Update to this thread:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;n...

So, the 1/8 inch thick aluminum is a little sloppy.  When I hit a good bump the rear end, of course, comes up and the fender slams down into the tire, which occasionally breaks a filament, and gets me pulled over for no tailight. I am going to make another seat out of 1/2" steel. Unfortunately, the 1/2" steel diamond plate (DP) is expensive, but not DP steel is cheap.  Maybe I will use 1/8" DP and wedl some supports to it... might be able to take a passenger...

Also, I got a peice of 1/16" diamond plate aluminum and made a cover for the rectifier and miscellaneous electrical wires that you can see in the fourth pic.  The liscense plate is also bolted to this plate.  When I got pulled over tonight, the cop b*tched at me about the plate... jsut started asking him how to make it legal (like I don't know).

As for comfort, now that I bent the sides down, it is actually pretty good... no more sitting on my tailbone!  it's not noticeably cold to sit on now that it's winter, either.

Don't think the rubber would help, frankly, but I have thought about making an LED assembly...