Custom Bike Seats

Following on from my Fazer or Bandit thread.

Actually the bike I have really wanted for the last couple of years was a Sprint ST1050, test rode Dicky Tickers 955i and loved it, then test rode a 1050 and loved it even more, BUT I couldn't fit ergonomically. My weight rests on my knee armour, which rests on the fairing, and due to an old knee injury I couldn't cope with this.

Then this bit of genius got me thinking about it a bit more, and it's so simple, I don't know why I didn't think of it.

Originally Posted by benji106

Have you considered changing the seat and/or rearsets on the Sprint for aftermarket items that may resolve the knee - fairing conflict?

I had thought of it and I'm not sure there is such thing as a aftermarket seat or footrests for the Sprint that would help, usually people want seats lowered, and adjustable rearsets are something I would expect for a sportsbike, not a sport tourer. What I didn't think about was getting a custom seat made to my specification.

This is the problem, and you can't just sit further back because the ST seat slides you back forward into the same position within a mile or two.



Not sure what the difference between these two bikes is, if there was a model change or when, but they definitely have different seat shapes, different heights between rider and pillion, but they are the same seat height and distance from seat to fairing, and the latter is definitely a later model ST and is the one I would buy.





So if you take the seat profile from the light grey one, and transpose it over the dark grey one, you get this



and I reckon that would lift my knees far enough away from the fairing and reduce the knee angle

So what I need is a custom seat for a Sprint ST like this (OK, I'm not great with photoshop but you get the idea)




So I would need to get a custom seat like this made (or existing seat reshaped and recovered), that would look professional, rise higher up and wrap around the tank properly at the front, and make it look like an OEM seat that was always meant to be that way.

Do you know of anyone or can you recommend anyone, who could do it?

Thanks

I do know someone who MIGHT be able to do this for you, but I can't promise anything. Will try and get back within....a week?

That would be great, thanks

There used to be a re-covering company in coventry that used to advertise in the bike mags.
They would re-wrap the seat in any material and even add lettering etc if required.
I bet if you can find them, they would be able to do it for you no probs.

It is, after all, a piece of plastic with foam bonded to it, then material stretched and stapled to the plastic base, not exactly mega technical is it.

Originally Posted by specialone

There used to be a re-covering company in coventry that used to advertise in the bike mags.
They would re-wrap the seat in any material and even add lettering etc if required.
I bet if you can find them, they would be able to do it for you no probs.

It is, after all, a piece of plastic with foam bonded to it, then material stretched and stapled to the plastic base, not exactly mega technical is it.

These guys? http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk/index.htm

Just emailed them asking them to look at this thread and advise if they can help.

It's not mega technical, but I am talking probably an inch or inch and a half rise at the seat, in order to give myself the half inch clearance that I need at the knee. This will mean the seat has to be longer to reach the tank, and will have to be shaped to wrap around the tank properly, and that's maybe a bit more difficult to do, and maybe needs a professional job.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

These guys? http://www.motorbike-seats.co.uk/index.htm

Just emailed them asking them to look at this thread and advise if they can help.

It's not mega technical, but I am talking probably an inch or inch and a half rise at the seat, in order to give myself the half inch clearance that I need at the knee. This will mean the seat has to be longer to reach the tank, and will have to be shaped to wrap around the tank properly, and that's maybe a bit more difficult to do, and maybe needs a professional job.

I still think if you went back and up, it would allow a lot less height.
Its only the sharp angle of the rear of the seat that forces you forward as you say, so remove some of that along with a little bit more height would help loads imo.

And the later model sprint 07 i think onwards have higher bars, so should keep the forward position the same with a higher seat as opposed to an earlier model if you raised the seat i't be a more racy position.

Following a quick google, I've also emailed

Digger
Saxon
Bootleg
SmartRRRS
Dragon
and Caulfield Leather

If anybody has used any of these guys before I'd appreciate your testimonials!

Originally Posted by bluefishman

And the later model sprint 07 i think onwards have higher bars, so should keep the forward position the same with a higher seat as opposed to an earlier model if you raised the seat i't be a more racy position.

Is it this later model that has the more extreme seat shape then?

In the photo's the later bike also has indicators in the mirrors and a higher screen

Try this guy ; http://www.tonyarcher.co.uk/

He mad me a custom seat for a Street Triple that did a similar thing to what you're looking for.

hth, Tj