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New Seat!

dna9656
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dna9656

dna9656

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http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/IMG_0351.jpghttp://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/IMG_0345-1.jpg

 

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/IMG_0344-1.jpg

 

My new seat in LEATHER; (Heated too!) I also got the passenger's back rest recovered and a pad made to replace the storage bag behind and below the passenger's back rest.

This is for my Birthday, Sweetest Day, Christmas, Father's Day, and maybe next Birthday too!

The guys at Rich's Custom Seats in Kingston, WA. (http://www.richscustomseats.com) did a wonderful job restoring the original foam pad using steam, then extended the passenger end so my wife can set a little further back against the back rest. They lowered the front end so I have more of my feet on the ground when we stop. All the mods were smoothed out using power sanders.

You test drive the seat before the cover is installed, any changes are then made, another test and then on your OK they sew your new cover from man-made material or leather.

As a customer I was welcomed to watch every step of the process. Rich and his family run a FIRST CLASS operation! By appointment only. Expect to spend some hours there. My seat was by far the biggest job of the day so I know no one left before their seat was finished.

Rich oversees everything going on in the shop, every step, fitment, you name it; he's there in the middle of it all. Friendly, helpful, accommodating...My wife just finished her night shift she was really tired and Rich kindly provided a quiet place where she could rest (MAJOR POINTS with Wifie!) while the seat was made.

NO it wasn't cheap or inexpensive, would I do it again? YES! IN HEART BEAT!

After all it's our butt ya know?

Rich is a "iron Bottom" member so you know he is a hard core rider, even his dog rides! He knows what "monkey butt" is and builds his seats accordingly.

Oh yeah the colors used will go with the new paint job! The plan is to go with the Alluvial Gold scheme!

 

YES that is a 2nd Gen trunk (so far as I know) on my 83.5 Venture Royale, it will hold 2 helmets. Any body got a pair of 2nd gen saddle bags?

 

Here are some pics of the back rest and detail(s) If you take notice of the rear seam that's close to rear edge of the seat... That is approximately where the original seat ended. Rich added a bit but you'd never notice because of the excellent job he and his crew did on my seat. Yeah you can ship him your seat for work, visit the web site, call them and see what can be done to make your ride more enjoyable!

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/IMG_0352.jpg

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Rick Butler

Rick Butler

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Good looking seat Doug,

 

I've never met Rich but I know where his shop is on the way to the Kingston Ferry and I have a good friend from Poulsbo who Rich recently built a seat for his Victory Gunner. And yes he does build a good, sound, comfortable seat but when I found out what he charges, my first thought was "My Butt Butler is not charging enough"? But then my shop is not as sophisticated as his (no guest quarters) and he has more employees and a great upholsterer.

 

But you also mention that your 83.5 has a second gen trunk. I could be wrong, but based upon the color of the bike I would say that this is an 85.......which did have a larger trunk that was later carried forward to the 86 (with an adjustable passenger backrest) and top loading bags. If your trunk has a key lock to remove it from the rack, that is a key indicator that it is an 85.

 

Regardless,I know you are going to enjoy your new seat, so take care of it. And from what I can see from the rest of the bike it really looks clean and well taken cared of.

 

Rick

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dna9656

dna9656

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Thanks for your kind response!

Pray tell me what is a "Butt Butler"?

I know we have other upholstery shops around but they seem to never be open or they are long gone out of business but left their signs behind OR they are "going to order" the stuff for my project but it never seemed to happen even though they didn't ask for money up front and that bugs me too, I mean who can you trust? Rich's is well established, has a national reputation, has most anything (material) ON HAND, his family are all involved and yeah 3 or 4 employees; all this tell me this guy will be here in 2 or 3 years if I need a fix.

He has what my grandmother would call "rooms", (think "King of The Road") and if you can remember that song you're an old fart like me! "Trailer for sale or rent , rooms to rent for 50 cents..." Rooms that were for sleeping in, no phone; no stove, or hot plate. Rich's rooms are very nice, 3 of them share a kitchen, sitting room, and there is common internet access, Cable TV, a really nice bath room, much like a bed and breakfast or old style family run hotel.

So yeah he's expensive but no upholsterer I ever knew that was worth a damn wasn't. I would have like to have spent less but it's DONE, it's beautiful, and it fits ME and my wife, not a skinny butt in Asia even though the seats for our bikes got very high marks from the critics.

I traded a guitar I didn't play (paid less than $300.00 for the guitar) any more for a 85 parts bike. It's number 4 on the list of factory corrected 2nd gear thrust washer issue. The trunk has ONE lock (and 2 latches) for the trunk lid and is held onto the rack by TWO keyed locks.; there are locked square "rings" at each lock. It has a smaller chrome luggage rack on the lid too. The trunk mounting rack came with 2 antenna pedestals. The trunk that was on the 83.5 (all the parts are in the 84 catalog m/n XVZ12DKC2) will hold ONE helmet. When I traded for the 85 it had this HUGE trunk on it, I read that the 1300s has a 50% increase in the size of the trunk and saddle bags I figured some PO along the way got one and put it on the 85. The saddle bags are the same size as the pre 86 models.

One day I hope to remove the engine on the 85 for a rebuild and put it on the 83.5, or just get the 85 running. The 83.5 has 63K miles on it and no hint of a 2nd gear issue yet so I'm hoping it was fixed but there are no indications on the frame or engine/trans case that it was completed by a dealer.

The color of the bike was red, it has the 85's trunk and saddle bags on it with the 83.5 side covers, yep! it's a mongrel!

Here is a couple pics of the 83.5 before I got my hands on it!

The rider's floor boards on the 83.5 are useless so I took them off; they made it hard to shift or brake....

I never could get the air suspension on either bike to work so I put shrader valves on the rear spring/shock assembly and on the fork; I check the air pressure from time to time. I wish it did work though.

 

Sat like this for 2 years:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/bike4.jpg

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/bike2.jpg

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/bike1.jpg

 

This is from a time it was a daily driver:

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/01313_hDYraE7rWys_600x450.jpg

 

This is the only pic I have of the 85.

 

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk195/dna9656/01717_fMqDWa4j1Dp_600x450.jpg

 

The 83.5 has the trailer hitch, the fender chrome on the front fender and the bags and trunk of the 85. Note the skid plate on the 85, there is a welded crack inside the "ring" where the oil filter goes....

Any help you can give as to ideantity of the bags would be of interest to me! Thanks in advance!

Edited by dna9656
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