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Wet Butt

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixongw
  • Start date Start date
M

mixongw

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I really can't complain about the seat on my GS1100GLD. It's in good shape, and pretty comfortable. The only gripe I have is that if the bike gets caught setting in a rain shower for even a very short time, the foam under the vinyl gets wet. It's all the dang stitching on the seat surface. The stitch holes make nice little funnels to make sure every drop gets to the underlying foam. I then set on the seat and presto! The water gets squeezed up to the seat of my pants.

Some of the obvious solutions would be:

1. Cover the bike
2. Cover the seat
3. Park out of the rain
4. Don't ride if there's a chance of rain
5. Take the seat inside with you

Is there a seam sealer like what is used for tents that isn't as noticeable? Any other riders have this problem? Solutions?
 
mixongw said:
I really can't complain about the seat on my GS1100GLD. It's in good shape, and pretty comfortable. The only gripe I have is that if the bike gets caught setting in a rain shower for even a very short time, the foam under the vinyl gets wet. It's all the dang stitching on the seat surface. The stitch holes make nice little funnels to make sure every drop gets to the underlying foam. I then set on the seat and presto! The water gets squeezed up to the seat of my pants.

Some of the obvious solutions would be:

1. Cover the bike
2. Cover the seat
3. Park out of the rain
4. Don't ride if there's a chance of rain
5. Take the seat inside with you

Is there a seam sealer like what is used for tents that isn't as noticeable? Any other riders have this problem? Solutions?
Click to expand...

Since I'm just giving advice and not having to do the work, here is my suggestion for using the seat without a cover (if you think it's practical)::)

Sealing the seams from the outside is bound to be noticable. If you can remove the cover from the seat so that it is reusable, I would take it off. While this is done, do any require maintenance to the foam and make sure that it is dry before recovering. Get some Goop (or Shoe Goo - same stuff) and coat the seams from the inside. Goop is somewhat like liquid rubber, adheres very well to vinyl, canvas, etc. and will form a flexible but strong watertight seal to the seams. If you do this it should waterproof the cover and protect the foam from waterlogging.
 
As a simple, cheap work-around, you could go to Walmart or JoAnn's and get a piece of clear vinyl from the fabric department (even comes in pink and blue sometimes :-D ) and cut it longer than the seat and wide enough to go over the sides. Put some strategic corner cuts in it to make it fold better and strap with a bungee cord, clips, etc. It would be cheap and would likely roll up pretty small and be easy to stash. That kind of vinyl tends to stay pliable even in cold conditions, unlike the stuff my Jeep windows are made out of. Waterproof canvas might last longer and fold up more tightly. Maybe a marine store would have some or steer you in the right direction.

I used to have a nice cover for my Mustang... until it got stolen. I'd rather use something cheap and ugly in order to avoid the feeling of being violated when that desirable item disappears. You might want to cover the painted surfaces, too - we have bad problems with acid rain around here and once I moved here without the cover for my Mustang, I had what looked like permanent water spots on my Mustang from it in just a few months.

Some of the typical waterproofing chemicals out there could likely make the seat slippery, even if applied carefully. Anything that comes out as bead through a tube is likely to be ugly, but I'm curious to hear about what methods others have used.

This gets me thinking (and Boon beat me to posting it with a good idea) that when I end up stitching my own seat cover, sealing it from the INSIDE of the seams (both sides) would be the way to go. Guess I'll have to look into what will bond well with whatever backing the vinyl I use has, probably by experimenting. Shoe Goo probably is a good one - I'm pretty sure it stays pliable over time and is designed for rugged conditions. I've had friends who fixed their boots with it and continued to abuse them for a long time and they held up! I'm also considering silicone caulk-type stuff.

If you end up taking the seat cover off, I'd inspect the existing foam and decide if it still has good integrity, too. Foam breaks down over time, and when it starts to go, that's it.
 
i SUGGEST SAME THING. tAKE OF COVER, FIX FOAM. OOps....

But put plastic over the foam, replace cover.
 
MissFabulous said:
As a simple, cheap work-around, you could go to Walmart or JoAnn's and get a piece of clear vinyl from the fabric department (even comes in pink and blue sometimes :-D ) and cut it longer than the seat and wide enough to go over the sides. Put some strategic corner cuts in it to make it fold better and strap with a bungee cord, clips, etc. It would be cheap and would likely roll up pretty small and be easy to stash. That kind of vinyl tends to stay pliable even in cold conditions, unlike the stuff my Jeep windows are made out of. Waterproof canvas might last longer and fold up more tightly. Maybe a marine store would have some or steer you in the right direction.

I used to have a nice cover for my Mustang... until it got stolen. I'd rather use something cheap and ugly in order to avoid the feeling of being violated when that desirable item disappears. You might want to cover the painted surfaces, too - we have bad problems with acid rain around here and once I moved here without the cover for my Mustang, I had what looked like permanent water spots on my Mustang from it in just a few months.

Some of the typical waterproofing chemicals out there could likely make the seat slippery, even if applied carefully. Anything that comes out as bead through a tube is likely to be ugly, but I'm curious to hear about what methods others have used.

This gets me thinking (and Boon beat me to posting it with a good idea) that when I end up stitching my own seat cover, sealing it from the INSIDE of the seams (both sides) would be the way to go. Guess I'll have to look into what will bond well with whatever backing the vinyl I use has, probably by experimenting. Shoe Goo probably is a good one - I'm pretty sure it stays pliable over time and is designed for rugged conditions. I've had friends who fixed their boots with it and continued to abuse them for a long time and they held up! I'm also considering silicone caulk-type stuff.

If you end up taking the seat cover off, I'd inspect the existing foam and decide if it still has good integrity, too. Foam breaks down over time, and when it starts to go, that's it.
Click to expand...

Pauley... I mean MissFabulous....

Your response gave me a dejavu of our living room in the 60's.
 
Old nearly no cost solution. Remove the seat cover, put foam seat in a plastic trash bag, put cover back on seat. Trim off excess plastic with scissors.

Earl
 
earlfor said:
Old nearly no cost solution. Remove the seat cover, put foam seat in a plastic trash bag, put cover back on seat. Trim off excess plastic with scissors.

Earl
Click to expand...

Damn it, Earl. That's so....practical. :-D
 
Boondocks said:
Damn it, Earl. That's so....practical. :-D
Click to expand...

Right???

Only thing is that the trapped moisture between the bag and the vinyl could still rot the backing on the vinyl cover or the seat pan as the water travels down. If you're taking the cover off to wrap the foam anyway, might as well seal the seams from the inside with something that will stay pliable and water tight.

Still, I think when I fab my own seat, I'll be both sealing the seams as much as possible and encasing the foam in plastic as best as possible after reading this. If I'm going to rebuild, I might as well cover as many angles as possible.

Great tips from everyone - thanks!
 
The GREAT AND POWERFUL EARL!

Says the same shyt as me and gets all the credit.:-D
 
Goop works great for this application!
I eventually had a new seat cover made and installed for $100, by a local auto interior guy. I had the foam cut down, since I am "inseam challenged."
 
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