VN800 Solo Saddle - Any Info?

[chief]

I would have to agree this looks like a custom job - either at the dealer or wherever
I think it's a great looking seat, though, and would be proud to have it.

Yeah, and it couldn't ever have been sold via the aftermarket since it doesn't have a unique part number. I think it is definitely a custom recover using the OEM skirt and pan... not a F&S skirt or pan. The p/n on this one was for the oem black solo saddle.

[greenbarn]

I would have to agree this looks like a custom job - either at the dealer or wherever.   I would think if Kaw had sold these, someone else would have seen one sometime or other.  Also, the Vulcan symbol is "similar" but not exactly like the Kawasaki F&S symbol.  Actual F&S symbol has more of a curve to the side bars.  I would think if Kaw had done this, they would have gone to the trouble to make the stitching match the logo.

I think it's a great looking seat, though, and would be proud to have it.

[chief]

More Pics

[chief]

Kaw uses different part numbers for different color/style seats. Using the same P/N as the plain black seat would make it impossible to order the seat in question. For example: (1500) 53001-016 is for black, 53001-018 is tan.  53001 is not the only prefix used for accessories, there are several others. The P/N isn't for the pan it is for the whole "assembly" ie seat. F&S seats were covered by Corbin on Kaw pans with unique P/N's. The skirt is from an OEM saddle, not a F&S.

Being on a pallet from a dealer is good evidence, but not absolute. It could have been something done by the dealer, could have been a pull off a trade-in bike etc. But it could have also been something done by Kaw for a local sales promotion.   If it had a unique part number we'd know absolutely. As it is, I still can't confirm it was made by Kaw in that configuration.

AND! Pete is in the UK. We all know Kaw did some different stuff in Europe.

I think this was a custom recover job of the oem saddle. Well done at that. Looks like good material and regardless of the source it is unique.

[mittico68]

Never seen it.
Maybe, it could be a custom made.

[chief]

Have you seen a seat like this? A member is looking for the origin of this seat.

[Pete]

Thank you all gentlemen. With the clues that I've picked up from the VDOG and VDR fora, I've come to the following conclusion: The seat is not a custom or re-cover. It is almost certainly a Fire & Steel after-market special sold by Kawasaki. It is built on a Kawasaki pan (I've just checked) but I can't read the part numbers until I've taken it off the bike. Going by the pictures in the seat section of the VDR forum, it is a variant of the standard solo saddle as it has the same studs and spacing and appears to have the same embossing on the skirt. For this reason I suspect it was made by Kawasaki and is not one of the Corbins built on Kawa seat pans.  It must be a rarity, because nobody on either forum has reported seeing one before.
All this generally gels with the story that I got from the chap that I acquired it from.
It's also a very comfy seat.

[Trall]

Very cool seat and I've never seen another. 

[chief]

F&S made aftermarket seats... basically, Corbin built the seat on Kaw pans. I do recall someone customizing a stock solo seat like this. This is, as far as I know, NOT a commercial seat.

BTW... seats we know about (not custom) - http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/drifterseats.html

[CDNRatMan]

  It does have the same logo as my floor boards which are Fire & Steel......wondering if they made a aftermarket seat, or someone just was good at making a seat.

[Pilgrim]

I've never seen that either. Looks good though. I would also say it is a custom seat.

[mittico68]

Never seen one like that. Looks like a special edition... or maybe a custom made one...

[Pete]

I've acquired a used Kawasaki solo saddle for my 800, complete with its mounting kit and trim-panel. It is a two-tone brown & black with a Vulcan logo stitched into it.

Iv'e never seen another one like it. Can anybody throw any light on its origins please?