Alcantara vs leather seat
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Belgium
Alcantara vs leather seat
Anyone have experience with Le Pera Bare Bones in Alcantara? Just wondering how it wears compared to full leather. I'm used to ALcantara on the inside of cars and it is a super material for auto seats. Just looking for any experience with it as motorcycle seat material. Thanks!
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
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Question: Why vinyl over leather? I've always thought leather breathes, while vinyl does not breathe? I haven't considered some seats because they were covered in vinyl. Am I missing something?
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Intermediate
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From: Belgium
Danish, yes it will. Alcantara is close to a synthetic suede and will dry out so that isn't a worry.
I'm just trying to make up my mind to go with the alcantara or full leather.
The alcantara looks great and holds you in place. Full leather also has a great look and is simply classic. Both will match the denim black finish on the bike nicely but i think the alcantara is going to look the best as it is more a flat black as well.
Other motorcycles, like MV Agusta and Ducati use seats that are made of alcantara so I'm not worried about the application. I just like my Fat Bob to look as good as it goes so this is the next thing to do.
I'm just interested to see if anyone else has used this on their Harley and how it worked out.
I'm just trying to make up my mind to go with the alcantara or full leather.
The alcantara looks great and holds you in place. Full leather also has a great look and is simply classic. Both will match the denim black finish on the bike nicely but i think the alcantara is going to look the best as it is more a flat black as well.
Other motorcycles, like MV Agusta and Ducati use seats that are made of alcantara so I'm not worried about the application. I just like my Fat Bob to look as good as it goes so this is the next thing to do.
I'm just interested to see if anyone else has used this on their Harley and how it worked out.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Belgium
But that is why I've asked the question, to see if there are any other experiences out there that may shine a better light on this.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Houston, TX
Hello gents,
I do not have experience with the actual seat in Alcantara, but I did work in a company that used Alcantara as a choice for custom furniture.
I can confirm that the material is a high-quality, long lasting one and is rated very highly in terms of the hundreds of thousands of times that one might sit on it without it beginning to show the effects of fabric rubbing on it (informally, the butt rub rating).
However, the pressing issue would be how it would work under the heavy strain of the elements in addition to the butt rubs. Under optimal conditions (think everyday furniture usage) Alcantara resists liquids and is easy to maintain as it is a synthetic and can be spot cleaned as well, however, it does absorb the water and so I would be very inclined to believe that it might become water logged under heavy rain (conditions that are very unlikely to show up in normal furniture wear) and have it's long term durability tested on account of this. We suggested an aftermarket treatment to make it more impermeable, but under heavy rain, I would be very wary of expecting anything like marine grade vinyl. And direct sun will make it fade with little doubt about that.
Which brings me to my next point. I had my oem 07 FXDC 2-up saddle modified by Mean City Cycles (great work), however, I eventually and expectedly developed a couple of tears at the seams and had it reupholstered with leather. I used Obenauf's regularly, but it has faded due to the butt rub effect and can envision when my jeans have rubbed enough that it becomes nappy... I don't actually mind the faded look, but honestly, if it comes to it, I will next time opt for marine grade, which is most likely the best rated for constant exposure to the elements and highly resistant to cracking and whatnot.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
-kidgo.
I do not have experience with the actual seat in Alcantara, but I did work in a company that used Alcantara as a choice for custom furniture.
I can confirm that the material is a high-quality, long lasting one and is rated very highly in terms of the hundreds of thousands of times that one might sit on it without it beginning to show the effects of fabric rubbing on it (informally, the butt rub rating).
However, the pressing issue would be how it would work under the heavy strain of the elements in addition to the butt rubs. Under optimal conditions (think everyday furniture usage) Alcantara resists liquids and is easy to maintain as it is a synthetic and can be spot cleaned as well, however, it does absorb the water and so I would be very inclined to believe that it might become water logged under heavy rain (conditions that are very unlikely to show up in normal furniture wear) and have it's long term durability tested on account of this. We suggested an aftermarket treatment to make it more impermeable, but under heavy rain, I would be very wary of expecting anything like marine grade vinyl. And direct sun will make it fade with little doubt about that.
Which brings me to my next point. I had my oem 07 FXDC 2-up saddle modified by Mean City Cycles (great work), however, I eventually and expectedly developed a couple of tears at the seams and had it reupholstered with leather. I used Obenauf's regularly, but it has faded due to the butt rub effect and can envision when my jeans have rubbed enough that it becomes nappy... I don't actually mind the faded look, but honestly, if it comes to it, I will next time opt for marine grade, which is most likely the best rated for constant exposure to the elements and highly resistant to cracking and whatnot.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
-kidgo.
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Belgium
Hello gents,
I do not have experience with the actual seat in Alcantara, but I did work in a company that used Alcantara as a choice for custom furniture.
I can confirm that the material is a high-quality, long lasting one and is rated very highly in terms of the hundreds of thousands of times that one might sit on it without it beginning to show the effects of fabric rubbing on it (informally, the butt rub rating).
However, the pressing issue would be how it would work under the heavy strain of the elements in addition to the butt rubs. Under optimal conditions (think everyday furniture usage) Alcantara resists liquids and is easy to maintain as it is a synthetic and can be spot cleaned as well, however, it does absorb the water and so I would be very inclined to believe that it might become water logged under heavy rain (conditions that are very unlikely to show up in normal furniture wear) and have it's long term durability tested on account of this. We suggested an aftermarket treatment to make it more impermeable, but under heavy rain, I would be very wary of expecting anything like marine grade vinyl. And direct sun will make it fade with little doubt about that.
Which brings me to my next point. I had my oem 07 FXDC 2-up saddle modified by Mean City Cycles (great work), however, I eventually and expectedly developed a couple of tears at the seams and had it reupholstered with leather. I used Obenauf's regularly, but it has faded due to the butt rub effect and can envision when my jeans have rubbed enough that it becomes nappy... I don't actually mind the faded look, but honestly, if it comes to it, I will next time opt for marine grade, which is most likely the best rated for constant exposure to the elements and highly resistant to cracking and whatnot.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
-kidgo.
I do not have experience with the actual seat in Alcantara, but I did work in a company that used Alcantara as a choice for custom furniture.
I can confirm that the material is a high-quality, long lasting one and is rated very highly in terms of the hundreds of thousands of times that one might sit on it without it beginning to show the effects of fabric rubbing on it (informally, the butt rub rating).
However, the pressing issue would be how it would work under the heavy strain of the elements in addition to the butt rubs. Under optimal conditions (think everyday furniture usage) Alcantara resists liquids and is easy to maintain as it is a synthetic and can be spot cleaned as well, however, it does absorb the water and so I would be very inclined to believe that it might become water logged under heavy rain (conditions that are very unlikely to show up in normal furniture wear) and have it's long term durability tested on account of this. We suggested an aftermarket treatment to make it more impermeable, but under heavy rain, I would be very wary of expecting anything like marine grade vinyl. And direct sun will make it fade with little doubt about that.
Which brings me to my next point. I had my oem 07 FXDC 2-up saddle modified by Mean City Cycles (great work), however, I eventually and expectedly developed a couple of tears at the seams and had it reupholstered with leather. I used Obenauf's regularly, but it has faded due to the butt rub effect and can envision when my jeans have rubbed enough that it becomes nappy... I don't actually mind the faded look, but honestly, if it comes to it, I will next time opt for marine grade, which is most likely the best rated for constant exposure to the elements and highly resistant to cracking and whatnot.
I hope this helps!
Cheers,
-kidgo.