My seat hates my seat

[Waterman28]

Hello All.
I've used this forum off and on for a few years (yes, a lurker) but haven't posted so consider this to be my first post!
I've been researching seats and actually am amazed at how many folks hate the seats on the STs.
This job Waterman28, is excellent and gives me the impetus to also do what you did!
I have a 2003 ST with a Sargent seat (2 piece). After 50 miles I can't go on - After 100 miles, I tough it out. After 200 miles, I'm eating Advil and cursing!
I hate this seat!
Do you recall the specs on the foam and the vinyl that you used? Weights and such? The vinyl looks soft and the sargent cover is like sitting on fiberglass.

I've done a lot of mods to my ST. If anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to give back.

@nicksacco The foam I used had an ILD index of 55, I don't know the weight.

 

[nicksacco]

Thanks so much.
I've not done much sewing, nor any upholstering, but desperation will ensure I give it a shot!

I had to look up the ILD so here it is for those interested:
"ILD is a unit of measurement and refers to the number of pounds (lbs) of pressure or force that is needed to indent foam to a depth of 4” by 25%. This test is performed on an area of 50 square inches. The rating is referred to as the ILD rating or the 25% ILD rating. "

 

[Highway STar]

Looks fantastic. My sewing skills limited to button replacement. I think I will take your pics and my seat(s) to Tim Pearson at Triple-K upholstery in Welland, ON (Canada). Only thing I might add is a gel-pac . Tim 'fixed' my Blackbird seat with a carve + gel-pac job and did an "undercut" on my K1300S (which he calls a Sea-Do seat, where the foam is attached to the pleather cover vs the seat pan) to get rid of the miserable 'crown' in the center of the seat. Great post! J

+1 on Triple-K, I got the pillion on my ill-fated 84 Shadow done by Tim and it made a huge difference in my passenger's comfort on the ride. And pretty reasonably priced I thought.

 

[Moses2]

So I was only able to put like 50-60 miles before I was ready to get off my bike and burn the seat to the ground. With a donor seat purchased from @SupraSabre (thank you much) I decided to see if I could construct a seat that would let me ride more miles before my butt made me pull over and and give it a reprieve from the torture device. I purchased some firm foam and went to carving the seat.


Next was to glue more foam on it and shape it.





Next was to sew up a cover for it.




Its not perfect as I am very much a beginner at sewing but I rode it on a 150 mile loop and my butt had no complaints. I will probably build a new cover for it when my upholstery skills improve.

I'm impressed and inspired. Great job.

 

[Minivanman]

How did you add foam to the stock foam block? I've done a bit of that work and what you did is very impressive. And hard to do.

 

[Waterman28]

How did you add foam to the stock foam block? I've done a bit of that work and what you did is very impressive. And hard to do.

I just cut foam blocks and glued them to the flat sections I cut out with a serrated bread knife. I used foam lock spray adhesive and then shaped it with an air die grinder with a 3" sanding pad on it.

 

[Mophead]

Well for all us tire changers and valve checkers you have put us to shame by doing your own seat. Very nice and I'm sure the final version will be even better.