MiCTLaN wrote on 01/02/13 at 12:07:17:I quite like the look of that seat... is that just a trimmed down stock seat? If so, I think I know exactly what I'm going to be trying out some time in the very near future.
No battery. I just always park on hills.
Yep, in the right side saddlebag if I recall. It's been Lancer's son's bike for a couple years now.
Super Thumper wrote on 01/02/13 at 09:44:34:Where is the battery on that "Black beauty"? AWESOME looking bike...this is the look I am going for on my winter build...got any of the build pics?
Yeah, the seat is trimmed down.
If I had it to do over again I would do it differently. The look would be identical. The methods getting there would be different because modding the stock pan provides significant challenges to overcome due to its design.
I would make a new seat pan using one of two methods: Strip the stock seat down to the pan, cover it with plastic, lay several layers of fiberglass over it, let dry, remove the fiberglass, trim it, install the necessary hardware for securing to the bike, foam then cover. Another method would be to get a thick sheet of 1/4" kydex, heat it to the correct molding temperature (approx 400 F), lay it on the stock seat pan, work it to shape, let it cool, trim it and install hardware. You can later reheat small, specific areas of the kydex seat pan with a heat gun to ensure precise fitting on the bike.
You can use the stock seat cover. But I wouldn't. I'd recommend taking it to a local community college's upholstery dept and let them refoam then make/install a new cover. It's usually pretty low $$$ and they do it all the time. Obviously you can take it to a professional. But I mention the college route because a) it's usually less than 1/2 the cost of a pro, b) they are always looking for projects to do. Both win.
Done right, it can be accomplished within a $70-$120 budget and you'll end up with a high quailty, one-of-a kind custom product, rather than just a modded one. And here's the double bonus- reassemble the stock seat and put it aside. If you sell the bike you can put the hardly used stock seat on (which will look nice which is great for selling a bike) and then ebay the custom seat and make your money back.