Deconstructing a cafe seat

[Skyeye]

Here's a set of pictures I took to show you guys how one of my bike's previous owners built a cafe seat.

If you remember, I bought a 1975 CB750F that had a different look cafe seat. Kicked up in the rear with a bobbed stock fender underneath. To my surprise I got two seats, the stock and this cafe seat. The previous owner took great pains to make the cafe compatible with the hinge and lock of the stock seat to make changing them a 5 minute job.

Here's a shot of the bike.

Now a closeup of the bike's tail

Here are some closeups of the hinge side and lock side. You can see how the seat pan and cover are trimmed to accomodate them.

Now let's look underneath. As you can see there is a steel frame, looks like a trial and error effort that is welded and brazed together, and an aluminum plate to hold the hinge and lock striker.

Here's how the seat pad was constructed. Removeable seat cover (very cool), and foam pads glued to the seat pan.

Finally, the best part, a side by side comparison of the stock seat and the cafe seat.

For those of you thinking of building your won fiberglass seats, I hope you got a few ideas.

Scott

 

[HOOLIGAN]

That cafe seat if effin beautiful!

 

[Skyeye]

Thanks man! I've been trying to locate the previous owner(s) to see who made it. No luck so far...

Scott

 

[HOOLIGAN]

I was going to ask if he made it or got it done somewhere. I've been playing with the idea of putting a street tracker seat on my 360. This seat has similar lines and even looks better than what I've been looking into.

 

[Skyeye]

I've thought about how I would make one like it too. Maybe I could us one of the Airtech vintage seat pans http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/, and shave it up a little in the back. I'll have to measure the seat I have and see if it matches any of their stuff.

What's cool about this seat is it gives you some options with vintage style tail lights too.

Scott

 

[seven54]

Great Post Skyeye,

Its great seeing solutions to ideas by others. Also great seeing the two seats side by side. My own seat project will have a similar cowl shape but will be as wide as the stock seat to clear the hinges and latch.

Cheers