SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1504331732

Message started by IslandRoad on 09/01/17 at 22:55:29

Title: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/01/17 at 22:55:29

Hey guys, I wanna have a go at modifying my seat further. The attached image shows what I'm thinking. The top image is what I have now (slightly modified), the bottom image is what I'd like to do. A friend told me he can't really see the difference, but it's more about ergonomics than looks (although, I like the look). I have a set of Ed.L's 4" forward controls on the way to go with it.

I think the best way to go about this is to pick up a used OEM seat and see if I can modify it far enough for this to work. I'm not sure how but will probably just have to rip into it and see how it goes. I'd like to keep my current seat in case things don't work out.

So, two things: has anyone got any advice, or warnings? Secondly, Has anyone got a used seat I could consider buying? Even a beat up one! Because I'm having a hell of a time finding one here in Australia. Exchange rates and shipping are just killer from the States but I'm getting to the point where I'll consider just about anything :o

A couple of last notes: I don't plan to carry a passenger, so the rear seat is just there to cover all the wiring on top of the fender. And I've already moved the rectifier to the tool box.

I'm open to all ideas :)

Cheers

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by zipidachimp on 09/02/17 at 00:01:25

the second image will lower your rear, and is more attractive. I like that image, but I would have to raise it as I want a taller seat. A lot of foam to cut away.
The seat cover will then be too loose without some tailoring. A job for a Pro? 8-)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/02/17 at 00:41:17

My butt is unusually close to the ground for a guy my height, so the lower seat will actually work for me. I straddled the bike when I had the seat off and it was perfect!!

Yeah I will be removing a lot of foam, and probably a fair bit of plastic too!

It's one of those things where I've considered it from a theoretical point of view (straddling the bike without the seat, checking foot position with a ruler, hung my feet over the pegs on the road) and I'm pretty sure about the ergonomics now ... I just need to have a go at making it a reality.

And ... I know I guy who does auto-trimming. He doesn't know yet, but I'll hit him up to do the recovering 8-)

I'm glad you like the second image. I like it a lot!! :)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by ohiomoto on 09/02/17 at 06:24:23

I like it.

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by zipidachimp on 09/02/17 at 11:19:59

Road: likely you won't have to touch the plastic. The side bit is very shallow. Also, you can avoid disturbing the rectifier. 8-)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by Tocsik on 09/03/17 at 06:09:04

If the rear part of the seat is just to cover the wires, maybe consider a solo seat and a fender bib? Just a suggestion since you're having trouble finding an oem seat. An aftermarket seat would open up your options.

I do like the look in the second picture with the cut down seat, though!

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by MShipley on 09/03/17 at 16:38:52

I have a seat off an 05 (perfect condition) that you can have for the cost of shipping. I am in the US. I can not use it now that the frame is cut.

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by gizzo on 09/03/17 at 16:41:26

That's a good deal!

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by batman on 09/03/17 at 17:13:16

If you think of the stock seat as a sandwich ,bread- meat -bread, you need only to take out the meat,glue the layers of bread together,with the stock cover going back on with the extra material ending up under the seat where it can be trimmed or doubled over and reattached .

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/03/17 at 17:24:17

405E65647D6168740D0 wrote:

I have a seat off an 05 (perfect condition) that you can have for the cost of shipping. I am in the US. I can not use it now that the frame is cut.

Wow! Thanks heaps ;D
I'll send a pm ;D

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/03/17 at 17:40:19

7B68716865606269686C71010 wrote:

Road: likely you won't have to touch the plastic. The side bit is very shallow. Also, you can avoid disturbing the rectifier. 8-)

Hey Zipi, the side is shallow, although the part on the rear seat is actually a bit higher than it looks. As for the rectifier, I've already moved that out of the way :) I saw on the forum that someone cut out the bump in the pan that accommodates the rectifier, flipped that piece over, and plastic-welded it back into the space. Once I get hold of another seat I'll be keen to get it apart and have a good look :)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/03/17 at 17:44:13

625955455F5D360 wrote:

Hi Tocsik, Thanks for the suggestion. A solo seat with a bib was my plan B. A friend loaned me the stock seat off his Sportster so I could place it on the frame to see if that would work. I probably could get it to work with some modding, but honestly, I wasn't really happy with the look. I've got an idea in mind with this one it now looks like I'll be able to see it through! :)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by gizzo on 09/03/17 at 17:47:09

and if the postage from the States is too horrific, my offer still stands.

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/03/17 at 17:47:28

67647168646B313D050 wrote:

Yeah I was thinking along those lines. The area and shape on top of the seat shouldn't change very much, so the top of the cover should fit similarly to how it does now. Although, the different slant between the front and back seats will change it a bit. If I can keep it symmetrical it may still look OK.

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/14/17 at 03:25:40

78626664655B6A797F79626F6C6E0B0 wrote:

and if the postage from the States is too horrific, my offer still stands.

Hey Gizzo, I just saw this message! Thanks mate. I may even follow up on your offer. The two piece seat could be an option if things don't work out with the one-piece.

Unless, of course, you sell the bobber in the meantime and the buyer takes all the stock parts with it >:(

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by gizzo on 09/14/17 at 04:44:24

Nah it's cool. If the bike sells, I'll hang onto the seat for ya.

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/14/17 at 06:28:08

39232725241A2B383E38232E2D2F4A0 wrote:

Nah it's cool. If the bike sells, I'll hang onto the seat for ya.

Thanks buddy :)

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/25/17 at 00:20:18

The seat that @MShipley gifted me arrived last week (Thanks again!!) ... anyway, I had time today to rip into it. Knowing I had my old seat as a backup, emboldened me to just rip into the new one ... THAT is a liberating feeling 8-)

I'm really happy with the progress.

I had already moved the rectifier to the toolbox, and I have modified my original seat slightly so I was more confident this time.

However, the original cover won't work! The distance between the front of the seat and the rear of the rider's seat has been increased considerably due to the increased curve. So I'll be speaking to my mate about re-covering. He does this sort of thing for a living. I'll be going for a waterproof vinyl cover. I reckon it might need a seam at the bottom of the curve, or there abouts.

Anyway, here are some pics for those who are interested:

Ready to recover:

http://https://i.imgur.com/Y2uNT7d.jpg

Close up:

http://https://i.imgur.com/KiuX1CL.jpg

This is what had to go:

http://https://i.imgur.com/TfcHfvK.jpg

My line is in there somewhere (mostly the top one) :)

http://https://i.imgur.com/IaWBqst.jpg

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by Gears on 09/30/17 at 12:27:15

Looks really cool, but it looks like it'd be a bit uncomfortable. I'm just sayin'

Title: Re: Proposed seat mod: advice/criticisms/thoughts?
Post by IslandRoad on 09/30/17 at 16:52:16

I get what you're saying ;) ... but it's deceiving. I've sat-test it a number of times. My body weight when sitting there is more forward than I ever expected. I'm planning to move the foot pegs forward 4" as well. It's an experiment but I'm pretty sure it'll work out.

I kept my current seat just in case ;)