honda cb 1300, 205/17 car tyre, cushion seat for long haul Aussie

Hi all,
Been riding bikes around Australia for 50years including Matchless 500, Honda Dream 305, Honda cb750 1969 to cb1300 now. Decided to change to car tyre as long hauls around Australia will leave rear motorbike tyre illegal at around 3,000kms with only a few millimetre of casing left which to us was extremely dangerous at high temperature and sharp stones/objects, let alone expensive!
Doing around 1,000 + kms a day I was determined to find a safer option to complete a full journey of 20,000kms +, hence after replacing the original 180 tyre with a 205/17" car tyre "Its there to stay"
After full testing - movement on rim (none), pressure (50-"25psi best"), sidewall damage (none), grip (excellent wet/dry), temperature (low - unreadable, air temperature), high speed (excellent if not better) etc I found it to be 99% excellent in all ways except (very slow speed can catch you unawares at first).
It will be good when tyre manufacturers catch up to persons going "Darkside", especially persons doing long hauls, maybe not wanting to flick the bike from footpeg to footpeg continually.
Fitting a car tyre to a motorbike may not be for everyone as I believe riding motorbikes, we should have a very high skill level. e.g. done a lot of off-road riding, and by adding unknown factors to your machine should not be taken lightly. Full testing with an experienced rider should be the way to go.
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Well said Charlie......Welcome aboard, got any pictures......

Jerry

G'day! Mate....congrats on the Darkside and Welcome to our site! Glad to have you here!


Thanks for the write up! We think the same way!


.....................bobby


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G'day mate, hi all,
Appreciate the welcome on board of Darkside, we would like to share many more long haul experiences if members have interest.
As some bike seats (made for "cafe racing") are very uncomfortable for doing the 1,000kms (600miles) a day we would be happy to share how we build a very comfortable cushion seat using cheap foam, electric knife, contact glue, car seat cover, out of what is laying around the shed, or around $50 if bought, in an hour or 2. We have been building these seat cushions that are instantly removable (ocky strap), leaving the bike as new, great as a pillow when camping etc, very light & look "the part" of the bike when being used. These seat cushions allow us to travel 1,000 plus kms /day every day with no real discomfort. Will send photos if this is the right forum plus other tips. Please advise ... Charlie. pic is of cb1300 without car tyre[img][/img]

Man...that is one mean looking bike with a darkside! Send more pics? Plus we can always use more tips around here to help someone out! Bring it on Charlie!


................bobby

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Downunder_Charlie wrote: As some bike seats (made for "cafe racing") are very uncomfortable for doing the 1,000kms (600miles) a day we would be happy to share how we build a very comfortable cushion seat using cheap foam, electric knife, contact glue, car seat cover, out of what is laying around the shed, or around $50 if bought, in an hour or 2. We have been building these seat cushions that are instantly removable (ocky strap), leaving the bike as new, great as a pillow when camping etc, very light & look "the part" of the bike when being used. These seat cushions allow us to travel 1,000 plus kms /day every day with no real discomfort. Will send photos if this is the right forum plus other tips. Please advise ...

Howdy!

Start a new thread and "Post Away". I'm VERY interested in a seat cushion for long hauls. I really like mine as is around town, but need a bit more comfort cross country. I was going to modify a seat, but will wait to see what you have done.....

G'day again,

We have had success with cushion seats on many motorbikes, others may be interested of how we knock it up in a couple of hours for nothing, or around $50 down the street. Rather than buy a seat and get the motorbike thrown in, to tour Australia, I have always rode motorbikes that I prefer (usually with a cafe racer seat) and make the existing seat comfortable by the following... It suits us,may be it won't suit everyone, have a look though..

Instructions on how we do it in the bush here..(..Kangaroo style...)
*1. Look at shape of standard seat and select foam.
*2. Draw on foam with textas or marker (mark and cut oversize)
*3. Mark & shape bottom of foam to contour of standard seat (mark and cut oversize always)
*4. Mark and shape top of seat (oversize), testing with what "sits" on it continually.
The comfort of the cushion relies upon you shaping and adding foam blocks so as to carry as much of the backside and under and between thighs as possible, leaving the area front and beside the tank to enable legs to be put down comfortably when needed. Usually the rear of the cushion has very little foam (1"), but the front and sides need building up 4-6" or more to suit yourself. Once you get the hang of using the electric knife you can cut and build till your backside's content.
*5. To attach blocks of foam we use Contact spray glue (doesn't melt or destroy foam), and can glue block on block to get desired height/shape. (If in the wrong place, take them off, re-glue, "don't panic")
*6. Select a seat cover (colour, shape, material suitable from out the back or down the street).
*7. Fit foam using straps underneath, (careful of buckles etc) with velcro or stapler etc, and we use ocky straps to hold in position and for quick removal.
*8. Cushion fitted to bike, and road tested for 45,000kms, (long hauls 1,000kms a day every day for 20 days, PIECE OF CAKE...)
*9. Cushion is no higher at the back only under front and thighs, shaped to take comfort and room when stopped...

We use standard car seat covers, had no trouble in the rain, as they dry out quickly (not much rain in Aust anyway!) others may prefer water proof covers etc. We also use our cushion as a pillow etc when camping. If people find an interest in this we also do it for pillions using a thin plastic mould seat, rising the pillion into the air no further on the existing seat, removed quickly (2 wingnuts), and my mate who was 76, just did a trip across Australia with me on CB1300 and is talking of selling his car!!! he had no discomfort doing the 1,000kms (600mile) a day... The seats we build keep you in best position stopping you or pillion from coming forward, and are the best thing since sliced kangaroo...

Good luck!... Charlie (old bloke) & Sam (young fella)