Just recovered my GS500e seat. UPDATE PICS!

[speedsix]

I just recovered my seat on Sunday.  It was pretty easy for the most part and looks 100% professional.  I am impressed with how it turned out.

I have a 1994 GS500E and it had the original seat cover which has been polished by 17K miles of butt.  It has been baked in the sun and was too smooth for me to tolerate anymore.  It only had one small tear in it which is surprising for a bike this old and with 17K miles.  

I wasn't sure what material I wanted so I went to the fabric store and checked out what they had.  I was tempted by a really good looking ostrich vinyl because it was a nice color and the bumps would provide a bit of traction so I didn't slip around.  I ended up with a plain black vinyl that was pretty close to what I had on the bike except that it had more traction and was more rubbery feeling.  The old seat material I had was getting hard and I am sure in time would start to crack.  

Tools I used:

1.  electric staple gun

2.  1/4" T-50 staples

3.  black sharpie marker

4. good pair of scissors

5.  small flat head screwdriver

6.  small wire cutters

7.  heat gun

8.  razor

9.  my brother

[speedsix]

Things I learned doing this myself:

1.  Have another person help you.  By far the most important part of this job is just having another person.  Just having someone to run the staple gun is huge.  That way you can use both hands to stretch the leather and position everything perfectly.

2.  Try a few staple guns.  I went through two manual ones before I tried the electric that worked better.  Many times an electric will not work as well as the manual ones so if possible, try as many out as you can.  Use short 1/4" staples, any longer and they will be too long.

3.  When cutting out the material, cut it out 2" wider than you think it will have to be and then add another 1".  I used the old seat cover as my pattern and added 2" all around and I was still a bit tight on the sides.  It worked but it took more finger strength than it needed to.  Another inch and it would have been easy.  You can always trim later.

[TurkeyChicken]

Do you have any pics of the end result?

[redhenracing2]

Do you have any pics of the end result?

+1, pics or it didnt happen 

[XealotX]

I once had to recover my seat when the dog ran off with it...couldn't find it for two days. Also have to recover shoes, remote controls, tennis balls, and the occasional DVD case.

[GSnoober]

Things I learned doing this myself:

2.  Try a few staple guns.  I went through two manual ones before I tried the electric that worked better.  Many times an electric will not work as well as the manual ones so if possible, try as many out as you can.  Use short 1/4" staples, any longer and they will be too long.

Why don't you simply TELL us which electric staple gun you found to work the best, instead of making this into a guessing game? Do you really expect your GSTwin brethren to run out and buy a bunch of staple guns until they accidentally find the same model you used? Just tell us which staple gun worked best, and save the rest of us a lot of expense, wasted time, and aggravation.

[redhenracing2]

Why don't you simply TELL us which electric staple gun you found to work the best, instead of making this into a guessing game? Do you really expect your GSTwin brethren to run out and buy a bunch of staple guns until they accidentally find the same model you used? Just tell us which staple gun worked best, and save the rest of us a lot of expense, wasted time, and aggravation.

Dude, thats kinda harsh. No need to be a jackhole about it. Why dont you just see what works best for you instead of trying to beat the info out of him? 

[GSnoober]

Why don't you simply TELL us which electric staple gun you found to work the best, instead of making this into a guessing game? Do you really expect your GSTwin brethren to run out and buy a bunch of staple guns until they accidentally find the same model you used? Just tell us which staple gun worked best, and save the rest of us a lot of expense, wasted time, and aggravation.

Dude, thats kinda harsh. No need to be a jackhole about it. Why dont you just see what works best for you instead of trying to beat the info out of him? 

That's HARSH? WTF is WRONG with you? If you think my remark was "harsh", you need to learn something about reading comprehension, or keep your "jackhole" comments to yourself.

Where the fsck do you people come from? I don't remember asking for commentary from YOU or anyone else; I'm looking for information, and I'm NOT interested in guessing games about staple guns, or getting into pissing contests with someone who somehow feels entitled to "correct" me.

Don't bother me with your touchy/feely bullsh*t, "jackhole": I asked for specific information, so the OP can provide it, or not. You have the right to remain silent, and you should feel free to exercise it more often.

This forum has had more than enough problems over the last few years with moderators running wild, changing posts because they didn't "approve" of comments someone made, we sure as hell DON'T need any more of you "thought police" types here, or any more input from the "politically correct" clowns and asshats.

Here's something harsh: Get a job, get a life, or get lost, I really don't give a fsck which one you choose, but do yourself a favor and keep your "Thought Police" comments out of any threads I post in.

[erbilabuc]

this is fun. I'm going to try a pneumatic roof stapler and crank up the pressure to 110psi and Ill let you guys know how that turns out. If that doesnt work out then I am going to try and use a rivet gun. If that doesnt work out then I am going to use a Mig Welder. If that doesnt work then I am going to use super glue. If that doesnt work then I am going to use chunky peanut butter and strawberry jelly.

wish me luck

[redhenracing2]

Why take offense so easily?

[GSnoober]

You can't bait me with open-ended questions, so don't bother trying; I TOLD you I'm not interested in getting into guessing games or pissing contests, so either post something here on topic, or go find another thread, troll. I've been around the block a few times, and I know a troll when I see one.

FWIW, find someone else to refer to as "dude"; I'm probably twice your age, so I don't wear my hat backwards, and I'm also not the type to claim that Jesus hates ANYONE, so grow up, or go find another sandbox to play in; the senior citizens are using this one right now.

[redhenracing2]

so I don't wear my hat backwards

I am a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps. If I was caught wearing my hat backwards I would be quarter-decked faster than one could say 'yo dawg wassup'.

[erbilabuc]

so I don't wear my hat backwards

I am a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps. If I was caught wearing my hat backwards I would be quarter-decked faster than one could say 'yo dawg wassup'.

wow you're a boot! Quarter decked? are you still in boot camp?

[redhenracing2]

Quarter decked? are you still in boot camp?

I am in the D.E.P.(delayed entry program), which means that as soon as I finish my senior year of high school I go straight to boot camp. I have already been to meps and am thus required to train with the recruiter in what they call 'pool functions', which is very similar to boot camp. Yes, we get quarter decked, often for little stuff like forgetting to say sir or something.

[JB848]

  what kind of staple gun was that again?

[Ed500]

got any pics of it yet friend?

[JB848]

Really we want to see a picture of the Stapler after all of that!

[jeremy_nash]

I use a gray stanley electric stapler from walmart, it works fine! I've used it fro everything from motorcycle seats to redoing the upholstry in my boats

[jeremy_nash]

and be careful with pnuematic staplers, unless you crank the pressure way down, you'll just tear right through the fabric

[erbilabuc]

Quarter decked? are you still in boot camp?

I am in the D.E.P.(delayed entry program), which means that as soon as I finish my senior year of high school I go straight to boot camp. I have already been to meps and am thus required to train with the recruiter in what they call 'pool functions', which is very similar to boot camp. Yes, we get quarter decked, often for little stuff like forgetting to say sir or something.

well i wish you good luck but i wouldnt claim myself being a marine if I was you until you complete boot camp. I know you are proud of your choice but dont claim something you arent.