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Rhino alert - reupholstery tips wanted Rhino alert - reupholstery tips wanted
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 25 Feb 2002
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Rhino alert - reupholstery tips wanted
Having lost a few pounds in weight after four months on the road, our posteriors are not quite as well padded as they were when we left. Consequently, after two to three hours in the saddle we are both suffering from rhinos (rhino-sore-arse).
Does anyone have any tips on reupholstering our seats/making them more comfortable? I'm on a R100GS with a solo seat (don't know the make) and Lisa's on an R80ST with the stock BMW dual seat.
Are gel inserts any good and does anyone know where to get them (we'll be in SE Asia, the US and Canada in the next few months).
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Old 25 Feb 2002
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Hai,

I had my, notorious, bench of torture... that is the seat of my Africa twin... done by Gerd Jungbluth WWW.MOTORRAD-SITZBAENKE.DE
He put in a (medical) gelpack, changed the model a little and now I can fall asleep on it.
All this for 200 euro.
You can mail him in english and work out the details. Distance is not a real problem, he even made them for someone in Dubai.

Maarten
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Old 25 Feb 2002
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Quote:
Originally posted by mmaarten:
Hai,

I had my, notorious, bench of torture... that is the seat of my Africa twin... done by Gerd Jungbluth WWW.MOTORRAD-SITZBAENKE.DE
He put in a (medical) gelpack, changed the model a little and now I can fall asleep on it.
All this for 200 euro.
You can mail him in english and work out the details. Distance is not a real problem, he even made them for someone in Dubai.

Maarten
Thanks Maarten, does he need the seats to do the work or will he send us the gel inserts? We can't send them to him because we are already on the road (in India).

Harvey
www.chasingthesun.org

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Old 25 Feb 2002
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Hi, there are several good custom seat makers in the US. Custom, www.billmayersaddles.com
http://mayercycle.homestead.com/mayercycle.html
Russell www.day-long.com the best 9-10 month wait.
Not custom but good www.corbin.com They have seats made on their own pan and can ship immediately. Be sure to specify model and year.
Over the years I have heard very good reports on sheepskin covers on top of your stock seat. I think you could have this done at your location. That may be quicker and less expensive. You would be assured of a proper fit.
Good luck, John
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Old 26 Feb 2002
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I crossed the Sahara on a sheepskin.
works great and is easy to get.

Freek
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Old 26 Feb 2002
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And another alternative, a slice of camping mat in between the foam and cover, flattens it and is a little firmer. You may have to cut some of the foam away first to make sure the cover will fit again.
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Old 26 Feb 2002
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Quote:
Originally posted by harvey:
does he need the seats to do the work or will he send us the gel inserts?
Hai Harvey,
Like I mailed (this is for the rest of you )
Best thing to do is to mail him, he's very helpfull and I guess he can send the gel-piece... It's like a 1 cm thick blanket.
But polstering yourself is a tricky job.

Save travels
Maarten

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Old 26 Feb 2002
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Freek, would you use the sheepskin also in our wet regions (Belgium).
How did you fit it? I like the idea a lot. But i don't know if it will help me since I think my saddle (Transalp) is too soft.
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Old 26 Feb 2002
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Hi,

take (or make it) a greasy one, so it will dry fast.
I'm wearing the waterproof tuareg pants, so it isn't a problem.
The hardness off the seat is not the only problem. when it doesn't breath it's also painfull on a long ride.
I also wear pants (under the tuareg) that are used by bicycle-racers. It has a soft inside to, witch can pickup a lot off sweat.

Freek
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Old 26 Feb 2002
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how I fit it?

On the front under the tankbag and on the rear under the ortlieb saddlebag straps.
So it protect also my saddle, and it's easy to take off.

Freek
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Old 5 Mar 2002
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Chaps

Thanks for all the replies.

We're now in Nepal and there are plenty of woolly quadrupeds to make a couple of lovely seat covers. So I'm off, Leatherman in hand, to find a suitable candidate. Anyone know a good recipe for goat curry?

Harvey
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