Seat Cover Repair????

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:38 pm

Well, after 25 years the seat cover has started to split under my left thigh....guess I should email Honda about their lousy quality Laughing

So...not serious enough for a "technical" forum but does anyone have recomendations on what to do?
a) its only a half inch split
b) The backing woven material is solid, its just the PVC that's parted under the moulded 'stitching' [so I can't patch from behind]
c) Gaffa tape is so 'not my thing' [except in a get-you-home emergency Laughing

]
d) No, I don't want to fit my Corbin...my butt hasn't hardened or spread enough for it to be comfortable Embarassed

Is there any 'trick' to this or am I looking for a replacement ? [I'm trying gluing as we speak but don't think its going to last the next 25 years.....]

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:18 pm

Attempting to stitch it up seems to be a popular option, though I don't really like the looks of it (that's how my 900's seat came).

There are covers available for around $60. There's one on the seat I bought from PapaLuker and it looks pretty good. Getting it professionally fit may be a good idea though (mine's kind of loose).

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:34 pm

One method that I have seen work fairly well is to sew it with the finest monofilament fishing line you can find with a suture needle and cover that area with superglue. Another method which works fairly well is to use shoe goo if you can find it in the black color it's usually white. There are also a variety of commercial vinyl repair kits available.

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:21 pm

Its just going to get worse and rip in other places. Buy a corbin is my advice. Wink

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:29 pm

I feel your pain. Just went thru the same thing. As the seat continued to split, I stitched the split together using an appropriately heavy duty thread for leather. Before doing this, I contacted B&H and ordered a new seat cover. http://www.motorcycleseatcovers.com/ Sounded like I might have a 4-6 week wait, and the cover showed up in 7 days! The new cover fit great, and with another person holding the seat pan, I got nice results in terms of tension fitting the new cover. A leisurely one hour job beginning to end. The new cover makes the seat feel better, too (the new cover comes with a small amount of foam pre-attached). Recommended!!! Wink

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:34 pm

CB900SS wrote:

Its just going to get worse and rip in other places. Buy a corbin is my advice. Wink

"My Lud, I refer you to exhibit d) - the defendant finds his Corbin too wide and hard for his tender behind and thighs" Pity though...it looks the dogs B's and is no damn good in the loft Rolling Eyes

I suspect you are right about it just getting ready to rip in other places!

Q1) Are these replacement covers the same pattern as original? If so source???? [Thanks Stamper, you posted as i wrote!]
Q2) Comercial vinyl repair....I'm getting a dim memory from the days when cars came with vinyl seats and you could get kits to fix fag burns....good thinking - though replicating the stitching pattern would be a PITA

Will real stitching work...the vinyl is real thin and has come away from its fabric backing so i'm not convinced it will work for me - I'd imagine it would shred pretty quickly.

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:45 pm

Craigside_Pete wrote:

I'm getting a dim memory from the days when cars came with vinyl seats and you could get kits to fix fag burns....

That would be cigarette burns I believe Shocked

.

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:51 pm

Yes, Sorry...gotta remember to allow for the differing usage! Divided by a common languge LOL
[P.S. I haven't forgotten I owe you a beer or three.... possibly more since your post on buying from Japan...]

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:08 pm

As silly as this may sound I went to the auto parts store and bought a vinyl repair kit made by permatex. You know like the ones they used to advertise on TV. Comes with 6 colors to "match any color", 3 different grain swatches and a little plug in iron. I just like the stock seat cover and couldn't part with it. I repaired an 8" seperation and over a thousand miles later its as good as the day I did it. I was not the only one impressed with what this cheap little kit did. If you take your time it works very well. People laughed untill they saw how it worked.