Sargent Welt Color Swatch Pics

I've read a few threads here about the 'best' color welt to order for a Sargent saddle on our VFR's. There are also a few excellent picture threads showing how the different color welts look on different color/year bikes. When I contacted Sargent, I found that they have many different reds, white, blues, etc. Sargent says this:

"While we try to match the original colors of various motorcycle makes, it may not be possible to obtain an exact match. Some variations should be expected due to age, weather exposure, lighting, variations in fabric dyes, and variations in paint color batches from the manufacturers." Sargent will send their samples to anyone on request if you want to see the actual materials.

I have noted myself that our metallic paints are actually multiple tones mixed together, which makes it impossible to select a flat vinyl color that will match it exactly. So, I contacted Sargent, and offered to photograph their different colored vinyls on my RWB Interceptor - in both natural daylight and artificial lighting. What follows are my very unscientific results.

Here is a look at the many different Honda reds offered by Sargent:




Here are a couple of daylight pics of the closest reds mounted on my VFR:



The order of color codes in these pics (from left to right) is A-80, A-88, A-090, A-55, A-22, A-11, A-66, and A-77. To my eyes in this light, A-090 and A-55 were the closest. Here are the blues in daylight:



The order of blue codes is G-44, G-055, G-42, G-50, G-58, and G-52 The G-50 looked the closest from different angles to me. Next, here are the whites and silvers:



The white codes from left to right are D-?, D-55, D-66, and D-011. D-55 was the winner for the whites in daylight. The silvers were labeled E-122 and E-111 with either color silver looking closer depending upon which angle you were looking at it.

Then I rolled the bike in the garage, shut the door, turned on the overhead lights, and put the blues and reds back on. Here are the reds in artificial light;



As you can see, the colors look a little different in this light. Starting at the top left, the color codes are: A-090, A-55, A-88, A-80, A-22, A-11, and A-66. I still thought that A-090 and A-55 looked the best, although the A-22 looked much closer in this light. Here are the blues:



From left to right, the color codes are: G-50, G-88, G-62, G-055, G-042, and G-44. The best matches were still G-50 and G-62.

Thanks to Paul Jones at Sargent for sending me all of the different color swatches! I think that with all of the choices you can get pretty close to the color you want. I have also seen a RWB with a yellow welt and yellow wheel stripes, and it looked pretty good! Of course, if all of this color-matching effort is just too much for you - go with good ol' black!

Have a good one!

 

Holy smokes! That is one diligent colour (yes, that's how it's spelled!) evaluation. Nice work!

 

What I can say from the experience with the Sargent I have had on my 99 for about a year is that because the welting is separated from the paint by about two inches of black seat covering the color of the welting doesn't have to exactly match the paint to look great. Even if it didn't match I would still love the seat to death, its that comfortable.

 

Thanks 1FireGal. You just saved me a ton of work. I am buying a Sargent seat for my RWB and had it on my list to tackle the color matching issue over the next month or two. It's funny that you mention the yellow because I was thinking about it as it would match the wing on the tank. I'm also considering white. I can't do black - it would just be too plain.

 

I haven't decided for sure which color welt I want myself. Maybe I will have a custom red, white, and blue one done! We also have an 2005 ST1300 and a 2007 Suzuki V-Strom that both need Sargent seats, so I've been sticking those color swatches all over everything!

 

Really want to see the finished product.

 

I think the white welt on a RWB would look superb, and easy to match...

 

Lots more than those few sample of seat materials and colors at any good upholstery shop. Gotta figure that the "seats by mail" are cookie cutter and a custom shop can build a seat to match or suit the rider.

Once again an unabashed plug for Rich O'Conner ( who even looks Irish) at Rich's seats where your ass is important.

 

I have the silver and it looks great!

 

I'm thinking the same thing since it is inline with the white from the seat cowl right to the front of the bike. I'm only concerned about the white showing dirt or wear more so than a darker color.

 

Do you have any pictures other than your avatar?

 

yeah here it is

 

Yes, that does look good. I hadn't considered the sliver because I didn't think it would match anything, but seeing it now, it does match the silver attributes that are all around it - exhaust, passenger pegs, cyclinder heads, etc. I like the white rims too. I did the same to mine. The RWB doesn't look right without them.