Do you know about re-upholstering seats?

[Stan]

My voyager dates back to 86 so the leather isn’t in the best of condition. There are places where it has cracked and a previous owner has quite skillfully glued it together.

The other day a neighbor of mine who works upholstering for a car manufacturer offered to reupholster all the seats and backrest.

But I was wondering if the leather they use in car manufacturing would be suitable for motorcycle seats, being out in the elements and all?

[Sparky-29]

I dont think it would hold up to the sun. And moisture. You can get new seat covers off Ebay for 175$ I did it Tom 2 hours to re cover the seats

[Nails]

There's certainly cheap or pricy naugahide, but I don't think there's anything special about motorcycles. I replaced some weather-facing panels on the pass backrest using an industrial sewing machine. Turned out great, but was a PITA. YMMV.

I just finished a new butt-rest patterned after the one in front of the pass seat. Now fabbing a backrest, part of an effort to convert to solo touring (stay tuned). I'm using fairly cheap naugahyde. Pretty sure it'll hold up fine, based on past experience. I mean, 30 years of weather seems pretty good to me, too.

[SgtSlag]

Leather on a motorcycle seat requires a lot of treatment: UV resistance creams, water-proofing creams, etc. You will need to cover it when not riding, to protect it from sunlight (UV), and rain. This is why the covering material of choice is marine-grade vinyl. It is available in different colors, but black is the most common.

Marine-grade vinyl is what is used by most factories. It is highly resistant to UV, and rain. It is resistant to the heat of the sun, as well. It is a heavy gauge of vinyl (thick), resistant to tearing, and somewhat resistant to cutting. I would highly recommend using marine-grade vinyl, rather than leather, any day of the week.

I had a 1979 Honda whose seat was fine, but I wanted a King/Queen seat, so I took it to a professional who said he understood what I wanted, and would do it. He added red cording, and a red, diamond, stitch pattern. He did not fully understand what I meant by King/Queen seat, but what he created was still gorgeous.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29399140@ ... 706136196/ Seat photo taken by Nate, the upholstery guy.

http://vintage-and-classic-honda-s.4567 ... G_0610.jpg Seat installed on the bike, when it was up for sale; sold it back in 2012.

That job cost me around $350, back in 2008. It was done in marine-grade vinyl, black. The red piping was gorgeous. It matched the bike fairly close. Frankly, it looked amazing. I would check out Nate's other samples in his gallery, for ideas of what is possible. Ask to see photo's of your neighbor's workmanship, before you agree upon anything. You want to be sure he can do the work you envision. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck. Cheers!

[Stan]

That’s a really nicely done seat.

I’m getting the impression most people here don’t think that getting the seat upholstered in car leaver is the best idea. It’s just the opportunity presented itself. The guy does upholstering for Austin martin so I can imagine they use some really nice leaver. And the neighbor said he only wanted $100 for the job.

But if it’s not going to hold up then I guess it’s not worth the hassle.

[HMB Don]

If you're getting it free go for it both of my Voyagers have had Corbin leather covered seats

Pic taken in 2016 the seat is 11 years old. Voyager always in the garage

[Stan]

That’s a beautiful seat Don.
It’s good that you mention that yours is always garaged. Because mine is always outside. And I was just thinking judging by my leather trousers leather does absorb moisture and then take quite some time to dry. And that just won’t be pleasant with a seat.

It’s not completely free a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars and I’ve got the hassle of taking the seats off.

I think the others have swayed me away from the idea. I didn’t really think up till now that motorcycle seats weren’t covered in actual leather.

[cbrfxr67]

Speaking of Corbin, that's what I'm trying to figure out. I've done a few seats but the Corbin's contours and seams are a challenge.

[HMB Don]

I don't want to be a show off, but I'm proud of my Corbin seat. I have a bad back 3 bad disks so having a proper firm seat is a must or I can't ride more then a couple of hours with out pain. When I bought my Voyager 1700 and rode it home 70 miles, I hurt. So within a couple of weeks I was at the Corbin factory getting my custom seat. My Voyager on had 800 miles on the ODO, I had to eat port n beans for about two months. Here are some pictures of what Corbin does to give you the best seat for each person.

The stock seat

They've modified the base now fitting it to me, also fitted the back to Trisha

This is the person that also made the pattern, each white line on the leather is cut and will be a seam

Seamstress sewing my seat cover, with piping

Finished seat

The finished passenger back rest, extra cost

]

[Stan]

If you are having problems with your back Don you’d really benefit from taking glucosamine (I’m not affiliated with this company in any way, I just have positive experience with this product)
https://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signatu ... 654&sr=8-5

It says take two per day. But you should really take at least six to notice a difference (spread them out throughout the day). My sister was looking at having knee surgery and glucosamine reversed everything. You might want to look into avoiding gluten as well.

[HMB Don]

I don't have problems with my back, as long as I take care of it. So to ride motorcycles I have to make whatever motorcycle I own or ride fit me. One thing is to have a firm seat that will hold me in place for hours.

I'm able to control my discomfort with exercise and diet. When I met my first doctor he said (you're a chubby fella). And lose weight, get out and exercise, if it hurts figure out a way for it not to hurt. He was correct, once in a great while I take ibuprofen 600 to 800 mg.

[Nails]

I don't have problems with my back, as long as I take care of it. So to ride motorcycles I have to make whatever motorcycle I own or ride fit me.

I hear that. I have arthritis in my back. It's only really a problem if I slouch, which is what I do pretty much all the time on road bikes. I'm making a backrest -- compared with yours, it's downright medieval. The exact fore/aft location is critical, so I have to make it adjustable. I'll definitely have to test it on an all-day ride. The point is that it has to push my spine forward just so (like within 1/4"), else I'll need a lot of Ibuprofen.

I'm short (arms and legs), so I'm fine with a compact cockpit. I have my just-made butt rest located about half-way between the stock full forward and the middle setting. That's not particularly fussy, but the relationship between the butt rest and the back rest is. I mean, the butt rest also is adjustable; and I might be able to use that to get the back rest just right.

Right now, it looks like the backrest will be pretty far forward (still building it) -- its looking kinda like a medieval torture device. I'll certainly need to test on a long ride.

I don't have any problem with dirtbike sit-up-and-beg ergos (setting aside monkey-butt). And that's pretty much where I'm ending up with the XII, too.

One thing is to have a firm seat that will hold me in place for hours.

I had a 1980 R80G/S that came to me with a Corbin seat, no doubt an off-the-shelf version. It felt to me like a dirtbike seat, that is like a 2X4. I reckon it just didn't fit my butt. I don't have any problem with the stock XII seat, with a sheepskin and beads.

once in a great while I take ibuprofen 600 to 800 mg.

That crap is hard on your liver, but I'm pretty sure I'll need to pop one in the morning as prophylactic. Exercise and staying as limber as possible -- along with avoiding bad posture -- are key. I don't see how anyone over about 50 can go long distances without a backrest.

We gave glucosamine to our sport horses, considering it a joint lubricant. I'm sure it helps with inflammation, but not as much as avoiding the inflammation in the first place. I'm skeptical it'll do much for me. Instead, what I really need is some support to keep my spine aligned right.