Modern Vespa

Has anyone installed one of these good-looking and sensible extended seat for an mp3 500 from Pirate Upholstery? We need a review, ba-ba-ba-baaaaad! Thanks!



**Updated.

Tall, leggy mp3 riders, our day has come! What do you all think? Comment away, please.

I sure like the looks of that. Any idea how much it is going to cost?
Now if some one would just come up with a good rider backreast.

I'm waiting on their website. It says their ONLINE STORE will be up and running in a few days...

Hope that it does. I would love to price them and see how much a 'custom' job would be...

I'm definately going to order one of those bucket seats looks comfy

Yes, and I would go as far as challenging a seat-maker to come up with a fore/aft-adjustable backrest (combined with an extended seat such as this one).

If you click on the pic for Pirate's web page, you will be surprised to find that many different styles of custom-made backrests are possible. Price may depend on how customized a seat you want. Someone got a lowered seat from Pirate that looks beautiful and I believe it cost around $500. This one looks very well made, too (around $400 she said).

Someone please come forth with a review (surely they made it for somebody out there). Thanks!

Nature abhors a vacumn and these guys have come along to fill one. If the product is good there will be having problems growing enough to fill all our orders. Even if the seat was just the same, the customization will get a lot of orders. Just look at SMRF's.

I must have this! If it is in the $500 range, I will be holding off for awhile. All the adds are killing me ($600 Givi E52, +$500 OEM screen, $300 lap cover, etc. etc.)

As for the backrest, I have been contemplating getting a tail bag and putting it on the back seat. I saw a Cortech http://www.cortechperformance.com/xcart/product.php?productid=148&cat=31

Bag on a cycle and it looked like it would give you an 8 inch back support. It pops on and off with clips. My plan would be to use this for my laptop and stop using a backpack, but the top load access is not functional for a laptop.

I just messaged Pirate Upholstery today. Hoping for some specific answers tomorrow so I can update everyone.

Ugh Smrfette.... I can't stand her! now, if it were a 'regular' Smurf... maybe have to find a decal to put on the Smrfmobile of a true smurf. Ideas you're filling my head with...

BTW Fuzzy I'm stealing your sig line and adding it to my email for my pups!

No problem on stealing the sig line. I stole it from the label on a bottle of wine.

I bought a Kuryakyn Tombstone Bag for a backrest. It comes with 3 different thicknesses of pads, so you can get it the right distance from your back. I haven't used it yet since I don't have my topcase yet, to rest it against.

I love this forum. The Tombstone bag find just mad my day. I have been searching for bags on line for soooo long.

Thanks Turbo. After you get the bag set up with your top box, please let us all know if it was a success. As I look at the product's specs, it appears to be made to attach to a standard back rest. I can't visualize how the bag's straps will work with a large top box. I have a Givi E52 with a back rest pad coming.

Yeah that's going to be a challenge: the standard way of attaching it is via some stiched-in velcro straps that wrap around a motorcycle sissy bar, however, there are auxilliary side bags which attach to the main bag via D-rings. I think that the D-rings can be repurposed, even with the auxilliary bags attached, to accomodate straps that will fit under the MP3 seat. I'm not sure how to deal with fore-aft movement, perhaps buy extension velcro straps and sew them to the existing. It shouldn't be a big problem though, this bag is HEAVY and the top case will keep it from moving backwards.

Turbojav,

Like to see a photo of your bag installed whenever you get it. Thanks!

Sorry, no reply today from Pirate Upholstery

I'll only install the bag when going on a highway trip - I'd prefer to keep that space open for a pillion if I"m just doing short hops around town. So here are some photos with it off the bike:

First photo: 3/4 view of the back of the bag. You can see the velcro straps that attach to a sissy bar.

Second photo: interchangeable back rest pads. Pick the one that fits and zip it on (they do not zip to each other).

Third photo: Top of the bag, with optional sidebags installed.

Last photo: the bottom of the bag, with optional sidebags installed, showing where straps could be attached to D-rings to attach big bag to seat cover.

Lately, I've been thinking about getting something like this. A SealLine dry pack.

I don't feel that a seal bag would support your back, not flat enough, not tall enough not padded. The tombsone is very solid and heavy with the padding resting right against your back - where it should be.

In good conscience I have to say that I have not positioned this bag on my MP3 yet. My bike is in a parking garage and I need to buy straps. I'll try to do some measurements though.

Basically I like it because of its huge volume and that it keeps everything dry on a long trip. Not at all as a backrest. Pardon me for thinking out loud.

As for a backrest, I prefer having it built into the seat itself, and make that adjustable back and forth for riders of various height. Is any designer listening out there?

If you need a backrest try out bikersfriend.com bags. They're barrel bags with a hard plastic core to serve as a backrest and luggage. I've been using it for the last week and LOVE it. They have like 5 sizes to choose from and an assortment of ways to attach to any bike. I've taken the bag and leaned into it while it rested on my couch..it didn't give at all. I'm glad I opted t pay more money for this than going with the Sx Appeal pak rest.

I just did a quick read on the Tombstone bag and it's designed to be used attached to a passenger backrest, the Biker's friend bag does not need anything but being strapped down to work. It comes with 3 sets/styles of straps/attachments as well as two backpads (one mesh one fabric for different climates) and a lumbar roll.

Honda's Big Ruckus featured a pillion seat that swung-up and became a rider back rest. " ten different positions" adjustment, . . . a smart feature!
2006 Honda Big Ruckus Features

BUT no pic of this amazing backrest/seat!!!

There was a menu on the left of that webpage:





BTW, that model never made it into Australia.

Sadly, the Big Ruckus is no longer available here in US--another poor and short-sighted decision by American Honda MC. But wait, someone said the Honda SH maybe coming to US soon.

+1 on the Ruckus.
Thanks for posting the pics. Looks like a good commuter.

Hmmm, I wonder if:

1. You could order the old Big Ruckus seat separately somewhere and modify it to fit the 500

2. You could take these pics to an upholstery/fabricator and say "make me this from my seat"

Man, I would love to have a seat that does that...Just have to figure out how to do it, and better yet, how to 'cover' the open seat storage when it's lifted up.

Luthorhuss, get to work on a design and then build your own RepRap.

http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/MakeYourOwnRepRap

Then you can print printers for each of us and share the design with us and we can all make one. Heck we could all manufacture most anything we wanted.

Okay, guys

Enough on the Big Ruckus seat and bags, we have a breakthrough today :
Someone sent me information from Pirate Upholstery detailing the extended seat for the mp3-500. Below, in its entirety: Appreciate the info, Jay. Estimated price=$450.61, very good news, don't you think so?! Wow! Let's see who gets one first!!

I could not justify spending $400-$500 on a seat it's still a generic seat..
I got my seat custom fitted and covered with a like styled heavy marine vinyl for $180... It just doesn't make sense to spend almost 4 times that for a seat. A good car upholstry man can do the work cheaper and better. Your dollars are used to support your neighbors and local economy as well... That is a win win win situation....But hey... knock you socks off...Personally, I using the savings for mods and accessories...

jacq

jacq, Could we please see a close-up of that "seat"? Thanks!

I'm short so my seat had to be cut down. Custom fitting the seat is the way to go....It's cost efficient and it's yours....I believe I can swap seats if I ever want another MP3. I'm keeping my custom seat. By the way the camera picks up a lumpiness the eye can not see and the butt can not feel. I think it's because the dude didn't know NOT to grease it with Armoral.

cheers...jacq

Question, jacq: I take it the sensor in the seat worked fine after the custom job?

Question #2: In your case, jacq, the backrest was brought forward; but in the case of us leggier riders, the customization may require modifying the seat pan, which means more work. I wonder if that's the main reason for the $450 price tag on the Pirate model?

If a perfect fit is important enough for a rider who also needs more leg room, then at that price it maybe OK. You sit on that seat all day long, and it will affect your riding performance.

You bring up good questions I would ask before forking out that kind of mula.

There was no question about the sensor, everything works perfectly..Of course, I put the fear of "you'll pay for it if you screw it up" in them...And there was more foam which could have come off further back for you long tall boys and still have a cushy tushy...Take a close look at the metal under the seat and it's contour to get an idea of how it will happen...

If it was me, I'd kinda measure how far I wanted to sit back and then have the front side build up to creat an ever so slight swoop for my butt and a rise infront to cradle my seating position, but only slightly and to sure the cradle is not too snug, just making sure the seat doesn't slant forward...I kinda wish I had thought of that before, only later did I realize that would have been really cool and comfy. Maybe I'll do that down the road...You know, how it is ... like getting fitted for a suit...your measures are specific to you and the fit is worth it.

I stayed during the entire time, because I wanted the fit and I wanted to watch for carelessness....It took 2.5 hours..no joke..from the time I pulled in to the time I took off...I had made an appointment and they were ready to go.

He worked on it in shop and brought it out several times for me sit on it for a comfortable fit....

This guy, does he care if you post his business contact info on this forum? Hey, jacq
Do you stay and watch the entire scheduled maintenance also? Won't that make the mechanic nervous, or something?

This guy, does he care if you post his business contact info on this forum? Hey, jacq
Do you stay and watch the entire scheduled maintenance also? Won't that make the mechanic nervous, or something?

yes, they all know...absolutely...I hope I have help you....

This is why I and they participated in the process..

good luck your seat

jacq

I don't live there; but perhaps for the folks down in Texas, jacq, you could post the upholster's business contact information in case a custom seat is what the doctor ordered.

I agree with jacq that your local auto upholstery shop can do the job for half the price. Here's a photo of mine. It still looks good after a year and a half, but the foam is starting to get too soft. Before too long I will replace it with firmer closed-cell foam.

More info here: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic10831?highlight=hump