The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: vontresc on January 10, 2007, 02:35:15 PM
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Well I haven't been here in a while, and the new board is quite nice. On to my question.....
My stock seat has quite a few tears in the cover, and I am planning to get it recovered at a local custom sweing place. Any suggestions for improvements to the seat while I have it apart? also what have you guys used for seat material? It needs to be somewhat sturdy as I store the bike outside during the riding season (no garage).
Thanks
Peter
'82 R-65
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The guy who did my seat used what he called marine grade vinyl, if I remember correctly. It hasn't even been on there a year yet so no longevity reports yet, but it looks and feels good.
Is the seat comfortable for you as it is?
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Peter,
You can order a new stock seat cover from MotoBins in the UK for $35.00 plus shipping if you wanted to keep it looking original.
All depends how much your sewing shop charges you plus cost of vinyl.
http://www.motobins.co.uk/displayfinal.php?function=show&subs=161&title=SEAT+COVERS
Chris
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I have used two (R65 nad R100) of the Moto-Bins covers and am not satisfied. Maybe in colder climates they would be OK but have had both of them start to tear on parts of the heat embossed fake stitching... Don't know if this is due to the high temps here in the summer, or what... I still have one more for an R65 that I haven't gotten around to installing yet.
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Is comfort an issue for you, vontresc? That is, do you do much long distance riding - 200 miles or more?
I found that about 5 years ago, I could not ride hardly 1 hour, before it was torture.
I had my seat refoamed 2 years ago, and that made some difference, but I am afraid it was replacing the original shocks last spring that made it all-day comfortable again.
Here is the foam I used: http://www.seatfoam.com/text/INDEX.htm
Not the cheapest product available, but good quality.
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Rob, what shocks did you use to replace the stockers?
Konis are about impossible to find, and cost a zillion bucks when you do. I've heard some very good things about Hagon, and I know Progressive, Ikon and Works are out there, but what would you personally recommend?
Thanks.
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I have 3500 miles on my Hagons. (http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/webc/Hagon.html?sid=3gS8mU1jZ0YS6C1-25107045903.dc)
I liked them not only for the price, but because I could get black springs and black dampers. 8-)
They work fine, or at least they work better than 27 year-old shocks! My butt likes them, and that is what is most important.
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On long rides it does het a little uncomfortable. I have haerd good things about that temp sensitive foam. How did you go about refoaming your seat? Did you shave the existing foam, and then add the new? I'd be very interested in doing that mod.
On a side note, the PO put on a set of Works shocks. Unfortunately I do not know how long they have been on there, so I was thinking of having them at the very least inspected and recharged. Any of you guys have experience with these shocks?
Thanks
Pete
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Hey Pete,
Sorry, I know nothing about your shocks. If you can't find the answer here, I would post the query on The Boxerworks Forum (http://www.boxerworks.com/phorum/index.php). I guess registration can be tough there (ask Sue in Canada), but there is a lot of knowledge there.
As far as redoing the seat foam, the only special tools you will need is a electric carving knife, for shaping the foam, and maybe a pop-riveter for reassembly. Some spray glue as found in hobby stores is needed.
I took the easy way out and had mine done by a local car upholsterer that was recommended by three different sources for doing bike seats.
Then again, Sue used this same foam for her LS, and she and a friend did the work themselves.
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Thanks for the info on Hagon, Rob, that's the direction I've been leaning too.
As far as seats go, I spent months looking for a clean used stocker or good cover to replace my split-up original, and was just about to haul it to the local auto upholstery joint when I stumbled across a like- new Sargent seat on eBay for $90.
That thing made worlds of difference in the comfort level!! ;)
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If I may venture: The least instrusive way to insert "memory foam" into your original seat foam is to sit on the seat without the cover on it and taking a permanent marker outline where your "butt" sits. Then cut vertically about 2 inches down into the original foam and take it out. Replace old foam with new memory foam.
This way one doesn't muck up the sides of the seat contour unnecessarily unless you want to reshape the sides..to better reach the ground with your feet.
My experience and [smiley=2cents.gif] [smiley=2cents.gif]
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Sue, you're only entitled to give your two cents, not four... [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]
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Justin, did you ever get your LS seat dilemma straight?
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It's been kinda moved to the back burner as I have other more pressing projects to deal with.
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On e bay there is a brand new seat made in Canada for sale.....price as of 1/12/07 is $45.00
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Yeah I saw that one, too....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-R80-R100-R80RT-R100RT-RS-R65-SEAT-COVER-CUSTOM_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35612QQihZ011QQitemZ320068761815QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
But according to the description I don't know if it will fit my '82....
"This new high quality replacement seat cover fits 1985-87 R80 and R80RT, 1987-95 R100RT, 1987 -92 R100RS and 1984-88 R65 motorcycle seats. ( it will not fit the R65LS models ). "
Any Insights?
Pete
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That cover won't fit a regular twin-shock R65. I emailed the seller months ago asking if he would run one up for my '84, but this was all he had. His ad had read differently until I asked about my bike, and I don't know why he lumped "84 thru 88" together, as '85 began the production of the monoshock models.
Notice that beyond R65s, the other models he lists are all '85 or newer monoshock bikes.
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i have one seat that i had a local upholsterer do my stock seat. they did it for $35 in a heavy marine grade. i have two seats, one stock so i can give the kids rides and for longer trips and one that i am going to do a cafe treatment on. i have tried seat covers and where never happy with the way they feel or look after. shop around and i bet you can find a local place that will do it a a good price.
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Hi, I just spoke to the folks at Sargent Seats, and was wondering if any of you have tried them for a replacement seat cover. They weren't really sure if their pattern would work (I uess they had issues in the past), so I hope someone has first hand experience with this cover.
Thanks
Peter
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Can't speak for Sargent's replacement covers, but I have an entire seat from them on my '84 R65 and it fits perfectly. Looks great and more comfortable than stock too.
You'd think the cover would be okay too, but we all know what problems can result from ASS-U-MEing these things..... ;)
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Upon asking, the motorcycle shop I frequented at the time recommended an upholstery guy that had a small shop behind his house. The quality of his work was very good.
The price was more than the $35 previously mentioned. I had a gel pad installed. The gel pad claimed it could be cut and it was. However, where the cut edges of the gel pad came in contact with the vinyl cover, the vinyl slowly over time developed a bubbly texture.
I took the seat back and had the gel padding removed. The seat foam that had been cut out to make room for the gel was replaced with whatever standard upholstery foam the guy used. He did say it was good foam, though. He used this foam in everything from motorcycles seats to chairs. The upholstery foam and new vinyl cover are very comfortable, even for extended days in the saddle. Most comfortable motorcycle seat, to date. Plus, the foam weighs a lot less than the gel pads.
Ask around until you get a line on a good upholstery guy/shop.
Paul
83 R65