Seat build...XS 360 / 400 (official seat build thread now)...

[DreadRock]

Hurricane was wondering what your planning to do where the back of the tank meets the front of the seat ? mine looks very close to yours and im trying to get some ideas on how to kind of smooth that area out some . i have seen small pre-made fiberglass sections that smooths that area out but kind of plan !

 

[ProSimex]

Man the smell of poly is the fucking best!!! I love the smell of styrenes in the morning, smells like profit! I grew up in a canoe store and know a thing or two having spent a good deal of time fixing the damn things. You need to lay up your epoxy on the gelcoat while the gelcoat is still just barely tacky, another problem you might be having is poly gelcoat often (usually) has wax in it so that it can harden (the wax rises to the surface and seals the rest off from air so that the chemicals can do their thing and harden). This leaves a waxed surface that your epoxy cant hold onto. When it comes down to it you are pretty much better off using a good polyester resin instead of epoxy because the styrenes in the poly will break down all the little bonds holding the matt together, allowing you to lay it and shape it more easily. also you cant effectivly put any poly onto an epoxy lay up once it hardens because the epoxy will be gassing off for some years and the gelcoat cant bond properly. This effectivly makes any little repairs and touch ups temporary at best. Unless you're using kevlar to make something thats gonna live a brutal life then epoxy is an expensive waste. Your seat shouldnt be taking that much of a punishment.



But what do I know

 

[hurricane7]

@ Rodney, Thanks...and thanks for the link.

@ Dread, My seat pad should just about come right up to the opening at the back of the tank, so I don't plan on anything extra there. Our tanks should be identical, but it looks like your seat pan sits quite a bit lower than mine. I've seen some different treatments for that area. If I had to, I'd probably "ramp" up the pad/upholstery, kind of a subtle MX style.

@ ProSimex, Yeah, I can relate. I did custom paint work for years, and felt the same way about that, but eventually...it got old! When you're around it all day, every day, it doesn't bother you much, if at all. But someone walks into the shop that isn't exposed regularly and they come in sayin' "How the fuck can you stand being in here!?" ??? Also, thanks for the info.

 

[hurricane7]

Not much to update. Been busy with other stuff lately.

I did get a chance to do the final trimming on the seat and start laying out for the tail light, which will be a made from the bottom of an old Schlitz Royal Ruby beer bottle.

I also started getting the frame ready for the addition of a hoop. The frame had been grossly buggered up by the a PO, and needed some of the tubing surgically removed because of some hairline cracks. I plan on bending up the original handlebars for for the hoop.


Seat after final trimming...

Layout of tail light opening...

Donor beer bottle for tail light lens...

Surgery...

Cheers,
-Jeff

 

[DreadRock]

Tail looks KILLER man very nice work and the tail light your making is a very cool idea cant wait to see it !

 

[USMCRIDER]

Any updates?

 

[hurricane7]

Hey Rodney,

Sorry to say, the bike has been bumped down on the priority list since my last update. So it goes with a family and home to take care of. Hoping to get it closer to the top of that list in the next month or two. I will update when I do.

I did take the seat to the paint shop last week for a coat of epoxy sealer. Just did that in between drying time of a few side jobs. It's going to need some finish work. Lots of "pin holes" in the glass work. I'm going back to the shop this weekend, so maybe a bit more work on it then.

Cheers,
-Jeff

 

[USMCRIDER]

Good deal, excited to see how that bottle bottom tail light turns out. How are you planning to mount it?