How Much Is It For A New Motorcycle Seat
Posted in Brake Discs & Pads | Asked on Apr 24, 2011
Below is the question about How Much Is It For A New Motorcycle Seat, I got a 77 yamaha xs750. The previous owner “cafe’d” it with clubman handlebars ect ect. but when it came to the seat and back end….. something went wrong. for some reason the guy decided to chop the frame of the bike itself and make a shabby fiberglass mold and simply bolted it to what was left of the frame. Now it’s not as bad as it might sound, but my biggest problem with it is that its VERY crooked. from behind it looks really poorly constructed and the only padding is a pro-pad, which is more like an oven mitt than a proper seat.
So, I’ve been thinking about taking this to a Professional bike customization shop and seeing if they can remake the back end. I want to keep the vintage cafe racer look, but I just don’t want it to be crooked and crappy looking and maybe be a little bit more comfortable. The back end has brake lights with intergrated turning signals already there (same with the liscense plate) so it’s street legal (although the turning signals are not connected. they work- supposedly, they’re just not connected) and I just wanted to know how much a job like that would cost. I don’t want to leave my bike at a shop and get surprised with a crazy cost….. I just want to know what kind of numbers am I dealing with here. the frame isn’t ruined, I’d say. it’s just beyond the point of conventional parts and a do-it-yourself attitude. Someone said I could get it all done for a couple hundred bucks but I want to see what an expert would think, so if you’re a motorcycle customization expert your knowledge would be greatly welcomed.
There are 4 Answers for "How Much Is It For A New Motorcycle Seat"
Get a quote/estimate before you leave your bike, agree with the fabricator that if they reach a certain amount they will call you and you can make a decision.
There are prepared parts you could fit yourself (google found this for a 650, I know nothing about the quality).
http://www.caferace.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=C&Product_Code=XS650T&Category_Code=RRBT
Motorcycle customisers will cost heaps, any good steel fabrication shop can remake the rear end if you give them clear instructions, but you need to get a quote off them before you let them at your bike. Once finished take it to an upholsterer who should be able to make a new seat.
An aftermarket seat to fit your stock frame, probably on your stock seat pan, will run you from $300 to $500 or more. Assume custom work will be more expensive. Add the cost of welding and fabrication for your frame, and the price tag will easily exceed the value of your bike.
This is the kind of project that simply is not practical to turn over to others. You have to develop the skills to do most of it yourself.
Look in motor cycle news quite a few adds in there. get quotes or you’ll get a shock MCN comes out on Wednesdays local paper shop.