Seat Covers

[John Casey]

Has anyone ordered one of these seat cover sets from Japan?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/125998398747

Seems like a good deal as an interim repair before upgrading to one of Morley's seats, or similar.

 

[Fire-medic]

https://www.manuel-dreesmann.com/en...NKpvVVA8-xI5L1RI_KaM2GPcw-KKK-HOXkRhWJ-IKukKP

PU leather is a type of synthetic material that is commonly used as an alternative to genuine leather. While it can provide a similar look and feel to real leather, it does have some significant drawbacks. One of the main concerns with PU leather is its lack of durability. With frequent use, the material can easily crack and peel, which can greatly reduce its lifespan.
_______________________________________________
I dunno, if you're replacing a seat for a re-sale, this may be your cheap-out ticket, to improve the looks, but I don't think it will last for a long-time.

I have a disassembled Corbin 1-piece seat which needs re-upholstery. A local upholstery shop with which I've done business, is quoting me much-more in cost, using marine-grade material, not leather. Much-much more!

The one you showed is I think going to require expert fitting to come-out decently. I think I'd go with one of the other products on ebay, which appear to be better-sewn products, which should make for easier fitting. I've seen the upholstery shop use steam to help the conformity of the seat cover on the bare seat. A Corbin uses pop-rivets to hold the material, at least, this one I disassembled did.

 

[John Casey]

I dunno...

Yes, all good points.

A local guy who normally does Harley seats, says he did one of these a couple years ago and quoted me $550-625CAD with marine-grade vinyl.

I don't plan on selling in the short term, but of course, everything is for sale

The covers are held on with what looks like 5/8 staples at the moment.

 

[TacoBill]

Yes, all good points.

A local guy who normally does Harley seats, says he did one of these a couple years ago and quoted me $550-625CAD with marine-grade vinyl.

I don't plan on selling in the short term, but of course, everything is for sale

The covers are held on with what looks like 5/8 staples at the moment.

View attachment 96947

I'm with Fire-medic on the sewing for the ebay listing you referenced - the midsection appears to be a plain sheet, not shaped/contoured.

I've recovered two Vmax seats in the past, one with a set of used stock covers and another with a new PU leather set from AliExpress (YXMOTO?). I recall the AliExpress cover was thinner than stock, and had a "cheap" texture - as you mentioned, perhaps a good interim repair.

Or, someone on the forum may have a used set of stock covers with which they'll part. Looks like you might only need the front section.

 

[Traumahawk]

I do have one question, if your not planning on selling....atleast in the short term, have you ridden a stock seat on a vmax for an appreciable amount of time? They are horrible. The standing joke has been the reason why you have to fill up after 100 miles is to get off the bike and give your butt a rest. The seats that Sean sells, from what I've been told, are way more comfortable than stock, and also if you do sell....it might be a good selling point as well.

 

[John Casey]

I do have one question,

Eric, I owned two back in the 90s and traveled far and wide.

My ass is obviously a different shape than it was back then, but I get your point.

On the surface, I'm so far underwater in price with various small parts over the past year that the overall impact of a new seat on total cost might be negligible.

Then again, for those of us who have worked in gov't, that is a pretty good description of falling for a sunk-cost fallacy when planning.

Besides, maybe I can instead try my hand at upholstering to justify buying a pneumatic stapler

 

[Traumahawk]

I would say go for the pneumatic stapler....lol