Well I tried.

[cyclebuster]

the coils mount higher on the 68, and the newer tank is too narrow for the mounts as well.

[spike]

Cyclebuster, would you be in for a repro seat base and foam?
I'd have one, the more, the merrier…and the cheaper!

[cyclebuster]

i do need something.
this old bike of mine is too nice to not finish, and its #203

[spike]

So now we know what somebody is ready to pay for a complete seat: 360$!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT


So, it would make sense to repop these seat bases and foam…
Jim, any news on your side?

[diamondj]

So, it would make sense to repop these seat bases and foam…
Jim, any news on your side?

Hey Spike - haven't had a chance to work on this yet. Sent you a PM....

Jim

[spike]

Bump – Things are ready for a repop process.

We could get a METAL seat pan and foams, no need for the covers as Pit replica does them and very high quality.
I am still working on a cost, but need to know how many people need these, you do not need to take them as a pair ie raise your hand for a foam or a pan or for both of them.

[cyclebuster]

heck that part is rotten or suspect on all the 68s. I would need a pan and foam if its less then a month rent

[spike]

Don't know how much is rent in your part of the world… here it would mean a 1200 $ seat!

Joking aside, we've got two options:

Identical to original ie stamped bottom of seat: this requires a minimum of 200 pieces… I don't think they are that many Cobras out there needing a seat.

or original looking, with a hand-made seat pan, this requires no minimum qty. The seat pan bottom would be almost flat, with all brackets in the right place. It will have one or two reinforcing ribs though as these are necessary. The thinness of the original ones is the reason of why it fails (other early Jap bikes have the same problem Say the early Kawasaki Samurai: the seat pan splits in two).

In any case, we would be buying complete seat assemblies: new seat pan, new foam and a new cover installed with the buttons etc.

I guess the price will be in the 200-250 $ range, delivered (give 10-20 on top depending on shipping).

What should we do? How many people are interested?

[cyclebuster]

well i would have to buy one, as used crusty ones bring that. as for exact stock stamped with thicker steel, or reinforcement plate, thats a leap of faith. friend of mine was restoring a 1927 Harley Davidson JD model. He was down to assembly and found no valve springs existed on on earth. And none other fit. So he had to pay to make 200 intakes and 200 exhausts. The extras were sold at a fancy profit, nearly before the bike was built. in the end he mad a load of cash. Willl the daily market of 68 cobra seats bear the investment today? No. will there be 200 cobras restored in next few years? probably. Will the 68s on the road seats finally collapse? Yep. Oh yes, all 200 will sell. If you dont glut the market, and buy foams and pans as they sell you stand to make a good chunk of change.