Mounting a cafe' seat

scotts · Posted: June 13, 2007, 3:31 pm Post subject: Mounting a cafe' seat

Does anyone have pics and detailed instructions on how you mounted your cafe' seat?
Do you have to trim the stock frame anywhere? How does it mount? Bolts, screws, stock hinges, etc...
Did you add support to the fiberglass frame? Rubber isolators? Etc.
Just a How-To primer with as many pics as possible would be appreciated. Any diffs between early and late model bike mounting points for the cafe' seat?

scotts · Posted: June 21, 2007, 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Mounting a cafe' seat

Surely SOMEONE'S done this before.....
If I cafe'd my '83 is it a done deal or will I be able to put the stock seat/fender, etc back on at a later date?

jimxsrider · Full Member Joined: Oct 31, 2006 Posts: 67

I think It all depends on how crafty or talented you are. It would be wise to keep the stock mounts if you can. Or if its not to important, just hack them off. They do stick out a bit, and could be difficult to hide under you cafe seat. Best thign to do would be to commit to a seat and just mock it up on the bike, that will tell you what could stay and what should go. Rubber bumpers are definately a good idea, as fiberglass tends to be some what brittle and xs's vibrate alot as you probably know, thus eventually leading to cracking. You may want to put a brace where you sit, underneath the fiberglass. This could be done by fiberglassing in a piece of metal formed to the underside of the seat pan area, or by renforcing it with a few layers of fiberglass cloth. I wouldn't risk putting screws from the topside into a brace or something because the fiberglass isn't that strong, especially arround bolts placed through it. I haven't really put any cafe seats on, Ive painted a few of them, and i've had alot of expirience with fiberglass, and these are just observations Ive made. Ive considered putting a fiberglass seat on but ive just decided to make it out of aluminum, because I can make it around everything, not fit some thing to the bike.

tintin · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 96

It all depends on the seat you're starting with.

The frame of the 650 is dead flat, and mostly 10" or so wide. I'm cutting off the raised loop behind the rear shocks, and having a plate welded across in that area for a) bracing and b) seat mount.

I'm making my own seat. Going to make a plywood base with a polished alloy bump at the back. Many people cut the end of an old gas tank off to use as a bump. Then some foam and vinyl. It can either be bolted in place or some people have used heavy-duty velcro to fix it in place.

Check out the Tanks & Seats thread at www.dotheton.com for some examples. Lots of folks making their own stuff.

dotheton.com/index.php?board=19.0

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