Fiberglass boxy seat

[Will McD]

Well this is the result of my first crack at making a cafe racer seat, or any fiberglass construction for that matter. Overall I'm happy with the result. If i had to do it again i probably wouldn't, lol... I didn't mind the work (and there is a lot of work) but the materials cost more than i thought they would. I ended up needing twice as much resin as i planned... Anyway I think there are some pretty nice seats out there for around $160 (http://www.cb750cafe.com/parts.php?id=10) I think I ended up spending $60 for resin, $20 for the fiber, plus I still have to use a butt load of body filler, which is not cheap... so for the amount of work i put into this seat I think I'll buy my next one. I don't want to discourage anyone though, I'M PROUD of the seat I built because it is designed specifically for MY bike, it is exactly the length i want, it has the lines i want, and the battery fits perfectly under the seat. I'm just glad I'm finished, lol. Here are some pics....

   

[Will McD]

more pics...

[78kz]

Good job!

I'm going to have my first try at a seat this Winter, similar lines to yours.
Not in fiberglass, but from a flexable 4x8 sheet I have. Was $70 a sheet on sale for $10.
I was going to use it for the surface for a skate board ramp. It's thin, flexable and smooth.
Just have to cut it and form it.
I'll let you know how it turns out.

[locO leoN]

I was going to use it for the surface for a skate board ramp. It's thin, flexable and smooth.

WOW. Rob, I didnt peg you as a die-hard Skater dude...You never seize to amaze me!!..

[rphilli550]

what did you use to shape your seat?

[kevineleven]

WOW. Rob, I didnt peg you as a die-hard Skater dude...You never seize to amaze me!!..

Birch?

[Will McD]

what did you use to shape your seat?

I shaped the seat out of several pieces of blue foam I glued together. (I think the foam is used for insulating) I drew out the shape I wanted on the side and cut it out using a band saw (you will need a band saw that will clear the width of the seat) Then I sanded it (This is the hard part because the foam is easily riped by the sandpaper causing holes in the foam) After it was sanded and I was happy with the shape, I had to paint it with some water based paint to protect it from the body filler I will put on later (the body filler or any enamels/oil paints will eat the foam) I put the body filler on and sanded it again. At this point the seat should look pretty much how the final product will look. Then I smeared some vasaline over the seat and mixed up some plaster of paris. I placed the seat on a smooth surface and covered the top and sides and back and front in the plaster. Then when the plaster was dry I used a torch to melt the foam and i peeled the paint and bodyfiller off the plaster (the vaseline keeps it from sticking) Then I used the plaster mold for the fiberglass.

ps: much harder than it sounds   

[78kz]

WOW. Rob, I didnt peg you as a die-hard Skater dude...You never seize to amaze me!!..

Ha Haaa... 

The skate board ramp was not for me, but for my son. 

[CBHandle]

I'll be honest, I usually don't like that style of seat, but it looks really great on your bike.

Can't wait to see it painted.