Custom seat

[rainbowshooter]

Does any one know how to make a custum pan or where to start? Maybe a point to a site, would be helpful. Dont want to go over board price wise, but I do have access to a lot of metal tools( just not real good with them ).

[Dennyz]

The XS seat pan is rather complicated. I found it easier to start with a stock seat pan, then add or remove metal as needed.

[tradeshowjoe]

I posed the same question months ago and one suggestion that was already done by another on the site was to custom make one with lexon. He did this to get the pan lower to the frame and used his own materials for padding then covered it.

[johnstewart]

I'm thinking of attempting to replace the foam in my seat.

Stopped at an upholstery suppy store yesterday, and the guy there didn't think the foam he had (for furniture) was really what I was looking for.

There is this place, this foam sounds good:

http://www.sunmatecushions.com/motorcyc.htm

However, it's very pricey. Also, it's open cell. Not sure what difference this makes, but this place tout closed cell as the way to go:

http://www.sargentcycle.com/custserv.htm

Hmmm... lots of not inexpensive options...

[Snow]

you may also want to make sure to get "marine grade" exterior also.

[Bob]

Made pan from Lexan, used expanding foam insulation (in the aerosol can) to shape the seat, carpet pad on top of that, then the leather cover Can insert gel pad before the leather cover if so desired. Made a very comfortable saddle (for me, imho) for less than $100. I now sit about 1 inch above the frame. I'm 6' 3" and love the riding position this puts me in.
And, John, if you want to replace the foam in your saddle, use DENSE foam, according to my leathersmith buddy. He has rebuilt a lot of saddles for bikers.

[Geezer]

Youse guys may think I'm crazy but I'm building a solo seat from an old tractor seat. These were ment to hold up a human rear end all day without padding or causing pain.

The one I have was given to me some years ago and I was going to make a shop stool out of it. This thing was gathering dust in the corner of my garage when I got the idea to sit it on one of my XS11 parts bikes. Then I got to thinking... Anyway, I'll post pix here when I get it done. I may weld on a pasenger section but that's optional at this point.

Anybody know a good auto upolsterer in the Portland, OR area?

Geezer

[Dennyz]

I rebuilt the foam pad on my "F". It was pretty well rotted away when I got the bike.

I used an electric kitchen knife to cut away the rotten foam. I glued chipped carpet pad foam (1/2") back in to build up the seat.

I built up the passenger part of the seat to carry my seat pack, and cut down the saddle for a lower seat height. The carpet pad foam was firmer, so I removed most of the stock foam in the saddle area and built it up with carpet pad.

I covered it all with a TravelCad replacement cover. It turned out very nice. I have put 12 hour days in the saddle with no serious discomfort.