On the old forum there was a guy who reupholstered his R5/DS7 seat. Apparently there is a trick to removing the metal trim piece.
Anybody have experience with this?
I redid mine. But it was already a recover. So instead of the stock pins that held on the trim, it was small screws and chunks of sheet metal. So, the pins and backers themselves are available for cheap on Yambits.
To remove them I think they are pressed on, might be able to pop the old pin backers off and the trim should pull out of the old seat and through the old cover. As well, the trim piece is like a track. It has cutouts where the pins are inserted or removed on both front sides of the trim. This allows you to get the trim started by popping the back pins through the cover and one at a time sliding the rest of the pins down the track and into place.
I used a space heater to stretch the cover over the seat after saran wrapping the foam. It is hell on the fingers and hard to get straight. I now know why upholstery isn't cheap to do!
This is sounding more like a job to be hired out. My problem is the seat is such an eyeful I want it to be just right. Most recover/refoam jobs look too tall for my eyes.
Yamaha did it correctly.
Thanks for the input Striker.
Are you OK with an aftermarket seat?
https://texavina.com/rd350-r5-ds7-1970-1972-early-model/
Not a purist, but it's gotta have that trim for my eyes. Plus I've got the ingredients, might as well do it the way I want. A big fat fanny seat from the 70s!
Yambits selling seats with fiber base
Not happy with my results. I'll roll with it for now but might try a different foam/cover combo.
2t, you gotta link? I couldn't find it.
https://yambits.co.uk/rd350-complete-seat-p-54490.html?osCsid=oa0pcd11hbd70bbq5p0ee519k2
Also texavina.com
This is the seat that texavina carries that I'm considering. I'd like to see how it lines up with the stock fender though.
https://texavina.com/1970-1972-yamaha-rd350-r5-ds7-solo-cafe-racer-sport-motorcycle-seat-sku-t2080/
That's a nice looking piece, I'd be happy to put that on my RD.
Wade
Yes, that is a good looking seat.
I've been impressed with Texavina's selection, quality and customer service... and prices!
I would love to find a seat more like the 78. I like the idea of bring the tank color down the seat and onto the back of the seat.
I have seen a few but they are just fiberglass shells and I am not a fabricator and would never make it work without duck tape and zip ties.
Quote from: Organicjedi on February 11, 2020, 04:16:19 PM
I've been impressed with Texavina's selection, quality and customer service... and prices!
Agreed. I initially ordered a seat from Texavina and there was a considerable gap at the tank. I e-mailed them and they sent out a new seat that fit perfect at no charge, and never even asked for the old one back! Foam is a little firm.
Now I just need to get my tank painted :vroom:
Thanks for the input oil burner.
Quote from: 2t Fan on February 08, 2020, 03:41:04 AM
Also texavina.com
i was told, they are ready to make OE replica if you have the trim
I should see what they can do, thanks.
To remove the trim, you have to take off the little rectangular metal clips that are pushed onto the pins, look inside under the seat to see them. Once they are all off, the trim will come off by gently pushing the pins at the front of the seat out, and work back towards the rear. Then once you have the pins out the trim will be free and you will notice the pins have heads on them that slide in a groove in the trim. There are a couple places where the groove is wider and the pins can be slid to those areas and removed if you so desire to do so.
Once you remove the trim, then you can bend up the barbs to remove the old seat cover. With the new cover in place (do it on a warm sunny day to make the vinyl cover stretch easily) you can use an awl to poke new holes in the cover for the trim piece pins and then fit the trim back on and finally press the rectangular clips onto the trim pins( I use a 1/4" nut driver to do that).
I like the seat covers from Pit Perspective, very good fit, proper heat molded seams and vinyl texture pattern, good silks-screening of the logo on the back, and nice foam padding on the inside. IMHO, the reproduction seats with a large bulge at the back to imitate a rear cowl look funky and odd, they just do not match the look and style of the rest of the bike and seem out of place. To me, they create a clash in styling that is distracting, but I'm a purist because I remember these bikes back when they were new and 1st came out, so others may not feel the way I do about it. .
I definitely appreciate the original look as well. Thanks for the suggestions.
Quote from: jmendoza on April 06, 2020, 10:22:16 PM
To remove the trim, you have to take off the little rectangular metal clips that are pushed onto the pins, look inside under the seat to see them. Once they are all off, the trim will come off by gently pushing the pins at the front of the seat out, and work back towards the rear. Then once you have the pins out the trim will be free and you will notice the pins have heads on them that slide in a groove in the trim. There are a couple places where the groove is wider and the pins can be slid to those areas and removed if you so desire to do so.
Once you remove the trim, then you can bend up the barbs to remove the old seat cover. With the new cover in place (do it on a warm sunny day to make the vinyl cover stretch easily) you can use an awl to poke new holes in the cover for the trim piece pins and then fit the trim back on and finally press the rectangular clips onto the trim pins( I use a 1/4" nut driver to do that).
I like the seat covers from Pit Perspective, very good fit, proper heat molded seams and vinyl texture pattern, good silks-screening of the logo on the back, and nice foam padding on the inside. IMHO, the reproduction seats with a large bulge at the back to imitate a rear cowl look funky and odd, they just do not match the look and style of the rest of the bike and seem out of place. To me, they create a clash in styling that is distracting, but I'm a purist because I remember these bikes back when they were new and 1st came out, so others may not feel the way I do about it. .
wow jmendoza i havent talked to you and quite a spell, thanks for your help years ago. i agree with this post and thanks for the input. i might even still have your phone number lol
Quote from: Oil Burner on February 21, 2020, 09:20:34 PM
Quote from: Organicjedi on February 11, 2020, 04:16:19 PM
I've been impressed with Texavina's selection, quality and customer service... and prices!
Agreed. I initially ordered a seat from Texavina and there was a considerable gap at the tank. I e-mailed them and they sent out a new seat that fit perfect at no charge, and never even asked for the old one back! Foam is a little firm.
Now I just need to get my tank painted :vroom:
The seat and R5 look great and cant wait to see the paint on it.
Where did you purchase your rear shocks.
Quote from: jmendoza on April 06, 2020, 10:22:16 PM
To remove the trim, you have to take off the little rectangular metal clips that are pushed onto the pins, look inside under the seat to see them. Once they are all off, the trim will come off by gently pushing the pins at the front of the seat out, and work back towards the rear. Then once you have the pins out the trim will be free and you will notice the pins have heads on them that slide in a groove in the trim. There are a couple places where the groove is wider and the pins can be slid to those areas and removed if you so desire to do so.
Once you remove the trim, then you can bend up the barbs to remove the old seat cover. With the new cover in place (do it on a warm sunny day to make the vinyl cover stretch easily) you can use an awl to poke new holes in the cover for the trim piece pins and then fit the trim back on and finally press the rectangular clips onto the trim pins( I use a 1/4" nut driver to do that).
I like the seat covers from Pit Perspective, very good fit, proper heat molded seams and vinyl texture pattern, good silks-screening of the logo on the back, and nice foam padding on the inside. IMHO, the reproduction seats with a large bulge at the back to imitate a rear cowl look funky and odd, they just do not match the look and style of the rest of the bike and seem out of place. To me, they create a clash in styling that is distracting, but I'm a purist because I remember these bikes back when they were new and 1st came out, so others may not feel the way I do about it. .
How are you Jay" it has been awhile, Cooks corner I believe, also miss those rides up GMR to Baldy. Do you have a link to the seat reproduction company Pit Perspective" I did a search and it did not pop up.
Does anyone know how much lower/ thinner the 1973 RD350 seat foam was, compared to the 74 and 75? I think the lower/ thinner seat just looks so much better.
I bought a Texavina solo style seat years ago for a RD350 project I STILL haven't gotten around to starting yet. Never test mounted it and it looks good overall, but the pan looks like it was hand formed by monkeys with ball peen hammers.
:Clown: