OP
@jcg avatar
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Hooked
2008 GT200L
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2008 GT200L
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Is this a rivet or something else that can be easily removed… gave it a couple of tugs but didn't want to force it off.
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UTC

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2001 GTS Super (white), 2021 GTS Super (yellow), 1976 Bianchi Snark moped, 1980 General 5 Star moped
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2001 GTS Super (white), 2021 GTS Super (yellow), 1976 Bianchi Snark moped, 1980 General 5 Star moped
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UTC quote
Just drill the rivet out. Takes all of two seconds to do it.
OP
@jcg avatar
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2008 GT200L
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UTC quote
More concerned with reattaching..
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Primavera 150
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Primavera 150
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UTC quote
They look like pop rivets. If so, easy to replace if you have the tool.
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Molto Verboso
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
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Molto Verboso
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UTC quote
A pop rivet tool is available cheaply at Harbor Freight. That particular rivet has a very wide head - you'd need to look around a little for a replacement.

You might be able to find a way to replace it with a snap.

Once it comes off it will probably never go back on as tightly. Why do you want to take it off? (My '09 S has a strap like this and I'm not crazy about the look.)
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Does anyone use these things? It seems like a pain in the ass.
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2009 GTS250, Ducati Monster M900, KTM 390 Adventure, Honda CR125
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UTC quote
You most likely have already looked into this, but I would make sure the seat has not sun faded just enough so that the area under the strap is a different color and you end up with a racing stripe you didn't really want.

That would send my OCD into a tailspin and I'd be posting 'Seat strap installation.. rivet?' and to the 'What's Pissing You Off II' thread.
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2009 Genuine Stella 2T
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UTC quote
Drill it out.

If you ever need to put the strap back on, you can screw a short, wide sheet metal screw directly into the seat base plastic or use a hobby stapler.
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2001 ET4 "Mona"
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UTC quote
JCG wrote:
Is this a rivet or something else that can be easily removed… gave it a couple of tugs but didn't want to force it off.
I had this exact question but was afraid to ask it. Thanks for being braver than me. So, it IS a rivet. It can be drilled to remove it and it can be replaced by a sheet metal screw. Life is good.
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If someone were to carry a pillion using the strap as a hand hold, staples or a sheet metal screw might fail.
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
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@znomit avatar
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
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UTC quote
Topolino wrote:
If someone were to carry a pillion using the strap as a hand hold, staples or a sheet metal screw might fail.
Yeah, does anyone use it for that?
OP is it because you're sitting on it or just cosmetic?
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UTC quote
znomit wrote:
Yeah, does anyone use it for that?
OP is it because you're sitting on it or just cosmetic?
I bought a used model S seat for my ET4 because I think it looks nicer than the stock seat. The strap on the used seat is bunched in the middle a bit as if the previous owner used the strap to lift the bike onto its center stand. If I remove the strap I can flatten it and reuse it, I think. It needs to be on the seat because there is a bit of a color difference between the seat and the area of the seat under the strap (probably discoloration from the sun). The strap will cover this as it always has. So yeah, it's all basically cosmetic.
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UTC quote
Shebalba wrote:
That would send my OCD into a tailspin and I'd be posting 'Seat strap installation.. rivet?' and to the 'What's Pissing You Off II' thread.
LOL! Yeah, me too!
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Molto Verboso
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
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UTC quote
That strap may just be cosmetic but it's definitely not intended for a pillion handhold. The seat design looks sporty, but it really doesn't accommodate a pillion very comfortably. I assumed the strap is there to steady the scoot as it's going up or down on the center stand.
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2007 LX 150 (memories)
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UTC quote
Just be sure that the drill used is short enough that it won't go through the seat.
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ET3 & PX150 & GTS 300 Super Sport MY23 & Yamaha Neo's electric
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UTC quote
I've removed the strap and I regretted it.
I did remove it, because there was always water trapped under the strap from dew or rain. Also because of the looks. The rivets can be drilled out easily. Reinstall was a nightmare.

The strap is useless to hold onto, but it needs to be there for legal reasons, if your Vespa doesn't come with a grabrail, like the model S did. Was a problem when I tried to sell the seat.

I did find pop rivets with a large head, but they were a bit smaller and wouldn't sit. Screws didn't work either. Eventually, I did find a buyer that took the seat without the strap.
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A cheap and easy way to satisfy the DOT requirement for passenger handholds brought us this useless item. It's a lousy handhold that appears in lieu of side rails or integrated handles.
OP
@jcg avatar
UTC

Hooked
2008 GT200L
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UTC quote
Juan_ORhea wrote:
A pop rivet tool is available cheaply at Harbor Freight. That particular rivet has a very wide head - you'd need to look around a little for a replacement.

You might be able to find a way to replace it with a snap.

Once it comes off it will probably never go back on as tightly. Why do you want to take it off? (My '09 S has a strap like this and I'm not crazy about the look.)
The color is not the same as the seat… not sure if I'll match it but if I see something closer it comes off!

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