Seat being re-stuffed

Janine the Leather Girl is a San Francisco seat upholsterer. She works out of her house. I had her re-stuff and re-cover my GSA's passenger seat, and my passenger was happy with her work. Today I dropped off my stock xr650r seat and asked her to make it WIDE, as wide as the seat pan at least, and add 1/2 to 1" of height. Curious to see how it turns out.... I asked for black, but I'm starting to think I should get a white vinyl cover. Yes, white. She had a white harley seat nearly finished and it looked good. With the white side panels, the white clarke tank, and the ufo white front headlight plastic, I think the bike would look pretty trippy, and at least unique among xrs. Thoughts?

I'm riding around on a new black SDG tall right now. Not too happy with it. It's slightly taller than stock, slightly wider, and quite a bit stiffer--but then again it is new. If I'm gonna ride coast to coast on the TAT this summer I want comfort. If the seat comes back wide and comfortable, I've got an SDG tall for sale at a good price!

Renazco uses suede for his seats. I can give you the dimensions of mine if it helps. Or take a picture from the top. Though, he has several pictures on his web site and a couple are BRPs I think.

suede is expensive and not the best solution IMO for adventure riding (rain, mud, frost, sun). no doubt the look and feel of leather is better, but i have never had a problem (leak or tear) with any vinyl seat i ever owned. durable, wipe and go--low maintenance. if something takes a special cleaner or custom cover (or $100 extra bux), i usually try to avoid it!

Libraries are filled with what I don't know I assure you!! :~)

But the reasons you gave against suede are the same one Renazo gave for it! I swear!!! I don't know. But I rode with a guy who has one on a BRP and he rides in in all sorts of weather and loves it. Renazco said if I was in a lot of water to spray it with something. He sprays his seats when they leave his shop, or so he said. He lines the underside of the suede with a water barrier I think. And he uses different foams for layering. he also will sew a little pocket in the front ahead of your crotch if you wnat.

Often suede can be had cheaply off eBay in the form of scraps or left-overs.

SFXR wrote:suede is expensive and not the best solution IMO for adventure riding (rain, mud, frost, sun). no doubt the look and feel of leather is better, but i have never had a problem (leak or tear) with any vinyl seat i ever owned. durable, wipe and go--low maintenance. if something takes a special cleaner or custom cover (or $100 extra bux), i usually try to avoid it!

Renazco uses all types of materials. Suede, vinlye, a new type of pleather. The suede is the most forgiving material for long haul riding. Most of the Dakar racers use suede. Its not as bad as you think...or expensive.

update and pics?

Didn't mean to mislead by omission. Renazco indeed makes seats from several materials per the buyers choice. I should have written that his best recommendation is for black suede. And moving the the other materials didn't save much off the price so I went with what he recommended.

doug@dsa wrote:Renazco uses all types of materials. Suede, vinlye, a new type of pleather. The suede is the most forgiving material for long haul riding. Most of the Dakar racers use suede. Its not as bad as you think...or expensive.

Husky123 is having a Renazco made for his new Husky. And as was pointed out during our little chat about seats and seat material
"cows dont shrink or have special covers"

I have a after market seat with a no slip or non-skid surface (depending on the trail) and 2" of extra heigth compared to stock and talk about MONKEY BUTT!!! OUCH!!! Leather and suede sound great!!

Three different foams I think plus a water barrier under the suede. I bought one after two days of 175 miles rides in Nor Cal with some guys. One guy, a big guy, had a Renazco seat, and I tried it and then I understood how he could sit all day through water crossings and all.

IMHO, the BRP seat is the worst I've ever been on.

paddy2257 wrote:I have a after market seat with a no slip or non-skid surface (depending on the trail) and 2" of extra heigth compared to stock and talk about MONKEY BUTT!!! OUCH!!! Leather and suede sound great!!