Tom Simmons Seat

[DK]

I have a pending order for a new custom seat from Tom Simmons fromFayetteville, AR. I'm changing from an Ultimate Big Boy which, for me, seems too wide in the saddle horn area. It's great for the first 3-4 hours on the first day & gets worse from there.

To the point:  I need to very soon tell Tom which covering to use. I'm interested in function over form. Tom strongly recommends a fabric seat & I agree as I often wish for a cloth seat when sitting on one of today's luxurious leather seats sweating my **** off.

Question is which type of fabric. Tom has enough choices to make your head swim. Mercedes has long used a vinylized leather-looking fabric, "MB Tex", that I really like in an automobile which he has available. Otherwise, I have no experience with any automotive seat fabric in particular since the 1960's.

My idea is to just ask Tom to use something with excellent durability, not slippery, heat reflective, that provides ventilation (MB Tex), & lastly looks as good as possible within those parameters.

Can anyone offer any advice on non-leather/non-vinyl seat coverings and/or Simmons seats in general?

Dan

[sandy]

For durability, get a quality leather seat. Then order an XL sheepskin seat cover from Alaska leather. When it rains, you'll appreciate being able to put the sheepskin in a saddlebag and not ruin your seat.

[blackvalkyrie]

For durability, get a quality leather seat. Then order an XL sheepskin seat cover from Alaska leather. When it rains, you'll appreciate being able to put the sheepskin in a saddlebag and not ruin your seat.

any idea what size fits a 97 valk standard? thnx

[Valker]

I bought this brand of seat with this material in black. I have almost 60,000 miles on it in all weather conditions. I highly recommend this type of fabric. (Regardless of which brand of seat you get).
http://diamondseats.com/vinylvelourseatcovers.htm

[Attic Rat]

Good luck on getting Tom to build you a seat. I have know Tom for over 30 years. He still has seats of mine over there to build that he never finished. Tom is probably the best seat builder in the country but he will  promise you a fast return on your seat and you will be lucky to see it with in a year if it ever shows up. The Gold wing board dropped him because he would take in the orders and was extremely slow to deliver if he ever delivered at all. I have seats that have been over there for over 15 years that he never finished.

BEWARE

[The emperor has no clothes]

Good luck on getting Tom to build you a seat. I have know Tom for over 30 years. He still has seats of mine over there to build that he never finished. Tom is probably the best seat builder in the country but he will  promise you a fast return on your seat and you will be lucky to see it with in a year if it ever shows up. The Gold wing board dropped him because he would take in the orders and was extremely slow to deliver if he ever delivered at all. I have seats that have been over there for over 15 years that he never finished. BEWARE

DAMN . He may be the best, but if he takes that long he might as well be the worst.

[sandy]

For durability, get a quality leather seat. Then order an XL sheepskin seat cover from Alaska leather. When it rains, you'll appreciate being able to put the sheepskin in a saddlebag and not ruin your seat.

any idea what size fits a 97 valk standard? thnx

I have the XL on my Corbin seat.

[blackvalkyrie]

For durability, get a quality leather seat. Then order an XL sheepskin seat cover from Alaska leather. When it rains, you'll appreciate being able to put the sheepskin in a saddlebag and not ruin your seat.

any idea what size fits a 97 valk standard? thnx

I have the XL on my Corbin seat.

thnx

[DK]

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

I met with Tom this past weekend. Nice guy. Nice active / busy / well used & well organized shop. Knowledgable biker with lots of nice toys.

Took his recommendation to use a cloth  / velour  type lincoln waterproof  fabric. He had one in the shop  for repair that had been in service for five years that looked really good. It had a lot of miles on it because the repair was for a worn spot where the rider had been hitting with his boot heel getting on and off thi bike.  I wouldn't even have noticed it but for Tom pointing it out.

As to time, he said would have it completed within three weeks. I plan to pick it up when I ride to Fayetteville first weekend of April for a fraternity reunion.

Anyone wanting an Ultimate Big Boy & Backrest, let me know. It's the leather model in perfect condition.

Dan