Seat Fabric Question

[Ian A]

Hey everybody, awesome site you guys got here. I've been lurking here for quite a while, looking at all your builds has inspired me and I've got all sorts of ideas going through my head. I just picked up my first bike and can't wait to get started.

Anyway,
I want to make make a basic cushion for my seat, the previous owner had just put some closed cell foam on the seat and just left it like that.

I live in Washington, and love the look of red and black plaid. So I thought as a tribute to the Northwest, I could use some Woolrich red and black wool fabric.

Now my question, do you guys think 14oz wool (85% wool 15% nylon) fabric would be able to hold up to the wear and tear of a seat?

Thanks!
Ian A

Link to fabric:
http://www.woolrich.com/p-77575.shtml

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[J-Rod10]

Plan on having that out in any weather?

 

[o1marc]

BITD my brother made a cover from material similar to that for his Honda 305 Dream instead of just the material though he covered the whole cover in clear vinyl to protect it from the weather.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Unless you do cover it in vinyl, it ain't gonna last. You can baby it (keep it out of sun, rain) but even just riding it is going to put stress on it and it won't last. The question is how badly you want it (and are you willing to recover or deal with rips and tears soon after making it).

 

[DeanJ]

BITD my brother made a cover from material similar to that for his Honda 305 Dream instead of just the material though he covered the whole cover in clear vinyl to protect it from the weather.

did the seat kinda look like grandma's couch with plastic slip covers ?

 

[o1marc]

did the seat kinda look like grandma's couch with plastic slip covers ?

ya, it was an Orange paisley pattern and looked similar to that finish but with a tighter fit than grannies couch. It was like 1968-69. Bike was Black




I remember a "Counting Cars" show a few weeks back where Danny bought an old mexican patterned blanket off a catering truck and reupholstered a car seat in in.

 

[ApriliaBill]

Being all the high tech cushion covers, camping gear, and work gear, I'd bet there are some plaid fabric out there that is weather proof/resistant... I think I remember somebody dismantling a coat and using the fabric for a seat... http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=waterproof+fabric+by+the+yard&qpvt=waterproof+fabric+by+the+yard&FORM=HURE#x0y0

 

[DeanJ]

ya, it was an Orange paisley pattern and looked similar to that finish but with a tighter fit than grannies couch. It was like 1968-69. Bike was Black

yeah, I can see how that orange would pop on a black bike !

I remember a "Counting Cars" show a few weeks back where Danny bought an old mexican patterned blanket off a catering truck and reupholstered a car seat in in.

I had a Mexican saddle blanket cover on an old pickup seat.. they used to be the $9 solution for a crappy seats back in the day ....and it looks like they are making a come back :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bell-Automotive-Baja-Blanket-Universal-Bucket-Seat-Cover-Poncho-Weave-New-/271252730195?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f27ec3153&vxp=mtr#ht_3222wt_1079

 

[o1marc]

Those covers are only $20 and I'll bet not near the thickness of a real mexican blanket. But they are cooler than other seat covers I have seen.
My brother did that seat when he was going to UCONN School of Home Economics and Interior Design where he was learning art design and shit. He would do all kinds of off the wall shit. He had a wall in his room that was decorated like an exterior wall with Cedar Skake shingles and shutters on the window. He ended up in Hollywood as an art director and was head of planning and development of Universal Studios Orlando and US Japan in Osaka.
He owns a Kawaton ( Kawasaki H2 motor in a Norton Manx frame) and a 69 CB750 so he can't be all bad.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I had a Mexican saddle blanket cover on an old pickup seat.. they used to be the $9 solution for a crappy seats back in the day ....and it looks like they are making a come back :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bell-Automotive-Baja-Blanket-Universal-Bucket-Seat-Cover-Poncho-Weave-New-/271252730195?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f27ec3153&vxp=mtr#ht_3222wt_1079

Funny, that's going to be my fix for the '60 Chevy apache I just got, but mostly because I have an old blanket laying around.

 

[DeanJ]

He owns a Kawaton ( Kawasaki H2 motor in a Norton Manx frame)

Is this it? ... um.. wait, no... that looks to be a Rickman frame.. nevermind

 

[Scruffy]

Ian, which side of the rock pile are you on? It will make a huge difference in what you can run. West side you are going to pretty much need vinyl, with heat set instead of stitched if you wanted rolled, pleated, diamond, button tuck, etc. East side you can get away with a good heavy synthetic like a saddle pad over Ensolite (camping mat) or similar hard foam. Natural fibers won't hold up well in either the wet side rain/fog/hail or the civilized side's snow/dust/heat/u.v.

Lots of DTT presence up there. I'm originally from the wet side, Graham/Spanaway. Prefer the civilized side around Brewster, Leavenworth, Wenatchee. Now living in the jungles of SW TN.

 

[Ian A]

Ian, which side of the rock pile are you on?

I live in Olympia at the moment.

But you guys have brought up a lot of good points, and the more I think about it my idea wouldn't really work for a daily rider seat.

Anyway, thanks for the input, I appreciate it,

Ian

 

[atthemattin]

yeah, I can see how that orange would pop on a black bike !


I had a Mexican saddle blanket cover on an old pickup seat.. they used to be the $9 solution for a crappy seats back in the day ....and it looks like they are making a come back :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bell-Automotive-Baja-Blanket-Universal-Bucket-Seat-Cover-Poncho-Weave-New-/271252730195?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f27ec3153&vxp=mtr#ht_3222wt_1079

I don't know about the seat, but I do know that Burton use to make plad jackets that would hold up. I could see that holding up to the wear and the sun. They also made some Jean style snowboard pants that would make good seats