Custom Tailored Motorcycle Seats

Discussion in 'Gear & Accessories' started by tinkerinWstuff, Nov 16, 2012.

  1. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Finally got around to getting another seat. I'm fully convinced we could have closed Gitmo years ago if terrorists were forced to sit on the OEM 6th gen seat for a day. Unfortunately it was ruled cruel and unusual punishment and banned by UN Red Cross Inspectors.

    the torture device:

    [​IMG]

    That seat was a gift from jeVFR back when I built the project bike. It served the college fund of my chiropractors children well over the last 5000 miles.

    Last summer I found another OEM seat on craigslist for $25. I attempted to butcher it myself to get me by until it made sense to see the tailor. Unfortunately, the OEM seat is so misshapen that you cannot cut out the bad areas without first building up others and it was a miserable failure.

    Last Thursday I dropped the bike off and met with the tailor. He was given my failure seat and the torture device. The goal was to make a touring seat that would be as comfortable as possible for myself and the wife without completely destroying any last resemblance of sport in the bike.

    By Wednesday morning we met him again for test fitting. The wife was pleased with the shape and picked out a firm top pad to go over the base shape you see in images below. I spent an hour with him cutting and sanding to further get the shape just right for my ass and posture.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The shape was exponentially better than OEM when I walked in Wednesday morning but it wasn't perfect until I left. When a person was willing to get picky it was neat to see how his first attempt at the rough shape felt like a glove when I sat upright in the seat. But when I put the hands on the bars and got in riding postion, it was still good but not as much as when I was upright.

    a little shaping and test fit....

    a little more shaping and test fit....

    Then the seat felt like sensual lesbian porn on my ass when in a riding position. You will see that the seat is widened for both riders and dished in the right spots. One size does not fit all here because of different leg lengths, arm length, installed equipment (heli bars), and even suspension (geometry) settings. The seat is also built up in front of both riders to help prevent sliding in braking.

    And here is the finished product:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    for comparison, here is a photo of the stock seat mounted on the bike. Look at the slope of the seat for both riders:
    [​IMG]

    All said and done, I was $485 out the door for a custom fit solution. I chose the fabric style, the shape, the look etc. I checked ebay today and new Corbin's were going for $435ish plus $26 shipping - and they are still a one size fits all.

    A seat cowl will not fit over this one as were my instruction to the tailor, no worries about the cowl. I wanted maximum comfort while maintaining as much sport as I could. I still have the OEM seat from jeVFR if I want to do a track day or knee drag in the canyon (ya right). If I ever won the lottery, I could always have him make more subtle adjustments to the OEM seat so a cowl would fit and the rider seating was still suited for weight shifting on the track.

    Tailored by Steve Gowing Hand Crafted Sport Tourer Seats | Steve Gowing
    Don't know that he does any custom shaping via mail order. I highly recommend you ask around for a custom tailor in your area who does motorcycle seats. Check with your local used bike shops. You never see a used bike at the dealer with a torn seat; they always send them to someone for repair before being placed on the showroom floor.
     
  2. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    The really custom seat guys don't do mail order. Been preaching custom seats for years. I use Rich's Seats in the Seattle area. Pricing depends on several things. Yep, a few bucks more than the cookie cutter seats but worth every penny more IMO.

    No slippery seats here :)
     
  3. rangemaster

    rangemaster New Member

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    Man, that looks great.
     
  4. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Then the seat felt like sensual lesbian porn on my ass when in a riding position.

    Look up Evil Agel Bitchcraft...Good stuff

    Nice pictures, happy riding. Nice colour! Would look look good in front of my tool box :smile:
     
  5. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    For the assficianados who buy a gel pad, be sure to ask if the gel material is the latest version. The old stuff works fine but on a hot day that lesbian porn feels even hotter after the bike has been out in the sun. Nice in winter though..
     
  6. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    if lesbian porn can get hotter, count me at the front of the line
     
  7. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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  8. JES_VFR

    JES_VFR New Member

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    I'd love to have Rich do a custom seat for me, but I'd have to find someone near Seattle to loan me their 5th gen for a day, so I could get fitted for my seat.
    I'll bring my seat and of course something that says thanks to the VFR owner willing to let me use his bike to sort out my broken spine problems.
     
  9. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    BB is in Seattle not sure which gen he got :noidea:
     
  10. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Rich was in Seattle for years. He has moved. He even offers overnight digs for those who need them. The site is the same addy with all the info needed. Best shot would be to talk directly to Rich. His biz is not some fly by the seat of your skivvies outfit. He has been doing this stuff for years. Before he got heavy into seats he was doing all sorts of vehicles like the Miss Budweiser and cages like Aston Martins and Mercedes Benz gullwings.

    I don't do the generation thing. My VFRF is a 1991 with a seat by Rich. Next up is the 1200.
     
  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Didn't Rich used to be in Bellingham a few years back, maybe 5 or 6 years back? I have been in his shop but I was sure it was Bellingham. I realize he is now in Seattle and will have to make a trip there sometime.
     
  12. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Rich's old shop was on Aurora Ave. in the North part of Seattle. He built a new shop and a house in Kingston. The best way to Kingston is by ferry from Edmunds or there is another route from I think Vashon Island.

    Just took a look at the website and there may be service by mail.. Best to call and talk to Rich or one of his guys. The lodgings are about $50.00/night and include a kitchenette.

    With an appointment a new seat takes a full day. I have known Rich for at least 20 years and I have seen him toss out a seat cover because one stitch was off. He is far from anal and just does first class work.

    Don't expect any asskissing from him either. That ain't Rich..

    Best way to get the most poop is to Google "rich's seats" that way you get not only the website and map ect but reviews and comments about the service.
     
  13. pilotct

    pilotct New Member

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    Anyone know a shop that does custom seat work in CT or RI?
     
  14. safetypro10

    safetypro10 New Member

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    What I di was take one stock seat and cut it in half after the driver for tucking under the cowl. Since I ridee alone MOST of the time, I also kept one stock seat in the closet for that time.

    I'll rebuild it some day in the future for two up.

    Larry
     
  15. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    If no one chimes in for you, ask your local used motorcycle dealer. They'll have someone who fixes the seats on their trade-ins before they put them out for sale.
     
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