Need your input on a seat being redone
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 2
From: Gastonia, NC
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 4
Don't know about meancity but every time I talk to someone who has had their seat redone they say the gel gets hard over time because it sits out in the sun. I'm sending mine to Astech Seats this week, Pat gave me a great price on replacing the (2007 Fatboy) stock seat covering, which is vinyl, with a 4-5 thick black leather covering. I am not having him sew on the skirt thing that is attached to the outer perimeter of the seat. He is even going to put the Harley Davidson name plate that's on the seat back as original.
here's a link if intrested:http://www.astechseat.com/astech-sea...ery/?nggpage=3
Look at slide #2 of the Blue Fatboy with a brown leather seat.......nice looking job.
here's a link if intrested:http://www.astechseat.com/astech-sea...ery/?nggpage=3
Look at slide #2 of the Blue Fatboy with a brown leather seat.......nice looking job.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
If your expecting to do a lot of distance riding the gel is probably a better choice.
In any event I would give Mean City cycles a call.
The newer gel seat pads have gotten a lot better than they used to be and I think Mean City warranties the gel they use against hardening on you.
In any event I would give Mean City cycles a call.
The newer gel seat pads have gotten a lot better than they used to be and I think Mean City warranties the gel they use against hardening on you.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 544
Likes: 53
From: East Tennessee
Depends on whether you are going for looks or comfort. If you're going for long-distance comfort (like me), look into Russell Day Long Saddles. http://www.day-long.com/
I had NEVER found a seat my butt was comfortable on for more than an hour or so, so I finally sprang for a Russell. Seriously, I can sit on it all day and not even think about my butt. It's that comfortable!
I had NEVER found a seat my butt was comfortable on for more than an hour or so, so I finally sprang for a Russell. Seriously, I can sit on it all day and not even think about my butt. It's that comfortable!
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
Don't know about meancity but every time I talk to someone who has had their seat redone they say the gel gets hard over time because it sits out in the sun. I'm sending mine to Astech Seats this week, Pat gave me a great price on replacing the (2007 Fatboy) stock seat covering, which is vinyl, with a 4-5 thick black leather covering. I am not having him sew on the skirt thing that is attached to the outer perimeter of the seat. He is even going to put the Harley Davidson name plate that's on the seat back as original.
here's a link if intrested:http://www.astechseat.com/astech-sea...ery/?nggpage=3
Look at slide #2 of the Blue Fatboy with a brown leather seat.......nice looking job.
here's a link if intrested:http://www.astechseat.com/astech-sea...ery/?nggpage=3
Look at slide #2 of the Blue Fatboy with a brown leather seat.......nice looking job.
Anyway, the job is super easy to do. No need to send out your seat and pay too much and have your bike down for weeks.
I do 1/2" inch gel covered with 1/2" memory foam. Trace out where you want to patch. Transfer the trace to the gel...cut it. transfer the trace to the mem foam...cut it. Trace the outline on your seat foam. Take a razor knife...measure off 1"...cut the outline you made from the gel or foam. make 1" deep cuts every inch or so. Start cutting out the foam. Get it nice and smooth on the bottom. 3M adhesive...glue the gel in. 3M adhesive...glue the foam on top of the gel. Finish the job with 1/8" smoothing foam on the entire seat. Pull seat cover back over and staple it on. Any generic staple gun will work.
Wala...done...less than a C Note and youre back on your bike in 4 hours. Or spend hundreds...and stare at your bike for weeks.
Moral of the story is this kind of stuff is so easy to do yourself. these "so-called" pros aren't doing anything you can't do yourself.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Our custom upholstery shop sure does a lot of gel inserts. Never had mine done but have talked to one who did, He liked it.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 932
Likes: 2
From: Pacific NorthWest Territory
One thing about gel, is that it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It felt like I was sitting on ice when I got off work, so I had a heated insert put in over it ...
I put a rag or something over it in the summer to block the sun.
I put a rag or something over it in the summer to block the sun.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
That's only going to happen if someone does half the job and only installs gel. Anyone that pays for JUST gel is wasting good money. Gel needs to be topped off with memory foam and them a layer of smoothing foam. Sounds like you paid for half a job.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: South Louisiana
Doing this locally could be a better way to go. Less time waiting for the seat to be in shipping, and if there is something wrong, you can just go there and get it corrected.
I have read a few stories on here about seats being re-done, and the owners were none to happy with the results.
So I had the seat top on mine done locally. I knew the Heritage seat was more comfortable than the stock Deluxe seat (lets you sit back further).
I had them un-do the Deluxe seat, take off the skirt and put it on the Heritage seat cover. Then they put the Heritage foam on the Deluxe pan, and recovered with the combo Deluxe/Heritage seat cover.
$100.00 out the door in 4 hours. I didn't feel the need for gel or memory foam, but I am sure it may not have been to much more if I had wanted that done as well.
I actually sold the extra Heritage seat parts on ebay for $25.00 so in reality just $75.00 for the job....lol
I have read a few stories on here about seats being re-done, and the owners were none to happy with the results.
So I had the seat top on mine done locally. I knew the Heritage seat was more comfortable than the stock Deluxe seat (lets you sit back further).
I had them un-do the Deluxe seat, take off the skirt and put it on the Heritage seat cover. Then they put the Heritage foam on the Deluxe pan, and recovered with the combo Deluxe/Heritage seat cover.
$100.00 out the door in 4 hours. I didn't feel the need for gel or memory foam, but I am sure it may not have been to much more if I had wanted that done as well.
I actually sold the extra Heritage seat parts on ebay for $25.00 so in reality just $75.00 for the job....lol
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