85 MAX-fan
Well-Known Member
Have you ever tried another seat for comparison?
My Custom Vmax SS Seat
- Thread starter thundermax
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thundermax
Well-Known Member
Cover update, July 10, 2012.
I took the seat to the wrong upholsterer. Turns out his help is not qualified to do the seat and he was uncomfortable continuing. This took a week. Good news was he gave me the name of a specialist that talks like he can make it great. Took it to him today. He promised to have it to me by Thursday so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Notes to the membership. Doing this project is not cheap. It cost $66 to buy second hand front and rear base seats to use in the project. Did not want to sacrifice my OEM 2005 seats in case of a sale of the bike which I do not think I will ever do, love my 2005. I will have $276 in it when finished. Finding the upholsterer was a big task. Did the foam work myself so saved $80 to $100.
Can't wait to shoot pictures and post. Far as I know this is a totally new design for the Vmax.
I took the seat to the wrong upholsterer. Turns out his help is not qualified to do the seat and he was uncomfortable continuing. This took a week. Good news was he gave me the name of a specialist that talks like he can make it great. Took it to him today. He promised to have it to me by Thursday so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Notes to the membership. Doing this project is not cheap. It cost $66 to buy second hand front and rear base seats to use in the project. Did not want to sacrifice my OEM 2005 seats in case of a sale of the bike which I do not think I will ever do, love my 2005. I will have $276 in it when finished. Finding the upholsterer was a big task. Did the foam work myself so saved $80 to $100.
Can't wait to shoot pictures and post. Far as I know this is a totally new design for the Vmax.
Hanging out to see it!
As a side note on expense, be glad your missus doesn't foster dogs. A bully pup (weighing in at about 30kg) got hold of my seat just after I pulled the covers off.
Kinda made the decision to make new foams on my behalf. :bang head:
Thanks to that BITCH I can't ride until I get my new seat together.
As a side note on expense, be glad your missus doesn't foster dogs. A bully pup (weighing in at about 30kg) got hold of my seat just after I pulled the covers off.
Kinda made the decision to make new foams on my behalf. :bang head:
Thanks to that BITCH I can't ride until I get my new seat together.
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Diablotin
Well-Known Member
hahahaha LOL :rofl_200:
naughtyG
Well-Known Member
She looks like she's got your number too LOL :rofl_200:
thundermax
Well-Known Member
Got the seat from the upholsterer. The sewing was fantastic. The seat works just like I thought it would. Took a ride, a world of difference. I can move about on the seat, readjusting my butt and legs. Lots of room. The top is long, wide and soft yet firm. Very much evenly distributed the weight which is exactly what makes a good seat. Like the height too. Now it feels like I am riding a bike from the 70s with the power of a VMAX. Just what I was looking for. Could not be happier with the result.
I intend to do a little more work on the transition from the front to the rear seat.
Please post all comments, good or bad.
I intend to do a little more work on the transition from the front to the rear seat.
Please post all comments, good or bad.
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twistedmax
Well-Known Member
You might be on to something there ,prolly work very well for the tall guys that want that 70's standard look.done any long rides yet? how did it feel?
DMAN999
Well-Known Member
Overall it looks pretty good, but I don't think I'd like it personally.
I'm too used to having that Middle Section to keep me from sliding back at WOT.
How do you fill the Gas tank ?
I take it you have to remove the seat everytime ?
I'm too used to having that Middle Section to keep me from sliding back at WOT.
How do you fill the Gas tank ?
I take it you have to remove the seat everytime ?
thundermax
Well-Known Member
Will work out a prop up system. Like a hood system. Show when done.
wildweasel_pt
Well-Known Member
I don't like the looks and theres no butt detent for WOT like Dennis said. But if you feel comfortable with it thats good enough. Thumbs up to you for the idea and getting your hands to work... thats all that matters...
I think it seems very functional. Another option to consider. I am interested in how it feels after several 500 mile days in a row. Soft foam is great in the short run but not so much on long trips. That is why Corbin uses such firm foam. The loss of the butt pad doesn't bother me. I can hold on to the handlebars. :biglaugh:
I like the back seat being stationary so I can use a tail bag and keep the toolkit. Modding that for passenger comfort might be a good project if you have the need...
All in all, an impressive mod. :clapping:
I like the back seat being stationary so I can use a tail bag and keep the toolkit. Modding that for passenger comfort might be a good project if you have the need...
All in all, an impressive mod. :clapping:
You said good and bad. The good is the work looks like it was done nicely. The bad is I think it's possibly the ugliest seat I have ever seen on a Vmax. Just makes it look far to weird. Probably because I have been looking at them for far too many years.
Sean
Sean
I'm :ummm: as to why it's better, but I can see you like it, which is the only opinion that really matters.
It's especially good because people have expressed such varying opinions on it, which means it's unique and interesting!
Good onya mate! Bloody good job! :biglaugh:
It's especially good because people have expressed such varying opinions on it, which means it's unique and interesting!
Good onya mate! Bloody good job! :biglaugh:
Diablotin
Well-Known Member
Looks clean and nicely done.
I can't tell if I love or hate the look, it's just unusual and unique.
I'm not used to the shape but I like the removal of the mid part.
If it's comfortable then it's all good.
Good work man
I can't tell if I love or hate the look, it's just unusual and unique.
I'm not used to the shape but I like the removal of the mid part.
If it's comfortable then it's all good.
Good work man
thundermax
Well-Known Member
Update 7/20/12:
Riding on the seat is still great after 2 days of rides. Like the height, width, softness, firmness. For me, I still like it much much more than seats I have tried, ie, stock, Corbin and Maxgasser. They are both great seats but for me, well I was looking for something else.
The seat is not as soft as some may think. 60 pound foam is pretty firm and is needed considering my weight and the foam thickness. Softer foam would have me feeling the base. Soft enough on my butt and legs, hard enough so I do not bottom out in the seat pan or my pvc engineered piece.
Comments on it's looks are correct. For years the look has been either stock or a lowered seat. Seeing a vmax with this shape is way outside of the box we have become used to. One observation I have made on the SS seat is the massive amount of black vinyl on the bike, from top to bottom. Not from front to rear, that is ok with me. But because the seat has a predetermined bottom on the sides, the bottom can't be changed. Raising the top surface puts much more seat on the bike, more vinyl. That to me is what I wished could be reduced. Not by lowering the top but raising the bottom edge. Question is what would be put in the, say, 3" gap from front to back of the front seat. Something to think about. I thought about an led light strip the right size to go in the space with lights racing from front to back of the light strip. Since it is a 2005, red lights of course could be used.
The comments about the correct seat for WOT riding is correct. This is not the best seat there. I slid back a little, had to hold on more to the grips. There is not the piece there to hold you in. But for those that do not WOT but just Vboost some, I think you are ok. Just hold on more.
Still have my 2005 stock configuration and can change anytime back and forth. As long as I ride, think I will use the SS seat. Will post a road test report once I make a 200 mile trip. Will wait on the weather to break though. Today it is 105 degrees in central OK.
Thanks to all for the comments. It has been fun.
Riding on the seat is still great after 2 days of rides. Like the height, width, softness, firmness. For me, I still like it much much more than seats I have tried, ie, stock, Corbin and Maxgasser. They are both great seats but for me, well I was looking for something else.
The seat is not as soft as some may think. 60 pound foam is pretty firm and is needed considering my weight and the foam thickness. Softer foam would have me feeling the base. Soft enough on my butt and legs, hard enough so I do not bottom out in the seat pan or my pvc engineered piece.
Comments on it's looks are correct. For years the look has been either stock or a lowered seat. Seeing a vmax with this shape is way outside of the box we have become used to. One observation I have made on the SS seat is the massive amount of black vinyl on the bike, from top to bottom. Not from front to rear, that is ok with me. But because the seat has a predetermined bottom on the sides, the bottom can't be changed. Raising the top surface puts much more seat on the bike, more vinyl. That to me is what I wished could be reduced. Not by lowering the top but raising the bottom edge. Question is what would be put in the, say, 3" gap from front to back of the front seat. Something to think about. I thought about an led light strip the right size to go in the space with lights racing from front to back of the light strip. Since it is a 2005, red lights of course could be used.
The comments about the correct seat for WOT riding is correct. This is not the best seat there. I slid back a little, had to hold on more to the grips. There is not the piece there to hold you in. But for those that do not WOT but just Vboost some, I think you are ok. Just hold on more.
Still have my 2005 stock configuration and can change anytime back and forth. As long as I ride, think I will use the SS seat. Will post a road test report once I make a 200 mile trip. Will wait on the weather to break though. Today it is 105 degrees in central OK.
Thanks to all for the comments. It has been fun.
twistedmax
Well-Known Member
Thundermax................what does SS stand for?
thundermax
Well-Known Member
Borrowed it from my 69 ss 396. Super sport?
twistedmax
Well-Known Member
chevelle? my favorite! which motor 325 , 350 , or 375 hp?
thundermax
Well-Known Member
Actually I fibbed a little. Wanted the SS 396 but ended up with a Chevelle Malibu. 350 ci, 4 barrel holley carb, 300 hp. Bucket seats, three speed on the floor. Positrac rear end, would smoke both tires. Not bad for a 17 year old. Gas at 20 cents a gallon, plenty of stains on the bench rear seat.
These are pictures of the gassing position. Using two heavy gage steel rods, fashioned to spring lock underneath flat against the underside of the seat pan. Used epoxy steel stuff to fix one end, this stuff I have found works wonders. Drilled two holes in rear seat pan to insert steel rod ends. May seem hokey, but hey,
this is the first time I have ever fabricated anything!
These are pictures of the gassing position. Using two heavy gage steel rods, fashioned to spring lock underneath flat against the underside of the seat pan. Used epoxy steel stuff to fix one end, this stuff I have found works wonders. Drilled two holes in rear seat pan to insert steel rod ends. May seem hokey, but hey,
this is the first time I have ever fabricated anything!
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As others have said, the main thing is that you are happy with the outcome and you are to be congratulated on your vision and skill in constructing the seat.
One of the issues that I have with the OE seat is the side depth, something that your design exasperates.
One solution would be to use a contrasting vinyl on the top half (grey?) and have the seam follow the line of the faux tank down and rearward. The top half of the pillion pad could continue the theme with the seam kicking up toward the rear.
For additional interest ribs a la Triumph could also be added to the top part.
Should keep your seat sewer busy?
One of the issues that I have with the OE seat is the side depth, something that your design exasperates.
One solution would be to use a contrasting vinyl on the top half (grey?) and have the seam follow the line of the faux tank down and rearward. The top half of the pillion pad could continue the theme with the seam kicking up toward the rear.
For additional interest ribs a la Triumph could also be added to the top part.
Should keep your seat sewer busy?
