The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Landlubber on February 23, 2009, 06:04:06 PM

Title: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Landlubber on February 23, 2009, 06:04:06 PM
Hi folks,

New member here, have read many of your posts and they are quite informative.

I have just purchased a R65LS, bit of a mess and unregistered, but I am keen on doing a ground up restoration, not concourse, but nice.

I live in Brisbane (AUS), and was wondering if anyone from "Down Under" has a good contact for the seat upholstery. I would like it to be like the slatted ones on "normal" BM's.

If anyone here has a seat with a tail (R90S style) I would be interested in pruchasing.

Kind regards to all, and looking forward to more comments and experiences as time goes by.
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: aussie on February 24, 2009, 04:54:32 AM
Hi LL

I picked up a seat cover from eBay awhile back and have been looking around to see who may be able to cover it. There is a guy here in Adelaide that does good work in putting covers on - but I want to have a gel insert put in as well. I came across this guy on the net and have sent an email to him to find out the costs a couple of days ago - haven't received a reply as yet. It may be worth having a chat to him.

Cheers

http://australiancumfymotorcycleseats.com.au/index.html
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Landlubber on February 26, 2009, 04:04:29 PM
Hey Aussie, that is a good site, looks like they do a lot of bike seats. I will have a go with them to see what they say. Ta.

Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Lucky_Lou on February 26, 2009, 04:52:35 PM
If your stuck i would have thought any competent saddlers or leather shop should be able to sort it out for you without chargeing an arm and a leg
Lou
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Landlubber on February 26, 2009, 05:21:37 PM
In theory yes, any upholsterer SHOULD be able to do it, I would say probably only 10@% ever get a bike seat right.

I lived in South Australia, ran a bike shop there, and only one fella that I knew was any good.

Most just wrap vinyl over the frame and call it upholstered.

then again I am a fussy bastard, used to make show bikes.......
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Justin B. on February 26, 2009, 05:39:58 PM
Quote
then again I am a fussy bastard, used to make show bikes.......

OK everybody, hide your Rat-Bikes!!!  :o
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Bob_Roller on February 26, 2009, 06:08:03 PM
If you are contemplating putting a gel insert on your seat, make sure it's not a thin pad.

I had the seats on both of my bikes redone with foam, gel insert and new covering.

The shop owner showed me the examples of the type of gel that alot of seat manufacturers use, it was barely .25  inches (6 mm) thick.

He recommends using a thicker gel pad, the ones he uses are .625 inches (15 mm) thick.

He gets bulk sheets of orthopedic gel, and cuts it to size for the individual seat.

The difference in the seat is amazing.

Also for riders in hot climates, try to find a 'breathable ' material for the cover.
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Justin B. on February 26, 2009, 06:39:42 PM
That's an idea, Bob.  I never ride in the rain anymore so I very well might recover one of my seats with just fabric!  
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: aussie on February 27, 2009, 01:56:08 AM
Hey LL - which shop was that? One of my cousin's kids used to own (ummm I hate to mention this..) a Harley shop up on South Road, St Marys. that was until he just about met his maker and decided that being a chippie was safer.
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: Landlubber on February 27, 2009, 04:19:16 AM
My shop was Southern Honda, Morphettvale.

We sold obviously Honda, but Triumph and BM as well, in thos e days (70's) my collection was 26 personal bikes, but then along came the required divorce, and now I am down to 2.5 bikes, fortunately they do have those funny things stuck out the sides.
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: aussie on February 27, 2009, 04:21:25 AM
Know it well - work down at Morphett Vale - ain't it a small world?
Title: Re: Reupholstery of seating
Post by: montmil on February 28, 2009, 09:40:45 AM
Quote
...my collection was 26 personal bikes, but then along came the required divorce...

Hello, fellow traveler. Having been through the Big D, and I don't mean Dallas, I have developed a premise regarding marriage that might be a workable alternative to consider.

Instead of going through all the legal hassles, anguish and loss of favorite toys... I might find it simpler to go out about, oh, every nine or ten years, find a lady that I absolutely can not stand, and... buy her a house! It kinda worked for me the last time.  [smiley=nopity.gif]

Monte with only three bikes