Seat foam?

[kellymac530]

Does anyone know where I can get a new seat foam for a 1986 R80 G/S full length seat?

I am hoping to find something possibly even more comfortable than stock a bit. I am custom making a suede seat cover but my foam is dried out and brittle.

Thanks


PS, budget is very important right now.

[Ras Thurlo]

Originally Posted by kellymac530

I am hoping to find something possibly even more comfortable than stock a bit. I am custom making a suede seat cover but my foam is dried out and brittle.

are there different foam densities to choose from?

If you go leather/suede seat cover should you give the foam a waterproof wrap?

[naginalf]

I was thinking of going with this company. They can layer up as many as you want, several different firmnesses and they even have memory foam and latex foam (gets expensive tho). I was going to build up a custom seat by getting a seat pan of some nature, literally buying a buttload of cheap, off brand playdo , then piling it onto the seat pan and actually sit on it with it on the bike. Then simply cut a new, custom, T shaped foam block with an electric kitchen knife to match (eyeball) and have it upholstered. Personally, I want a seat with a memory foam top layer, in a dirtbike seat style, coming straight off the tank instead of down and around, then terminating with an ass shaped T section in the back, a little bit of both worlds. Plenty of support for touring when I pull my bars back and relax. Then I can put the bars forward and have plenty of leg space for off road, while at the same time, making the seat a more appropriate height.

Just don't put your eye out with the electric knife

[mfp4073]

Dont know for a fact, you will have to contact them. But sargents cycles in Jax fl does that kinda stuff. I purchased a seat cover from them a while back that was kinda complicated on exactly what I needed, one of the reps had me take pictures, send measurements, etc etc. For me he actually recommended I keep my current original foam (didnt try to upsell me). Was very happy with them!

http://www.sargentcycle.com/

[groop]

Originally Posted by mfp4073

Dont know for a fact, you will have to contact them. But sargents cycles in Jax fl does that kinda stuff. I purchased a seat cover from them a while back that was kinda complicated on exactly what I needed, one of the reps had me take pictures, send measurements, etc etc. For me he actually recommended I keep my current original foam (didnt try to upsell me). Was very happy with them!

http://www.sargentcycle.com/

I did something similar a few years ago with one of the seat manufacturers. I bought a chunk of their foam and used an electric carving knife to shape a seat for my DRZ. It is far superior to stock and didn't cost much.

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by groop

I did something similar a few years ago with one of the seat manufacturers. I bought a chunk of their foam and used an electric carving knife to shape a seat for my DRZ. It is far superior to stock and didn't cost much.

+1, it's not that difficult and not that expensive to do over if you screw up. I like the firmer 8lb rebond foam. Wrap it in a 1/2" sheet of softer foam to take up any small irregularities using spray adhesive to stick it down and put a cover on it. Just remember when buying your foam that whatever density you choose WILL soften pretty quickly with some use, so buy something harder than you want and be aware that it'll soften up.

[kellymac530]

Airhead,
Tell that to a KTM seat...once a rock always a rock on those puppies.

So overall you guys are suggesting a stock foam and then maybe play with a layer or two of different densities on top.

I have cut some of my own foam blanks for a cafe bike I am building but they are just mediocre. I have a carving knife for the garage.
I wonder if I should try cutting the stock sun rotted, dried out foam from the stock seat pan and then replace the bad areas by gluing some new layers on top.

[Airhead Wrangler]

Originally Posted by kellymac530

I wonder if I should try cutting the stock sun rotted, dried out foam from the stock seat pan and then replace the bad areas by gluing some new layers on top.

I'd try to pull it off the pan in one piece and then copy the shape. I'd use all new foam.

[kellymac530]

I found this place:

http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/sea...seats_bmw..htm

But there is no picture of the '80-97 seat foam and cover...My '86 seat looks different than the R100 seat so I do not know how they use the same cover and foam....

[batoutoflahonda]

Watching seats made at Rich's, you could go uber nuts on it and use a gel insert as well.

Basically, they use the OEM foam cut it to shape, add a layer of upholstery foam, shape it. Send you out on a ride, you say good or bad, then they cut a pocket, insert a gel pad, then put a thin layer of foam or cloth over that. Sounds easy, but the dude really knows his stuff. He's studied/self read on orthopedics, and what not.

The best thing really is to get the foam cut the way you think it should be, ride on it a bit, like a week or a long ride, and adjust from there, then cover it when it feels good.

Hard part on all dualsport riding positions is you sit more upright on them, so more weight is carried on your sit bones and muscles. I've found that if possible, it helps to get some weight on the arms and get a bit of a lean so the wind also holds you up. Maybe even roll the bars forward a bit. It's sort of contrary to what you want to do, which is to have a nice upright touring position.

I'm also short and have found if you make the seat narrower, rather than shorter it helps with getting your feet on the ground but maintains a comfortable seat to foot peg relationship and you retain more foam.

So think about how you sit on it. It may be more beneficial to buy quality thinner (1/2") foam and layer it over the oem foam and cutting it to shape.

[kantuckid]

I bought a piece on eBay. Make certain it's the best/correct foam for the job as many kinds out there. I cut mine on my 14" woodworking bandsaw. Go slow and easy to cut . If you need to round the edges various power sanders can work or the electric knife which I didn't use. I have layered 1/4" neoprene(whatever it takes as the top is often the only part degraded) over the older foam & reused them too.

[kellymac530]

My RT has a Corbin seat on it and it is rock hard...too hard. It also is really wide at the front. I am 6' and have a 32" inseam so height is not usually an issue, but the width is a problem.

The final thing I hate on it is that it has a large hump in the front center area, I think to help try to keep you pushed back into the saddle area for the best support, but man it sucks. It make my nuts go to sleep and get all painfully tingly...not the "good" tingly, to the point that I have to stand up alot on long rides.

If I ride a full gas tank without stopping I am dying.

On this seat I want to keep it flatter, and narrower at the front, with less of a sunken "saddle" fit but I will put a small ridge behind the rump to give me that resistance to sliding backwards.

Siebenrock make a replacenment foam, but I can not find a cost...I am sure it is out of my budget for now though.

[ontic]

Siebenrock replacement foam is listed as Euro 59.50 (just look on their english version webshop)

I refoamed my denfield police solo seat on my R90- did different layers for different densities, a lot of work, didn't come out perfect, actually quite expensive buying different foams and glues, and even though it was comfortable and is still OK it is already pretty crapped out. Doing it again, if I could buy a good modern foam replacement for that for 60 euro I would do it in a heart beat.

[Scratch33]

I buy my seat foam from AliMed. The hard (green) density works best for me - it conforms nicely.

http://www.alimed.com/t-foam-cushion-13834.html

[Plaka]

Originally Posted by kellymac530

Does anyone know where I can get a new seat foam for a 1986 R80 G/S full length seat?

I am hoping to find something possibly even more comfortable than stock a bit. I am custom making a suede seat cover but my foam is dried out and brittle.

Thanks


PS, budget is very important right now.

I'm starting seat build using Minicell foam. i'v done Sea Kayak cockpits out of it. it's quite hard and you work it differently than other foams. It's also closed cell and thus waterproof. You don't even need to cover it. You get the comfort by sculpting it to your butt. Really sculpting it. Sit, sculpt, sit, sculpt, sit and read a book for a half an hour, sculpt.

I find the hard well sculpted seat is more comfortable than a squishy one. I'm dissapointed in my Airhawk cushion. it distributes weight perfectly and gives maximum circulation. Fine if you are in a wheelchair (these guys make the ROHO wheelchair cushions which are the standard of the industry) but the pressure on the soft tissue hurts after awhile. I'd rather have less there and more pressure on the bones and just stand a moment here and there to keep the circulation going.

A 3" by 36" by 12" block of minicell is $45 at NRS and they are not the cheapest place to buy.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.a...FegWMgodjUgAsg

I also always have a thick sheepskin on my seat which picks up stuff like the seams in my pants and whatnot.