Stock Seat Cover Replacement

[trbig]

I just bought a new seat cover from the fine folks at B&H Specialties Link I liked the stock design that the XJ had and wanted to go back with that. These people sew the design in instead of melted in like stock is. (Along with a little more cushioning into the cover. )The were the cheapest ones I could find at $69.95 and they made a really nice product. They are just a small time operation that make them in a shop behind their house. I sure recommend them... if that counts for anything.. lol.

Tod


Before...




After

[Ken Talbot]

Nice looking product, trbig, and the price looks pretty good too. Do these fiolks actually have patterns on hand for all the models they list on their webpage?

[trbig]

Yep, apparently so. They have been in business a long time, but they are still a small operation. They said it would take two weeks after the order, but it was less than that. I had them send me a picture of one first... wanted to make sure of the stock look. They have pictures they can email you of most of them. They sent this picture to me for the XJ that someone had recently installed. Very nice looking bike... anyone on here own this?





Tod

[nubee]

I like them too.

[trbig]

I rode the bike with this new seat for the first time today. I can't believe how much more comfortable it is versus the stock one. That little bit of extra padding makes ALL the difference!

Not trying to whip this to death... just thought I'd add that.


Tod

[79XS11F]

Do you know if they do covers for after market king / queens as well?
Rob

[trbig]

I don't have any idea. Give them a call, or better yet, shoot them an email... real nice people. I would bet that if they didn't have a pattern and there was any way gently to take off what is left of yours, they'd probably make one up for you. Since there's several of those seats out there, they'd probably like to have the pattern anyway if they didn't already have it. BUT... like I said.. they have been in business a long time (Just re-checked... 34 years) and probably have it already. They have been makin' them since before your bike was born... lol.


Tod

[luckygpass]

Your seat patterns are different than mine. I posted a URL for a photo.

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/1031501/

(don't know how to directly paste it in, I tried).

Does anyone know if this seat pattern was the stock pattern. I don't know the history of the seat but it is sewn so I am guessing it has been recovered. I would like to know what I am sitting on since I am going on my first 700 mile plus ride and as my posterior gets numb I will be wondering if it is a improved seat or factory. There are no identification of a reupholstere under the seat. The material in the injection holes look like it might be the original foam.

[mro]

Very nice looking XJ

Have found that Yamaha used more than one seat design on the same model. I tried to duplicate one. Materal is cheep, got it all cut to size and had it about half done, then tried to sew three layers of the vinel and my sewing machine could not handle it.


mro

[olebiker]

Mines a recover no pattern at all. If I do the bike this winter (depends on the garage availability). I think I would consider that seat. Let me know how comfortable it is on a longer ride if you get a chance.

[mbowld44]

seat cover

Thanks for the info tod I have just ordered one

[trbig]

Olebiker, The only "Longer trips" I have made have been down to Texas to John and Wildkat's.. @350-400 miles roundtrip. When they make the seat covers, they add about a 1/4 inch more of padding to the underside to help the little pockets in between the sewn seams be raised and to make up for the seat pan foam being compressed over the years. I had no idea that just 1/4 inch more of padding could make such a difference.. it was WAYYY more comfortable.

luckygpass, I have never seen that seam style before on an XJ. If the seams on yours are sewn, not melted into the fabric, I would say it's been replaced before. The people at B&H will match whatever style you want if you show them a picture. They are just a small operation done by family in a shop behind their house. The "Sunburst" style on the "Before" pic I posted is what came stock on the bikes. That was the original cover.

The XJ owners are lucky I think in having a seat pan made of plastic.. so you CAN staple into it. What do the XS owners attach them with? Just a drawstring under the seat? Screws?

Tod

[mro]

Metal pans have small V'ees punched into em, with the pointy side up on the inside bottom edge so the material hooks on em when pullled around the bottom edge.


mro
BTW, OEM seat on my G had had foam on back side of cover too.