MotoFiaccone Cafe Racer Seats

C

chrisf

Over 1,000 Posts
Right, Gents:

I decided to test the market a bit with some of my products. The first is a two-up cafe racer seat. It was made specifically for an RD400, but due to the dimensions, it will work for a large number of bikes. The seat base is made of 1/2" oak ply, hand shaped and smoothed. The padding all weather, UV resistant foam that is not unlike what is used for comercial-grade pool floats. The covering is either leather or vinyl. The lead time is two weeks and the price is as follows:

Leather: $300 + shipping
Vinyl: $250 + Shipping

twoupcafeseatside.jpg

twoupcafeseattop.jpg

twoupcafeseatlicense.jpg

twoupcafeseat.jpg


The second seat is a MotoFiaccone monoposto made of 100% aluminum. It was designed for a CB360, but I know for sure it fits the 350 as well. I'll try it on the RD400. It was designed to have a counter-sunk taillight. On mine, I used an old Ford taillight, but just about anything under 4" will work fine. The lead time on the aluminum monoposto is 3 weeks, and priced as follows:

Sanded to 80-grit: $300 + shipping
Fully polished: $350 + shipping

polishedseat.jpg

shaunandi.jpg


Seems pricey? I agree. But all the work is done by me; all the TIG welding; seat shaping; polishing; etc. Many of you have seen my work and know the attention to detail. I engineer way beyond 99% of the bikes on this board, and I'm on par with the remaining 1%. I don't cut corners. I considered selling products for a long time, but I wanted to make sure the stuff I sold is the same stuff I put on my bikes.

It is.

--Chris
PS Mods: How about a stickie?
 
I think the first seat is expensive for what it is.

Lots of people would love to get their hands on an aluminum cafe seat like the second one, though. And those are normally about as expensive as yours.
 
Ease said:
I think the first seat is expensive for what it is.
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I was thinking the same thing...does it come with the tubes...and are they cleaner...or is it just the seat. Perhaps photos without them monted would clarify what all is included.
 
I feel where you're coming from, but I put a lot of time in that seat. At my current salary, I'm actually losing quite a bit of $/hr. I realize that this group probably isn't my target market, but I get tons of Internet inquries about selling stuff. So I presumed it started here.

That aluminum seat is def a losing proposition. If you've ever fabricated and finished aluminum, you know how much of a pain in the ass it is.

I'm not looking to get minted selling this stuff. My thought was to get some of the items into the hands of interested people. If no one is interested, no harm.

--Chris
 
TJEvans said:
I was thinking the same thing...does it come with the tubes...and are they cleaner...or is it just the seat. Perhaps photos without them monted would clarify what all is included.
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Yeah, TJ: The seat comes with the rear half of bike frame--complete with TIG welded DOM tube bends. And lest we forget, a hand made, leather covered seat as well. It's a fucking hell of a deal, man; even with mild surface rust.

No Seriously, just the seat. It isn't even monted :)

--Chris
 
Chris, I've watched your threads. You do top notch work. Those seats look awesome! Good luck with the sales brotha.
 
TJEvans said:
I was thinking the same thing...does it come with the tubes...and are they cleaner...or is it just the seat. Perhaps photos without them monted would clarify what all is included.
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that seat and tank look beautiful, I am just now getting back up on my forming and tig skills and it's NOT like riding a bike! Great work, and don't cut your prices, keep the craftsmanship level up and people will come! especially when they get jealous of your bikes!
 
That aluminum seat is super nice. If I had $300 to spend I'd buy it in a second. What is it covered with on the bike? It's hard to see in that pic.
 
hanly2 said:
That aluminum seat is super nice. If I had $300 to spend I'd buy it in a second. What is it covered with on the bike? It's hard to see in that pic.
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It's packing foam from a custom crate company.

Same as this stuff:
seat062eb.jpg
 
can you post measurements of the aluminum seat?

Is it possible to place a battery and the rest of the electrics on the seat hump?
 
Hi:

Thanks for the interest. I'll get the measurements from the jig this evening. Depending on if/how you mount the taillight, it is possible to mount some electronics in there. You could do a VERY small battery as well, but I would not do it. That's just me.

Email me off line if you're interested in one.

--Thanks, Chris
 
chrisf said:
Hi:

Thanks for the interest. I'll get the measurements from the jig this evening. Depending on if/how you mount the taillight, it is possible to mount some electronics in there. You could do a VERY small battery as well, but I would not do it. That's just me.

Email me off line if you're interested in one.

--Thanks, Chris
Click to expand...


Thanks, but I need a seat that'll hold the battery. I'd encourage you to still post measurements though. It's a great price for a handmade aluminum seat.
 
The thing is, the seat itself will not hold a battery--at least not in my opinion. If you fabricated a tray that mounted to the bike frame, that will hold the battery and the seat will cover it. That is possible. But in my cafe experience, I've not seen a seat--glass fibre or metal--that will hiold a battery. It places too much stree on the bending momoment--which happens to be right at the top of the seat.

So there are a ways around what you suggest.

--Thanks, Chris
 
chrisf said:
The thing is, the seat itself will not hold a battery--at least not in my opinion. If you fabricated a tray that mounted to the bike frame, that will hold the battery and the seat will cover it. That is possible. But in my cafe experience, I've not seen a seat--glass fibre or metal--that will hiold a battery. It places too much stree on the bending momoment--which happens to be right at the top of the seat.

So there are a ways around what you suggest.

--Thanks, Chris
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Thanks for the clarification -- I was realy concerned about the hold at least the battery. I was planning on fabricating a tray that bolts onto the frame. I picked up a gel battery and the dimensions are 6" log X 3.5" wide X 6" high -- do you think it'll fit?
 
I'll measure tonight and let you know. Will you put the taillight somewhere other than the back of the seat?

Also, for reference, I'm planning on making a seat that does not have the flat back. of course, this will not be able to accomodate the taillight.

--Chris
 
chrisf said:
I'll measure tonight and let you know. Will you put the taillight somewhere other than the back of the seat?

Also, for reference, I'm planning on making a seat that does not have the flat back. of course, this will not be able to accomodate the taillight.

--Chris
Click to expand...

I would prefer to have the light on the tail, but I can make otehr arrangements so I can have all the electrics in there.
 
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