to worst and I will just send out the seat as planned, any suggestions? __________________ Burninating the peasants.

03-23-2007, 06:33 PM	#9
ChuckS Adventurer Wannabe Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Too Close to Detroit Oddometer: 545	Go for it! I HATED the stock seat on my WeeStrom. It took me over a year to get it right, but it's now perfect. I went through lots of trial & error with different densities/types of foam (I own a canvas shop). "Memory" foam from a WalMart pillow worked pretty well. I cut out a pocket for it in the original and shaped a plug to fit. The final solution was to trip much of the foam away, reshape it, narrow it, at throw an Airhawk on top. So far, I haven't had any trouble with the Airhawk staying put. __________________ SPOT track of my Newfoundland adventure What? Me Worry? 1993 K1100LT w/Ural hack DL650 K4

03-23-2007, 07:56 PM	#11
johnjen Mod-U-Later Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 13,576	Oh yeah it's an art. Especially if you want to position your self 'properly' on the bike and maximize the contact patch between your sit-upon and the seat. After watching Rich work his magic on several seats, it became quite apparent just where the magic came into play. JJ __________________ QUOTE from vermin I lie to myself because I am the only one who continues to believe me.

03-24-2007, 03:28 AM	#13
Doghouse_Riley Wannabe Adventure Tourer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: The Second, CA Oddometer: 2,019	You can check out this web page to possibly get a few ideas/tips: http://www.clarity.net/paul/bikes/custom_seat/ __________________ Ciao Doghouse Canis meus id comedit.

03-26-2007, 07:14 AM	#15
R_W wannabe Joined: May 2005 Location: Kansas Oddometer: 4,126	One caveat: most custom seatmakers can't/won't recover the seatpan if it has been redone already--too many stapleholes in the pan for them to get a good reliable hold and most want the stock foam as original to take up all those stupid grooves and bumps in the plastic pans. I did it while waiting for renazco, but my attempts were nowhere near as good. and I ended up spending a LOT of extra money to realize James is an artist __________________ Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme...

03-23-2007, 04:25 PM	#2
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 18,071	top it off with 1/2" carpet pad not 1"

03-23-2007, 04:47 PM	#3
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: out and about Oddometer: 25,028	I wanted to try this too, making/re-fabbing my seat, but blew it cuz of time. Still have large pieces of foam...maybe some day... This is a very good thread for The Garage.

03-23-2007, 05:48 PM	#8
CMWoody Banned Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Hooterville, NC Oddometer: 5,248	I think its an art. Too many variables, too much trial and error. That said, its pretty easy for someone to improve upon what they have in most cases... just 1 a-holes opinion of course.

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