some seat "repair" questions

[suzukizone]

1981 GS 850G. Roadkill came with a double saddle. I do not know if the steel pan is what came with the seat or is the stock pan, with a kit on it. I do keep a sheepskin cover on the rider seat so the splitting of the old vinyl is know only to me. I do find the seat design causes me to slide forward as I ride & have to hoist my butt back to the "rim" regularly. I am curious if I could get a seat either by purchase from the ground up (way too expensive I believe. Or purchase a replacement saddle kit with foam & cover.

For the latter I'd need to know, I guess if seat base is the stock one.

Finally I'd really like some sort of gel/memory foam insert to live out my final riding days in more comfort. Lots of issues.

1. Is there a clear way to ID the steel seat pan to know if it is the stock Suzuki item? If not I guess it would have to go off to an expensive seat builder & probably would kill this idea.

2. Has anyone needed to do this project & knows a source for the items/services needed?

3. How could I devise the new top parts to allow a bit more dip in the rear of the seat to hold my backside where I put it?

Any tips or historical experiences are appreciated.

Thanks, and I did re-read the info at BikeCliff's site as to how to link up images. Hopefully I learned from it. Thanks for that tip.

DH

 

[XR750]

As for #1, a pic of the base underside would help ID it. For #3, the existing seat foam can be re shaped with an electric carving knife and a small grinder with something like a 40 grit disc.

 

[limeex2]

I am having a problem getting a seat gs1000 seat.Why couldnt I, like XR750 mentions,buy one of those touring barge seats,shave it down,as there is plenty of foam and use a new seat cover? It has the gs1000 base I need....

 

[dpep]

For the latter I'd need to know, I guess if seat base is the stock one.

If the seat fits on your bike without any obvious kludging visible on the pan, that is usually a pretty good sign.

But for confirmation, yes, a picture of the bottom side would do it.
...

 

[suzukizone]

If the seat fits on your bike without any obvious kludging visible on the pan, that is usually a pretty good sign.

But for confirmation, yes, a picture of the bottom side would do it.
...

OK can do that soon as I pull it next time. Only prob I see with respect to your reply is if someone had bought a complete aftermarket seat with the pan as part of it, that would by necessity fit well. However if someone has a stock seat, I forward a pic or three with exact measurements, then hopefully it can be ID'd as stock or un-stock.

"For #3, the existing seat foam can be re shaped with an electric carving knife and a small grinder with something like a 40 grit disc."

Any idea where one of these carving knives might be found?

Do you or anyone else know of a source for some of that nifty memory/gel foam? Else I have to rent a motel room under an alias & cut up the Thermarest mattress. Still on probation for the last time I did that. :numbness:

Thanks, get back to you soon.

DH

 

[78550GS]

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-...417991&sr=8-1&keywords=electric+carving+knife

 

[XR750]

Walmart carries the carving knife. Also, on another seat thread someone mentioned redoing their seat with "superfoam" purchased from Sargent seats.

 

[suzukizone]

Walmart carries the carving knife. Also, on another seat thread someone mentioned redoing their seat with "superfoam" purchased from Sargent seats.

And thanks to 78550GS for initial tip on the knife.

I guess it would work on a stock type seat which has a pretty flat profile. I do not see how I could use the long flat blade on the somewhat dished out profile of the touring saddle. Perhaps the grinding out method would work better. I do have a HF right angle drill. I could mount a sanding disc on it to shape if I try this project myself.

Will look at that foam soon as I can. Will take pix of seat base in day or so as the old girl is getting laid up what with rain & fork seal replacement this weekend.

Thanks all for your input.

DH

 

[suzukizone]

If the seat fits on your bike without any obvious kludging visible on the pan, that is usually a pretty good sign.

But for confirmation, yes, a picture of the bottom side would do it.
...

OK so here are a few images with some data included & FWIW a shot of the seat itself. I noticed the "butt capture zone" does actually have a little drop to it, however, the "backstop" has a slope, To be perfect for me, this section would be straight vertical. I guess I slide my bottom up onto it a bit & then that is what causes me to keep sliding forwards.

I used to have a GS500E & had gotten a Suzuki "Gel" seat. The backstop on it was actually vertical and I loved how I fit up against it & stayed in place.

Anyway, if anyone can confirm that I have a stock Suzuki base pan or not, lemmee know. I tried to post pix using the "IMG" code but now it doesn't show up in the Photobucket options so sorry this will have to do it.

http://s935.photobucket.com/user/suzukizone/library/GS850G Bucket Seat

Thanks.

DH

 

[suzukizone]

When I look at how it turns out the IMG option is on that so does this work? Wish I understood all this.

 

[78550GS]

The pan looks pretty close to my 79 850 pan. I'm willing to say it is a stock pan.

 

[dpep]

Stock pan. I just went out to the garage and double checked.

Most of the "custom" seat makers require that you provide them the pan. Except for very popular models (ex: each generation of Gold Wing) it isn't/wasn't cost effective for them to tool up and fabricate individual seat pans.
...

 

[lurch12_2000]

Any idea where one of these carving knives might be found?

Do you or anyone else know of a source for some of that nifty memory/gel foam? Else I have to rent a motel room under an alias & cut up the Thermarest mattress. Still on probation for the last time I did that. :numbness:

Thanks, get back to you soon.

DH

I found my used carving knife at a thrift store for $3, or maybe find one cheap at the Salvation Army store. They work great for re- shaping foam but keep the blades sharp to easily slice through the foam. Search youtube videos to get an idea on how to tackle that task. Mark things with a sharpie pen and take less off, not more, at first. You can always keep shaving but it's a hassle to build it back up correctly. I would not use memory foam as it will compress and form to your butt leaving little cushioning. Use a dense foam that will give some and contour but still maintain some cushioning. I don't like using gel because up here in the cold it gets harder and cold if you don't cover with a foam layer. It also will get hot if just under the cover and exposed to sunlight. If you don't believe me then take a gel pad and put in fridge and then sit on it or put it out in the hot sun for a few hours and touch it.

 

[Gorminrider]

[/URL][/IMG]


You nearly have it, suzukizone.-just copy image links and then paste them into "Insert Image" (from URL)

I can't imagine anyone reproducing this pan especially in metal- it has to be factory.

 

[suzukizone]

WOW!!! So much good feedback. Thank you all. Haven't had a chance to get back to forum till today.

Gorminrider, you stated "You nearly have it, suzukizone.-just copy image links and then paste them into "Insert Image" (from URL)"

Guess I am dumber than I been look. Since I don't see the term "Insert Image" in the forum tableau, where is this referencing. Really wanna do this the way I should but you must realize, my mind IS failing and some tech type stuff is Greek to me.

As to Gel/Mem Foam issue, I don't usually ride in temps much below freezing & that is for short distances. I have the seat covered in Yak fur or Musk Ox hide as insulation.

Being pan is stock then I believe this is the item that was installed on it, sure matches visually to the "T";

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...590&P_ID=1176495948&SiteID=CSE_Shopping_45803



I thought perhaps this insert might be a good item to enhance it IF the cover could be separated from the foam. Think I'll give Saddleman a call.

https://onlygel.com/index.php/motor...el-motorcycle-gel-seat-pad-combo-set-236.html

Am I nuts??? Oh Yeah!

Thanks again.

DH

 

[limeex2]

Just by chance I was going to contact Corbin Seats. I have one for another bike, and they make there own bases.Was going to see,by chance if they might have a base or just sell me the base only.Long shot but may be worth the call.In the mean time I will keep scouring e-bay

 

[Gorminrider]

you stated "You nearly have it, suzukizone.-just copy image links and then paste them into "Insert Image" (from URL)"

it's in the QuickReply tool bar.let your mouse hover on the buttons and you may see the text..I do on Firefox browser anyways

choose url for your online catalogue of personal pix or even from other places, you may right click and "copy image url"(firefox) to paste in.

of course, sometimes, you can even clickndrag copy and paste directly from one page to another!!

 

[suzukizone]

Thanks Gorminrider. Think I see it. Don't have anything to post now but hopefully I'll remember next time.

Probably going to cheap out on the seat deal at the moment as I've been spending too much from limited SOC SEC income on the bike. Need to ride now that forks seals done. Ready for a 1-2 nite camping trip into the higher elevations. Will keep investigating the seat. Wish I could just get a cover to go over the existing foam which is in OK (for me) condition. Saddlemen said I could send them the seat & they would try to fit something. Bet that would cost more than just replacing the whole top.

Be safe, Thanks to all.

DH

 

[Grimly]

Just by chance I was going to contact Corbin Seats. I have one for another bike, and they make there own bases.Was going to see,by chance if they might have a base or just sell me the base only.Long shot but may be worth the call.In the mean time I will keep scouring e-bay

Seat bases were aftermarket-made by several companies at the time. Of course, demand has dropped way off now, but you might find one somewhere, unless I find it first.
One of mine has a glassfibre seat pan I fitted 20+ years ago - was quite cheap at the time, too.

 

[Grimly]

Well, lookee here, and what have I found? Nothing more or less than a replica steel seat pan.
Only 169 of your American dollars, too.
http://sdpjz.sqcfa.servertrust.com/Suzuki-GS850-GS1000-seat-pan-p/0136.htm
Now, it strikes me that if there's enough of a market to knock these out, somebody somewhere is probably still making (or will start making) fibreglass pans. Given that my fibreglass pan is knocking on 25 years old and is as good as new, I'd rather have another one of those, instead of a metal one.