further seat surgery pt 1 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

peter-reebok · 02-15-2007, 04:55 PM

started out splitting this into two parts because there were more than 6 pics - just used reply instead.

I am learning to document what I do for others!

After my recent ride. I decided that my original seat mod was better, but not there yet.
The seat needed a lumpectomy!, and flattening!

So I pulled off the cover again, and decided to only partially cut out the lump.

This lump also forms the mount for the seat bolts, so didn't want to damage the integrity of the seat mount, but wanted some more flexibility.

Looking at older bikes, with a sprung saddle, gave me an idea.
I cut out a wedge beside the lump, and the rear face of the lump, so that it could bend. Since this is 3 mm thick ABS plastic, it is never gunna bend enough to break!.

The idea was to use the lump as a spring, and let the seat move a bit.
Then the lump becomes part of the solution, not the problem!.
I added more (shaped) foam on top of the lump, and two curved pieces of foam either side to flatten the seat.

I installed these beneath the original foam padding, and then placed additional padding on top of the seat before sealing it all up again.

It is clear what I did in the photos, but any questions - ask away.

The result - less pressure on the tailbone. Will be doing a further mod yet, which will make the seat longer. As a result of this current mod, the seat is almost the same height as the pillion seat, so leaves room to sit on both.

peter-reebok · 02-15-2007, 04:58 PM

changed shape can be seen

All up - took less than 20 minutes.

Followup report in about 2 months.

kbsnow · 02-16-2007, 12:29 AM

2 months. What the *(&Q#(*&Q$*. j/k looks good keep us updated

peter-reebok · 02-16-2007, 05:18 AM

Went for a short 2 hr ride today - and I think the problem is fixed!.

SVTEAL · 06-27-2007, 07:05 AM

how is it going with the seat mod, I just added a bit of foam to mine so i was wondering...

peter-reebok · 06-28-2007, 01:36 AM

Now have 11,000 kms on the M now, and the seat is fine since I have changed it.

I now ride everyday, commuting to work and back.

No seat complaints.

I have some leave in November, and am planning a 6000km ride over a week.
Long term report then!

Breeze · 09-07-2007, 10:42 PM

I did this lumpectomy mod to my seat but went one step further. I tried putting the bracket on upside down. It needed a little coaxing so I put the bracket in a vice and bent it a little so that it fit. Then I found that after stuffing the foam under the lump, the bolts were too long and hit the fender. Solution - grind down the bracket bolts. Now the bolts just touch in the pockets that are molded into the fender for them. I did this because the way the bracket fit in the stock position, caused the lump to be pushed back up. I also added a 3" X 12" piece of foam across the back of the seat. Where there was a lump there is now thick cushion. This really works great! And Thanks, Peter

Breeze · 01-08-2008, 12:36 AM

Also, I did not add the extra foam to the top of the seat as this would sit me too high. I just added foam to the very back of the seat and over the lump. I only removed the seat cover about halfway.

redjetta77 · 01-09-2008, 11:59 AM

what type of staples did you use to get the cover back on the seat ?

Breeze · 01-09-2008, 02:06 PM

1/2"

redjetta77 · 01-09-2008, 05:28 PM

did you push them back through the same holes ? how difficult was it getting it to go into the plastic if not ?

Breeze · 01-09-2008, 07:01 PM

You will need a decent staple gun. Apply good pressure when you pull the trigger. They will go thru the plastic seat pan.

SNAFU · 01-09-2008, 07:21 PM

I used 1/4 inch staples. My staple gun didn't put them all the way in but if you take a pair of pliers you can push the staples all the way in. Push in the ends of the staple because if you push in the middle it will bend.

I also lightly heated the seat cover with a heat gun.

redjetta77 · 01-10-2008, 11:20 AM

thanks....trying that this weekend

OldManOnBike · 02-29-2008, 01:03 PM

When I did mine, I found that in some parts of the seat, I couldn't get the head of the staple gun in nice and flat to drive the staples all the way in. I took a large nail, cut off the tip, and used it to drive those staples in, putting it against each end of the staple, and tapping with a hammer.

Canadian Roadie · 03-05-2008, 04:32 PM

Thanks for you input with the seat modifications guys.. (Peter and Breeze). Mine goes in Friday (a seat fabrication guy in the area). I am hoping to have the seat modified so I can sit a bit farther back..so something will have to be done with the insdie bracket and I would like to seat in the sit, not on it..Probably asking for a lot but anxious to see what he can do. Anyways just wanted to say thanks for your posts and I will be printing them off and giving them to him so I am sure they will be a big help.

Oh.. just an FYI.. actually I think I will make a new post of this.. The Saddleman seat.. I was able to try it out (just sit on it) on a M50 and although it is more comforable, I found it to postioning me closer to front of the bike so the foot controls where a bit too close for my liking. So if you are thinking Saddleman, I hope you can try it out first prior to spending the $$$.

02-15-2007, 04:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
peter-reebok Wants Better Weather Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: was Suzuki M50 - Now M109 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 672	further seat surgery pt 1 started out splitting this into two parts because there were more than 6 pics - just used reply instead. I am learning to document what I do for others! After my recent ride. I decided that my original seat mod was better, but not there yet. The seat needed a lumpectomy!, and flattening! So I pulled off the cover again, and decided to only partially cut out the lump. This lump also forms the mount for the seat bolts, so didn't want to damage the integrity of the seat mount, but wanted some more flexibility. Looking at older bikes, with a sprung saddle, gave me an idea. I cut out a wedge beside the lump, and the rear face of the lump, so that it could bend. Since this is 3 mm thick ABS plastic, it is never gunna bend enough to break!. The idea was to use the lump as a spring, and let the seat move a bit. Then the lump becomes part of the solution, not the problem!. I added more (shaped) foam on top of the lump, and two curved pieces of foam either side to flatten the seat. I installed these beneath the original foam padding, and then placed additional padding on top of the seat before sealing it all up again. It is clear what I did in the photos, but any questions - ask away. The result - less pressure on the tailbone. Will be doing a further mod yet, which will make the seat longer. As a result of this current mod, the seat is almost the same height as the pillion seat, so leaves room to sit on both. Last edited by peter-reebok; 02-15-2007 at 05:01 PM.

02-15-2007, 04:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
peter-reebok Wants Better Weather Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: was Suzuki M50 - Now M109 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 672	And the finished product changed shape can be seen All up - took less than 20 minutes. Followup report in about 2 months.

02-16-2007, 12:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
kbsnow Blah, blah, blah Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: color changer green '05 M50 Location: Gilbert ,AZ Posts: 722	2 months. What the (&Q#(&Q$*. j/k looks good keep us updated __________________ "Don't be so scared to die that you're afraid to live"

06-27-2007, 07:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
SVTEAL Ditch Magnet Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: Zuma, Seca, Virago, SV650, C50 Location: FL Posts: 153	how is it going with the seat mod, I just added a bit of foam to mine so i was wondering... __________________ C50 FL

09-07-2007, 10:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Breeze Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Blue M50 w/Black Flames Location: Indian Trail, NC Posts: 278	Seat Surgery Pt. II I did this lumpectomy mod to my seat but went one step further. I tried putting the bracket on upside down. It needed a little coaxing so I put the bracket in a vice and bent it a little so that it fit. Then I found that after stuffing the foam under the lump, the bolts were too long and hit the fender. Solution - grind down the bracket bolts. Now the bolts just touch in the pockets that are molded into the fender for them. I did this because the way the bracket fit in the stock position, caused the lump to be pushed back up. I also added a 3" X 12" piece of foam across the back of the seat. Where there was a lump there is now thick cushion. This really works great! And Thanks, Peter

02-16-2007, 05:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
peter-reebok Wants Better Weather Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: was Suzuki M50 - Now M109 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 672	Went for a short 2 hr ride today - and I think the problem is fixed!.

06-28-2007, 01:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
peter-reebok Wants Better Weather Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: was Suzuki M50 - Now M109 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 672	Now have 11,000 kms on the M now, and the seat is fine since I have changed it. I now ride everyday, commuting to work and back. No seat complaints. I have some leave in November, and am planning a 6000km ride over a week. Long term report then!

01-08-2008, 12:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Breeze Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Blue M50 w/Black Flames Location: Indian Trail, NC Posts: 278	Also, I did not add the extra foam to the top of the seat as this would sit me too high. I just added foam to the very back of the seat and over the lump. I only removed the seat cover about halfway.

01-09-2008, 11:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
redjetta77 Seat Tester Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 06 suzuki boulevard m50 (blue) Location: houston tx Posts: 59	what type of staples did you use to get the cover back on the seat ?

01-09-2008, 02:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Breeze Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Blue M50 w/Black Flames Location: Indian Trail, NC Posts: 278	1/2"

01-09-2008, 05:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
redjetta77 Seat Tester Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 06 suzuki boulevard m50 (blue) Location: houston tx Posts: 59	did you push them back through the same holes ? how difficult was it getting it to go into the plastic if not ?

01-09-2008, 07:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Breeze Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: '05 Blue M50 w/Black Flames Location: Indian Trail, NC Posts: 278	You will need a decent staple gun. Apply good pressure when you pull the trigger. They will go thru the plastic seat pan.

01-09-2008, 07:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
SNAFU Just Won't Go Away ! Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Black Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 5,006	I used 1/4 inch staples. My staple gun didn't put them all the way in but if you take a pair of pliers you can push the staples all the way in. Push in the ends of the staple because if you push in the middle it will bend. I also lightly heated the seat cover with a heat gun. __________________

01-10-2008, 11:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
redjetta77 Seat Tester Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 06 suzuki boulevard m50 (blue) Location: houston tx Posts: 59	thanks....trying that this weekend

02-29-2008, 01:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
OldManOnBike In Training Joined: Nov 2005 Bike: Suzuki M50 Location: OC, MD and Venice, FL. Posts: 148	When I did mine, I found that in some parts of the seat, I couldn't get the head of the staple gun in nice and flat to drive the staples all the way in. I took a large nail, cut off the tip, and used it to drive those staples in, putting it against each end of the staple, and tapping with a hammer.

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03-05-2008, 04:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
Canadian Roadie Where Am I ? Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: M50 Location: London Ont Posts: 29	Seat surgury... Thanks for you input with the seat modifications guys.. (Peter and Breeze). Mine goes in Friday (a seat fabrication guy in the area). I am hoping to have the seat modified so I can sit a bit farther back..so something will have to be done with the insdie bracket and I would like to seat in the sit, not on it..Probably asking for a lot but anxious to see what he can do. Anyways just wanted to say thanks for your posts and I will be printing them off and giving them to him so I am sure they will be a big help. Oh.. just an FYI.. actually I think I will make a new post of this.. The Saddleman seat.. I was able to try it out (just sit on it) on a M50 and although it is more comforable, I found it to postioning me closer to front of the bike so the foot controls where a bit too close for my liking. So if you are thinking Saddleman, I hope you can try it out first prior to spending the $$$.