R1100S Seat rebuild

[pwillikers]

The naugahide cover on my stock seat was comin' loose and crackin' from age, staples fallin' out and the continual pressure of my fat ass. I asked around town and got a recommendation for a local guy who would rework the padding and recover the seat: Jim's Top Shop in Austin, 30yrs of tops, interiors, seats etc. The guy who runs the place, Jeff, was outstanding to work with.

I had built up a seat before myself but to flatten out the forward tilt, I added about 1.5" to the height and it turned out to be too tall. It's OK for touring but around town it's not the best. This time I wanted a good around town seat and still wanted to flatten it out and widen it slightly. That meant adding only the smallest height possible and keeping it narrow at the front for climbing around antics but widening it for more butt cheek support.

I knew from prior efforts that the original cover is glued to the foam so Jeff just cut back the cover where it was folded over the pan and then glued three pieces of foam to the top of the existing seat. He then carved it with a grinder until he got the desired shape. I left it with him for a week and came back to try the foam shape before he covered it. I had only been able to describe what I wanted. He was confident he could build it from the description. He did. It's a perfect shape with only the minimum foam added. The result is probably 3/4" taller than the original seat but it's nice and flat and slightly wider for more long distance support just as requested. I asked for a textured vinyl cover, impervious to rain and middle of the road ass traction. He had offered some really super traction vinyl and some super slippery. I think I chose right.

After I got it back, I made a pad from a piece of sheepskin I bought from Tandy Leather. I love sheepskin. It's soft, cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. On long rides or just sweatin' through the TX commute, it's great. I've got sheepskin on all the bike's seats almost all the time. It only comes off for knee draggin'.

One of the really good things about becoming an old fart is that you could give a shiit about what things look like. If it works who cares if it's less than maximum studly.

I'm ready for the upcoming two week, four thousand mile ride up to Hanspree to see Ben kick ass. Yeah baby!


Here's the rebuilt seat.



Here's the flat profile.



Here's the sheepskin cover I added.

[lht]

Looks good, and no more wedding package damage. What did he charge for the job?

[Bigred455]

Hey Paul that does look awesome, Jim's does awesome work. I was thinking of taking my seat there for the same treatment, good to see they can get it done!

[Bob in Tucson]

Beautiful work on the seat that you go and cover with a road-killed squirrel or mop or whatever that is. That thing is frightening!