Next Project - Fit New Seat Cover to GS850G

[Guest]

Got my new seat cover from Verde Power Sports this afternoon. Asked for some custom stitching. Seems to mock-up fit pretty nicely. Need to rebuild the seat area for the driver with the Sargent-Cycle Super Cell foam I have here as well.

I'm wondering if I should use any spray adhesive to hold this in place over the foam?

Also, all of the instructions I've read talk about stapling... Can I assume that, with the metal seat pan, I won't be doing any stapling? I'm thinking of using the stock tabs, but also getting some stainless screws with shouldered washers to supplement the tabs and help hold everything in place really well. Any recommendations here would be appreciated.

Also, I've seen some put a layer of plastic between the cover and the foam. Is this suppose to be done??

Going to start tackling this tomorrow.

[7981GS]

No adhesive. Just pull it tight to the original posts.

Daniel

[Darin Jordan]

No adhesive. Just pull it tight to the original posts.

Daniel

Excellent! I'm going to start on this tonight!

[Darin Jordan]

Well, CRAP! I pulled off the seat cover that was on the bike, which turned out to be a JC Whitney brand, and found this (see picture).

Someone cut out the original foam and put in some REALLY soft foam, crapily in place.

I tried cutting it out, but the one thing they did do right is use some really good glue, so it's kind of a mess.

Anyone know of a source for a new shaped seat foam???

Otherwise, if anyone of you, maybe someone making a Bobber, has a 1980 GS850GT seat laying around that has foam in good condition... don't care about the seat cover or pan, PLEASE get in touch with me. I think I'm in the market.

[mf70]

For my second re-cover job, the metal points of the seat pan had corroded off, so I re-stretched the cover and secured it with hog rings. I added some plastic edge guard to the pan to keep from cutting the cover.


It turned out pretty well.

Sorry about the messed up foam core...

[Darin Jordan]

Well, thanks to Steve (http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/member.php?u=484 ) and to a find on E-Bay, I was able to proceed, and complete, my new seat cover installation.

Steve made me a killer deal on a seat foam that was in excellent condition, and I found another seat on E-Bay that had the factory chrome grab bar.

After doing some cleanup, some polishing, and some buffing, time to do some assembly.

I replaced the square of foam that is under the drivers seat with a piece of the "Super Cell" foam that I got from Sargent Cycle, to firm things up a bit. Used some Super 77 spray adhesive to hold the entire seat foam in place.

Having already prepped all the factory tabs to get them all bent out and ready to secure the cover to, (and only missing ONE of them, which I considered pretty fortunate), I secured the back center of the cover first. I also installed a stainless safety wire piece, like the factory did, under the cover at the hooks.

After taking my time and streching, hooking, stretching, and hooking, I got the cover all secured and centered and it fit great. I added some additional stainless screws with stainless upholstery washers on the ends to better hold the cover in place, and used a 3/16" pop rivet with large washer in the spot where the factory hook was missing.

Installed the grab bar, hinges, and new hinge pins, and BAM! DONE!

Very pleased, and it's much more confortable now. Bike is looking great and I can't wait for the weather to clear up so I can RIDE!!

[7981GS]

It looks like you did an excellent job! Congrats!

Daniel

[Nessism]

Well done indeed! Nice work.