Yeah folks have recommended that I just get another seat, but I love my Sundowner. Only problem is if you ride high mileage through all type of weather and leave the bike out in the sun all day, the vinyl wears out. I've got a big tear and some smaller holes.
My question is, what techniques have folks used to fix their vinyl issues?
I've seen the kits and read the reviews of the kits, most of them unfavorable towards the kits that come with the heating element.
Don't want to use duct or electrical tape because that peals off and leaves sticky ****.
My bike is showing the wear. It get's ridden daily and does not sit in the garage being babied. I'm not really concerned about how it looks as long as it runs well, but the seat is really starting to look bad.

 

Buddy took his to an upholstery shop. Scott's was the leather Sundowner. Phillip at the shop got a piece of NOS HD leather for seats and replaced the bad panel. Looks good as new. Cost less than a C note to get it done. Check with your local skin shop and see.

 

Mine is that vinyl/naugahyde crap, probably cost more that the seat originally cost to redo in leather?

 

Got mine recovered locally for 70 bucks!

 

Just get it recovered. Find you a Tandy leather store, select what you want it covered in, and find someone to do it. SHouldn't be too much, and you'd have a custom seat.

 

If you really want to try and do repairs then first you need a really good vinyl glue. Not all glues will bond vinyl. There is one at most auto parts stores that will. Blue tube if I remember correctly. Get some scrap vinyl from a local upholstery shop. Try and glue two pieces together with your glue. Top side to bottom side is what you want. If it works then cut a small piece of vinyl a little larger than your hole. Work the piece under and glue it together. Usually yellow masking tape will hold the weld together until it's dry.

Next take a small amount of baking soda, Arm and Hammer brand works, and mix it with the glue to make a soft paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Use it to fill the seams. Let it dry well. Use a small piece of very fine sandpaper to smooth it out. Then use the glue to cover the repair. Paint it black with some vinyl spray paint from HDepot or Lowes. Enjoy the cheap repair.

 

I bought a repair kit at Autozone. It was nothing special but, the repair I made has lasted for over a year. It was just some type of vinyl glue.

 

+1 I just had a leather seat in my truck done for $125