2 hour DIY seat shave...at work!

ok guys i havent seen anyone document this in pic form yet so here goes...i apologize for the poor picture quality b/c i used a disposable camera ...i swear im getting a digi soon


ok too many attachments hold on... :lol:

 

well golly its all going backwards...sno! help!...j/k its my bad...ill work on straghtening it out tonight

 

ok so the finished product!!! whoopee! now its a bad pic...ill get a betr one on in a couple days


what ive found doing this ... this is crazy...my handlings improved! i didnt think that it would all that much but its noticeably different or im crazy...also i can see out of my left mirror where i couldnt before, righteous huh? its not all that uncomfortable, (rode it for 100 miles before posting this) and it looks so much cooler!....i know it all got posted in there crazy backwards but bear with me and scroll around...tell me where i need to clarify or what you think...

thanks guys!
mike

 

Looks great! Glad it wasn't a real chore to accomplish. I'm still having trouble locating a staple gun that will put a 1/4" staple into the plastic of our seat bases completely. I tried the legendary Arrow T50 but it only went half way in. I'm in a spot and can't nail the staples in the rest of the way. Any suggestions for holding the material?

 

I had the same problem with the Arrow T50. I tried a pneumatic staple gun (hooked up to a compressor) but it went through the vinyl. That seat plastic is hard!

Dude - That is one nice XJ! I love the purple on the engine. That seat cover looks really nice too.

 

yeah nice work man , ill have to do my seat properly now lol :roll: what did u use to staple ?
cheers brenton

 

i used arrow #JT21/T27 3/8" (10mm) staples in a easytacker, surebonder staple gun....it was what was in the kitchen drawer pretty sure its a cheapie...the staples are thinner than the ones the PO used but arent tearing the vinyl so i figured there doin ok...thanks guys for all the positive feedback! i couldnt figure out how to edit my posts so its all bass ackwards...so be it...lol, as far as the purple is concerned my cousin is dead set to paint it....he said we need to get some of the purple off! lol....i dont know, it grows on me more day by day :lol: but if i do paint i just love flat black....then it will match my helmet!

thanks again
mike

 

yea good job man. When i did my seat i found that sitting that little bit lower and farther back really helps you throw the bike around a bit, AND you can use the mirrors too.

 

perfect! thank ya kindly

mike

 

That seat looks great, and I wouldnt change that color at all.

I would like to try that on my bike, but Im a chicken. Dont want to mess up a perfectly good seat.

Some day I will get the curage.

Anywho, it looks great, now for forward controls. LOL just kidding.

 

actually im looking into some engine guards with footrests... mostly b/c of jealous exes and vans :lol: but thats another story...and another set of pics!!

thanks
mike

 

man that is one sweet lookin Maxim! excellent job on the seat man! I just recovered mine not too long ago for my maxim X. I had two problems...1) being that the company I ordered the cover from kinda shoted me on the pre cut material. I really had to stretch it out and it barely fit.2) just like you guys, the staple gun I used could harly penetrate in most areas(about half in). I just laid them down and put in two for every one that was in it. Without looking under the seat pan, it looks real good!

 

Robista, where did you order your seat cover from? I am interested in doing that on my x as well!

 

richard, I got mine through...http://www.motorcycleseatcovers.com/

 

I am quite satisfied with the way it came out. I'll be posting pics soon of complete project

 

I recently recovered my seat. The staples the PO had used were wearing through because they were too long. Instead of stapleing from the inside, I got longer T50-s with pointy ends. 1/2 inch I think. While the cover was off I stapled from the outside in, so when I stretched the cover I could impale it on the staples. The trick to stapleing through the plastic is using something to push against. I used a 1" metal tube in my vice. With the pan supported the staples went right through. Once the cover was stretched and impaled to my liking (had my brother help me on this), I just bent the ends of the staples ofer, and I was done. Worked great!

Nachoman

 

I know this thread is long since dead but I thought it worth a little revival for the newer folks and anyone that might have missed it.

I'll be attempting this (finally!) either tomorrow night at work or sunday afternoon.

I'll post pics...and a want-ad for a new seat once i've completely destroyed it