Author Topic: Best options for new/restored seat  (Read 7057 times)

RogerGuzzi

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Best options for new/restored seat
« on: January 21, 2015, 01:42:29 PM »
I am now the proud owner of a 1977 V1000 Convert.  ;-T

It is running well but needs some cosmetic work. First up, the seat is shot - currently a mass of duct tape. I think the seat pan is good, but I am not sure of the foam. Sooo... What to do?  ???

Would my best bet be to strip off the foam and send the seat pan somewhere for rebuilding? If so, I'd appreciate any recommendations for a good vendor (preferably a Guzzi specialist!). Or if the foam is good, maybe I can just get it re-covered (again any recommendations on reliable, quality vendors would be great). Worst case scenario is I buy a completely new seat. If so, are there any models besides the V1000 with a seat that would fit. Being a bit scarce, there are not a lot of repro or NOS parts for this model...

(BTW, I'm really happy to be part of this group and owner of a vintage Guzzi!)

Online chuck peterson

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2015, 01:52:31 PM »
Welcome to Wild Guzzi...you've come the right spot...especially for the Convert...there are quite a few here that know the ins and outs of that..I hope it's running okay for you now

a seat? MGCycle for a new repop, or Harpers might have an old one
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RogerGuzzi

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2015, 01:55:40 PM »
Thanks Chuck. I will check out those vendors.

Re: the Convert, it seems to be running well. It's still at the dealer. Today I got plates and registration, so I will be heading out to pick it up soon - hopefully before the weather returns to its usual January temperatures!  ::)

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2015, 02:42:13 PM »
Pat at Astech Seats can do a very good job for you.
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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2015, 02:42:13 PM »

Offline Mike Harper

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2015, 02:50:44 PM »
Our seat guy can return your seat to new condition including the logo with only one condition and that is that the seat pan is in decent reusable condition. 

IE not rusted or rotted away.

Mike Harper

RogerGuzzi

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2015, 03:11:10 PM »
Our seat guy can return your seat to new condition

Mike that sounds great. I am picking up the bike tomorrow so will be able to report on the condition of the seat pan. If all is well, can you give me an idea of cost? Thank you!

Offline sidecarnutz

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 03:22:30 PM »
The seat foam on these disintegrates over the years and breaks down and gets too soft.

New foam will really help make them all day comfortable again.

I find that  2-3" of heavy rebond foam makes a great base. Sculpt it and disk sand it smooth and cover that in a 1/2" layer of good soft foam to skin it over. Then make a padded tuck & roll cover for it. Similar to oem styling and great comfort!
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Offline OlderSlower

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2015, 06:59:41 PM »
Expensive and worth every penny - check out Russell Day Long saddles.  I can't say enough good about the seats and the company.  Each one custom built for you on your seat pan.  Ask anyone who has one.  My .02
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Offline Mike Harper

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2015, 07:09:30 PM »
Mike that sounds great. I am picking up the bike tomorrow so will be able to report on the condition of the seat pan. If all is well, can you give me an idea of cost? Thank you!

Please call Curtis in the morning and he can answer you better than I can at the moment. I am on the road.
The number is 800 752 9735

Thanks

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2015, 07:41:14 PM »
Roger, welcome to WG. Sidecarnutz that posted above is Rich Maund, Guzzi seat maker extraordinaire. Rich has done several seats for me, and knows his stuff..
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Offline giusto

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2015, 09:31:26 PM »
Sounds like a plan....do you have any photos that documented your process. Also I have a Jackal seat which is soon to be to short as I work towards a La mackal conversion. I am putting a Convert tank on and the Jackal seat is about two inches short of the tank. Will I be able to use the rebond foam to extend the base and then recover?
Thanks for the help
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RogerGuzzi

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2015, 11:35:55 PM »
Hey everyone, this is great advice! Thank you. One thing I need to think about is whether to restore to as close to original, or to customize to meet my own preferences. With the seat there is some wiggle room on the possibilities!

Offline sidecarnutz

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2015, 09:53:12 AM »
Sounds like a plan....do you have any photos that documented your process. Also I have a Jackal seat which is soon to be to short as I work towards a La mackal conversion. I am putting a Convert tank on and the Jackal seat is about two inches short of the tank. Will I be able to use the rebond foam to extend the base and then recover?
Thanks for the help


IME, a seat needs a good pan to support the foam, or the cover will try to crush the foam. Plastic pans are difficult to alter/change as no glue will stick to them well. Think ice coming out of a plastic tray. Pops apart later! Rivets just weaken the pan and the plastic will crack later. Cali Guzzi's in around '02 and '03 had pans so thin that a heavy rider will squish the pan down into the bodywork causing damage to the cover and side panels. I don't consider those seats rebuildable.
I hate the pans on my Cali III. Danged front seat will not stay on the bike. Useless latch system from Guzzi. Now that I have the bike running really well I can scratch build a new pan like the 70's Guzzi's use. 16 gage steel and hinge it at the back from the luggage rack. I'll keep it tight to the frame up front to minimize height (I'm almost a dwarf and need that! ) It'll allow me to widen the passenger area too for better wife comfort. I'll mock it up with poster board and then use that to make sheet steel pieces and then do the welding.
Darned glad I took those welding courses years ago and invested in good equipment!  :BEER:

BTW. I am not actively doing seats anymore. I have lost a couple key suppliers and cannot find suitable materials elsewhere. So I am just doing a small trickle of work and enjoying our grand daughter. So life is still good. Slowly putting together a Ural chair for the Cali III too! I want to give the grand baby the same sidecar rides I gave my kids!

Making a seat pan is a lot of work. Not economically viable. But when you need something and have time to spare, it becomes do-able for your own use. Kinda like years ago when I spent 40 hours making a hard luggage system using Givi bags for my '01 V111S. I was years ahead of Guzzi there! But it was a one off project. Not something you'd want to do twice!
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Offline charlie b

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2015, 09:59:58 AM »
Hey everyone, this is great advice! Thank you. One thing I need to think about is whether to restore to as close to original, or to customize to meet my own preferences. With the seat there is some wiggle room on the possibilities!

That is the key question.  Some will blast you for customizing, but, I am one that believes you have to make your bike for you.  If comfort is important then get what feels good.  I'd start with a phone call to Curtis to see what they can do for you.  Then decide.
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Offline Mike Harper

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2015, 11:56:01 AM »
Just for information about Harper's  There has been some type of major telephone line shutdown in the kc area this morning. 

Try using 816 797 4511 as a temporary number

Offline Groover

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #15 on: January 22, 2015, 12:40:43 PM »
I'm also wondering about how to do this properly. The seat on my 81 G5 is still OK-ish, but I can tell that the foam is starting to break down and the vinyl probably is going to start ripping soon. I love the original shape of the original seat on these, so I'm hoping to learn in this thread how to redo or have redone to that OEM look, feel and height.
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Offline Mike Harper

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2015, 12:55:00 PM »
Please call Curtis in the morning and he can answer you better than I can at the moment. I am on the road.
The number is 800 752 9735

Thanks
I'm also wondering about how to do this properly. The seat on my 81 G5 is still OK-ish, but I can tell that the foam is starting to break down and the vinyl probably is going to start ripping soon. I love the original shape of the original seat on these, so I'm hoping to learn in this thread how to redo or have redone to that OEM look, feel and height.

To answer Roger and Groover on the seat restoration issue.

We restore the seat to original firmness and dimensions as a new one. Put on a new cover wih the Logo. and the normal charge for this runs around $250.00 to $300 depending on whether work to the seat pan is more than the normal amount of work needed.

Our temporary phone until the current outage is over is 816 797 4511

Thanks

Mike
« Last Edit: January 22, 2015, 12:56:28 PM by Mike Harper »

Offline charlie b

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Re: Best options for new/restored seat
« Reply #17 on: January 22, 2015, 05:58:35 PM »
And that is a good deal.  One could even say it is cheap.
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