Anyone ever re-covered a Z1R seat?

I see the reproduction seat foam and covers being sold all over... Are they any good? My original seat is a little worn and has a bit of splitting along the bottom rear and I have it in the hands of a vinyl repair guy who says he will make it look good but with so much time and money invested in my resto I am wondering if a cover and new foam would look original?

That way I could strip an repaint the pan and make it look new.

I'd hate to go thru all the trouble to find it looked unconvincing...

Anyone have experience with a project like this?

Wayne in Winnipeg

It ultimately depends on the quality of the cover, but with a good cover and care in fitting - you can make a pretty good job.

This is my Z650 C1 Giuliari seat that I recovered. The original was torn and worn in several places and really only fit for throwing out. I bought a cover from Germany and had a go myself. It is pretty straightforward to do. I needed new trim clips as well for the side mouldings (also sourced from Germany).

I'd done the same job on my H1 previously and got it right on the 2nd attempt. I'd fitted the cover OK I thought - but when I looked down the seat from the back after putting the seat back on the bike, the cover wasn't quite centred on the foam.

That taught me to check carefully all around before final fixing next attempt .....you can learn from my error more cheaply than I did though. Mine cost me another seat cover

All I used were the seat's original fixing barbs, a tin of spray glue and some of the wife's clothes pegs (I didn't tell her of course) to hold things in place while the glue went off. Then knock the barbs down and a quick trim round with a sharp knife of the excess material and job done.

Start to finish in about an hour. Just make sure you have everything straight though before committing.

Work a little on each side rather than fixing all one side first....

This is the Z650 Giuliari seat - judge for yourself if it looks acceptable or not.

Thanks for the reply! The seat looks awesome.

W

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You can get factory results if you warm the vinyl while you are doing it.

check this tread
kzrider.com/forum/6-paint-a-bodywork/258...at?limit=20&start=20

i bought a seat cover for my z1r from
z1parts.net/product/1980-kawasaki-kz1000-d3-z1r-seat-cover
and re-covered the seat on my 80 model z1r.i was very pleased with the quality and installed it on my original foam.i am wanting to buy another cover and a new foam and redo one of my other (z1r)seats.
i had never done it before and would not hesitate to do it again.

leon

Pictures Please!

Any hints for the first time upholsterer?

W

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these are the best pictures i have of the installed reproduction seat cover.











be careful with the triangle tabs.bend them as little as possible.dont pull on sewn seams(as you will tear the stitching out of the seam,don't ask how i know this :sick: ).

your finger tips will be sore for several days after.

hth,
leon

How to recover the seat when the seat pan tabs are broken off ---



Good Fortune!