Gator skin on the seats!

[rexmitchell]

Ok well not real gator skin, that would be cruel(and i can't afford a real gator hide.) Anyway, I picked up some faux gator skin fabric off a website called ball2ufall.com. This was the first time I have ever recovered a seat, and really the first time I have worked with any fabric. It turned out great, and while I havent been able to cover the seat strap for the passenger seat yet. I Just wanted to see what everyone else thought about how they turned out on my 2000 gsxr 600 seats. At least not bad for my first time LOL:)

(p.s. Ill try to get a better pic, but the iphone was all I had for the time.)

[Custom85VT]

Look awesome!!! Were these pre-formed covers or did you cut & stretch your own from raw vinyl?

A great How-To written by rexmitchell to help others.
http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=84664

TIP: for anyone trying this. Warm your vinyl up (hair dryer etc.) before applying it. ;)

[rexmitchell]

Na cut and stretched it myself, and every now and then my neighbor lent a hand when stapling. Really was pretty simple though.

[Dodsfall]

These turned out pretty well!

What type of stapler did you use?

[rexmitchell]

industrial staple gun, went into the fabric nicely, I will take a pic of the underside when I get home, its not very pretty though.

[iamgumby]

WOW! Looks great rex - kicks a box-stock seat cover kit!

[rexmitchell]

WOW! Looks great rex - kicks a box-stock seat cover kit!

It was honestly one of the easiest things I have ever done to my bike. I have a little bit of fabric left over, I am thinking of putting an ad on Craigslist and trying to get my money back by covering someones seat

[teknoali]

thank you

[CB750F]

Man, that freakin' rocks! Nice job!

[happymiles4me]

You might have a first. You just do not see sport bikes with alligator seats. Looks great. Is it vinyl?

[rexmitchell]

Yea, vinyl, looks nice, and it doesn't get damaged by rain

[happymiles4me]

I have an FJR 1300. I just might have to see if I can find some gator skin for my seats. I do like the look of it.

[fade]

Hey, if you want a real gator skin, there's about a 6-footer doing the backstroke in the coulee near my house. Been there for about a month, so I'll bet the skin is nice and ripe. You could tell yourself it's not cruel since I don't think he's using the skin anymore.

[rexmitchell]

Hey, if you want a real gator skin, there's about a 6-footer doing the backstroke in the coulee near my house. Been there for about a month, so I'll bet the skin is nice and ripe. You could tell yourself it's not cruel since I don't think he's using the skin anymore.

LOL, send him my way, I redid another seat with faux snakeskin and it came out alright....here is the website I buy my fabric from if anyone wants to get some. http://ball2ufall.com/

[Archangel]

I might have to try that my self my seet has developed a rather large rip in the seam .
only problem is the shape of my seat is more like 2 old tractor seats in one It would be much harder to do but I guess I can ask the local upholstery store how much first.

[captainhowdy]

BALLLLERRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha

[rexmitchell]

I might have to try that my self my seet has developed a rather large rip in the seam .
only problem is the shape of my seat is more like 2 old tractor seats in one It would be much harder to do but I guess I can ask the local upholstery store how much first.

Post a pic and let me take a look, honestly the hardest seats I have done are ones that are square, its impossible to get all the wrinkles out.

[Archangel]

I have a few pics here that the seat is visible but not the best.
see pic #2
http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=88306

I will have to take a better pic later and post it.
I found a new cover for $130 so I might be better off replacing rather than repairing it.

[rexmitchell]

OH yea, replace that thing, it would be hard to recover>