seats universal fit?

[tadtl1]

Hi,

Can any year standard seat be fit to a special of any year without alteration or does it take some doing.

[motoman]

Will fit.......location of TCI module(which can be changed) is an issue with different years of bike. Top angle of side covers will leave a small gap as standard seat does not have as steep of a drop angle to follow lines of the sidecovers. Vice-versa putting a special seat on a standard as that side angle of seat frame WILL reast a touch on the side-covers, making it impossible to remove covers with-out removing the seat first. Also, up against a Standard tank as opposed to the sloped special tank, front of seat will ride up on it a bit. Foam and material is soft enough that it is NOT a problem as far as the front of seat is concerned though.

[xs11lover]

Ole put a 80 standard seat on a 79 special one time. I fit nice but left a gap between the front of the seat and the tank.

[tadtl1]

to be specific

Hi,

Thanks for your input, to be specific, I am thinking in terms of 78 standard seat on an eighty mns special. I am too tall to be sitting in that hollowed out spot on the mns seat and want the ability to easily move back a bit with the flatter seat.

[FANNING507]

81' MNS owner--seat?

I would be interested in your seat if you find a replacement. The only two pans that fit the Midnight Specials are the 80 LG and the 81 LH. Both part numbers are identical. The seat I have has a fiberglass pan and has been recovered. Been looking for another to restore to original. Kim

[DGXSER]

I thought, although I have not tried on a MNS, that all of the 80-81 special models side covers and seats were interchangable. I know I have interchanged parts from 80-81 specials with no problems to date.

[MaximPhil]

Location of TCI

Will fit.......location of TCI module(which can be changed) is an issue with different years of bike. Top angle of side covers will leave a small gap as standard seat does not have as steep of a drop angle to follow lines of the sidecovers. Vice-versa putting a special seat on a standard as that side angle of seat frame WILL reast a touch on the side-covers, making it impossible to remove covers with-out removing the seat first. Also, up against a Standard tank as opposed to the sloped special tank, front of seat will ride up on it a bit. Foam and material is soft enough that it is NOT a problem as far as the front of seat is concerned though.

Hi Motoman,
We have run into the TCI seat conflict on my Venrurer. Looks like the (nice) seat I have is not original, though not sure.
What is the location we should move the TCI to?
Camera and the internet not talking to each other to day but i will keep trying to post pictures in "Phil's not quite excelent...." thread.
Phil

[tinman905]

Hi Motoman,
We have run into the TCI seat conflict on my Venrurer. Looks like the (nice) seat I have is not original, though not sure.
What is the location we should move the TCI to?
Camera and the internet not talking to each other to day but i will keep trying to post pictures in "Phil's not quite excelent...." thread.
Phil

Phil your TCI is in the right place you just have the wrong seat. Looks like it's going into the tool box until you can find the right seat.

[motoman]

Obvious he already knows TCI loc. is correct tinman. MaximPhil, somwhere here on a thread a few years ago seen where someone solved same issue by getting some slack in wiring and moving TCI forward to the flat area up near filter intake snorkel. If that would work, sure beats locating another nice correct seat. My original is in the closet and as far as I can remember maybe saw 2weeks of daylight before I changed it when I bought bike new. It still is a "as new" soft supple seat, but sure no one could afford to pay to pry it out of my closet. That and the original number matching motor which runs but needs an overhaul (replaced with a same year/model low mileage motor) I have kept so it could always be kept original if it necessitated.....just one of those things I guess cause if this motor was to ever throw craps I would'nt rebuilt the bike anyways....just figure it was fun while it lasted, which will likely outlast me anyways....who knows.

[MaximPhil]

Obvious he already knows TCI loc. is correct tinman. MaximPhil, somwhere here on a thread a few years ago seen where someone solved same issue by getting some slack in wiring and moving TCI forward to the flat area up near filter intake snorkel. If that would work, sure beats locating another nice correct seat. My original is in the closet and as far as I can remember maybe saw 2weeks of daylight before I changed it when I bought bike new. It still is a "as new" soft supple seat, but sure no one could afford to pay to pry it out of my closet. That and the original number matching motor which runs but needs an overhaul (replaced with a same year/model low mileage motor) I have kept so it could always be kept original if it necessitated.....just one of those things I guess cause if this motor was to ever throw craps I would'nt rebuilt the bike anyways....just figure it was fun while it lasted, which will likely outlast me anyways....who knows.

Thanks Motoman,
Will try relocating the TCI to your suggestion in the morning. The saddle suits and so far seems comfortable. Just a few more little things and should be ready for test fllght.
Phil

[tinman905]

Bigdaddyfunk and myself already came to that conclusion last week .I was just reaffirming with Phil that his seat was not stock as he thought it was.