First picture post. Hope it works
I sanded the step off the seat and filled the butt bucket. Contoured with belt sander, pulled cover back on and stapled in place. Its a bit ragged, i.e. not a factory job, cosmetically. Its about 20x more comfortable than the factory job to ride on. I have original seat and would put that back on only for a guest rider if they are less than say 5' 6".
(http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/?action-view¤t=100_0094.jpg)
(http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/?action-view¤t=100_0113.jpg)
(http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/?action-view¤t=100_0112.jpg)
The picture of the raw seat was not its final shape but you get idea of how to do it. I sanded some more off top layer, put a mild seat butt depression about six inches behind the original step. Also cut the front down a bit to get cover to pull back on.
Followed "Mister"s instructions. Didn't seem to work.
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So there is a pic online somewhere. maybe your Flickr. maybe your photobucket. maybe somewhere else like this one http://www.cyclegear.com/images/oil/motul_5100_4t_10w40_LG.jpg
So have a look above the emoticons. There are some other icons. One on left looks like flower, next is a Picture frame. So you click that and it gives you an IMG tag
Code:
(http://)
Between the IMG tags you put the URL of the image
Code:
(http://www.cyclegear.com/images/oil/motul_5100_4t_10w40_LG.jpg)
It then comes out like this...
Hope this helps,
Michael
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try again
(http://www.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/?action-view¤t=100_0113.jpg)
Wierd. I can open by asking for new tab but its just a ? link to start with.
johnny ro yur pic links are kept at Area 51 no one can see them?
Even if you can't get the picture to show up, just post the link and someone else can make it show up for you.
I've heard when you're recovering seats it helps to put the vinyl in the dryer first, it'll soften it up a little and you can pull it tighter. You can also try spraying some 3M/Elmers spray on adhesive on the foam, and the vinyl will stick to it.
Anyway, look forward to seeing what you came up with when we get a picture to work! I've got a seat for another bike I need to uncover and modify a little, but I'm gonna wait until it's raining for a few days.
Can you see his links tt_four?
Quote from: tt_four on October 12, 2010, 06:14:30 PM
Even if you can't get the picture to show up, just post the link and someone else can make it show up for you.
I've heard when you're recovering seats it helps to put the vinyl in the dryer first, it'll soften it up a little and you can pull it tighter. You can also try spraying some 3M/Elmers spray on adhesive on the foam, and the vinyl will stick to it.
Anyway, look forward to seeing what you came up with when we get a picture to work! I've got a seat for another bike I need to uncover and modify a little, but I'm gonna wait until it's raining for a few days.
i tried the dryer method for the new seat skin i put on a 4 wheeler i had. worked like a charm! :thumb:
I used my trusty heat gun. Prob didnt need it. Torch would be too hot.
Arrow stapler. Tapped them in the rest of way with brass drift.
Link below is one of three in album. Also the best shot. If I had glued it down it would be concave in the photo on top.
http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/?action=view¤t=100_0113.jpg
Um I did it with a staple gun in my front room. It's real easy just start on one side and pull it taught. No secrets. If it don't look right it ain't. Took me 15 minutes and I am no "Rain Man" it's just commen sense trust yourself
Take your cover back off... sand the foam little smoother if you can (with an eye on symmetry)- go to an upholstery supply place and get some 1/4 or 1/2 inch scrim backed foam (or ask for car headliner..works ) and glue the foam all over the seat...recover it.
It'll smooth it out quite a bit and look a lot better (unless you're happy with it...then ride on..). Yes heat is your friend with vinyl.... steam is great.. heat guns are ok...can get a bit too hot.
I do boat/motorcycle/car/home upholstery --used to work at a shop but have my own home shop for "on the side" work.. (ie when i feel like doing a job..).
Those electric bread knives work ok for carving foam if you have access to one ( I have a dedicated foam saw..)...the belt sander works pretty well too...I use a wood rasp too here and there...
Went the opposite route awhile back.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44614.0
Oh yeah...You saw that post...didn't we message back and forth before? Where are you located?
Jared you hit the nail on the head!
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/100_0113.jpg)
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/100_0112.jpg)
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff423/johnnyro1/100_0094.jpg)
Um jeremy_nash...I have seen your work in the past but that seat looks like the waves at waikiki what gives?
no thats my seat in my garage at 03832.
Bumpy and lumpy but feels good to the butt. And no step = I fit right on bike.
Will check on the foam backed vinyl.
How many hours you think you can spend in the seat now? (Approx)
After an hour and a half in mine (Stock GS) I got give the numb bum a bit of a rest.
It may be just me, but I would not see it as 'worth it' to get another hour or two of comfortable riding for my seat to look like that. The GS seats are not bad to start with, much more comfy than my gixxer.
Its ugly, a lumpy bumpy unfinished cob job. True enough, if you focus on the lack of fine finish and how I just slapped the old cover back on. Its a cobby prototype. If I redo it it will come out cleaner. Its not ghetto though.
I am starting to get motivated about looks for this bike, based on that black bike, the raven posted a few days ago. That was awesome.
I can get this seat looking clean. Just take another whole weekend day split between sourcing materials and redoing again. Want a foam knife. Winter project. Its a useful skill to invest in, I will be riding a while.
Formerly I would get uncomfortable in 30 minutes from sitting with my knees out or legs in a cramped tuck. The bike is set up OEM for a small person. Now there is no such thing as cramp.
You cant see it but OEM bars are bent forward to remove the sweepback and are on risers. I reach out a bit, but they are high, relieving cramp and wrist ache.
On the stock seat my ass actually hurt after 30 minutes. This OEM seat is truly awful. Now on a 60 minute ride I was actively unaware of butt pain issues. I can slide around a lot. Not stuck in one spot.
I actually like the look of it. Do you have any pictures of the whole bike to see how it fits?
Hey Johnny,
What'd you fill your seat in with? I have a seat that used to have a strap on it, but I bought it used and it didn't come with the strap. I uncovered the seat and I just want to fill in the gap and recover it but I'm not sure what to use. I was going to go to the fabric store and get some foam, but I know it's not going to be anywhere near as dense as the foam the seat is made. Whatever that blue stuff is you used looks great. Care to share?? This is the gap I'm trying to fill in.
(http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/5948_20101016091427_L.jpg)
(http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/5948_20101016091445_L.jpg)
I used Gold's Gm mat from Walmart, its $20 a roll. Its sized about 5 feet long and 2 wide, to do like situps and pushups. Its nice material. I used contact cement to glue it on, high build contact cement. Thats also nice materiel. However the glue and mat are different hardnesses and it leaves ridges where sanded. Better to start with new foam block I think. Or, do a cap, i.e. grind it all down then put one slice of foam over it all.
Weird. This computer's "whie" "kei" just died. Off to Staples. No more eating french fries while tping.
I will shoot the bike again from side next time out in shop. The wrinkles are bad but the shot above accentuates them.
The main idea here for this bike was remove the step and bring the front up.
For the groove in seat in post above, thats a tough call. Razor knife on foam bed topper would be tool to use to make an L crosssectioned filler strip. About 20 tries out of one topper.
Thanks! I'll have to run to target tomorrow to check out the exercise mats and bedding, as well as random things since I really only need a tiny little strip and not a whole map. shouldnt be too complicated.
the only question I have is why the gs rear already looks ugly without a solo tail but now you make a modernish looking bike look like something from the early 80's. I say it looks worse. :nono:
I believe the goal was comfort, plus he still has the stock seat.
I have 2 seats for my other bike, one has a step like the GS seat and the other is pretty much flat the whole way like the seat he made. Nice to be able to switch depending how I want to ride.
my GS had no issues with comfort with the stock seat, I also had no issues with the r6 seat and tail. you want comfort buy those gel things or by another bike. the GS is what it is and nothing more.
I still don't understand why he's not allowed to modify his own seat?? :dunno_black:
Technically he just made his seat into a gel seat. Is it only approved if he pays someone else $200 to make one for him?? Everyone's butt is different. Like I said I have 2 seats for my other bike, I swap back and forth based on what kind of riding I'm doing, plus sometimes I'll wear bicycle shorts if I'm going on longer trips. I've had heated grips on 2 of my bikes to control the grip temperature for when it gets cold, manufacturers sell different sized windscreens, different height foot pegs. There's a million different things people do to their bikes so they can be happier with it. I doubt you can even tell much of a difference in how it looks when he's siting on it.
Quote from: mach1 on October 16, 2010, 07:35:06 PM
the only question I have is why the gs rear already looks ugly without a solo tail but now you make a modernish looking bike look like something from the early 80's. I say it looks worse. :nono:
People who think bike seats are supposed to have steps in them may be suffering future shock. They seem to think think steps are normal.
I believe the functional reason for a step is to keep you in place under huge acceleration. Hence it became a styling cue on lesser bikes where the marketing dept. attempts a performance image. Similar to tiny rear spoilers on 4 door passenger cars with low power. Kind of reminds you of a rallye car so you think its sporty.
I see no non-styling reason for a step on a GS500F seat.
Plus they locate the step to fit a small person.
I think styling cues can be great but not when they actively interfere with function.
I have the other seat. I glance at it occasionally on the shelf, with pleasure. I have a short friend who will visit one day from NY and that seat will go back on while I ride his Burgman 650 to chase him while he rides my GS. I might teach my sister to ride, as well.