Installed a cafe seat - '78 GS550

[ChicagoBob]

I installed this Hot Wings Glass cafe seat to lower the seat height for my daughter. Good quality, looks good, is pretty comfortable, and weighs a lot less than the old steel fender. I'm not sure about that tail light, but it works and was easy to install, and I already had it.
Now I wish I'd kept my rearsets and clip-ons.

I also have installed Renthal Superlow bars. Reduces vibration a bit, not that there ever was too much of that.

I'm saving the old seat and fender for future use.


Seat lifts for access to tool kit and other stuff.

[FiremanBob]

Very nice look.

[Stahlgrau333]

I have to agree with the Bobs...very nice.

[Guest]

Nice one Bob, really suits the lines of the bike too.

[ChicagoBob]

Thanks for the complements. I actually think the seat is a little long for this bike, but to shorten it, I'd have to shorten the frame, and then I'd be unable to return to the previous seat and fender. Here's how it would look with a few inches lopped off the front. What do you all think?

[Stahlgrau333]

I guess the real question is, do you ever intend on 'returning' to stock? If it's at all possible, I'd stay stick with it the way it is. It doesn't look all that bad the way it sits, but I do agree it does look a little better shortened.

Do you have a link to the seat? I may look at one for my own project.

[Tim Tom]

The few inches don't really make that much difference. In my opinion leave it the way it is. It looks great. But then again I'm not a fan of really short little cafe seats. I like the length of the rear end on these bikes. It looks balanced.

[ChicagoBob]

I'll have to ponder it. Here's how the bike looked with the previous seat and 550L fender:

That seat and fender sure are heavy, compared to the cafe seat. Cutting the frame would save a few pounds, too.

[Guest]

I reckon the problem is actually the tail light... change to an integrated one in line with the rear of the seat and I think you'll find it changes the whole look...

[ChicagoBob]

Shortened Hotwing Glass seat - pics

I shortened the Hotwing Glass Road Race 3 seat I got for my 550. Provides a more snug seating position, and cut a few more pounds off the frame. Not much room for a tail light under there, though.

[Guest]

Actually that does look a bit better Bob, nice work

[D-Mac]

Looks good! I just finished installing mine today (a custom job with frame chop). I'll post pics in my cafe build thread later today.

I'm going to try and squeeze a low-profile tail light under the end of the seat, but it'll be a little tight when the suspension compresses.