Cutting down a seat

[Grewth]

I've found the look I'm after for the seat on my '78 650 Special.
Found this reworked seat on an old You Tube clip.
Well that's the look I want, but I'm not entirely sure how to go about getting there.
I suppose that I could just farm it out to someone who builds motorcycle seats, after all, it's only money.
Or I could attempt to do it myself.
But I'm not sure exactly how to go about it.
I have a nice solid rust free '78 seat pan.
I can probably get a new standard pattern foam for it.
Then just carve it down at the front ?
And then try to stretch a standard replacement cover to the new shape of the foam ?
Or will a custom tailored cover be required ?
Upholstery really isn't my thing, but I'm willing to be educated

 

[drgonzo]

It depends on how much foam you remove. When I was 17 or 18 I took a slice out of the front section of the seat of my Kawasaki S2 350. I took about an inch of material out but it was a concave slice, like a spoon more or less.
I'd seen the seats on some stock class road race bikes done like that.
I stretched the original cover back over it, nice and tight, no wrinkles.
It's really going to depend on the size and shape of the cut.
I think I used a hacksaw blade back then but have since used an electric carving knife. The hacksaw blade is slower but more forgiving.
Good luck

 

[willis]

Are you trying to get it to look like a standard seat? You can fit a standard seat on a special frame. Have a look at gggGary’s bike Madness.

 

[nj1639]

I'd venture that seat was trimmed off the bottom.
Starting at the angle to forward, following the chrome trim line.
There's a skirt of foam that drapes over the edge of the seat pan. It smooths the cover as it's wrapped under. With my X-ray eye I can see it's missing forward of the crhrome trim.....probably from the middle onward.
The stock cover would fit right back on with the excess tucked under or trimmed.
Looks interesting.

 

[650Skull]

I don't think the seat has been reworked at all. The new cover pattern gives it a profile that makes it look like some padding has been added.

Factory v yours.

 

[Grewth]

Are you trying to get it to look like a standard seat? You can fit a standard seat on a special frame. Have a look at gggGary’s bike Madness.

No, just the opposite.
The "standard " or roadster seat is more or less straight.
The original, side hinged, 650 Special seat has a step in it, but only a mild one.
I want it to be even lower at the front.

 

[Grewth]

I don't think the seat has been reworked at all. The new cover pattern gives it a profile that makes it look like some padding has been added.

Factory v yours. View attachment 327709

You could well be right, maybe it's the way that the top quilted pattern extends down the sides towards the front.
Might just be an optical illusion that makes it look lower.
If anyone recognises that design of seat cover, can you please let me know who made/sold it originally.
There might just be some still floating around.

 

[robtattoo]

I just got after my foam with a 12" hacksaw blade, then refined the edges with a small surform.
I took it to a local upholsterer & got it re-covered for just over $100.

Before

After

 

[rideitfast]

When it comes to cutting and shaping foam an electric carving knife works really well.