Modern Vespa

Foam play

Not quite sure why you appear to be keeping the downslope on the pillon, seems like the perfect opportunity to make that at least horizontal. What did you use to pull the staples and how are you intending to zip everything back up? Are you planning to shave the foam somehow, or cut it, or simply install the forward hump as shown? (Always wondered if there was some sort of shaver for this kind of work.)

Good luck and thanks, perhaps you will wind up saving people thousands of collective dollars by DIYing!

Yeah man - what's your plans? What sort of skin you going to put over that - or are you going to try and use the stock seat cover again? No gel inserts?
Inquiring minds wanna know!

What'ssup? Tired butt wanting to know!!

I guess that huge hump in the middle is to keep the rider from sliding forward.
Is that a big problem with you?
Wouldn't that make it a little tight for your "package"?
Mine requires a lot of breathing room...

MJM, are you doing this yourself or having it done somewhere? I think doing something with the seat has got to be my next project...

I'm thinking of DIY-ing my seat. In fact, I think I'm going to start from scratch and make a new seat pan, since my analysis says that a big part of the problem is the big plastic hump in the middle of the seat that creates the small backrest and passenger seat.

I found this website the other day while I was looking into how to DIY my own seat, so I thought I'd share it with everyone:

http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/index.php

Mark

mjm50cal,

How do you sculpt the foam, do you have a special tool?
What kinda foam are you using; and the adhesive?
A very likely future project...

I can't answer what exactly he's doing, but I can tell you what I'm planning on doing.

To sculpt the foam, there are several options. The primary ones I've seen are a grinder or a knife. The grinders usually pictured are those 4.5" ones, though I'm planing on trying my rotary tool (think Dremel, but mine is generic). For a knife, you can use a special foam cutting one or an electric carving knife, like the kind you use to cut a turkey (or a loaf of fresh-baked bread. Mmm... Great, now I want to go bake a loaf of bread...)

There are a lot of different types of foam. If you check that link I posted, they do a summary of some of them and give some recommendations.

For adhesive, most people recommend 3M Spray Adhesive. As far as I can tell, that's to keep the foam in place while you're shaping it. After you're done shaping it, the seat cover will keep it in place.

Mark

The riders back rest part is straight, not curved to the "backside". Best of luck and let us know.

Thanks for the extremely-helpful link, CubsKing99!
Should've picked up that electric knife at the garage sale today...:/

Isn't that always the way things go? You go garage sailing and get home, only to find that something that you saw and didn't buy would have been PERFECT for a use for which it was never intended? Sigh...

I just looked in my kitchen and found that I've got 2 electric knives, one that looks like it's still new in the box. I think that means that it's time to "retire" one of them...

Mark

great link on the diy seat page. Lots of reading and info there. This might be something I try and do this winter.

Yeah, I'll do that, too. If I can wait that long...

Then again, the only trips I have planned for the rest of the year are the 150 miles to my parents' house, so I'll probably be OK to wait. Then again, patience is not one of my virtues, so we'll see what happens. If I find anything interesting, I'll keep y'all posted...

Mark

I was out all day, thanks for the interest.
rjeffb- I actually had an epiphany right after taking the picture. I drew lines on the pillion seat right behind my backrest in a V shape. Which will be raised to bring an upward curvature to the front of the pillion seat. I am also adding "wings" to the pillion seat to spread out the pressure.

Jon- I may re-use the factory skin or go with a motif similar to Sky's in carbonfiber light grey and black vinyl.

Sushi- It is a problem and having sat on the seat this way it is very comfortable. Note that I went further back too. I new I would do this and LarryLarry stated recently that he wish he had this as part (the hump) of his seat mod. Let's just say it caresses the package appropriately.

CubsKing- Not doing it myself but am very specific in what I want and they are giving me the control. They do use knives to sculpt the foam. A special glue.

I'll include more pictures and comments soon.

Great! I'm really interested in seeing how this is done, especially if it doesn't require me tearing apart my seat.

I'm starting to collect ideas on how to do this myself, so everything I can see will help me...

Mark

Check out the looks of this seat.
Any MORE Advice: LOWERING Seat

Remember, it is okay to love your scoot.

It is not okay to luuuuuuv your scoot.

Thanks for the tip.

Just trying to keep it PG-40 ( see why most of mp3 owners age are over 40? )

LOL

Hadn't seen that thread before. Thanks!

Mark

Can we get an update on seat transformation MJM....like a sneek peek

I didn't get any new covering, as they reused the factory one. I want to make sure that no changes are needed.
I added the hump in front and added a Vshaped hump for the passenger. Also flattened and widened the passenger area and contoured for the legs.

From the pics, I'm assuming that they're just adding new foam on top of and/or reshaping the stock foam, right?

Mark

Yes!

I did confirm with them that they use a special adhesive and not just the 3M stuff in a can. The foam would tear before the glued part would seperate.

Great shapes! User friendly for both you and wife! Very considerate planning and also wise....."honey" will be happier to ride w/you. Going pn a trip Michael? Please let us know how you (2) like it

Oh boy , I better discontinue reading this thread for the fact that I am under 40.

We are going to tour the Napa area in October with friends who have Vespas and they are coming up from Southern Cal. Maybe we'll tool around SF too.
She sat on the seat and said it feels a lot better. I know that the foot pegs will make a big difference. Can't wait to get them.

Just get permission from mommy or daddy first, than you can keep reading.

Ya'll have a great time cruisin' round!

I could do that or if everyone kept it G I wouldn't need to. I think we all know that isn't going to happen, right?