Make your own seat Bobber style.....

Start off with a steel pan and drill a bunch of holes around the edge. I added a very dense foam to this springer.

 

Hello, What I would be interested in is seeing pics of how you formed the seat out of steal? Since yours turned out to literally be PERFECT! I would like to know how you did that????
I find Bobbers very interesting to say the least since they tend to bring out the individuals personality more than a stock bike and being 64 I am a loyal fan of the bikes of the 60's era when we had everyone trying to put something that spoke ORIGINALITY to say the least.
Sure does look like you definitely know what you are doing. Great job to say the least and I am glad you put it up where all can see your workmanship. Gets me thinking even more about the day I will be able to start my first Bobber. grunt007, 81, XJ 750 SecaR, Mi.

 

Thanks 007, I ordered the steal pan for my bike Friday off of e-bay and I will show the members on here step-by step on how to make a seat for there bobber. The tooling is where the art comes from. Its old school stuff that I love doing!!!! Its alot of fun, hope some folks out there would try it!!! Stay tune....

 

Planning on giving it a try. Even took a short class at local Tandy for tooling. Been practicing and trying to come up with pattern I like. Think I'm gonna try rivets rather than lacing around the edge Depending on how much padding you want, a Yoga mat works GREAT...

skillet
BTW a2z, lookin' GOOD...

 

This is great man, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Would this technique work to make a longer. bratstyle-type seat like this?

 

Hey! You need a shorter NICK that old men like myself can remember? My question is this------>Where did you order the steel pan from? Just wondering, that sounds like a much easier way then forming it all by hand.))))) grunt 007, 81' Xj 750 Seca, Mi.

 

I went on good old e-bay and ordered a plain steel pan with front bracket. I paid less then 40.00 bucks and I can't til it gets here so I can weld on it and punch out alot of holes in it. @ Skillet, dude this is a LOST art. I wish the younger generation would get more involved with this stuff. Its alot of fun and it looks kick- a$$. Wait til you see what I'm tooling into the seat. @ C-muck, it could be done but you would loose the foam base and I noticed no rear shocks. Dude you would have to be hard core. It would be rough-riding. Thanks guys for all the questions. I will post step-by-step.

 

Heres is one I did about a year ago. No tooling but got high scores at a bunch of bike shows. This is a custom built Tempest bike... Thanks for looking.....

 

I forgot to show you the best part. The back of the seat.

 

Man, you do some fine work to say the least. I personally think you should consider doing this for some $$$$$ Must be nice to have true talent to say the least. This is the sort of things that make Bobbers so interesting to me. Each one one way or another has it's own Personal identity to say the least. Keep up the good work, I am sure it will pay off one day. grunt 007, 81'XJ 750 SecaR, Mi.

 

a2zcustomupholstery Wow man nice work. Are you going to continue on this thread?

 

Yes Sir Waldo, I can't wait to show the members how easy it is to make and personalize there own seats. I will use this thread. Thanks guys...

 

Sure LIKE the shape of that seat pan on the Tempest bike!!!

skillet
BTW might put the 5-finger discount on that idea (LOL)...

 

Okay, let the fun start!!!(1) here is where I'm mounting the front of the seat. (2) the seat pan with 1/8 inch holes. (3) the lay out Still nedds 3 more colors.

 

Old sign aluminum makes a good seat pan (like STOP signs, but don't go steal one - it may cause a serious accident!) They make good side cover material too.

 

All that tooling has got to take a lot of time, nice design.

 

Tooling took about 3 hours and I still have to add 4 more colors to it. I plan to have 4 differant seats to show off at the bike shows.

 

Check it out.

 

Nice, I bought tools a few months ago. One of these days when I have the money I plan on getting some leather and seat pan so I can try it out.

 

@ Hasersys, I noticed you live in Sebastian Florida. Lets hook up and I'll help you with your seat dude.

 

What are the odds. You have seen my ratty bike driving around then.. NO DOUBT. I actually just got back from Chicago from a months stay so it hasn't been on the road for the past month. A seat is something I have been needing BAD. When I have the money I plan on making one, but at the moment I am unemployed. I was one of the many Piper employees. Currently struggling to pay my bills and paying for school. I really would love seeing your work man. Just before the layoff I got some very basic leather tools. I have always had it in my mind to do seats, I love the leather working art.

My bike, with a cop. The Sebastian cops pull me over. Never on anything bad. This time it was because the officer was miss informed on the blinker law, and the time before it was because my license plate which is also legal.



Keep in mind I did this on a very low budget. I started it when I was working and finished it after the layoff. I am always embarrassed when some one tells me how bad ass the bike looks, but that is because I know how many problems it has. This bike stands out in our area really bad lol.

This is my build topic.
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... rt=75.html

 

Dose the mount you have on your xj just bolt on where the tank is? How much is that seat pan? It looks like it would be perfect for my bike. Also where did you get that bike? The thin looks clean, and nice Paint! As far as the seat goes I was wanting to do a pan like the one on your xj, but instead of lacing it I want to run brass rivets through it. I haven't gotten a design for the leather yet but I was thinking of doing some lettering with my swivel knife, something along the lines of xj650 and smaller letters under it that say bobber. Where can I get leather around here? I know of a store in Orlando but aside from that I guess my only others option would be ordering it online.

 

Dude buzz me at 772-643-2024 and I'll help your seat stuff my shop is in Little Hollywood near the rail road tracks. Maybe learn it and start a small bussiness with it. Just an idea...Also, I think I've seen your bike around town. The side boxes gave you away. Cool idea.

 

Alright I will give you a call tomorrow.

 

Well went for the first ride today. I added 1 inch to the nose post and noticed it was to much. I need to cut it down 1/2 inch. i also added a 2x4 because I'm using Hair pin springs. Plus I need to go back about 3/4 as well. The ride and feel was great. I'll post more pic's soon. Thanks guys!!!

 

Can you post a diagram on how you weave the stitching. And what is it? Lanyard that the kids make bracelets with? My seat currently has some rubber tubing glued around the edge with glue that is not meant for the temps that it gets to during riding.

 

Its been a while since I posted some pic's. Here are some more. I've cut down the front nose 3/4 of an inch and mounted the hairpin springs under the cross brace of the frame. Tomorrow I plan to show the bottom that I had my son that is home on leave from the military is doing. The father and son project. Very cool!!!

 

Dropping the "nose" down sure helped. REALLY like the seat graphics...

skillet

 

When you drill your holes in the pan, how far apart are the holes?

 

My seat.

 

I drilled them 1/8 of an inch. I'm lacing it with a mexican basket weave. If you want to do baseball stitch, I would go 1/4 spacing. I will post pic's tonight. Nice tooling job!!! What color are you going with?

 

I am going to probably do black, light brown, and then do resist dying to keep the skull natural leather color. I still have some more tooling to do though. I just am not sure what els I am doing. I am surprised at all of the shading I can do. I probably won't do lacing on this pan. I am going to copper rivets. Or maybe just some pop rivets/ cherry locks.

 

Hasersys, don't mean to be negative with this (REALLY)! You might try for a little more consistency with your beveling. Or, a burnishing tool helps with this to. Really like the graphics!!! Thinking about rivets, instead of lacing, myself...

skillet,
BTW I'm a Newbie at tooling leather, still trying for more consistency myself

 

Its been a while sinceI added pictures. I'm a Wildland Firefighter and those of you that live in Florida, You know I've been busy. The rains are finally here so I can play now. I'm not done with colors yet but this shows the lacing and the colors. The teeth will be a light yellow then the clear. I added a new 7.00 trailer light for running and brake light from Autozone and I'm using some cheap maker lights for turn signals.

 

Not sure what you meant, but if you are talking about the tooling marks on the first picture than that was before I had finished the section in the center. The graphics were hand drawn by myself.

 

Oh, and this is my very first piece I have done.

 

Dude that looks awesome. Fun stuff!!!

 

I was talking about the beveling around the outside of the skull. Shading and all on the skull looked NICE. Was trying for constructive comments not A**HOLE !!!

skillet

 

I understand, That picture was actually before I finished the bevel on the out side there. I just had not finished that part. I beveled the entire outer circle. I know the first picture the right side looks more dramatic than the way it turned out. I want to add more stuff to it but don't want to mess it up.

 

"want to add more stuff to it but don't want to mess it up" been there done that :lol: ! Glad members are posting their leather work. Haven't joined myself but leatherworkers.com is supposed to be a wealth of info...

skillet
BTW envious of your drawing skills. I find things on the net and copy 'em, haven't got an artistic bone in my body ...

 

a2zcustomupholstery, didn't mean to hijack your thread talkin' to Hasersys. Your seat is lookin' REALLY NICE!!!

skillet

 

No worries skillet, but I think you have alot of leather secrets that your not sharing. LOL those terms are used by pros. I'm also glad that our members are doing more custom leather stuff on here. Keep up the good work, we all can learn something....PS I plan to leather the fenders next, never seen it done, But I think I would look cool....

 

I check Leatherworkers.com out now and then but have yet to get a membership.

Also, Do you have a photo of the bottom of the seat? I like the two different colors, and that pattern.

 

Would like to see the bottom myself...

skillet

 

well got the teeth done yesterday. I also removed the front fender to start stretching the leather.

 

Colors look GREAT! NICE work on the back also!!!

skillet

 

now comes part 2. I also added leather to the fender and plan to lace it like the seat....

 

Are you having to "wet-form" the leather around the fender?

skillet
BTW that's a lot of goshdarned holes (LOL)...

 

Yep Skillet, I had to form it around the fender. Took about an hour. Then glued it the next day. Here is the finished product. The only paint on the bike will be the gas tank whenb I'm done. thanks for looking......

 

Hey man I like your approach to your XJ. I have been thinking along the same lines but as of yet didn't have the guts to do it but my thinking was to do the tank in paint and the fenders and side panels in the leather. How did you get your leather to have those dimples in it? Sure looks like you do fine work. I have a couple of tanned deer hides to work with but I'm beginning to think I should fine a stronger leather? Many posibilities when it comes to an XJ for sure. Keep up to GREAT WORK! grunt007, 81' &%) XJ SecaR, Mi.