How to Upholster a Motorcycle Seat

The upholstery cover on a motorcycle seat adds style to the bike along with added protection to the rider. If the stock seat cover is getting old and worn, you should put a new cover on. Or you could change the cover to add your own personal touch. While seat covers can vary by model, one is usually stapled onto the seat to secure it down. You can either purchase a completed upholstery cover for your motorcycle seat or have one custom made.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Motorcycle seat cover Staple gun Pry bar Flathead screwdriver Pliers Allen key

1. Disconnect the seat from the motorcycle. Fold back the seat's rear flap to find the two screws holding it in place. Remove the screws with an Allen key (usually 5-millimeter size) and slide the seat out of position. Flip the seat over to see where its current upholstery cover is attached.

2. Remove the old cover from the seat. It should be stapled on. So pry them off using a pry bar, screwdriver tip, pliers, or a combination of all three. The staples are very tightly applied and will take some effort to remove. Take note of each staple's location as you remove them.

3. Get a new seat cover that is designed for your exact motorcycle model. Consult an expert at a motorcycle shop. Bring the seat with you to show. If you want to design your own cover, use the old cover as a reference. Motorcycle seat covers are usually made of vinyl, leather or suede.

4. Place the new upholstery cover on the motorcycle seat's foam cushioning, slipping it on the same way the old one was on.

5. Staple the cover on using a strong staple gun. Place a staple at every loose end of the cover, pushing it down tightly as you use the staple gun. Put staples in the same location as the original ones were, but just a few millimeters to the side so they don't hit an old staple hole and become loose.

6. Attach the upholstered seat back on the motorcycle using its screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Some seat covers are attached with a hook-and-loop system or with an internal elastic band. These are easier to remove, and you don't even need to remove the seat itself in this case.

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