Seat cover......

[Rick]

Ok. I've just about had it with this ugly ass seat cover. The P.O. put it on. He did a good job applying it, but its an ugly ass color. Then he etched on the KDX in white, and it looks like it came out of my stencil machine at work! So, I would like to recover it. The foam seems to be in good shape, I guess. I would like to try and re-cover it myself, as apposed to going to an upholstery shop. I was thinking about using like a marine grade piece from, say a fabric store. Any thoughts or suggestions? Any tips for putting it on? I'm sure allot of stretching the fabric, and a power stapler is a must. Any other stuff? Where to start? Thanks, Rick

[saddletramp]

A buddy just covered his KDX with black neoprene, it turned out nice I would say it added a little extra cush.

[Rick]

Neoprene huh? Hmmmmm

[Ondatrail]

skaguitarkid has I complete seat with Ceet gripper cover for sale (unless it already sold). PM him about it

[canyncarvr]

I much prefer a no-slip cover. If you haven't tried one, consider it.

I've gone down the 'do my own' seat cover path only to the extent of trying to get staples INto the seat pan. I bought a brand new manual stapler..that didn't work. Could not get the staple crown at all tight to the fabric.

I have a brad/staple pneumo-gun I got expressly to: 1. Trim my garage windows, and 2. staple a seat cover on.

Staples for the gun have only a 1/4" crown..and regardless of adjustment they were either left sticking up, or punched clear through the fabric.

SO....when you get the thing figgered out..tell us all about it!

Yeah...that is an ugly-ass seat cover..just in case you wanted some affirmation.

Neoprene isn't too tough, is it? Doesn't it abrade/tear rather easily?

If your seat is currently quite soft..a considerably more firm foam will go a long way to keeping monkey butt at bay!

If you want ski to come over for a ride..then keep the soft stuff.

[Rick]

Thanks for the ugly ass conformation cc.. Butt, your right. I hate it. I'm converting over to 99' yz forks. So, I'm not sure what color scheme to go with. These forks are silver, as apposed to the blue stockers. Prolly go back with the appropriate blue, or maybe a silver? Any ideas? I will be keeping all of the stock kawi green. I love the way it looks, and the way it gets looks at the track! "Look at that ole bike, He's kickin ass!" Thanks ps, the seat is perfect. The p.o. added a little xtra cushion to it, and its great. Slightly firm, a bit higher, and dont get monkey butt for at least an hour or so!

[skipro3]

When stapling the cover on, like carvr said, they won't seat all the way down. No biggie, I just used a small block of wood and a hammer to finish tapping them in place.... like you would a nail that didn't go in all the way with a nail gun.

Hope that helps!!

[Rick]

Thats the way the seat looks now. Some all the way in, some half. Im ok with that part. Any tips on where to start the stapling? Should i start at the front, or the middle, or the back? Does it matter?

[Mountainman650]

A KX 500 seat cover will fit on the KDX 250's.
Check around e-bay, that's where I got mine from.
Mine's a black with green, gripper , looks much better..

[canyncarvr]

A KX 500 cover fits an 'E' series 200, too. Wibby's used 'em.

He said the number plates are exactly the same, too, btw.

From what I've read (and therefore know it to be absolutely true): Start by putting the nose on..tack it down. Do the same on the back side. Then pull the sides down.

If you stretch it on (first two steps) to the point it looks like it will be easy to pull it down on the sides..it's probably too loose. You will end up with it bunching and folding when you ride.

Post a good video of your successful applicology!!

[Rick]

Thanks guys. Ill keep ya posted. Applicology? Is that a real word cc?

[canyncarvr]

A real word? Are you kidding? Of course it is!

I read it on the internet...it HAS to be.

[Rick]

I wonder what year of a 500 would work. My 250 is a 91. I know it is shaped different than the 200. 89-95?

[Mr. Wibbens]

A KX 500 cover fits an 'E' series 200, too. Wibby's used 'em.

Good freaking info there Carvr!!

You notice he's got a twofiddy?

[Mountainman650]

I used a manual stapler, but there is a trick to it.
You have to hold the back side of the spot your stapling against
a hard surface, work bench or board...

[Rob]

I just recovered my KDX220 seat --went to local fabric store and bought a pretty stretchy vinyl remnant for $6. I removed the old cover and roughly traced it onto the new viny & cut it out. Then the fun began. No way could I pull/stretch/staple without including major wrinkles. I heated it, I taped it -I even used some four letter words to no avail. Then I tried rubber bands -about 15 if them. roughly pull the cover into place,then stretch some pretty tight fitting rubber bands radially around the seat at about 2" intervals. You can now pull out the wrinkles without the fabric retreating soon as you let go of it. Doing this in full sunshine - letting it get pretty warm helps. My hand powered stapler worked just fine if I backed up the area immediately behind the staple site

[jowens66]

Putting seat covers on are a breeze. I've put on about 10, and they usually take 20 min at max to do.

First off, get a good gripper seat cover, you won't regret it. Neopreme is all fine and dandy, but inless its a kind i haven't felt of, its slick.

First, staple the front of the seat cover to the front of the base using a heavy duty stapler with short staples (1/4 inch or so). Get it lined up on the front and staple it.

(The hand stapler i have actually has little teeth where the staple comes out so i can push down on the cover and seat base, and it bites and i can slide it and stetch it) Got it at lowe's.

Next, get a hair dryer, steal your wife's. Heat the entire cover until its soft and stretchy. Then get everything lined up, stretch as tight as possible, and staple it in the back. The cover won't be conformed to the seat, and it should be bending the front of the seat towards the back.

Next, heat the cover again, start stretching and stapling each side. I usually alternate putting a staple in a diff side each time. Now it conforms to the seat.

Another key to doing this and getting the staples to go in their full depth is putting the seat on a hard surface such as a concrete floor or a good granite countertop that won't give at all. Push extremely hard, pull the trigger and 8 outta 10 times, the staple seats at full depth. If it doesn't seat fully, get a hammer and tap them down, they will stay put.

Just take your time, its actually a rather easy process.

[Rick]

Great info guys! Now all I need is the cover!

[kdxquebec]

This is a '250 with a kX500 seat cover.

http://kdxrider.net/forums/modules/albu ... .sized.jpg

[Rick]

Hey, that looks good!