ampsdx
08-27-2009, 02:02 PM
As many of you are aware, there is an option for those of us looking for an ultra high quality, completely custom seat. There are threads that talk about price and the final product, but not many about the process and construction. I thought I’d share my experiences with Rich, Blake and the Bitchin Seat Company.
I needed a solo seat that fit with the stock air box cover and a custom solo rear fender. After looking at photos of the setup, Rich suggested starting with his pre-made pan and lay fiberglass from it to the new fender. The kit he sent had all necessary items to complete the job. He had cut out the stock fender area of the pan and custom machined an aluminum hinge. After Rich and I discussed the shape at length, I taped off the area, marked where I wanted the seat to fit the fender and laid the glass per the included instructions. I then cut the excess material and sanded the pan to the final area; test fit and sent it off to Rich to have it finished.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139817&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139818&stc=1&d=1251395523
One issue we had to overcome was that I had the paint done without thinking much about where the seat would lay on the fender. The art work extended most of the way forward and I had to cut the seat pan really short on the back so it wasn’t covered up or look funny when the seat was done. I still wanted to have some back support. Rich and I talked about where I wanted to sit, how much padding I wanted and what to do with the back support. He came up with a finished form that gave me all the support I could need, made it easy for my shorter legs to reach the controls, and dealt with the low backed pan without looking like an afterthought.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139819&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139820&stc=1&d=1251395523
After he had the foam and gel formed and finished he covered the whole seat with the bull hide and stitching I chose. The final result is a first class seat that fits the bike and me perfectly.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139821&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139822&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139823&stc=1&d=1251395523
As with most one off custom products these seats are expensive and took some time to complete. My fiberglass work took the longest, once Rich got the pan; he had it back to me in less than a week. The finished seat cost $1400. While not cheap by any means, I feel with the time and material put into the construction and the hours spent on the phone it is justified.
I needed a solo seat that fit with the stock air box cover and a custom solo rear fender. After looking at photos of the setup, Rich suggested starting with his pre-made pan and lay fiberglass from it to the new fender. The kit he sent had all necessary items to complete the job. He had cut out the stock fender area of the pan and custom machined an aluminum hinge. After Rich and I discussed the shape at length, I taped off the area, marked where I wanted the seat to fit the fender and laid the glass per the included instructions. I then cut the excess material and sanded the pan to the final area; test fit and sent it off to Rich to have it finished.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139817&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139818&stc=1&d=1251395523
One issue we had to overcome was that I had the paint done without thinking much about where the seat would lay on the fender. The art work extended most of the way forward and I had to cut the seat pan really short on the back so it wasn’t covered up or look funny when the seat was done. I still wanted to have some back support. Rich and I talked about where I wanted to sit, how much padding I wanted and what to do with the back support. He came up with a finished form that gave me all the support I could need, made it easy for my shorter legs to reach the controls, and dealt with the low backed pan without looking like an afterthought.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139819&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139820&stc=1&d=1251395523
After he had the foam and gel formed and finished he covered the whole seat with the bull hide and stitching I chose. The final result is a first class seat that fits the bike and me perfectly.
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139821&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139822&stc=1&d=1251395523
http://www.1130cc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=139823&stc=1&d=1251395523
As with most one off custom products these seats are expensive and took some time to complete. My fiberglass work took the longest, once Rich got the pan; he had it back to me in less than a week. The finished seat cost $1400. While not cheap by any means, I feel with the time and material put into the construction and the hours spent on the phone it is justified.