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Post by kawajockey on Dec 25, 2015 1:59:39 GMT -5
Merry Christmas everyone. I have a couple of questions regarding seat covers and foam. I have an excellent seat pan that one had an ugly saddle seat foam and cover installed on it. I would like to put it back to stock and was wondering who makes seat foams for the re5? Also has anybody tried the pit replica cover. It's listed to fit the gt750 and the re5. It was my understanding that these two seats are not the same? Thank you
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Post by wayne on Dec 25, 2015 18:39:00 GMT -5
First two pictures, on the right, original RE5 seat. On the left a GT750 seat. The GT seat is recovered but you could essentially consider it original with regard to your question as it is original foam. The last two pictures compares the profile of an original RE (same seat as in first two pics) vs AM seat cover- note the difference right at the back of the seat where the original sweeps up. You can't really see it in the plan views. As you can see, the GT seat is noticeably wider. Any seat cover that claims to do both is not going to do a good job on either. I don't know of anyone doing foam specifically for the RE5 but I have had two done by seat makers here in OZ and they did a good job. One guy did a foam from scratch against an original pattern, another cut out the centre section of an original seat to preserve the exact shape and only replaced the centre section. That's pretty much the major bit that collapses so it worked very well. One subtlety that I have not seen replicated in an AM RE seat is the little "kick up" that is at the very back of the seat. You can see it in the last picture. All the AM covers pull down at the back (only for the retentives) Original RE on right:  Original RE at top:  Original seat to show the up sweep at the rear, compare to recovered seat below and how it pulls down at the rear:   |
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Post by Jess on Dec 25, 2015 20:22:14 GMT -5
I had seat covers made at great expense. Needless to say as soon as I did, eBay sellers appeared that charged less for theirs than mine cost per unit. As soon as the parts popped up on eBay, my sales went to almost zero, as many owners only appear to be concerned with price.
When reproducing a part, it only makes sense to have a certain quantity made, so I have cases of mine in storage.
I ordered one from pit replicas to see how they could make one so inexpensively, The short version is, you get what you pay for...
To date, I have never had one of my covers returned, or even heard any complaints.
With regard to the bun, I looked into having them made. I had to weigh the cost, as to how many I might sell, and it was not a wise investment. Any competent upholstery shop can recreate or cut foam to make a decent bun.
A gt750 seat is not even close... As Wayne as shown.
Just my 2 cents... YMMV.
Best,
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Post by wayne on Dec 25, 2015 21:07:45 GMT -5
For reference, all the seats I have had redone and nearly all the seats that my friends have recovered have been RR seat covers. They were a quality product. I know one person who bought one manufactured somewhere in Asia. The only way he could get it to fit was to leave it out in the baking hot sun until he could stretch it around the seat foam. Not good if you're trying to capture the original shape. A board member in the UK manufactured a very nice complete seat. I bought three of them for Aussie customers. It was never meant to be a concours piece of work but it was nevertheless a nice seat. I know of one RE5 that wears one while it sits in an exclusive museum. No one knows the difference. RR seat cover. A bit of lens distortion makes it look fatter at the rear than it is. Side by side with an original, it's very good:  |
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Post by kawajockey on Dec 26, 2015 1:23:45 GMT -5
First off thanks guys for answering my post. Secondly Jess ,how does one get ahold of one of your correct covers ? What did I you sell them for? Wayne thanks so much for taking the time to take the photos showing the differences. I want my re5 to look correct.
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Post by goandy on Dec 26, 2015 11:12:40 GMT -5
First rule of Jess spares is you don't talk about Jess spares....  Send him a pm and all will be revealed. |
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Post by timpa136 on Jan 6, 2016 10:46:57 GMT -5
Wayne,
I'm compelled to make note of your immaculate gorgeous bikes underneath those seats.
Tim
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Post by wayne on Jan 6, 2016 22:14:12 GMT -5
Thanks Tim, wish the blue was mine but that one was a job I did for someone else.
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Post by HGH 770N on Jan 11, 2016 7:43:37 GMT -5
 Seat on the right is a Reproduction compared with the original seat on the left, The profile reproduced was spot on , I'm not sure if the Repro seats and foam are still available . |
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Post by wayne on Jan 11, 2016 19:53:19 GMT -5
That's interesting. There is no "kick up" or duck tail at the rear of your original seat Roger. Variations out of the factory ? Both my originals have it. The black bike is completely original unrestored (except for tyres and sidecover screw). My M model is restored but original seat and cover. The blue for comparison is refoamed and recovered and lacks the "duck tail".  |
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Post by cresco750 on Jan 11, 2016 21:11:08 GMT -5
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Post by wayne on Jan 11, 2016 22:24:07 GMT -5
They look like really nice pieces of foam but once again, all credibility is lost when they list GT750 late models and RE5 as the same. Might be worth talking to them and seeing if they want to do a proper one for the RE if someone in the US could supply an original foam. |
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Post by HGH 770N on Jan 12, 2016 2:22:34 GMT -5
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Post by HGH 770N on Jan 12, 2016 2:56:26 GMT -5
 Wayne . while looking at the seat profiles I noticed on this New Zero mile "A" that has been for sale a few times that there is a side panel knob on the left , some thing I havent seen before . The 17mm thread on a standard right hand panel is not long enough for the left panel  Rog |
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Post by wayne on Jan 12, 2016 5:20:51 GMT -5
Interesting again. I've only ever been aware of a screw in that left sidecover. I've just replaced mine with a stainless version, that's all. I've never seen the knob on the left sidecover. Actually, just flicking through a few magazines from back in the day, none of them show anything but a screw in that left sidecover. The seats in the above two photos are also slightly different re the "duck tail". The second is purportedly original, is the top one restored or original ? See below- this is also an NOS bike that was for sale in the US about 12 or so years ago. I think it sold for the outrageous amount of $12,000. I note that it just has a screw in the sidecover (and is a different bike to the one above as it has orange rear reflectors). I also note that the seat tail is less pronounced. Once again, re seat profiles, looks like it's possible to get hung up on details that the factory itself didn't worry too much about.  |
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