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I continue on the quest to get my 74 commando to look like it was when bought new. I have a 73 seat pan that needs new cover and foam. is the pan the same for the 73 and 74 roadsters?
Seat Pans
- Thread starter 850commando
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thanks.
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A bit off topic, but what is the purpose of the strap?
Best.
Best.
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Something for the passenger to hang on to, superseded by the rear grab rail. My passenger likes one hand on the strap and one on the grab rail, plus you can tuck a pair of gloves under it and not have them blown away when filling up.
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A place for gloves makes sense. A passenger using the grab rail and/or the strap will unload the first time a full throttle in first or second gear is applied. Straps end up under my butt which then becomes increasingly uncomfortable; a passenger trying to get he hands on the strap might be a bit exciting, but can be rather dangerous to both of us for different reasons...
I tell anyone who gets on as a passenger to hold onto me with both arms and tell them to tug or squeeze repetitively if they want me to slow down. With the exception of my 2 sons the rest of my passengers have been women. This method of securing a passenger also tends to keep their body mass center in the same plane as the motorcycle's center line; I will tell them that it OK to peak around me when in "level" flight, but to tuck in behind me and don't move in the twisties.
Some riders seem to think they need to scare the crap out of their passengers; I always start at "waltz" pace, make a stop and ask the passenger what they think and if they might be interested in working up to a tango...
Best
I tell anyone who gets on as a passenger to hold onto me with both arms and tell them to tug or squeeze repetitively if they want me to slow down. With the exception of my 2 sons the rest of my passengers have been women. This method of securing a passenger also tends to keep their body mass center in the same plane as the motorcycle's center line; I will tell them that it OK to peak around me when in "level" flight, but to tuck in behind me and don't move in the twisties.
Some riders seem to think they need to scare the crap out of their passengers; I always start at "waltz" pace, make a stop and ask the passenger what they think and if they might be interested in working up to a tango...
Best
The seat on my Commando was always uncomfortable, the foam compressed too easily and it felt like I was sitting on the metal. I bought a new seat cushion / foam from RK Leighton (seat base and cover were OK) and fitted it a couple of weeks ago. Just had a 600mile weekend and didnt feel at all uncomfortable, even after nigh on 11 hours riding on Sunday.
When I recovered my 1973 Roadster seat I bought the cover and foam from Old Brits but couldn't get the strap so I went to my local Goodwill and bought a used leather belt, cut it to length and used the original holes in the seat plan. I use it to hold gloves, hats, etc.
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Yes, my CL 160 had it, my CL 450 had it and then finally my 850 Commando had it. Must have been mandated by some non riding beaurocrat..
And yes it is weird with the hands under that but. ‘Hang on to me And lay them in there Baby’
Dudes aren’t welcome.
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I've found the best seats are actually very firm foam and not the softer ones. This after 19 motorbikes now. The soft cushy ones cause your butt to go to sleep and stop circulation after a while. Mind you I don't have much of a butt to speak of anymore. Have you ever heard of the Iron Butt riders ?
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Ah…thanks. I have been looking at replacement foam from RK Leighton for my ‘72 roadster seat. Was the shape original or more bulky?
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I sold my 72 roadster seat in perfect shape to a collector for good coin. Original but like new. It was the thin flat early type. These are hard to find.
The new seat foam / cushion is the same shape as the original, albeit a little larger as it hasnt had years of use. The seat cover went on nicely, the folds in the cover went back where they were originally. Agree that a firmer seat is more comfortable.
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maylar
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They've retired.
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