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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Has anyone did their own Vision seat recovering? I'm talking about you, in your garage recovering? Anyone? I'm thinking about doing mine and just want some pointers. Leather, strictly leather. I've had enough of vinyl, it just can't survive my butt. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | If you are near a TANDY Leather Store, most of them offer free Weekend 'learn how' classes so you can do it yourself plus you might just find leatherwork to be a fun hobby. Drop by and ask them |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks! We have one in Richmond. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Double post: For Sale: Slightly used Vision. 2008 Tour. Mostly highway miles. Never dropped. Stock, tassels.
Edited by varyder 2012-08-02 8:03 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | SYNSTR - 2012-08-02 5:57 PM
If you are near a TANDY Leather Store, most of them offer free Weekend 'learn how' classes so you can do it yourself plus you might just find leatherwork to be a fun hobby. Drop by and ask them
And if you do find you enjoy the hobby, start prowling Craigs List as someone is always unloading their stamps and patterns for pennies which is cheaper than buying new from the store and you'll occasionally stumble onto a unique custom made (or antique) stamp or knife.  |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | varyder - 2012-08-02 7:06 PM Has anyone did their own Vision seat recovering? I'm talking about you, in your garage recovering? Anyone? I'm thinking about doing mine and just want some pointers. Leather, strictly leather. I've had enough of vinyl, it just can't survive my butt. I've taken my cover (2009 Ness leather) off 3 times now. I've cut down the foam, inserted a gel with memory foam pad, heating element... Just this week I removed the gel pas and cut down even more foam then put firm foam instead of the memory / gel. It can be tricky but doable. However creating a whole new cover... well I don't think I'd try it... Without a,commercial sewing machine. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Time is my biggest challenge. But I do have my original seat that I can take my sweet time with. I'm actually looking into more of a hand stitch, old school brown leather. So, I'll be heading to my local TANDY leather store to see what I'm in for. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Let me know how it works out for you. I have my original seat too and I've been thinking about recovering it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I sure will. I got a second used seat that was like new from an '09, and my original seat is shot as far as the vinyl goes. The "new" seat is starting to split now also, so it is a matter of time. I wanted to have my original seat redone by now, but the spare change has been sparse. If I could knock it out doing it myself, saving a few bucks, I could pass along the other seat either as a recover opportunity, or one that could be a stand in until another is recovered. That is my thought anyways. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| varyder - 2012-08-02 9:00 PM
Double post: For Sale: Slightly used Vision. 2008 Tour. Mostly highway miles. Never dropped. Stock, tassels.?
I'll need to see a photo of the tassels. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Double Vision - 2012-08-03 5:59 AM
varyder - 2012-08-02 9:00 PM
Double post: For Sale: Slightly used Vision. 2008 Tour. Mostly highway miles. Never dropped. Stock, tassels.?
I'll need to see a photo of the tassels.
With, or without a shirt on?   |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| varyder - 2012-08-02 7:06 PM Has anyone did their own Vision seat recovering? I'm talking about you, in your garage recovering? Anyone? I'm thinking about doing mine and just want some pointers. Leather, strictly leather. I've had enough of vinyl, it just can't survive my butt. Keep in mind you get caught in rain your seat will be a sponge and will hold water for a day or two. Even when you wash the bike. Mink oils and others don't last |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks, I am aware of the upkeep, I had leather before. I feel that a touring bike should have leather, and upkeep is just part of taking care of the bike. I'm taking a class and then I think I'll begin my project. I'm going to do it in raw leather and let it weather in. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | LEXOL on a bi weekly schedule, takes about 5-7 minutes and completely waterproofs the seat including stiches. Wet vinyl or wet leather is about a push-Mink oil is great if you want every dog in the neighborhood to follow you around and sniff your butt, and have strangers look at you in a wierd manner when it's a hot day out. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| SYNSTR - 2012-08-03 7:54 PM
Mink oil is great if you want every dog in the neighborhood to follow you around and sniff your butt, and have strangers look at you in a wierd manner when it's a hot day out.
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to stock up. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 73
Nor Cali | Had my 8 Ball seat redone in leather...man what a difference, so much more comfortable. Leather Breathes, Vinyl doesn't. I've been using leather MC seats for seven yrs and been using Skidmore's Leather Cream for up keep. Excellent stuff. There's also Skidmore's Beeswax for leather waterproofing. Both products are made for motorcycles.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I'm going with the unfinished look and do my own conditioning. I can take as long as I like basically and work it the way I want it. The other thing I want to do is hand stitch it, so that will take some time. I have another seat off the bike, so it won't keep me from riding. I'm going to cut my foam down a little, maybe a little more than I want and then add a firmer foam. The other thing I want to do is make the pillion bigger but putting more in front of that, pushing me forward just a little. I believe the new seats do just that, or at least the 8-ball seat. This is going to be a new project thing and I migh find this is something I really enjoy doing and maybe make other things as well. When I was in the leather store, it was cool to check out the different hides and stuff. The girl pointed me toward the regular dyed hides when I said I was doing a motorcycle seat. I told her I wanted to go with the raw hide and let it weather in, she like that idea but cautioned me it was harder to work with that leather, but doable. I'm hoping this will be an early Christmas present for myself.
(2010_Indian_Chief_leather_s.jpg)
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 2010_Indian_Chief_leather_s.jpg (94KB - 1 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | And as it ages, it will be beautiful as it suntans in different degrees and shades. Be prepared to go through a truck load of needles and get a stiching tree.(or if you have access to a bandsaw, look them up on line and make your own)
Had a pair of chaps done raw and after a few years they almost looked tie dyed from the weather and sunshine. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 114
Southeast, AZ United States | varyder, great idea and the look should be fantastic. I can't wait to see it.
Ride Safe,
Ken |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | Have used LEXOL on saddles back in the day. Great stuff......
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | SYNSTR - 2012-08-04 10:43 AM
And as it ages, it will be beautiful as it suntans in different degrees and shades. Be prepared to go through a truck load of needles and get a stiching tree.(or if you have access to a bandsaw, look them up on line and make your own)
Had a pair of chaps done raw and after a few years they almost looked tie dyed from the weather and sunshine.
My bad-STITCHING PONY -not tree |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | Have used LEXOL on saddles back in the day. Great stuff......
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks Bill, I'll have to make my pony. I'm looking forward to this. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area |
If it were me, I would take the spinoff the old seat take each panels part, and use the pieces as patterns to cut the leather. Youbest be handy with a sewing machine, and you will need to use the proper thread. nd for the leather.. Every Corbin seat I have ever owned (3 so far) had leather on the seating surface, and each seat could be left in the rain... Some kind of weird coating. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Thanks bh. I'm taking a beginners class Saturday just to get some ideas. I've been watching some videos and plan on hand stitching it. I'll be getting the stuff to make the leather pony this weekend. I'm in no immediate hurry and will take my time with this project. My goal is to be done by Christmas. |
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