Cafe Seat for 1981 Yamaha XS650 Special

[cretin75xs]

I'm having diffculty finding a cafe style seat for my 1981 Yamaha XS650 Special. I guess because the seat is lifted off rather than hinged there are not alot of options available. I would entertain using my stock seat and cut that down to make a seat. Any suggestions???

 

[johnson_steve]

Wow, that seat looks perfect for cutting down into a cafe seat. You'd just have to trim it and make the hump.

 

[JRK5892]

start basic... get that cover off of it and see what you got under there... man I DIG that paint!!!

 

[matt365]

I'm having diffculty finding a cafe style seat for my 1981 Yamaha XS650 Special. I guess because the seat is lifted off rather than hinged there are not alot of options available. I would entertain using my stock seat and cut that down to make a seat. Any suggestions???

I'm working on my friends XS right now. Identical to yours, just no backrest or crazy 80's paint ;D

You're right about the seat. A little difficult to work with since it steps up the tail a bit. I wouldn't worry about the hinged part though. I cut the stock seat, hinges, and locking mechanism off my 78' CB750F and mounted the seat directly to the frame rails. If you're going full cafe, I'd just take the rear mudguard off, get some hard foam insulation, and fiberglass your own seat. Maybe even try and find another tank. XS1100 or XS750 should work with minimal modification? A longer tank with a bump stop cafe race seat would look great

 

[JRK5892]

if you get rid of that tank... I WANT IT!!!! i will restore it and use that sucker!

 

[cretin75xs]

Matt, let me know how you make out modifying your friends' seat. I will probably wait till the very end to do something with the seat. That seat pan is huge and may not look good after modifications. And JRK, you will be the first to get a shot at the tank when I decide NOT to use it. Thanks guys....

 

[Represto]

MAN that tank is hot. What's on the other side? I bet it's a unicorn or some sort of warrior. I hope you're not painting over that.

 

[locOleoN]

start basic... get that cover off of it and see what you got under there... man I DIG that paint!!!

+1...
pull the leather off and lets see what you got underneath...
No harm since you are not gonna use that seat anyhow...

 

[matt365]

+1...
pull the leather off and lets see what you got underneath...
No harm since you are not gonna use that seat anyhow...

Ya bud, and then give me that seat cover

My buddies XS seat is all torn up. I've been trying to talk him into a cafe for a while, but no go for him ( so far )

I was just going to use outdoor marine grade vinyl, but if you're going to get rid of the seat cover???

We got his engine swapped over, and this is it in it's current state (+ right side engine cover)

Sorry to thread jack bud ;D

 

[cretin75xs]

No problem Matt, and when I take the cover off I will offer it to you...Thanks for your input guys.

 

[matt365]

No problem Matt, and when I take the cover off I will offer it to you...Thanks for your input guys.

Sweet. thanks cretin75XS. If I've got anything in the pile of parts that you might need, I'd be happy to offer it up.

Keep in touch with your needs.