Sculpting and recovering a seat

[Mudskipper]

Yesterday I decided to sort out the knackered old seat on my slabby. It's nearly 23 years old, and

looks it! Gone is the original bright red and instead it's a rather gay faded pink (although it doesn't look too bad in this photo):

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image711.jpg

I also wanted to lose an inch or so off the bit where I sit, just to make paddling the bike a little

more comfortable with my miniature freak legs.

So I set to work removing all the old staples, some were rusted rotten and snapped inside the

plastic, and more than one tried to take flesh off my hands. Luckily my tetanus is up to date.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image712.jpg

I wasn't sure whether I would find the right material when I went into town later, so only peeled

back the half I needed to sculpt for now (in case I needed to put the red back). The sponge was a bit

minging - slightly damp and slimy where to mould was

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image713.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image715.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image716.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image717.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image718.jpg

So I decided where I wanted to cut, marked it with a pen. I chose two slices off the side where my

thighs would rest, to hopefully aid my legs getting closer to the ground:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image719.jpg

Took my best sharpest carving knife to it:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image720.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image721.jpg

Other side to match:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image722.jpg

Now I marked out the middle chunk:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image723.jpg

Sorted!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image724.jpg

I had planned to use my orbital sander to smooth out the cut area, unfortunately it was a big fail.

Motor went on the sander so I binned the twat:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/07022009412.jpg

Because I'm a lazy sod I had my helper sand it off by hand instead:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/07022009409.jpg

Not a bad finish at all!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/07022009411.jpg

After this I went into town and found the right vinyl from an upholstery bloke in the market, he cut

me a 75cm wide piece (about 1.5m long) for 6 quid. Used well under half of it for this.

So I could remove the old red cover completely:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image725.jpg

And use it to measure out a piece of the new black stuff:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image726.jpg

Pressed the new piece into shape a little over the seat:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image727.jpg

Staple gun used to tack for now. We weren't really sure of the technique for getting the vinyl to sit

flush on the curvy bits, but eventually we worked out a way that involved smoothing and pulling the

cover bit by bit and stapling while it was held taught. Once you get the hang of it, it's loads less

daunting than you might think (well, than I thought, anyway!)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image728.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image729.jpg

Looking good - although it was dark by now so the 'after' pictures don't do it justice:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image730.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image731.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image732.jpg

Ta-daa!!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image733.jpg

Need to sort out where the two tabs are underneath, the staple gun can't get in so might try

hammering some tacks/pins in there. Still need to trim excess border too.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image734.jpg

Not bad for 3 quids worth of vinyl and a staple gun!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image711.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/Image733.jpg

Will get a pic of it fitted to the bike tomorrow and see how it helps with reaching the floor.
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[mr jamez]

[ben350]

Electric carving knife to cut the foam into shape
____________________
Ducati 996 Biposto
Suzuki Goose 350
DT125R Supermoto (Project)

[Burnside]

looks good
____________________
I started out with nothing and I still got most of it left.

[Bikeless]

What a brilliant job,upholsterers would charge a few quid to do that.

[ms51ves3]

Guitar Hero party at Mudskipper's

[Mudskipper]

[Mudskipper]

Looks spanking on the bike!!! Very happy

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/09022009436.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/09022009437.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/super_jo/09022009438.jpg
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[K0rnIsAFAGGOT]

Looks much better. Reach the floor ok now?

[Kal]

...mmm PVC mmm...



</coat>
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[wizzzard]

Brilliant job there, id say that looked like a professional finish
____________________
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Charlie]

Looks good, can you paddle it round better now?
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Mudskipper]

Yeah, I can notice a subtle difference. Comfortable to flat foot the left foot at lights instead of just ball of foot.

Still comfy to sit on, possibly could've taken more but I was cautious not to overdo it and end up with a plank-seat

I like doing little bike jobs like this for the first time, it's very satisfying and next time I need to do it, I know exactly how and can crack on!
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Noxious89123]

Seems you did a really good job, look's ace. Looks better in black too.
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi