The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: montmil on March 18, 2009, 04:18:26 PM
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OK, this is a teaser for my DIY seat cover replacement. Until I can get some assistance on posting a large article with photos on the Wiki, this is all you get. I'm too compuKer illiterate... [smiley=wall.gif] "A man's got to know his limitations."
Monte
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2F83R6501.jpg&hash=89d12d592ff7148d64b8a9a62411f174520eef59)
Before... with the lovely two-toned Lucha Libre styled seat. And what's up with that lame white paint? Gag me!
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FBWMSeat14.jpg&hash=3220227b44663e444ae83b23e675c92a33aa2f70)
After... Oy Vey! So much more BMW classic. The side panels and seat tail are already prepped for a BMW blue. Tank and fender shortly.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP1170015.jpg&hash=576f29bbd2305a6201410c6a82e220987781ba2e)
What a mess! Bent metal. Multiple coats of paint, including...dayglo ORANGE! I'm getting there...
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This was under the white???? :o
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP1170015.jpg&hash=576f29bbd2305a6201410c6a82e220987781ba2e)
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This was under the white???? :o
Yep! I had already removed the dayglo orange that was on the left side, IIRC, only on the tail piece. I dunno...
The original BMW color code on the bike says 501. That's a metallic blue. And so she will be.
Monte
PS: If I can get some help with posting to our Wiki, I have a lotta pics and info on the seat recover job. The text part is too much to post on this site!
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Heck Monte, you could of had my red full quill ostrich seat cover for a song. You would only have to paint some blue on half of the tank and you could have been riding a Texas flag!
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Heck Monte, you could of had my red full quill ostrich seat cover for a song. You would only have to paint some blue on half of the tank and you could have been riding a Texas flag!
Who is this guy? I don't even know him anymore... ::)
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This was under the white???? :o
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP1170015.jpg&hash=576f29bbd2305a6201410c6a82e220987781ba2e)
From the above, to straightened metal, to...
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP1170019.jpg&hash=edea6081a1d31618bae70b5f1b8626aceb338324)
...primer.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FP1240001.jpg&hash=52837641bc500231a26f8c69d12fd6a08d64d290)
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PS: If I can get some help with posting to our Wiki, I have a lotta pics and info on the seat recover job. The text part is too much to post on this site!
Why not post it in the photo gallery? Ain't that one of the reasons it's it's there? :) BTW - great job to date - keep us posted - and I kinda like BP's idea.... :o
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Northwest Classic Seat Cover provided an R65 specific replacement cover in classic black. I believe MotoBins also sells covers. http://stores.ebay.com/NW-Classic-Motorcycle-Seat-Covers
Clean off all previous upholstery adhesive. You need a solid foundation for your work. Big box home stores carry an excellent glue removal product, Motsenbocker’s Lift Off.
One of the R65 group mentioned that he was experimenting with some small, nylon U-channel that was originally used to protect band saw blades. He sent me some. This channel fit the seat pan edge exceptionally well, required no bonding and protects the new seat cover from cuts where the material wraps over the semi-sharp edge.
I favor 3M Super Trim Adhesive. It has the highest bond strength available in a rattle can. Shoot three full coats of adhesive onto the pan and the fabric.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FBWMSeat10.jpg&hash=474a990505ede9d7a69247c45261487e9e7a7a17)
Seat masked, adhesive sprayed on pan and cover. Note plastic U-channel on seat pan edge.
The cover's instruction page suggested a hair dryer or a heat gun to make the vinyl easier to stretch and fit. Forget about using your significant other’s hair dryer. It won’t generate enough heat to get the job done. A true heat gun is what you need to stretch and draw down the vinyl to where a Marine D.I. could bounce a quarter off of it.
Replace the metal retaining strips using aluminum pop rivets- 1/8 x 5/16 rivets worked well. Possible areas that have a washer under the rivet may need 1/16-inch more length. Folds in the vinyl may also drive this decision.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa1%2Fmontmil%2FBMW%2520R65%2FBWMSeat12.jpg&hash=2abce5727bff0d8c9c8eba24fb24d14db8d8b30a)
Just about finished. Tools req'd shown.
Trim off any excess fabric. Use a “Lift Off” soaked rag to clean excess glue from the seat pan. Avoid letting the removal juice run under the vinyl to pan bonded areas.
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More photos in the Photo Gallery section. better than nuttin' I suppose. Monte
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Excellent detail here Monte. I bought another seat from one of the guys on this forum but before that came up I had bought a replacement seat cover. Might as well recover the red leather seat using your directions. Great photos.
By the way, I was kidding about the Texas flag bike. ::)
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Looking pretty good monte, I'm just about to start on the refurb of my seat so thanks for the tips.
M
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Hey Monte, I have a SEVERE need of a seat cover for my spring project (79 bronco brown R65). Is there a good source you could tell me?
Thanks-Thomas
Whoops-saw the source. Thanks :o
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...Whoops-saw the source. Thanks :o
The N'West outfit has a good product. Quick delievery and about $45.00USD as I recall. It sat on my workbench for a few weeks while I worked up my nerve. Justin's "band saw blade and BMW seat shop" are the bomb.
Where ya at?
Monte
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Hey fishy,
Thad doesn't look like a stock seat you have there. A stock replacement cover probably won't fit it without reworking the foam padding. The red stripes on it make me think it's a Corbin seat, but that's just a guess. If so, you could probably send it to Corbin for a refurb, but I'm sure it will not be as cheap as a replacement cover. Corbin is a very nice quality seat, an upgrade from the stocker and probably worth the extra money to re-do properly.
John M
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Monte,
Sure wish I'd seen your set up before I covered my seat. Oh I used a motobins cover and rivets but I didn't install the plastic edge stripping and the glue I used was not really good for the task. I'm inspired to have another go at it. I still have the tattered and ripped original and have been thinking about making a pattern that could be brought to any automotive / marine upholstery shop to have a cover made of any materials. I Like your method.
rich
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Rich, Since you still have the original cover, I'm sure a local shop could stitch up a replacement for you to install. As you know, there's only one line of stitching on the entire seat cover - at the front.
Ask them to leave some extra material around the perimeter. Helps to have enough material to tug on as you heat n' stretch for a good fit. You'll trim off that extra after the install is completed.
And, Thomas Fishypaws... that is a non-stock R65 seat ya got there. Could be the original pan, but... the N'west or Motobins covers would not fit the presently installed foam. :(
Monte
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It looks very similar to the Corbin I have up in the attic. They were built on the OEM seat pan...
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I've got a replacement cover from motobins that I'm gonna try to redo my LS seat with (fingers crossed). I also want to recontour it a bit, and replace some of the foam with a different density foam that I bought from an upholstery guy. Obviously, can't recontour things very much or the "stock" motobins seatcover won't fit anymore. I plan to document the procedure - if it is a dismal failure I won't bother to share it! somewhere I recall seeing some U-channel vinyl piping for sale by the foot - I may try running that around the sharp metal edges of the seat base as a variation on monte's method - the original base has cut through the original seatcover and seriously scratched thru the paint on the tank - which is another project to do!
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...somewhere I recall seeing some U-channel vinyl piping for sale by the foot - I may try running that around the sharp metal edges of the seat base as a variation on monte's method - the original base has cut through the original seatcover and seriously scratched thru the paint on the tank - which is another project to do!
Check out these two aircraft suppliers offerings:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/uchannel.php
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/product_search_results.php/search=cnViYmVyIGNoYW5uZWw=
Years ago, I helped keep these businesses solvent what with all the materials I bought from both of them. Made the R65 habit look way cheap by comparison. At least the R65s live in my garage rather than a monthly $500+ hangar. Please, sir, no more!
Monte
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I've now taken my seat to bits and the pan is looking pretty thin and crusty. Going to give it to the same guy who is repairing my tank (which has had a few nasty knocks) and I'll see what he can do with it.
I like the u-channel idea, as the cover had split where it meets that sharp (and in my case rusty) edge. The water then has a way in and the foam soaks it right up causing the seat pan to rust.
Just put the pics up on my site, should still have the bike on the road at the end of april *crosses fingers, toes .... everything*
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Thanks for the links, Monte - I might try one of those instead - they seem to be better quality than the stuff I found at the hardware shop nearby.