Where to find a add on, comfortable, wide, rear pillion seat?

[R3Tex]

Can't report on my new seat yet as I've only ridden it a few times for short stretches, but I had them enlarge the rear by 1" all the way around and put gel inserts in. We'll see how Nurse Ratchet likes it after a couple hundred miles. Her previous ride limit was about 30 minutes so I really had to haul a$$ to make any miles...wait a minute...maybe I should have them change it back?

 

[Speedy]

Mully,

Speedy here. I made some changes to my R3 Classic concerning the seats. I could not make the stock seat comfortable for my backside no matter what I did with the foam, short of adding a lot more. So I tried a Touring seat and found that it fit with just a few small changes and could be made comfortable by removing some foam near the rear of the seat. Then I had to add a passenger seat. Couldn't find what I liked so I made a quick change system so that I could ride "naked," with small bags only, or with passenger seat, seat backrest, and luggage rack. I made the seat and stainless steel brackets and reused the back rest and luggage rack. Mary loves the seat and the larger foot rests. The most expensive part of the whole process was having the passenger seat cover professionally stitched. The rest I did myself.

What I did may give you some ideas as to what can be done and how you might go about the changes. There are very few options available for passenger seats so you may be forced to adapt another brand seat to the Triumph bracket or build something unique.

See my photos for seat mods.

 

[mully95]

I looked at your seat mod pictures and I'm very impressed. You did a fantastic job! That's clearly what I need to do because I don't see my girlfriend being comfortable on the stock pillion.... not the distance I ride in a day. lol You have the right idea..... a seat that will keep the passenger comfortable but yet when its not needed can be removed.

Did you make the passenger totally from scratch?

 

[Speedy]

Yes I did, even the patterns for and cutting of the cover. Stitched it just enough to allow the upholstry shop to finish the job. Seat pan is made from thin oak material plies glued and pulled around a large round form, sawed to shape, and then covered on the bottom with a thin sheet of black polyethylene. Bought dense re-cycled padding material online 1" thick, stacked and glued layers together and then cut them to shape with an electric bread knife (all tools should be capable of multiple uses, right?) and then used a 4" disc sander to finish smoothing. Covered the dense foam with a 1/2" thick layer of soft upholstry foam and then used a power stapler to attach the cover.

 

[mully95]

Yes I did, even the patterns for and cutting of the cover. Stitched it just enough to allow the upholstry shop to finish the job. Seat pan is made from thin oak material plies glued and pulled around a large round form, sawed to shape, and then covered on the bottom with a thin sheet of black polyethylene. Bought dense re-cycled padding material online 1" thick, stacked and glued layers together and then cut them to shape with an electric bread knife (all tools should be capable of multiple uses, right?) and then used a 4" disc sander to finish smoothing. Covered the dense foam with a 1/2" thick layer of soft upholstry foam and then used a power stapler to attach the cover.

Thanks for the detail instructions. I work at a auto glass center in which my boss does upholstery work and have all the tools and materials you mentioned above .... stapler, bread cutter. lol
I have the tools and skills to do this. I have thought about making a seat before but didnt know exactly how to make it look like it fit the bike.
Maybe I can get my act together someday and put this together..... especially since winter time is approaching.

 

[steve59]

I have triumphs jel pad and it's to narrow for my wifes butt. I rented HD ultra classic or electra glides a few times when my previous ride was in the shop and it was the only time she didn't complain about comfort. while it would dramatically change the look I wonder if a qualified shop could outfit my classic with a rear sofa complete with top box, arm rests, and cupholder? probably cheaper to fit a 2300 into the harley.

 

[albertaduke]

Mully,

Speedy here. I made some changes to my R3 Classic concerning the seats. I could not make the stock seat comfortable for my backside no matter what I did with the foam, short of adding a lot more. So I tried a Touring seat and found that it fit with just a few small changes and could be made comfortable by removing some foam near the rear of the seat. Then I had to add a passenger seat. Couldn't find what I liked so I made a quick change system so that I could ride "naked," with small bags only, or with passenger seat, seat backrest, and luggage rack. I made the seat and stainless steel brackets and reused the back rest and luggage rack. Mary loves the seat and the larger foot rests. The most expensive part of the whole process was having the passenger seat cover professionally stitched. The rest I did myself.

What I did may give you some ideas as to what can be done and how you might go about the changes. There are very few options available for passenger seats so you may be forced to adapt another brand seat to the Triumph bracket or build something unique.

See my photos for seat mods.

where can I see the pictures?

 

[steve59]

Well I got tired of trying to organize pic's with me and passenger for "Russel Day Long" and called Corbin toll free and asked what sized rider their seats were made for, Then I described me and my wife while he typed away, He did a good job convincing me my wifes tired old ass would like the new seat and charged me around $900.00 for their dual tour with 1 rider backrest custom for my slightly shorter inseam. as a custom job I was told to expect a 4 week wait.

 

[HansO]

and will be worth the wait I love my Dual Tour, I also opted for the heated version make a long ride better as it improves blood flow to bum muscles