My Seat and how to cover it ???

[SusanC]

First let me say thank you to those who helped with my last post, the lady decided not to do anything at this time so I had totally forgotten to reply back to the thread.

New project:

This is my own personal seat, I love the seat, it is comfortable and fits good, it's a little mushy, which I probably won't like in the long run. I don't like the color or the pad on the back but the seat pan is all one piece and the pad and the seat are sewn together where they meet at the bottom near the pan.

I really would like to have a cool seat for the bike, but would like some suggestions as to the best way to approach it (or to leave it alone). The seat is torn, or should I say, cut on the side (may not show in the picture). Any help would be appreciated.

[Roger]

i would think your best bet is to use the existing cover as a template.

cut it apart for the different pieces. i would think that is a rather difficult seat for a first. i haven't covered one quite that complex

[bustedlifter]

What kind of bike is it? Pics? Roger is absolutely right ,very complex.

[SusanC]

The bike is a sportster, the seat is a mustang seat. I have done a couple of other seats, one I hated that was for a softtail (I didn't like the way it turned out) but it was just for practice anyway, and a bobber seat that is laced together and riveted.

[Ian]

I've done quite a few stock seats that are similar. The biggest problem you'll run into is that if you're using the existing cover as a pattern, you'll find that the vinyl has stretched and formed to the foam. So, you'll need to iron it with a warm iron, with a cloth in between the iron and the vinyl. Also, check the seam allowances. Sometimes the seam allowance has been trimmed after it's been sewn. With a light coat of spray adhesive, you can glue your pieces to poster board - then use a wing divider to re-draw the seam allowance (usually 3/8"). With button tufted seats like that one, there is a little leeway when you aply the new buttons. You may also want to glue a layer of 1/4" foam over the existing foam, before putting on the new cover.

Ian

[bustedlifter]

The bike is a sportster...............bobber seat........ and riveted.

Now your speaking my language! If it doesn't work out, could you try a solo seat that hugs the frame and has a lower profile?

Edited October 7, 2008 by bustedlifter

[SusanC]

Thanks so much for the info !!! Yesterday I rebuilt the carb and now I got to focus some attention to the clutch. The seat is on the list of things I would like to fix but I first have to take care of the things that "need" to be fixed first.

I was looking for a way to disconnect the pad from the back and just have the seat, but I really couldn't figure out how to get the back of the seat to sit up without any support, since the pad is what is supporting it now. I would have liked to not have the pad over the fender since I prefer the look. But the seat fits me well as I need something that is low profile so that my feet will continue to touch the ground.

[bustedlifter]

Got a pic of that bike? Is it an ironhead or an evo?

[SusanC]

It is an ironhead, and a project indeed. I have been so busy trying to clean it up from neglect and work on all the little things

that have probably needed fixing for a while that I haven't gotten to make one thing for the bike, but it's in the works.

I think I am just going to forget about covering this seat and go on to plan B (which I haven't figured out yet)but I'm sure there

is a Plan B out there somewhere.

I've only got one "before" picture, so take it easy on the old girl, she is a work in progress.

[bustedlifter]

Cool, I see it has a kicker ,that's good. Some shorter shocks, small round air cleaner, remove the reflectors from the frontend and shave the legs .... Have you ever checked out the

Jockey Journal?

Edited October 15, 2008 by bustedlifter