GS450T, Seat identification, compatibility

[coyoteyip]

Hi GSers,

I recently bought a GS450TXD ('83, pretty stock, pictured below with blue tank) and for the most part I love it, style, performance, everything. Stylistically, the "T" model is a blend between a cruiser and a classic british twin; I want to push it a little more toward the classic style. The previous owner replaced the swept-back handlebars with straighter drag bars, which I like. Now, i'm considering the seat and thinking about replacing the stepped cruiser style with a little flatter bench style. I have a few questions for all of you who have had your GS's for far longer than me.

* Can anyone identify the seat pictured in this link? Or suggest something like it? It's kind of ideal.
http://40.media.tumblr.com/ae3adabe39d415139094fc41996d2f2c/tumblr_mzez8twVkO1qkuy9xo2_400.jpg

* If I can't find this specific seat, what other model/year GS seats will fit an '83 GS450T? I've searched and read through this forum and cannot find the answer. For instance:
- Would it be safe to assume that "T" seats from other years (80-82) would fit?
- Would seats from similar size/era GS's fit? Like from an early 80's GS400 or GS550?

* Would anyone cast a passion vote for keeping the stock seat? It's in really good shape, seems to fit the tank shape well (83 tank is different from 82), and I could be convinced. School me, GS'ers!

 

[Gorminrider]

Seats are ,well, difficult. Each model T;L;E pretty much has its own...and differing tanks and sidecovers too. So You are stuck inside parameters for roughly 1980~1983 450 T....unless you look to Europe, Japan, Canada...for the 1981~83 GS 400 T, though they are also called GSX400 T here. to indicate their 4 valve per cylinder top end ( their only major diff from your 450 in the same years, I believe)

AND looking at your '83, it looks "steppier" than my '81 GSX400T !! -different sidecovers too ? so you might want to look at 450 L seats in this (ahem) "era"...

Best bet:
You can take that picture and your seat to someone who specialises in bike seats or to an automotive upholsterer and see what they can do for you....
Or, you can search out PitReplica on Ebay for a stock replica cover. and there are others. You can even hunt up a thrashed seat and make your own...

 

[Gorminrider]

...anyways, your example attached appears to be a customized '81 450T with a custom seat made on the original seat pan.


you might want to peruse http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?166061-2-Cylinder-Photos-Post-Yours!

 

[coyoteyip]

Thanks for the tips, Gorminrider! You are correct in seeing that my 83 stock seat is more stepped and scalloped (more cruiser like) than the seats on earlier year T models. It's not quite as stepped as the L model, but that's the style I want to move away from anyway.

So, to clarify my understanding, I'd probably be safe in assuming that at least seats from GS450T's from other years (80-82) would fit my frame and seat pan? Even if I'm limited to that, it still expands my options since those years provided slightly stepped but still flatter bench-like seats than the 83 models. I'd love to find something that I could just plop in without too much trouble, just use existing bolt placement, etc. that, hopefully, earlier T model seats might provide that.

Good idea to start checking the photo thread and just writing to people whose bikes I like. I tried to find a way to write to the owner of my sample pic, but there's no way; too bad; I liked that one.

PS - I grew up in Oregon and Seattle and always thought that I want to retire to British Columbia - one of the most beautiful areas in the world, Fraser River Canyon, the Inside Passage; Haida & Tlingit First Nations cultures, love it there!

 

[Gorminrider]

...So, to clarify my understanding, I'd probably be safe in assuming that at least seats from GS450T's from other years (80-82) would fit my frame and seat pan? Even if I'm limited to that, it still expands my options since those years provided slightly stepped but still flatter bench-like seats than the 83 models. I'd love to find something that I could just plop in without too much trouble, just use existing bolt placement, etc. that, hopefully, earlier T model seats might provide that....

That's where I'd be looking + hoping anyways, is all I can say. Motorcycles from Japan really took the "This Year's Model is New and Improved!" philosophy to heart.

just a thought if you don't want to cut up the original or pay an upholsterer to redo it... If I were desperate for a seat-pan, I'd lay some wax paper on the underneath of the original and lay some fibreglass mat on it to start building one. ...like thisView attachment 38812(with a better eye- the original seat rail is sort of ugly here...)