Seat Foam

[Rally200]

Hey guys, I’ve got a CB450 K1 and I’m looking to replace my worn out original seat foam, I wanna keep the original cover though. Looking for guidance on adding some comfort to this old lady and any tips you may have for recovering, as I’ve never recovered a seat like this before. Thanks.

 

[ancientdad]

I don't have any seat tips for you, but I love your 450. I'm a big DOHC 450 guy and would love to have a CB450K1 and a CL450K1, just can't afford to add them.

 

[stl360+450]

I would probably try to work with an old school automotive upholsterer for the foam.

One off-the-wall idea would be to check with this seller on eBay about purchasing foam only, although it would be a gamble on the foam density being what you want. They sell an aftermarket seat for the K1.

If your seat pan is in the same kind of shape as the rest of the bike, it won't be too hard to remove and replace the cover. Typically, there are sharp metal tangs that pierce the material and are folded down to tighten and hold the cover in place. I've never reused a cover, but I can see why you would want to stick with the original. It might help to sew small pieces over the parts that were pierced previously before reinstalling the cover.

 

[Rally200]

That’s a good idea, this is a hard seat to find, or kinda expensive at least. A little pro reinforcement could be good insurance to give it another 58 years. I’m 200 lbs with a bony backside and long legs, so foam density is important and every inch of height I can gain is a plus, I think. I look like a bear on a unicycle, but I love the bike.

 

[stl360+450]

The foam is also typically glued to the pan, so if you work with an upholsterer, I would probably take the whole seat to them so they can copy the foam shape before it is removed.

I made a thorough mess of the original foam on my recent CB350 project while removing it. I then used a replacement foam from SCI and it's super rigid compared to the rest of my seats, but gets the job done. It actually makes my 350k3 feel taller because I don't compress the foam as much as on my 360G or 450k7.

 

[Danager4792]

I would personally use this guy named Bob, found here:

Bob's General Service

Bob's General Service. 898 likes. Motorcycle seat restoration and upholstery. Also gel pads.

www.facebook.com

I spoke with him one time about re-doing one of my seats. He's been re-upholstering vintage Japanese seats for 30+ years now. He specifically told me that you have to source the hardest foam possible, which is red in color. He has a supplier that he uses from overseas, but I think tariffs and such have affected pricing. Would not hurt to give him a call.

 

[ericfreeman]

You definitely need an experienced motorcycle seat guy to get the right density foam. I recently fitted a complete new Ebay seat on a customer's CB750. Seat actually looks and fits great but the foam is rock hard.