Seat Cover Options ??

[GTGS]

I have a 1981 GS550L and was wondering if anyone can point me to some seat cover options. The seat on my bike is pretty stiff and the original cover is pretty dry and faded. I could have it re-upholstered but I was wondering about some lower cost options. Any Ideas?

[bwringer]

http://motorcycleseatcovers.com

Do NOT order the "Black Texture" material -- it looks great, but is perforated and completely unsuitable for a motorcycle seat.

All their other materials are high quality, and their craftsmanship is excellent.

[jwhelan65]

I had Sargents recover mine. Now that it is winter its good time to send it in, I believe this was about $120 with the piping.

[GTGS]

I assume you have personal experience with these covers. Does it actually replace the original cover or does it go over it? I fyou have used them do you have any photos?

[doctorgonzo]

I had Sargents recover mine. Now that it is winter its good time to send it in, I believe this was about $120 with the piping.

That is gorgeous. I assume they have a website?

[jwhelan65]

It replaces the original cover, here it is on the bike..

here is the site..http://www.sargentcycle.com/prodover.htm

[doctorgonzo]

Bookmarked and put on the list as one of my first purchases after Christmas. Tough choice on pleated or not. I actually really like the old school look of pleated.

[doctorgonzo]

To the OP:

I had the seat on my G recovered by a local upolstery shop. One that does boats or plannes is preferable I think, cost me $70 bucks, marine grade vinyl. That was a deal, but a good option. That's no tuck and roll or piping anything, just plan, but nice cover.

[bwringer]

http://motorcycleseatcovers.com

Do NOT order the "Black Texture" material -- it looks great, but is perforated and completely unsuitable for a motorcycle seat.

All their other materials are high quality, and their craftsmanship is excellent.

One note on these and the Sargent seat covers -- they only fit the original seat foam shape. The Sargents are only available for a few select GS models, although they will make custom seat covers. Motorcycleseatcovers.com seems to have patterns for absolutely every model. They are cut and sewn when you order by a mom and pop shop in Texas, so your cover normally ships out a couple of days after ordering.

If you want to reshape your seat, a local upholstery shoppe is likely your best bet. Ask around and look for business cards on the bulletin boards at the greasiest hole-in-the-wall cycle shoppe you can find.

I replaced part of the old bagged-out seat foam on mine with Sargent Super Cell foam, thusly:

[Nessism]

I just had my 1000S seat covered by a local shop, they did a pretty faithful reproduction of the factory pattern. Not cheap, paid $165, but they did the job in two days so that much was good. Still need to install the grab rail but wanted to jump into this thread since I picked up the seat tonight.

This seat has an 8.5" by 8.5" square cut out on the bottom of the seating area in front, into which about two inches of highly resilient yet soft urethane foam was inserted from the factory (foam like Brian used I think). Makes the seating perch more comfortable compared to molded foam alone.

[jwhelan65]

They do nice work Ed...I'll bet it looks great on your "S"

[Nessism]

They do nice work Ed...I'll bet it looks great on your "S"

Have to admit Joe, your seat looks nicer to my eye but this seat is more of a reproduction piece so I stuck with the factory pattern. Thankfully, the 1000S seat has a sewn cover, no heat seams or piping at all so the local shop had a reasonable chance to replicate it.

[sschering]

This is the Sargent's Cover I did last month for the 79 GS1000L
You strip off the old cover and replace it.




$59 Ready Fit Cover kit.. COlored piping is $20 extra..

http://www.sargentcycle.com/readyfit.htm

Part RF-372 for the 81 GS550L
RF-37
They make them to order but the turn around is fast.. They shipped it 2 days after I ordered it.
The kit comes with the cover, new welting for the pan edges and a sheet of plastic to make a slip cover for the foam..

You can get it smooth, pleated or CarbonFx (the one I did)

You'll get the kit and when you first try to put it on you'll be thinking there is no way in hell this will fit. Take you time, get your weight on it to compress the foam and pull the cover around.. It'll come out nice and tight. I ended up working it on the floor with a rolled up beach towel under the seat to help compress the step.

Or you could send it in and have them do the seat..

http://www.sargentcycle.com/cspricing.htm

Looks like $109 for a metal pan plus shipping and options.

[GTGS]

They all look great and I appreciate the cost breakdowns. I have a great auto upholsterer nearby and I may take it in to get an estimate. It's nice to know about the kit options. I probably wouldn't ship it out unless that was the best way to go. Thanks for all the pics.