Seat alterations

Dookbob · #1 PostAuthor: **Dookbob** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:25 pm

I,m getting my 1977. Z1000LTD well on the way through it,s restoration now, and turning my attention to the seat. It,s an ex USA model , and so it has the usual shaped seat, I would like the flatter European seat. Is it just a case of swapping the foam and cover onto the original seat base, or are there other problems involved?

pertonpc · #2 PostAuthor: **pertonpc** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:37 pm

LTD seat base was slightly different to standard seat base on my project bike - http://www.zedrider.co.uk/z1-b.html

A standard foam won't fit quite right - so I would imagine the cover would look a bit wrong on it as well.
Try to compare your base with standard ones before you waste money on new foam and cover.

I am sure someone here will compare dimensions with yours.

Complete repro seat units are available if needed.
From Mark

mick znone · #3 PostAuthor: **mick znone** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:24 pm

i had the foam cut down on my seat to suit my arse, then recovered, all in Â£45, brilliant job. may be worth asking a local upholsterer if they could do something.

jimmock · #4 PostAuthor: **jimmock** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:33 am

mick z1a wrote:i had the foam cut down on my seat to suit my arse, then recovered, all in Â£45, brilliant job. may be worth asking a local upholsterer if they could do something.

Any pics of your arse Mick?

Dookbob · #5 PostAuthor: **Dookbob** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:39 am

pertonpc wrote:LTD seat base was slightly different to standard seat base on my project bike - http://www.zedrider.co.uk/z1-b.html

A standard foam won't fit quite right - so I would imagine the cover would look a bit wrong on it as well.
Try to compare your base with standard ones before you waste money on new foam and cover.

I am sure someone here will compare dimensions with yours.

Complete repro seat units are available if needed.
From Mark

Thanks for the info pertonpc, who is Mark, and how would I get in touch with him?

000zeds · #6 PostAuthor: **000zeds** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:31 pm

Mark is pertonpc :lol:

PAULJAC47 · #7 PostAuthor: **PAULJAC47** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:46 pm

Dont think he means the seats are available from him,though it does read that way!

pertonpc · #8 PostAuthor: **pertonpc** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:49 pm

OOOps !!

I think that message read like I was selling the repro seats - sorry that was a typo.

You can get them from various places -

https://www.z-power.co.uk/merchantmanag ... cts_id=690

http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetail ... =PM81-1068

http://www.z1parts.net/product/vintage- ... ts-kz-seat

http://www.saisei-europe.com/Shop/Produ ... -no-strap1

Just watch the shipping prices from USA and not all of them have a seat strap included.

From Mark

Coose · #9 PostAuthor: **Coose** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 2:03 pm

Or send the seat to Saddlecraft and have them make you a foam and a cover. They're cheaper than you'd think, and the quality is excellent!

ADRIAN H · #10 PostAuthor: **ADRIAN H** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:11 pm

Padders has a seat for sale in the FOR SALE section.

Dookbob · #11 PostAuthor: **Dookbob** » Thu Nov 26, 2015 11:40 am

I just got in touch with legend Motorcycles Nottinghamshire regarding a repro seat that they do along with a modified seat catch. My enquiry was looking good until I mentioned that my bike is a 1977 KZ1000LTD. The guy I spoke to wasn,t too sure if the seat that they do will fit the LTD models, he thinks that the tank might be a bit different from other models. Can anyone comment on this seat/tank compatibility for me please. I gotta say that the tanks all look the same to me , but as this is the first Z1 that I have worked on, I could likely be mistaken.

skid11 · #12 PostAuthor: **skid11** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 4:09 pm

Dookbob wrote:I just got in touch with legend Motorcycles Nottinghamshire regarding a repro seat that they do along with a modified seat catch. My enquiry was looking good until I mentioned that my bike is a 1977 KZ1000LTD. The guy I spoke to wasn,t too sure if the seat that they do will fit the LTD models, he thinks that the tank might be a bit different from other models. Can anyone comment on this seat/tank compatibility for me please. I gotta say that the tanks all look the same to me , but as this is the first Z1 that I have worked on, I could likely be mistaken.

I have a KZ1000 ltd and a Z1000 a2.I have interchanged seats on the two without any problems.
I have compared the bases visually and they seem the same and they measure the same length and width wise
I have a spare ltd seat and that measures the same as well
I have had a ltd seat recovered and it looks the same as the uk type flat seat now.Phil at P & K Classic Bikes did it for me and its like new
I think the differences in the seats are that the early z9's had the catch in a different position.
The tanks on the Ltds look a bit slimmer but it doesn't affect the fit of the seat in my experience

Dookbob · #13 PostAuthor: **Dookbob** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 4:51 pm

Thanks for your reply skid11 that is the info that I required

mick znone · #14 PostAuthor: **mick znone** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:07 pm

jimmock wrote:
mick z1a wrote:i had the foam cut down on my seat to suit my arse, then recovered, all in Â£45, brilliant job. may be worth asking a local upholsterer if they could do something.

Any pics of your arse Mick?

Dookbob is very happy with the information supplied by skid11 so pictures of my arse are not going to help this thread along at all Jimbo

skid11 · #15 PostAuthor: **skid11** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 7:05 pm

Dookbob wrote:Thanks for your reply skid11 that is the info that I required

If it helps I have a giuliari z900 seat that fits them all which suggests its a standard fitting/size
Might be worth an enquiry at the seat upholstery guys?
Tony Archer in Huddersfield is someone I can personally recommend having had a number of seats from him..very good prices as well..