Build your own seat? - Harley Davidson Forums: Harley Davidson Motorcycle Forum

GAZOO! · 10-15-2007, 02:52 PM

Anyone here ever build there own seat? On my little XS650 bobber I need a seat. I would like to try and form a seat pan and then build a seat. I imagine it is just a matter of forming some foam and then developing a pattern to cut the seat panels out of . Anyone here with any experience with this?

lakedrunk · 10-15-2007, 03:13 PM

well I tried but couldn't find it. My brother has made a seat before and just followed some instructions he found on the internet. his seat didn't turn out to good but he also didn't take his time. I'll ask him if he still has the website.

BadgerOctane · 10-15-2007, 08:15 PM

I'll try and get a How-To up for doing seat pans too, and eventually the leather craft.

Badger

Pete Logan · 10-16-2007, 03:51 PM

These guys have something on their website about how to build your own - look under 'Seat Pans' on the left:-

http://www.jeffreyphipps.com/

Personally, I'd rather trust the Badger.

GAZOO! · 10-16-2007, 09:12 PM

Well, I am not afraid to pay a craftsman for their work but in general I really like to try and learn new things. I bored everyone on the 1130cc board with my learn to paint experience on my R.

My next jones is to try and learn some metal shaping. I keep my eye out for one of those english wheels. Someday someone local is going to put one up on craigslist and I will be all over it.

DiamondLil · 10-17-2007, 08:21 AM

Making a seat

So Mike, is the list of things you won't attempt short?

lakedrunk · 10-17-2007, 11:07 AM

I have seen a seat pan made by a custom bike builder here locally and he made the pan out of fiberglass so it would fit perfectly. from the little of it I actually saw him doing it looked fairly easy. if you've ever worked with fiberglass and know what chemicals to use, he just layed it all down on the bike and let it dry and then cut it to how he wanted it. I never saw him put the foam on, but I would guess he just glued it down and shaped it and then covered it.

GAZOO! · 10-17-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondLil

Making a seat

So Mike, is the list of things you won't attempt short?

I have this problem. Ego I guess you would call it. I see someone doing something and I think "I'm at least as smart as they are, I should be able to do that." Then I go and try it and usually find out it has nothing to do with smart and everything to do with experience! But no, there isn't much I don't want to try and do myself.

DiamondLil · 10-17-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazoo

I have this problem. Ego I guess you would call it. I see someone doing something and I think "I'm at least as smart as they are, I should be able to do that." Then I go and try it and usually find out it has nothing to do with smart and everything to do with experience! But no, there isn't much I don't want to try and do myself.

I admire that you have the gumption to try.

**Kainam** · 10-18-2007, 03:36 AM

Tandy Leather
1777 Carriage Sq
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
800-507-8479
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/

These guys usually have classes in the tooling of leather, and leatherworking supplys etc....

Heres a link that explains the process of working with the foam padding, and shaping it:
http://www.leatherworker.net/forum/i...448&#entry7448

Another from Paul Cox:
http://www.bikernet.com/garage/coxseat.asp