Seat foam......

Pretty good question. Sometimes I think it's a competition to see who can make the least expensive seat. As far as foam goes theres plenty of choices but it depends on what you want your seat to be. The thinner and more dense, the more feedback from the bike... thicker, more layers... less feedback. For cafe seats I use a special closed cell topped with a memory foam, but I am looking into a new gel foam.
 
i am also wanting to find a thin seat foam. something like a yoga mat would be nice, i dont want anything thicker than 1/2 inch maaaybe 3/4 inch. i have seen some that dudes just glue down and ride, i was thinking about making a seat pan doing a foam and leather but. i think it would just be less hassel to do it the yoga mat way. i am gonna take a trip to the dollar store and see what i can find.
 
Seat foam is often hard to source. 3M makes a foam with an adhesive backing. I've traditionally bought mine from Pat Cowan up here in the Toronto area. He knows the elves who make the stuff I think.
 
Depending on what your using, 1/2".. even 3/4" is thin!! Pinch it between your fingers. Now imagine your butt on a long ride. Would it be comfortable? There is some very dense black foam. It works good but not alone. If you're going to upholster you should try to use a good dense foam for the first layer, then a good foam with some give.. memory foam or whatever. Theres lots to choose from.
 
I have the 1 inch foam from airtech. It is what it says it is. Race seat foam. Fine for 1/2 - 1 hour of riding, then your ass starts to protest. 5 hours on my trip to TN was nearly unbearable. The adhesive on it is very good.
 
Flugtech.. Black stuff right? I know just what your talking about. Great dense stuff... but yeah no fun long rides! For racing you want a thin little wafer under your butt to get feedback from the bike.. Some guys apparently ride their street bikes with yoga mats. To me thats WAY to thin... I like a nice long ride
 
Yes.

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If the foam in the OP is what I think it is, it's the wrong stuff for a bike seat. It looks to be the same stuff I use in my RV's (I build them for a living); an open cell foam suitable for a mattress or cushion. Even the firmest option is way too soft when used in a 1/2" or 1" thickness.

People use Yoga mats and Camping/Sleeping pads because they're typically closed cell and extremely dense. Neoprene is awesome for bike seats. It's hard to buy by itself (read: expensive) and you can usually pick up a chunk of it for cheaper if you buy it as a "yoga mat" since the original manufacturer bought 100,000 board feet of it and got it for cheap. Add to that some sports store wanting to clear inventory and you have yourself a killer deal on the foam.
 
Ok, so what type of seat foam would be cool on a cafe street bike???

That black race foam aint worth shit in the long hall we all know that by now.

Then what is the right one???

This looks like a good link, Yet any one know what # type foam should I buy for a good riding seat??

http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Foam/Foam_Sheets/Foam_Medium_Firm_HR_3319_-_Best_Value/index.html

((This is starting to keep me up at night :eek:))

...sorry for the lame post, I wasnt kidding about the sleeping....brains barley working....
 
The most comfortable seat would have more than just one density or type of foam... dense base, softer upper portions
 
Best thing to do is visit an upholsterer. Tell them what youre trying to do. They will probably have samples of foam you can see and touch, and may even be willing to sell you some.
 
Does anyone just get neoprene and then gets some softer, less dense foam on top, like use 1/2'' neoprene toped with 1/2'' less dense foam, and then leather or vinyl? sounds like the best route, or at least for me. I would probably make it shallower.
 
orrr.. why not just get the correct material? Why spend the same or more money on neoprene, when there is a product made to do exactly what you want?
 
I'm going to building up the foam on a seat to fit a Guiliari seat cover I'm getting.
I found this site's foam section very helpful:

http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/
 
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