Seat tear at seam on OEM Seat

[zeoran]

My 1999 Aspencade has a tear right at the seam. (which technically isn't a seam) What's the best way to repair it?

[Rambozo]

There are glue products that sorta work, but the real solution is to replace the cover.

[zeoran]

It's not a cover, it's the original seat.

I'm not in a financial position to be able to replace my entire seat. If I did, I'd want to upgrade then, which I still don't have the money for right now. i still need new tires and don't have the $ for those either.

[WingAdmin]

That's an actual tear in the seat, not the seam, unfortunately. Probably the best (cheap) fix for that is a patch.

[zeoran]

My first thought was to try and sew it back together since it's the original leather seat. And it's right on the right-hand side of the main driver seat, so I'd rather not use a patch.

[Viking]

My first thought was to try and sew it back together since it's the original leather seat. And it's right on the right-hand side of the main driver seat, so I'd rather not use a patch.

Well, if you take the cover off the seat, and sew a patch in from the inside, then put the cover back on the seat, you could do that. However, sewing nothing to nothing doesn't work, and the seat is not leather... it is vinyl. Also, taking the seat apart is something not for the faint of heart. Google for you tube videos on the subject. Replacement covers can be found on ebay as well as replacement foam. You could rebuild the entire seat for less than the cost of a replacement, for sure. And a final solution would be to find an upholsterer and get them to do it, but that could cost as much as a replacement seat.

[zeoran]

You guys keep talking about a cover... I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have a "cover" on the seat. It's just the seat itself.

[Rambozo]

The stock seat is made up of the pan, the foam, and the cover. If your foam and pan are ok, all you need is a new cover. Much less than replacing the entire seat. There are also aftermarket versions.

[dingdong]

I have a tear an my back rest and seat "cover" that I sewed back together with a curved neddle and heavy black thread. Looks okay but not perfect. You have to sew at least 1/8 inch into the vinyl to insure it holds. The vinyl is getting old and the thread will pull loose if you don't. Then I used black boot dye to help hide the repair. Beats buying a new cover or seat. Spendy.

[FM-USA]

Would be nice to know what happened or final outcome is/was.

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[Swagonmaster]

I work part time at an automotive upholstery shop and we on will when needed take the seat cover off and restitch it by pulling the edges together and making a new seam. This makes the cover slightly smaller but usually looks and works well if the material isn't too weak. The only way you can tell it was done on my Expedition is the different color of thread. It may not look as good when done in the middle of the seat like as in this case.

[zeoran]

This isn't the middle of the seat, it's on the right-hand side. And it's kind of at a seam.

I haven't done anything with it yet except put painters tape over it. (all my other tapes leave residue) I'm going over to my parents house for Thanksgiving and am planning on doing a full days work on the bike when I do. I'll be taking care of the seat tear then as I have to remove the seat anyway. I'm hoping to be able to just remove the cover and sew the tear together. I would have done it already by hand but my mother has really extra strong thread and since this is right where my leg goes over and I (slip) onto the seat, it needs to be really strong. I'm also going to be doing an oil change, spark plug change and hopefully rebuilding my front-left caliper while I'm there. (my brakes have been mushy as hell since I bought the bike)

God bless,

~Mark

[FM-USA]

Carpet thread is super strong & lasts YEARS, still milking my dads spool from the early 60s.
I've seen Frankenstein Stitch on vinyl saddle undersides, can't tell on the show side except for the rip...but seam sealer almost made that invisible.

[call-abe]

I have a tear an my back rest and seat "cover" that I sewed back together with a curved neddle and heavy black thread. Looks okay but not perfect. You have to sew at least 1/8 inch into the vinyl to insure it holds. The vinyl is getting old and the thread will pull loose if you don't. Then I used black boot dye to help hide the repair. Beats buying a new cover or seat. Spendy.

Yes...sewing as described is how I've done it and have been surprised (since it's a 1990 seat cover) that they've held now for 3-4 years! But I've added one extra twist: Besides sewing with some good, substantially thick, nylon thread, after I'm done sewing, I've carefully smeared across the whole thing clear caulk!!! The reasons for this is to ensure there's no water encroachment from all the new holes AND to help the sewing hold. Apparently, it has worked...

HONDA should really make for seat covers to be easily replaced! They could have grommets and turnbuckels under the seat pan to do so. But no...they make it far more difficult. While my sewing has worked very well...I realize that someday I too will have to bend over and purchase a seat cover! Oh well...

[97serider]

I have sewed a gl1200 seam in the same spot. Used a heavy thread and curved needle. It held up good and eventually I bought a new cover with the foam that installs on the original pan. Remove the old cover and foam and re-staple the new one to the underside of the pan. Not that difficult, I sold the bike in 2008 and that seat is still on it today.

[zeoran]

I was originally going to take the seat cover off and sew it from the inside, but it sounds like you guys did it from the outside using a curved needle. I didn't think even a curved one would get it done well enough. But when I took the seat off, I noticed it was all held on with a couple dozen staples, which I didn't have the ability to replace at the time.

[dingdong]

"I realize that someday I too will have to bend over and purchase a seat cover!"

Ain't that the truth. Lol.

[97serider]

I Used a regular staple gun from your local hardware store, worked just fine as everything is hidden underneath. To sew the seam I didn't remove the cover as foam was glued to the vinyl and I didn't want to separate it. Sewing it now will keep it from getting worse, if you color match the thread it's hardly noticeable.

[KerryOkie]

I had a tear at the seam and into the fabric. I used black nylon thread and a curved needle. I stitched it loosely and then put in leather patch glue in seam. Pulled stitches tight and tied off thread. Then with the patch glue i finished top to look nice and neat. Worked great and can only see it if your looking for it.

[zeoran]

I had a tear at the seam and into the fabric. I used black nylon thread and a curved needle. I stitched it loosely and then put in leather patch glue in seam. Pulled stitches tight and tied off thread. Then with the patch glue i finished top to look nice and neat. Worked great and can only see it if your looking for it.

Did you take the cover off to do it or sew it when it was still on the bike?

[KerryOkie]

I did it on the bike.

[FM-USA]

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For future reference when sewing vinyl...

To further bond and/or hide a stitch, use vinyl mending kits with color matching. (see kits directions)
When the mend material has jelled but not set, you can shape it a little. But this is rather tedious especially if it's a large area.
Some kits have different texture swatches that reasonably matches the original. Tho I've rarely found a really good match.
One trick I used once.
Wax the needed texture surface. Take Elmers glue on the said texture, allow to set up then carefully peal.
Wax that and use that as a texture swatch on the mend area.
Ya, it's tedious but works well. I simply use a cloth throw cover on the whole seat. Washes easily and decoratively replaceable.

HOPE THIS HELPS

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[Corkster52]

Slightly off-topic, but I've used black RTV on a few places that are starting to fray, and if you don't know it's there it is almost invisible.

[imneverlast]

This is so frustrating, I mean, WOW! such a popular Bike on the road, made to last for so long it;s crazy yet they make a Vinyl seat for it ( fairly thin really ) and then on the stress points, for "Looks" I guess, they heated up and melted into the vinyl a stitching brand! GRRR! Why? The OEM entire seat replacement for a 99 400.00! says 1988 to 2000 on it but seems like there is a difference in those seats. But wowser, 400 bucks.
I have just looked through and read every post in this list for the seat thing and I am getting more frustrated. I have actually found the seat the guy with the awesome white Bike got on eBay but the price is up to 399.00 , I can totally see what you mean about the two tone, this is deceptive isn't it? I mean all these pics are of the same seat - same ad. yet it doesn't just look grey in one, it looks dang near blue while in others it looks black on black and grey on black. I have never seen a factory old bike that was not not just black. Mines a 99 and it is black as can be. Anyway, seems I will have to get crafty to get a seat going on for myself. Maybe I will run down to the fabric store and fire up the ole ladies sewing machine, see if I can find out why these are 400.00 LOL I will ride this with a torn seat but It will bug me for sure. I was thinking as long as goldwings have been on the road that surely someone had come up with a awesome way to fix this but it's looking like I was wrong. Perhaps I am that someone.

[FM-USA]

This is so frustrating, I mean, WOW! such a popular Bike on the road, made to last for so long it;s crazy yet they make a Vinyl seat for it ( fairly thin really ) and then on the stress points, for "Looks" I guess, they heated up and melted into the vinyl a stitching brand! GRRR! Why? The OEM entire seat replacement for a 99 400.00! .... I was thinking as long as goldwings have been on the road that surely someone had come up with a awesome way to fix this but it's looking like I was wrong. Perhaps I am that someone.

I feel your frustration, I also have a torn seat and found the replacement cover even way too much for my income.
What I did was find a saddle blanket (table and hallway runners also work) and used that to cover the whole seat. It adds personal color(s), it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer. VERY easy to machine wash since it's not wool but synthetic fiber Olfin.
Also if your color or design taste changes, whip it on.
I use those H.F. - Walmart 6 inch bungee cords and open the hooks a little to not tear the seat lip.

This is similar to mine but a different color.
Longevity? About 10 years.
Currently, ebay about $25

[Apr-2022 https://www.ebay.com/itm/394078976469?e ... SwYslihBBG ]
[Apr-2022 https://www.ebay.com/itm/185306115204?h ... SwKOBiEvNr ]
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