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Rafartist
Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 11:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Anyone ever done this before? I have done numerous offroad bikes but I dont know from all the contours on these seats. Anybody know of a company that will reshape it to your desires. I dont have the money for a Corbin. If this doesn't pan out, I have an extra factory seat for my lightning that I may take apart? Anybody know what kind of foam I would have to get, I know where to find it. I will get the stretchy grippy fabric they use on dirt bikes, I like the way it feels after using it so long offroad.
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Sweatmark
Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Raf - Good question, and good idea....

Bought myself an extra XBS seat for this type of exercise (hopefully, not exercise in futility). Thinking about creating a cafe racer seat using the stock "pan".

Comparison of Low, Regular, and CityX seat pans shows same shape of plastic pan under foam and fabrics. Could be many choices, including color/pattern in seat.

Haven't ever tried this myself, though!

Mark
Oregon
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Rr_eater
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 12:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Honestly guys, it is not the foam or lack there of that makes the factory seat so dang uncomfortable, it is the shape of the pan itself. With its convex overall shape, you could put 6 inches of foam on it, and it will eventually drive your a$$ nuts anyway. Most aftermarket seats, not just corbin, use a slightly concave pan to "cradle your tushy", using firmer foam as well as proper shaping.

I cannot think of the other manufactures right now, its a bit late for us old guys. But look into it, if you change the structure, to maybe create a fiberglassed on cradlling seating area, then refoam as required to taste. You will most likely be pleased to a greater extent that way!!

Just a thought, not experience ;)

Bruce
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Pinball
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I took mine in to a local upholsterer,and had him rebuild it for me .I went back to him several times before we were close to what I wanted.In the end I paid 150.00 can, for new foam and cover.I wasn`t completely satisfied with the end result after using it for awile,so I took the cover off and reshaped the foam using an angle grinder and various knives.I restapled the cover on and "Voila ",new and improved seat.I took a picture of a corbin seat to give him an Idea of what I wanted.If you find a qualified person and talk to him I sure they could do the same.
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Pinball
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

first try from upholsterer





after I reshaped it and pulled on the cover



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Pinball
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)



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Slider
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK...I JUST FINISHED MINE TONIGHT...

Used 2 layers of the 1" thick medium-firm tempeur foam from these people:

http://www.sunmatecushions.com/motorcyc.htm

It's an active foam product that is similar to a tepuerpedic bed...but not to soft...

you guys will quickly find that you'll have to cut the existing seat up with the stock black cover on...because the stock foam is fused to the seat cover.

you'll probably need to keep some of the stock foam on there in strategic places where it gets thin, down towards the chassis / tanks.

Sorry...no pics of the foam work!

I'll be riding on it tomorrow


me sewing the final pattern

the final seat
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Slider
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It is possible to do this kind of work yourself...I'm no upolsterer...but gave it a shot...took hours and hours...we'll see how it goes!!
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Kdan
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 01:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Slider,I like that! Good work.
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Rich
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 06:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I did my own too. I got an seat from Al, bought a gel pad from Drag Specialties. Reshaped the foam, and took a lot of the slope out of the seat position.

I bought a seat hump from a 636 at a swap meet for $3, and fitted it to it.

A local upholsterer sewed the seams I needed sewn, and fitted it myself.
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Whodom
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 07:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Anybody know of a company that will reshape it to your desires.

Try Sargent in Jacksonville, FL. Depending on how much re-shaping you want done, it may cost you as much as a Corbin, but you can get better foam and minor reshaping for less. They did a seat for a Honda Ascot I own and have my S3 seat right now.

Look under "Custom Seat Services" for details and prices.

http://www.sargentcycle.com/default2.html
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Angelwild327
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 09:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

OMG...I can't tell you how sexy it is to see a man at a sewing machine!!!

I took my seat to Jeffrey Phipps, here in Ft. Lauderdale...I needed it shaved down. We discovered that the foam is indeed molded to the seat covering, which made it a painful task. He used a dremel type shaver thingy (sorry, don't know specifically) to properly shave and keep contours, but it didn't make a whole lot of difference. He only charged me $50.00. www.jeffreyphipps.com is his website, he does some wicked customs...good luck with it.
If I had to do it over again, I'd have just done a completely custom seat with the tempur stuff that slider talks about.. maybe stingray skin...but I'm just a dork, don't mind me!
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Henrik
Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've done some seat re-shaping:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=4062&post=389350#POST 389350

Not that hard, but very messy. If you change the shape of the seat dramatically, you may have to have a new cover made.

Henrik
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Slider
Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Those were the only shots I had to prove to my friends that I actually made the seat myself...

Those shots were at like 2:30 am or something...I wish I wasn't in them!

...and to think...33 years ago, my mom hemmed my grade school uniform on that same machine!!

FYI: the tank cover was a late afterthought when I had a little extra material...it is removable.

The final shots:







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Sweatmark
Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 01:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Slider - nice job with both seat and bike! Hey, a sewing machine is just another power tool requiring skill... did a lot of sewing with industrial machine during my Masters in Science experimentation!

Mark
Oregon
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Typeone
Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Slider, off topic but... more pics and info on that front fender situation, please ;)
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Formerslimjim
Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 04:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well Slider it's good to see that you are using a sewing machine instead of riding on one.

That's a very cool seat and tank cover.

I've been too afraid to recover my scuffed Corbin but after seeing that job I think I'll try it next winter.
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Slider
Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 10:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I felt the stock front fender looked like everything else out there...the lines matched nothing on the bike, so I took the upper guage shield and traced it's pointed shape and cut it to that pointed shape...





Then, I've always been a dual-sport fan...and went for that look with some Uly parts...still working on that upper fender, will most likely re-aim it more upward and shorten it a bit.





Also...found a way to use the stock blinkers...when bobbing the rear. I think the original blinkers (I know I'm alone on this)are not that bad looking. This location creates so much glare at night off other parts under there...that a drvier behind, can't help but to notice you 1st...then relize..."OH...he's changing lanes!"



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Slider
Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 09:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Typeone...

did you get that?!
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Typeone
Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 09:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hey, Slider, yes! thank you for the shots. i've been thinking through the addition of a higher fender up front a la supermoto/dualsport style.

appreciate the details! looks great.
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