1500 & a Spring seat.

[jmbo]

I first made a cardboard template to get the shape right then I trimmed up a piece of sheet steel to match.  I bent the edges around a large piece of tubing.  I chucked a large socket in a vice then peened the center dimple with a hammer, drilled the hole then powder coated the piece in my garage oven.  All in all it took about an hour including the powder coating.

[NeonBlue]

I know this does not answer everyones concerns but here is how I solved the gap issues on my springer.  I made a spacer panel. The ugly bolt you see was eventually swapped out for a chrome button head allen screw.  Also I have included a photo of an original Indian seat.  Indian had more hardware showing than an Drifter I have seen.

How did you fab up that front plate?

[jmbo]

I know this does not answer everyones concerns but here is how I solved the gap issues on my springer.  I made a spacer panel. The ugly bolt you see was eventually swapped out for a chrome button head allen screw.  Also I have included a photo of an original Indian seat.  Indian had more hardware showing than an Drifter I have seen.

[JagLite]

The gap at the tank is the same as my Singh solo sprung seat.
Not so clean, although it does look like the early Husky...
How many guys were made eunuchs by that bolt I wonder.

The other problem is that my seat is too far back.
The stock double seat is ugly without the saddle bags but it is comfy.
I compared actual butt position of the Singh as far forward as possible with the stock double and find the solo seat puts me back a couple inches.

I am making my own front mount that will move the seat forward and over the tank.
Of course that means I need to come up with new spring locations too.
I also got the tall and short spring sets.
The tall are too tall and the short are too short, and both sizes are too stiff.

Let us know how the hairpin springs work out as that might be an option for me too.

[greenbarn]

That's really a shame, Bam...  I have not previously heard anything bad about HL.  But I agree with you - I wouldn't be happy with the look either...  and 38 weeks is about 30 too many to wait...

It looks to me like you might be able to fabricate a front mount for that seat, and perhaps improve the situation a lot.  Do you have the means to do that??   Looks (to me) like it needs to go forward and higher...  Maybe you could post more pictures - close ups, different angles, etc., and someone on here could help you out.  I know D1 and Jmbo both mounted a solo similar to yours, and if I remember, they both fabbed mounts.

wish you weren't all the way on the OTHER side of NY - you could bring it over here and we'd see if we could cut and bend something up.....

[bambam0099]

That's too bad BamBam, it was a fine seat and I was hoping it would work out. I had thought about going that route also.

Believe me, I have been holding back on my comments about dealing with HL's.  Yesterday was exactly 38 weeks from the day I received a price quote (that changed several times by the way) and things are still not resolved.  I have every email and am so tempted to post them but am refraining simply because I am trying to take the higher ground. 

[RockinRollin]

That's too bad BamBam, it was a fine seat and I was hoping it would work out. I had thought about going that route also.

[bambam0099]

I posted in another thread (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=41268.0) about getting a seat from Heathers Leathers.  The seat itself is beautiful but the damn gap between the seat and the tank is unacceptable, it looks unfinished; like it wasn't made for the bike.
Plus, it crushes the fuel line when you sit on it.  Yeah, you could cob up a few washers to raise the seat and a few other things to cover up the gap but in the end, upon close inspection, it will looked cobbed up.  These bikes are too classy/unique looking for that.
The problem I've had (and still having) with HL's is that they do not have a Drifter on site to test fit their seats on.  Everything is being done from memory.  Hell, it's been over 32+ weeks and still not resolved.  I finally threw in the towel and said  " no mas' ".

[jmbo]

Love my singh seat. Few things to complain about tho. The springs are an inch or two too long and there is no battery cover plate so Ill havto figure that out. I ordered a pair of clothespin springs to replace them so I hope that works out. Ill keep you posted

My Singh seat came with two different length springs.  One set was too short.  I chipped the paint on the top of the fender when the two collided going over a huge bump.  The second set was to long so I improvised.   I heated the coils (just like i did on my old '49 Ford) and dropped the seat by at least an inch.

My only complaint is on long rides I get a bit of numb butt on my Singh.  It is not as bad as the stock seat.  I bought sheep skin duvet for the seat.  No more numb butt.

[RockinRollin]

I wanted to go with a springer seat but in the end I went with a Corbin. Just didn't look right.
To each his own I guess. I do like what Jmbo did with the cover though.

[NeonBlue]

Love my singh seat. Few things to complain about tho. The springs are an inch or two too long and there is no battery cover plate so Ill havto figure that out. I ordered a pair of clothespin springs to replace them so I hope that works out. Ill keep you posted

[Bucko]

What did you do to black out your wheels?

[bambam0099]

Love the seat but it would drive me nuts looking at the rear tank bolt

[jmbo]

Attached is a series of photos of my install.  Love the seat. Much more comfortable than the original.

[Backinsaddle]

It's killin me. I love the classic look of the spring seat. How do you clean up the back of the seat on the 1500? There's all the mounting points for the OEM seat and the saddle bag supports.

I've been searching, so I apologize if I'm rehashing this. I've been searching for a kit that fits. Sounds like it has to be modified. Anybody do this? how do you cover the battery compartment and still have access?

Info appreciated.

Back N Saddle

[Drift1]

That Singh seat looks fantastic on your 800 Btw, the way it should look. I'm getting an 800 here soon so I'm going to hold onto the seat for that maybe. Love your bike, it reminds me a little of...mine. Those painted parts really set it apart. I'll have to get a better picture of the way I actually mounted my seat, It looks pretty good.

Dakuhosa , thanks for the compliment , brother ! Can't wait to see what design your having Heather's Leather's create for you . Ride is looking great ( original ) with that paint scheme . Looking forward to see the saddle !

[dakuhosu]

Although not a 1500 here's what it looks like on my 800

Pretty pleased with the outcome , although I'm going to work on raising up the front mount a tad bit over the winter season .   Dakuhosu , I can't remember the gentlemen's name but , he had an actual saddle as a seat for his Drifter and it looked awsome ! Just a thought for ya , brother !

I think I saw it once while I was looking to buy, It was for sale and I should have bought it but it was up in NH I think. It was stunning. That Singh seat looks fantastic on your 800 Btw, the way it should look. I'm getting an 800 here soon so I'm going to hold onto the seat for that maybe. Love your bike, it reminds me a little of...mine. Those painted parts really set it apart. I'll have to get a better picture of the way I actually mounted my seat, It looks pretty good.

[Drift1]

Although not a 1500 here's what it looks like on my 800

Pretty pleased with the outcome , although I'm going to work on raising up the front mount a tad bit over the winter season .   Dakuhosu , I can't remember the gentlemen's name but , he had an actual saddle as a seat for his Drifter and it looked awsome ! Just a thought for ya , brother !

[dakuhosu]

I like those little saddlebags on Jack Gs bike and how low the seat looks. I like the color and style of the Honor Guard bike seat too. So I basically want a combination of the two that looks like a horse saddle. Then I'm going with the copper or bronze plated air cleaner covers and the gun style engraving on the motor. So don't get any ideas!

[Dubliner]

That's funny Dak, saw your post about your bike on the other topic and I asked you about the saddle on there. I guess the Singh won't work for that reason. I'll have to look at heathers too. Your bike is totally cool man. Love the colour scheme. Dubliner.

[Drift1]

Dakuhosa , nice looking ride ! I'm curious if you have a pic of the style seat you picked from Heather's ?

[dakuhosu]

I'm ordering a new seat from Heathers leathers. The sing saddle is exactly too narrow in front. You can see the battery and it's hard to get the look I  was going for. Heathers leathers has the exact seat I want, actually several looks I want. Also Corbin has a nice seat. Having said that the Singh saddle is exactly what I wanted (then) and I'll use it until I get my new one:)

[Dubliner]

I've been out of town for two weeks now that I see the bike I think the tank is way too wide for a narrow nosed saddle. Wonder if you could modify the existing one with springs. Oh well back to the drawing board.

[Dubliner]

Thanks for posting that picture. It's beautiful. Something to model mine after now. What a beautiful bike.

[Troll]

Well, I think the Singh Saddles are probably going to be closer to the original design than anything else out there....Here's a shot of a restored '53 Roadmaster