How to Shave a Motorcycle Seat
While comfortable for the first 10 or so miles, motorcycle seats often leave much to desire after that. Some seats, in fact, have been compared to wooden planks wrapped in leather. To combat this, many DIYers have taken to shaving the foam cushion in the seat to alleviate painful pressure points and uncomfortable riding positions. While altering the seat is fairly simple, making the proper adjustment that provides maximum comfort requires a little preparation.
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Things You'll Need
- Needle nose pliers
- Permanent marker
- Respirator
- 4 1/2 inch grinder
- Grinder sanding pad and discs, 120 grit
- Polyurethane foam
- Closed-cell foam
- Spray adhesive
- Heavy duty electric staple gun and 1/4-inch staples
Instructions
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1
Sit on the motorcycle. Then make a list of the problems you are experiencing which could including sliding into the gas tank or too much pressure on your wrists or ischium ("sitting" bones).
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2
Determine the cause of your problems. There are two major factors to consider: pitch, the angle of the seat from the front to the rear, and cradle, the distribution of weight across the seat. If too much pressure is placed on the wrists, or you keep sliding forward against the tank, you have too much pitch. Cradle issues are created by flat or peak-shaped seats which don't cradle your buttocks to distribute the weight evenly.
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3
Remove the vinyl/leather seat cover by pulling out the staples that secure the cover to the seat pan. Flip the seat over and start pulling the staples out with a needle nose pliers. Once the staples are out, pull the cover off of the seat.
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4
Mark the areas of the foam that you will be removing with a permanent marker.
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5
Put a respirator on and start to shave the foam pad using a grinder, applying gentle pressure against the foam to cut long strokes wherever possible.
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6
Cut your closed-cell foam to create your bottom foundation layer followed by a cushioning "comfort" layer from polyurethane foam.
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Spray the shaven foam with adhesive spray, and allow it to become tacky. Place the foundation layer onto the seat, and spray again with adhesive. Lay the comfort layer over the foundation, and shape or remove excess with your grinder.
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8
Replace the seat cover and pull the left rear corner as tight as possible. Staple the corner into place before pulling the right rear corner tight. The vinyl on the seat's surface between the two corners should be smooth and tight. Staple the vinyl down to secure it.
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9
Continue down the seat in 1-inch increments, pulling and stapling in a zig-zag pattern, until you complete the seat.
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Tips & Warnings
Take your time and don't rush. Rushing will create problems that will be difficult to fix.
When grinding, stop occasionally to check for unintentional hills or valleys in the foam. Work these away slowly with the grinder.
Do not perform this modification if you have mixed feelings about cutting the seat foam; instead, look into purchasing a custom seat.
Wear proper eye protection and a respirator; grinding foam will produce dust that may irritate your eyes and lungs.
Do no push the grinder in its rotational direction. Pull the grinder towards you to remove foam in controlled increments.
