Bobber seat on a Commando

I'm thinking of putting a bobber seat on my stock Commando (75). All I find are seats for Harlots Davidbums. Also, the mounting hardware. Do I have to weld or is there another way. Anybody with prints, etc to help me?? Or turn me on to someplace that sells seats and hardware for a Norton Commando.

Thanks

what is a bobber seat?
a solo seat? a sprung solo seat??

Bobber seat is a solo seat with springs at back.

that is matt machine's atlas

I lurked waiting for any flames to die down but seems coast is clear and admit Peel's getting a bobber saddle maybe in alligator. Would like to see how others mount it as rigid or soft tail?

As close as I've gotten was a client wanting a solo seat, so I cut down a stocker. Looks good for what it is, can't tell from factory after the upholsterer did his thing...

grandpaul said:

As close as I've gotten was a client wanting a solo seat, so I cut down a stocker. Looks good for what it is, can't tell from factory after the upholsterer did his thing...

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I know I should just keep my mouth shut, but thats a very cruel thing to do to a Commando. Must be hard having to meet customer demands when they are like that :? Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder, and being British I'm conservative. :wink:

solo seat on a Commando is a factory set up : it's called the Interpol seat. Not saying it's not ugly , but I guess you can find some New Old stock as nobody buy one since many years

The Commando that is featured on the Daniel Pearce Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine print has a spring solo seat on it, but I can't find any pictures of the whole bike on the net anymore.

IMHO:
A sprung solo seat only looks correct on a hardtail frame or one with a dropped seat area.
Putting one on a bike with a straight backbone always looks like a bodge job.

On a 75 commando, a seat that doesn't fit tightly to the frame will allow stuff like the oil tank cap
and battery top to be seen.

I have never seen a seat with bolt on hardware for a commando so there will will probably be some modification
(welding) required.
To each their own, but I would suggest not buggering up the frame because it will just be something that the next owner will have to fix.

goo said:

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Nice!

Mark said:

IMHO:
A sprung solo seat only looks correct on a hardtail frame or one with a dropped seat area.
Putting one on a bike with a straight backbone always looks like a bodge job.

On a 75 commando, a seat that doesn't fit tightly to the frame will allow stuff like the oil tank cap
and battery top to be seen.

I have never seen a seat with bolt on hardware for a commando so there will will probably be some modification
(welding) required.
To each their own, but I would suggest not buggering up the frame because it will just be something that the next owner will have to fix.

Click to expand...

I agree 100% with Mark.

Old Bloke said:

I know I should just keep my mouth shut, but thats a very cruel thing to do to a Commando. Must be hard having to meet customer demands when they are like that.

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The PAYING customer is always right.

(I read that somewhere)

grandpaul said:

Old Bloke said:

I know I should just keep my mouth shut, but thats a very cruel thing to do to a Commando. Must be hard having to meet customer demands when they are like that.

Click to expand...

The PAYING customer is always right.

(I read that somewhere)

Click to expand...

When it comes to creative endeavors (be it designing graphics or motorcycles) the customer is not always right. They are paying you for your design expertise too. Remember it's your name that will be associated with the design long after the payment is gone.

grandpaul said:

As close as I've gotten was a client wanting a solo seat, so I cut down a stocker. Looks good for what it is, can't tell from factory after the upholsterer did his thing...

Click to expand...

Looks like you recreated an Interpol seat. Photo taken from NOC website.

A nother View .



NOW , THIS is What you Want . :shock: soory . shocking picture . thought youd all find it a shock too .



Shocking . :|

NOW . ' We ' assume youre 6'4" and have bent knees with youre feet on the ground. Seated. On a Commando . ?
Getting any hight to ' spring ' the seat appreacably , is going to get it about 6 ft. up . Studying the FRAME , The
' Top Tube ' , is there , so two tags , or a ' U ' bracket at the front . With no un-necessary hight , gets the Pivot Bolt
say 1/2 in , or less . Over the top of the Toob . looking at a 2 1/4 diameter , with the tags well out , so a a ' split '
fork for the bolt / pin . Just clears the frame hightwise , as the ' things ' are of tho the side , to let them clear .
Or say Two Inch at the frame brackets / Front Seat mount , will get it as low as its going .

The rests gotta sit something like level , so itll only be a Inch or Two free at the rear . ( Movement / Sprung ) .

Now , if its got a steel frame with your tail bone over it , when it bottoms , :twisted: :wink: :mrgreen:
So just use a piece of 14 Guage ( 2 mm Steel ) sheet . Turn the edges down , trim to 8 mm / 5/16 th In. , &
maybe roll flush . I think Id be putting a Rubber Buffer under it , to Cushion the Bottoming , for the bottom .



These things , or the like , they called ' spoon seats ' as bowl & handle resemble a Spoon . Indeed . Like a old BSA .



Butt the Rear narrower , so the Guards Wider . If your aged under 20 . :lol: and the front . . . etc . . .

Just Another S H O C K E R . :shock: . Gees , way worsen mine . I shouda done it up . . .



. ' And Here we Have ' , the B. S. A . ' Sprung Saddle ' Pillion Seat . . Been wondering about stirrups , off'n'on .

So as the feet at least stay attacked to the machineary , whilst dire jolts arst encountered . :?

Here We Go . . . . . . " Imaginary Garage Sacrilege Edition: 1925 Brough Superior Drag Bike "

swooshdave said:

When it comes to creative endeavors (be it designing graphics or motorcycles) the customer is not always right. They are paying you for your design expertise too. Remember it's your name that will be associated with the design long after the payment is gone.

Click to expand...

Never a truer word spoken...... :wink:

This thread got me wondering........
"I wonder if I still have the solo seat that I made probably close to 20 years ago?"
I dug around in some old boxes and found it!

I just cut down and covered an old broken fiberglass seat pan:




Here it is on my 75 interstate:




Back in the days when I was still sporting the painted rear fender, black decals and homemade exhaust.

(sorry about the quality of the pics of the bike , They are old 35mm. snapshots that I just took out of a photo album and shot a close up of with my digital camera.)

Very clever Mark adapting a seat pan for a solo bobber saddle, I've not though of cutting it down that far, but will now, thanx. I would steal your stylish and practical range white cloud Cdo first opportunity I could get away with it.