Seat cover repair

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 10:10

Hi.

Has anyone repaired a tear in a seat cover before? I was thinking of asking my mother in law to re-cover the seat,but now I am thinking of giving it a go.

I was at Spot-Light the other day and they sold vinyl,but it looked a bit cheap. Any ideas on where to buy the stuff that goes onto bike seats?

Any info on the subject is welcome.
Cheers.

**geoffm** · 27th December 2006, 16:32

I got quoted $60 to recover the BMW seat by an auto upolsterer. At that price, it wasn't worth the effort. Years ago, I did the one on my B120. It came out ok, but it was fiddly to get it right without wrinklers. We have an industrial leather and canvas sewing machine. I doubt a domstic sewing machine will handle a decent grade of vinal or leather.
There are aftermarket seat covers available - might be worth looking at.
Geoff

**Cajun** · 27th December 2006, 17:54

degrom - just call in to your local auto upolsterer, for some vinyl if you wanna go down that route.

If you are just wanting a basic cover, and no foam changed, but if you have problems with the foam, you are only asking for trouble

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 18:58

Originally Posted by Cajun

degrom - just call in to your local auto upolsterer, for some vinyl if you wanna go down that route.

If you are just wanting a basic cover, and no foam changed, but if you have problems with the foam, you are only asking for trouble

Thanks for the response... The vinyl used on the seat is getting old and is cracking from heat and use.

It's a straight forward seat with no sowing needed. The foam still feels okay,so I don't think I will need to replace that.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th December 2006, 19:03

I had my seat recovered for $50 about 1 years ago... and as someone else said at that price... its not worth the hassle of doing it yourself...

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 19:10

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

I had my seat recovered for $50 about 1 years ago... and as someone else said at that price... its not worth the hassle of doing it yourself...

Did that include the material as well?
And how does the results look?

Thx

**crashe** · 27th December 2006, 19:13

What is better to use..........?

Leather or Vinyl???????

I have a wee crack in my bike seat....... had to put duc tape over the part as it was letting water in.

I have a VIRAGO with a 5 studded seat...

I also have a very nice piece of leather that is sitting around....
Could that be used.

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 19:19

Originally Posted by crashe

What is better to use..........?

Leather or Vinyl???????

I have a wee crack in my bike seat....... had to put duc tape over the part as it was letting water in.

I have a VIRAGO with a 5 studded seat...

I also have a very nice piece of leather that is sitting around....
Could that be used.

As I see it Vinyl is better. Lasts long and is easy to work with...

It's not as nice as ostridge leather but then again it does not go for the price of an ostridge...

Leather also does not fit all bikes. Just think how nice a 2007 R1 would look with a sheep skin leather... LOL

**McJim** · 27th December 2006, 20:18

My wife covered my seat with black vinyl from Spotlight. It's heavier duty then the stock stuff - looks naff on the roll but looks the bollox on the bike. Sewed a couple of gusset shapes into it to give it 3D form. Looks like a proper professional job. apparently we're going to fix gijoe1313's seat too - he gets all over the country - maybe we should put a little trademark or advert on the work once done.

**Steam** · 27th December 2006, 20:25

Some ratbiker recovered his seat with layered tractor innertube. It looked really awesome, but then a hot day came along and he burned his bum after it had sat in the sun for the afternoon storing up heat.
True story!
or so I heard.

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 20:40

Originally Posted by McJim

My wife covered my seat with black vinyl from Spotlight. It's heavier duty then the stock stuff - looks naff on the roll but looks the bollox on the bike. Sewed a couple of gusset shapes into it to give it 3D form. Looks like a proper professional job. apparently we're going to fix gijoe1313's seat too - he gets all over the country - maybe we should put a little trademark or advert on the work once done.

Are you going to fix the Hornet's seat?

It looks fine in his profile picture(Would be nice if mine looked like that...

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th December 2006, 20:45

Originally Posted by degrom

Did that include the material as well?
And how does the results look?

Thx

Yes and looked great :-) I was happy

But may differ for different seats and how experienced the upholster is etc etc....

**McJim** · 27th December 2006, 20:50

Originally Posted by degrom

Are you going to fix the Hornet's seat?

It looks fine in his profile picture(Would be nice if mine looked like that...

Yeah, well, apparently he farted and blew a hold clean through the centre so it's re - cover time...this time with a fart proof grade of vinyl.

**degrom** · 27th December 2006, 20:58

Originally Posted by McJim

Yeah, well, apparently he farted and blew a hold clean through the centre so it's re - cover time...this time with a fart proof grade of vinyl.

The vinyl you are talking about, is that the normal black vinyl they sell at Spot-light or do they need to go get out of some hidden corner in their store rooms?

The ones I saw look dodgy, but I might change once it's on the seat. Do you keep the old foam as it is, or do you add more/new?