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Post by wayne on Feb 17, 2011 19:13:27 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me definitively where the RE5 "touring seat" comes from. You see many U.S. bikes equipped with this seat. It looks very much like the old "KING/QUEEN" seats of the 70's but doesn't have the QUEEN bit, just a standard pillion.
They must have been produced for the RE5 as the bike has a unique seat base. But were they from Suzuki USA ? Or were they "endorsed" by Suzuki USA. Could you order a brand new bike fitted with one from a Suzuki dealer ?
I notice that there seems quite a bit of variety in the seats that I have seen and also note that the covers are stitched, not stamped. Still, perhaps Suzuki ordered them because the touring bags were, as far as I can tell, not made in Japan but in the U.S. although Suzuki promoted them as "Suzuki" items and produced brochures for them.
Thanks,
Wayne
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Post by wayne on Feb 26, 2011 22:46:56 GMT -5
Okay, forget the "definitively", can anyone shed any light on these seats ?
Were you around in the 70's and perhaps bought a new bike from a dealer with one already fitted ?
Or did you buy one back then........where did it come from, dealer or AM merchant ?
Thanks,
Wayne
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Post by RE5Gary on Feb 27, 2011 21:04:33 GMT -5
I wasn't involved with the RE5 back in the 70's but I'm thinking that these seats are probably aftermarket unless they were part of the touring package that has been mentioned on here in the past.
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Post by toystoretom on Mar 9, 2013 12:50:11 GMT -5
I just bought a 76A that has some touring items on it, including the seat. The seat itself has a metal RE5 seat pan and a diamond checkered velour seat cover. I have seen this seat on other bikes listed on E Bay in the past year. There is a sticker on it that says:
Diamond Boats Inc.
902 Avenue R
Carter Lake, Iowa 51510
712-347-5316
The seat cover is riveted to the metal seat pan and I would wager that the Diamond boat people installed this seat cover to replace the original.
I have the fairing, the seat, the exhaust tips, and a combo backrest/luggage rack that has a Suzuki emblem on it. But the bags I got with it are aftermarket "Bates" style bags and no trunk.
I have no idea what any of this means but I wouldn't be surprised if you bought these items as separate add ons from your dealer, or possibly the whole thing was a package and my bike lost the bags and trunk somewhere along the way.
I haven't looked but are these items listed in the parts book?
Tomo
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Post by toystoretom on Mar 9, 2013 12:57:07 GMT -5
BTW..
This seat smells like a combination of cat poop, dead people, a sewer trap, cigarette smoke and old tennis shoes. I just thought you would like to know.
Tomo
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Post by wayne on Mar 9, 2013 14:04:45 GMT -5
BTW.. This seat smells like a combination of cat poop, dead people, a sewer trap, cigarette smoke and old tennis shoes. I just thought you would like to know. Tomo That imagery really helps bring home the full tapestry of life as a motorcycle seat ! Thanks for the info. There's an NOS touring seat on ebay at the moment. The photo of the underside matches exactly one of the touring seats that I have at home and which, to my knowledge, came as a complete package from the dealer when the bike was knew (complete tour kit). It has a some type of plastic base with "Suzuki" roughly spelled out in what looks like letters made by a glue gun in the master mold. It also has a sticker "Mr Seats" North Hollywood California. I had another touring seat with a metal RE5 base. I have been told by RR that the diamond pattern on the plastic base seat is, to their knowledge, the original pattern supplied with the bikes. The locks on my bags are "made in USA". I guess that Suzuki contracted local manufacturers to make this stuff. I have a late '75 magazine article "Beta Testing" the new Suzuki Touring kit so it was most definitely a Suzuki initiative but with all components from the US. I recently bought a brand new rack for my '81 GSX1100 and I note that it is of identical basic design to my RE5 tour kit rack. The principal difference being that the RE5 one has a large circular plate with a stamped Suzuki "S" welded to each side. I also note that the new rack just like its '75 ancestor has mount holes for a sissy bar. The rack, the bags, topbox and fairing all appear in the official Suzuki brochure. I have not seen the exhaust tips or sissy bar in brochures but the former most certainly were a factory inititiative if not made in the factory. As an aside, I'd be very wary of buying one of those plastic based touring seats. I have one which was hardly used but within 2 rides the plastic had shattered at several weight bearing points. Unlike fibreglass, it has no form of reinforcement and 35 years is too much even for a seat that has lived indoors the whole time. I want the seat for interest sake so it makes no difference to me. |
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Post by timpa136 on Mar 9, 2013 22:38:45 GMT -5
and old tennis shoes. I just thought you would like to know.
Tomo
That imagery really helps bring home the full tapestry of life as a motorcycle seat ! Had to laugh at that.
Suzukis touring accsys. were dealer installed only and did not include a seat, all seats were aftermarket including Mr seats with the plastic pan.
My most comfortable saddle is a Corbin on the factory pan.
The Suzuki rack was made by AA which I have an identical rack as you say with the backrest that was not oferred from suzuki accsy. catalogue.
Just edited after reading, anyone could buy the suzuki fairing and bags in metalflake blue or metalflake orange over the counter. later I saw black and white fairings available for the RE5 and brackets for the gt-750 in black and white only. Two lengths windshields were also available. I always preferred the Suzuki fairing for riding .
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Post by wayne on Mar 9, 2013 23:56:11 GMT -5
Thanks Timpa. First time I've heard anything solid about the touring kit.
And of course the brochure doesn't show anything but the stock seat.
Okay, just read your edit. Thanks.
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Post by motomartin on Jul 8, 2013 23:09:17 GMT -5
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Post by pmcburney on Jul 9, 2013 0:30:57 GMT -5
Lordy... that is truly horrible. You should be legally able to slap anyone who fits one of them things to their RE. |
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Post by wayne on Jul 9, 2013 3:18:33 GMT -5
Awww geee..............I kinda liked it.
I do notice that he hasn't shifted even a dollar on price despite several listings. Even at half that price I'd be wary due previous about the plastic base.
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Post by pmcburney on Jul 9, 2013 18:00:14 GMT -5
Awww geee..............I kinda liked it. Ha! I somehow knew it would appeal to you. It's ok mate, I have a deep and abiding respect for 'challenged' people, so I promise I won't slap you...  |
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Post by inept on Oct 9, 2013 12:11:09 GMT -5
my re has one of those lovely stylish touring seats fitted.complete with flexi plasic base & lovely uncomfabrand foam packing.its like sitting on a log .this is one of the first things i will be changing once i have ensured money does not need spending in more vital areas.i have been in contact with the board member who remanufactures them & will hopefully be buying one soon
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