question about seats

[shadowmagic]

So my valk came with an ultimate seat (solo). I love the seat but wanted to try a stock on (found on ebay). My questions is the stock seat has that square bracket thing in the back. What is the purpose of that?

[h13man]

A new 2000 and later seat set cost $202 from these folks: https://www.servicehonda.com/

[hubcapsc]

OEM seat (including the good one) = no back rest.

I've had an Ultimate for 13 years or so, it has a lot of good
miles on it  ...

Right before InZane I got a good deal on a used new-looking
Russell seat - built on an OEM seat pan - and so I will loose my
backrest. Right now  because of this thread I'm going to
remember to order a Utopia backrest.

To install the Utopia, though, I'll have to replace my useless
highly-sought-after unobtainium curved fender rack with
the OEM passenger seat  because that's where the
Utopia hardware goes. At least I have a 97 and my OEM
passenger seat says "MADE IN USA".

-Mike

Phooey... I just got back from trying to order... something's wrong(?) with
their CHECKOUT web page, the little drop-down for specifying the country
you come from is stuck on CANADA, so I can't put in my address... they
don't start answering the phone until after noon... but I'll remember  ...

[rafalc]

Not many options out there for non-OEM seats. I've been looking for something smaller, more sleek, lower profile but not much out there.

I wonder if anyone had any luck with VF/VT/VTX or other model seats with none or minimum modifications.

[hubcapsc]

I've been looking for something smaller, more sleek, lower profile

I tried a Corbin for a few weeks, it was all of those things compared to my Ultimate.

-Mike

[Bighead]

So my valk came with an ultimate seat (solo). I love the seat but wanted to try a stock on (found on ebay). My questions is the stock seat has that square bracket thing in the back. What is the purpose of that?

Post a link to the one you found on ebay. If it has a square bracket in the back and a one peice seat it is probably an IS seat and wont fit your bike. And the looks of the rear fender you posted in the other thread you can't put anything but a solo seat on it the bolt hole isn't there for the passenger pad.

[shadowmagic]

oK, good to know. Looks like I will have to modify my fender to get this seat to fit. It holds in place fine its just that back bracket has nowhere to go. I'll see about modifying the fender when I install the lights properly. I will probably weld some kind of bracket to go where my saddlebags connect this way I dont have to drill or weld the actual fender in case I ever go back to my solo seat. My saddlebags finally got here today so I'll be pretty busy tomorrow lol

[gordonv]

I forget which bike you have, might like to post that.

A picture of the rear of the replacement seat? I think you bought one for an IS. It fits into the rear cross bar at the trunk, it doesn't fasten to the fender at all, there is a strap that fasten to the front fender rail, and holds the seat in place. My IS has never come with it, it's always been missing (3rd IS).

I believe the rear of the passenger seat for the std/tourer has a mounting bracket, that bolts into the fender.

[CoreyP]

My bike came with after market seats and the OEM seats, I tried them out but don't like as much as the after market seats.

The OEM's look brand new I guess I should sell them off. Didn't really think anyone would be looking for them. Driver, passenger and sissy bar pad for  a 2001 standard. I assume they are interchangeable with other years? 

[Willow]

... one for an IS. It fits into the rear cross bar at the truck, it doesn't fasten to the fender at all, there is a strap that fasten to the front fender rail, and holds the seat in place.
...

That simply isn't true.  You could ride without the bolt and depend upon the strap to hold down the back half but the IS seat does bolt to the fender at the rear.

[Bighead]

... one for an IS. It fits into the rear cross bar at the truck, it doesn't fasten to the fender at all, there is a strap that fasten to the front fender rail, and holds the seat in place.
...

the IS seat does bolt to the fender at the rear.

No it doesn't. The stock IS seat fits into a bracket( it has a s uare tab on the back of it instead of a bolt hole) as Gordon stated. Now an aftermarket seat would be bolted down

[pais]

OEM seat (including the good one) = no back rest.

I've had an Ultimate for 13 years or so, it has a lot of good
miles on it  ...

Right before InZane I got a good deal on a used new-looking
Russell seat - built on an OEM seat pan - and so I will loose my
backrest. Right now  because of this thread I'm going to
remember to order a Utopia backrest.

To install the Utopia, though, I'll have to replace my useless
highly-sought-after unobtainium curved fender rack with
the OEM passenger seat  because that's where the
Utopia hardware goes. At least I have a 97 and my OEM
passenger seat says "MADE IN USA".

-Mike

Phooey... I just got back from trying to order... something's wrong(?) with
their CHECKOUT web page, the little drop-down for specifying the country
you come from is stuck on CANADA, so I can't put in my address... they
don't start answering the phone until after noon... but I'll remember  ...

Timing is everything! Can anyone help?
Thinking about buying a RDL seat. Looking at pics of the RDL. Am I correct in thinking that I will NOT be able to use my Ultimate backrest or any backrest for that matter with a RDL seat?
I bought an Ultimate King Big Boy 4-5 yrs ago and cant say I love it. Never heard a bad thing about a RDL other than the $$$. I have grown to love the backrest.

[Willow]

... one for an IS. It fits into the rear cross bar at the truck, it doesn't fasten to the fender at all, there is a strap that fasten to the front fender rail, and holds the seat in place.
...

the IS seat does bolt to the fender at the rear.

No it doesn't. The stock IS seat fits into a bracket( it has a s uare tab on the back of it instead of a bolt hole) as Gordon stated. Now an aftermarket seat would be bolted down

What you're calling a bracket is actually part of the Interstate seat.  I think you're referring to part 4.



I've bought four Interstates with OEM seats.  I took them off and replaced them with two part seats.

The Interstate seat will stay on just fine without the "seat belt" strap.

[gordonv]

We haven't even heard back from shadowmagic yet, I know he's posted in the past, so I figure he's busy right now. I'm still waiting on his reply if the seat is an IS and confirm what his bike is.

[shadowmagic]

Yup, I do believe thats it. Thank you for posting that!

[shadowmagic]

I will post some pics of my bike now. I've been fiddling with the wiring of the back lights to mount my saddlebags. I'll post some pics all around from my bike.

[Bighead]

... one for an IS. It fits into the rear cross bar at the truck, it doesn't fasten to the fender at all, there is a strap that fasten to the front fender rail, and holds the seat in place.
...

the IS seat does bolt to the fender at the rear.

No it doesn't. The stock IS seat fits into a bracket( it has a s uare tab on the back of it instead of a bolt hole) as Gordon stated. Now an aftermarket seat would be bolted down

What you're calling a bracket is actually part of the Interstate seat.  I think you're referring to part 4.



I've bought four Interstates with OEM seats.  I took them off and replaced them with two part seats.

The Interstate seat will stay on just fine without the "seat belt" strap.

Agreed Carl but you stated the IS seat bolted to the fender which it Does Not. Unless it is an aftermarket seat is what I was saying. I too have put seats on the IS other than Factory and yes they bolt down. And that piece of strap came off both mine first thing. I just think it looks horrible.

[Jess from VA]

That strap is like a baby blanket.  It's to give passengers a sense of security. 

My passenger never used it, she preferred smacking me across the back of my helmet to give her a sense of security.

[gordonv]

That strap is like a baby blanket.  It's to give passengers a sense of security. 

My passenger never used it, she preferred smacking me across the back of my helmet to give her a sense of security.

  I can relate to that! I started my wife off with holding my shoulders when she was first riding with me. I felt it was a better indicator to her of where I was leaning, rather than my waist. You get greater movement, easier to tell.

[da prez]

  i want to toss a question in here. If you replace the Interstate rear fender front half with a fender from a standard ,Will it fit and will the hold down issues go away.
  I have both fenders in the shop but I am home and will try tomorrow.

                                              da prez

[da prez]

Shadow , if I don't get hung  Harley has a web site for seats. There are probably 30 or more to look at. Some have mount set ups. Just an fyi.

                   da prez

[hubcapsc]

Thinking about buying a RDL seat. Looking at pics of the RDL. Am I correct in thinking that I will NOT be able to use my Ultimate backrest or any backrest for that matter with a RDL seat?

My Utopia backrest will be here soon. I'll post back about how it works
with the RDL seat. My RDL seat doesn't "stick way out" past the back
of the OEM seat pan it is built on, I'm hoping the two will mesh OK...

The Utopia on my 1800 fits to a bracket that I had to install inside
my passenger seat, I have some idea that a 1500 Utopia is different
somehow (web pages says "bolt on" installation) so we'll see... maybe
its bracket (or whatever it is) will work with my useless curved
unobtainium fender rack  ...

-Mike

[Gnarly]

..... I have some idea that a 1500 Utopia is different
somehow (web pages says "bolt on" installation) so we'll see... maybe
its bracket (or whatever it is) will work with my useless curved
unobtainium fender rack   ...

-Mike

At the risk of confusing this issue, Bob Beckett @ Utopia currently has the pattern for a bracket to fit his backrest on an I/S.
Sent him mine.
Works great, with the Ultimate King set.

Great guy to deal with.
He DOES take requests! but send parts or pix.

[Willow]

  i want to toss a question in here. If you replace the Interstate rear fender front half with a fender from a standard ,Will it fit and will the hold down issues go away.
  I have both fenders in the shop but I am home and will try tomorrow.

                                              da prez

The fenders are the same for Standard and Interstate.  No need to swap fenders.  There should be no hold down issues going from one seat to the other.

[Jess from VA]

  i want to toss a question in here. If you replace the Interstate rear fender front half with a fender from a standard ,Will it fit and will the hold down issues go away.
  I have both fenders in the shop but I am home and will try tomorrow.

                                              da prez

The fenders are the same for Standard and Interstate.  No need to swap fenders.  There should be no hold down issues going from one seat to the other.

Other than maybe some hardware, between IS single dual tour, and double seats (OE and aftermarket).

[Champ_sappi]

I love my Corbin rumble.

[gordonv]

  i want to toss a question in here. If you replace the Interstate rear fender front half with a fender from a standard ,Will it fit and will the hold down issues go away.
  I have both fenders in the shop but I am home and will try tomorrow.

                                              da prez

The fenders are the same for Standard and Interstate.  No need to swap fenders.  There should be no hold down issues going from one seat to the other.

Mark is right, the difference is in the seats, not the fender. The wiring too. The IS seat uses the front latch, the strap I think bolted to the side rails, and the rear is in a tab on the trunk supports. The Std/Tourers are bolted down.

[mello dude]

I've been looking for something smaller, more sleek, lower profile

-Mike

May as well jump into the fire here.....

I'm fine with the stock seat on my standard, but also looking for the "smaller, sleeker, lower profile" -----
for the passenger seat.

I stole this image.... but like the lower minimalist look of it.....
 

Then digging on the Corbin site.... I found






I like the Corbin Classic seat, but just wanted it in the near OEM vinyl. Corbin snubbed me on that.... no go there.

I have a bare bones seat pan to screw with, but anybody got ideas on how (who?) to pull it off?
Thought about making a wood mold, and using the stocker as a baseline to work with and build a pan in fiberglass... ..

Hope this helps the OP too....  


BTW --- RDL = ?

[hubcapsc]

RDL = https://day-long.com/

-Mike

[baldo]

OEM seat (including the good one) = no back rest.

I've had an Ultimate for 13 years or so, it has a lot of good
miles on it  ...

Right before InZane I got a good deal on a used new-looking
Russell seat - built on an OEM seat pan - and so I will loose my
backrest. Right now  because of this thread I'm going to
remember to order a Utopia backrest.

To install the Utopia, though, I'll have to replace my useless
highly-sought-after unobtainium curved fender rack with
the OEM passenger seat  because that's where the
Utopia hardware goes. At least I have a 97 and my OEM
passenger seat says "MADE IN USA".

-Mike

Phooey... I just got back from trying to order... something's wrong(?) with
their CHECKOUT web page, the little drop-down for specifying the country
you come from is stuck on CANADA, so I can't put in my address... they
don't start answering the phone until after noon... but I'll remember  ...

Timing is everything! Can anyone help?
Thinking about buying a RDL seat. Looking at pics of the RDL. Am I correct in thinking that I will NOT be able to use my Ultimate backrest or any backrest for that matter with a RDL seat?
I bought an Ultimate King Big Boy 4-5 yrs ago and cant say I love it. Never heard a bad thing about a RDL other than the $$$. I have grown to love the backrest.

I have a RDL set for my Standard. The RDL backrest can only be used with the RDL pillion seat. It has a bar that slides into a pocket in the pillion. I had to send my rear seat back twice to be adjusted, they did a great job. While I was waiting, I used my Utopia backrest that screws down to the fender. I don't think you can use a Utopia with a RDL rear seat, or a RDL with an OEM......