View Full Version : DIY- Recovering seats with Custom Seat Creations Seat Covers


bryan
January 1st, 2009, 07:04 PM
What you need:
Seat Covers From http://www.customseatcreations.com/n250_2008_new.html
Allen wrench from the bike's toolkit
10mm wrench from the bike's toolkit
Phillips Head Screwdriver
Flat Head Screwdriver
Pliers
Staple gun
10mm staples
Spray Adhesive (I used Elmers Craft Bond that I was able to pick up at Walmart)
Scissors


The first thing you need to do is remove both of the seats.

To remove the seat you have to first remove the side covers. (use the phillips head screwdriver)
http://i25.tinypic.com/141tpgj.jpg

Then remove the two allen bolts that hold the seat on.
http://i31.tinypic.com/34gmscw.jpg


With the seats both off, you need to remove the original seat covers and the bracket/strap that is on the rear seat.

Use the 10mm wrench from the bike's toolkit to loosen the nuts that hold the metal bracket to the rear seat.
http://i29.tinypic.com/14jqd5d.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/2igi004.jpg

With both nuts and washers removed you can take the bracket and the strap.
http://i29.tinypic.com/dfd9ix.jpg

Now use the flat headed screwdriver as a wedge to pry the staples out. When a staple has been pried out enough, use the pliers to finish pulling the staple the rest of the way out of the seat. Repeat this process until all of the staples on both seats have been removed.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2jeb4hv.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/2eq6z3q.jpg

With the seat covers now completely removed you are ready to install your new covers.
http://i31.tinypic.com/2psk7c3.jpg

Spray the surface of the seat with the spray adhesive.
http://i29.tinypic.com/21o2e82.jpg

Now position the seat cover onto the seat and smooth it out stretching it tightly onto the seat, this may take more than one try but make sure you have the cover positioned the way you want it before you start stapling. Custom Seat Covers recommends using a hair dryer to heat up the covers to make them more stretchable, I just let them sit in the sun for a little while and I didn't have any problems.
http://i29.tinypic.com/20gd180.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/2nriu4y.jpg
http://i29.tinypic.com/122e0oz.jpg

With the seat cover positioned the way you want it, you are now ready to staple it down. Custom Seat Creations says to staple the rear, then the front, then the sides/corners. When you are stapling the cover to the seat make sure to stretch it tightly. Also, try to staple in the same general area that you removed the original staples from. If you staple too close to the edge, in some places you risk putting the staple all the way through to the other side. http://i32.tinypic.com/23hkkfs.jpg

The corners are a PITA!
http://i28.tinypic.com/35b8aja.jpg

http://i28.tinypic.com/23tmdk8.jpg

When you have the seat cover stapled down all of the way, use your scissors to trim any of the excess vinyl.
http://i27.tinypic.com/29eromd.jpg
The rear seat is done pretty much the same way as the front seat.

First spray the seat surface with spray adhesive.
http://i28.tinypic.com/2it0ol0.jpg

Next, position the seat cover onto the seat. I lined up the front part along the seam first.
http://i30.tinypic.com/2dba5gh.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/bdpoax.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/nvte9z.jpg

After the cover is positioned and stretched tightly onto the seat, staple it down. When you are stapling the cover down it is very important to make sure everything is stretched tightly! When I was stapling the rear seat cover on, I stapled down the back in the center then the front and I worked my way down the sides until I got to the front corners.
http://i30.tinypic.com/20a2j9h.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/2z724g9.jpg

Now with the cover stapled completely to the seat, trim any of the excess vinyl.
http://i27.tinypic.com/2ef2ssz.jpg

Now you can attach the new strap.
http://i26.tinypic.com/1ze8brm.jpg

With the strap attached, replace the metal bracket and secure it with the nuts and washers that you removed from it earlier.
http://i26.tinypic.com/25i0io9.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/vmrxag.jpg

Now you are ready to put the seats back on the bike. The rear seat is a snap and to re-install the the front seat just need to screw the allen bolts back in, line the side covers back up and screw them back on also and you are all done!
The front seat.
http://i30.tinypic.com/2e0i62b.jpg
The rear seat.
http://i25.tinypic.com/qot6jp.jpg
Back on the bike.
http://i29.tinypic.com/30cmyyh.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/sv3n8o.jpg

Here are a couple slightly better pics, they still aren't great, my digital camera really sucks.
http://i30.tinypic.com/2w2g2uv.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/33upoc4.jpg

kkim
January 1st, 2009, 07:17 PM
cool, Bryan. Nice setup. :)

I believe the owner of CSC, Becky, is a member here... Custom Seat Creations (http://www.ninjette.org/forums/member.php?u=91)

Plasmatoast
January 1st, 2009, 07:58 PM
I just finished installing my seat cover yesterday, the front of the drivers seat was the hardest, then maybe trying to make sure the fabric patterns stay where you want it to.
Custom seat creations has added some new styles for the 250, even one for the special addition bike

grandmaster
January 1st, 2009, 09:14 PM
looks great, nice work.

Custom Seat Creations
March 1st, 2009, 08:12 AM
Bryan,

Great job on the install and the fantastic photos!

~Becky

zartan
March 1st, 2009, 03:04 PM
Thanks for the write up! I love the dyi threads. Nice seat. I am wondering if the green will stay bright. Please keep us posted.

ninja250r19
March 1st, 2009, 05:01 PM
looks good, what is the purpose of the strap anyway? i took mine off the seat as i feel it looks cleaner without it.

k-os
March 1st, 2009, 05:06 PM
I think the strap is there for passengers to grab onto.

Custom Seat Creations
March 1st, 2009, 05:07 PM
looks good, what is the purpose of the strap anyway? i took mine off the seat as i feel it looks cleaner without it.

Purely cosmetic.

Sound Wave
March 1st, 2009, 06:58 PM
wow. just went to their website. that special edition one is so nice!!! you guys with the special editions gotta check it out!

camaroz1985
March 1st, 2009, 09:19 PM
That is nice.

I just put mine on. I only got the rear cover. I wanted the look of the cowl without the hassle of switching back and forth from seat to cowl, for passengers and when I put the saddle bags on.

Here is a cell phone pic of mine.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh87/camaroz1985/Ninja/PIC-0116.jpg

johns_d
March 20th, 2009, 10:34 AM
i just got mine today. the CF power blue matches the 09 perfect. gonna get the cover for the rubber thing on the seat cowl later

komohana
March 20th, 2009, 12:59 PM
i just got mine today. the CF power blue matches the 09 perfect. gonna get the cover for the rubber thing on the seat cowl later

HALT! WHO GOES THERE!?! :hand:

just kidding! haven't seen ya before and jus wanted to say hi! :bounce:

:yo:

johns_d
March 20th, 2009, 03:53 PM
HALT! WHO GOES THERE!?! :hand:

just kidding! haven't seen ya before and jus wanted to say hi! :bounce:

:yo:

i think that was my first post! i guess it's about time, thanks for the welcome

Custom Seat Creations
March 20th, 2009, 05:42 PM
i just got mine today. the CF power blue matches the 09 perfect. gonna get the cover for the rubber thing on the seat cowl later

I'll have to mark that down. Thanks!