Featured Custom Bonnie Seat

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by MPTriumph, May 18, 2022.

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  1. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Ok, so I have the 2019 street twin and I love it. Although I could never like the black cloth seat. I took the seat to a nearby upholstery shop and told them what I wanted. I originally wanted real leather but when I was told how much work it would take to keep it looking nice, plus the cost, and the disadvantages (heat, rain) I began looking for other options. The guy recommended high end boat vynal. It handles water and heat way better than leather, its easier to keep clean and it's a lot cheaper and will last longer than leather. We decided to keep some the accents from the old seat and what he made was incredible. I am so happy with the results and you would be hard pressed to tell the seat was not leather without close inspection. This job cost me about 400 dollars and he had it done in one day. I also purchased some bulk leather and oiled it until it matched the seat. I then wrapped my grips and tops of the forks with leather. Tell me what you think.

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  2. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    21,606
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Wow, @MPTriumph, I think the seat looks super! :heart_eyes::grinning: They really did a great job. I have a leather seat and two marine-grade vinyl seats and I don't know that I'll ever buy a leather seat again. While there's a lot to be said for leather, it's harder to care for and keep looking like new unlike vinyl. And these days, the quality and look of vinyl is amazing. Regarding the brown leather wrap on the grips and tops of the forks, I'm not really keen on that look to be honest. But I would love to see a photo of your whole bike to see the seat and grips and forks "in context"!
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  3. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Yeah, the jury is still out on the fork wraps...but they are easy to remove if need be.
     
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  4. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

    Aug 8, 2018
    6,912
    1,000
    New Zealand
    Amazing job on the seat :party::heart_eyes:
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. timboo

    timboo Senior Member

    Oct 17, 2021
    271
    113
    Cambridgeshire
    Agree with the comments so far. They do e a nice job with the seat. Was there a specific reason for doing the grips? Looks or for extra comfort?
     
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  6. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    It was more for looks...Im a leather guy and before I bought my bike I remember seeing several bikes with leather wraps on the grips. I liked it and knew I would try it when I got my bike. Good thing is. They are easy to remove if I change my mind! Lol
     
  7. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Here are some pics of the entire bike for reference to seat and leather wraps.

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    • Thanks Thanks x 1
  8. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    21,606
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Thanks for the photos of the whole bike, @MPTriumph! Your bike is looking good. :heart_eyes: I do think I'm sticking with my original assessment of the leather wrapped grips and fork tops, perhaps more so seeing your whole bike. I'd probably opt for black grips and removing the leather on the forks. You have that great seat as a major thing that draws the eye, especially since it's brown. And then there are the checkboard design and the tank knee pads (which I really dig, by the way!) So to my eye, additional customization becomes a lot to draw ones eye away from the unique touches of seat, checkerboard, and tank knee pads. I would let the brown seat stand alone as the lone brown on this particular bike.

    BUT....that is only my opinion. And only because you asked us for our opinions. ;) And I always have an opinion when it comes to motorcycle aesthetics--which I'm sure many on here do, too. And, another BUT...but it's your sweet Street Twin and you should trick it out exactly how YOU want it so that when you park and walk away and turn back to look at your baby, you smile and think, "I love my bike". :heart:
     
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  9. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    I always welcome constructive criticism so no worries. Thanks for your thoughts!
     
    • Love You Love You x 1
  10. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
    818
    243
    Cheshire UK
    Only just come across this..my fault for only occasionally diving into the forum at the moment!
    I'm curious about the leather wrap on the handlebars. I have a Street Twin. An issue I had was vibration through the bars numbing my hands on long rides, especially on the throttle side (100+ miles). I fitted Triumph barrel grips which have significantly reduced the vibration.
    I would expect switching from the original rubber grips to thinner leather would possibly allow more vibration through. Have you noticed any change? Or maybe the vibes don't bother you.
    You asked for opinions. To me the leather on the forks is a bad move, it reminds me of exhaust wrap on down pipes that some people use to make their bike look..well, I don't really know what they think it looks like..but it's not a good look. Possibly ok on a beaten-up, rusty 1950's Triumph though.
     
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  11. Armando Morales

    Armando Morales Noble Member

    Mar 29, 2021
    849
    443
    Mexico
    The seat is awesome
     
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  12. timboo

    timboo Senior Member

    Oct 17, 2021
    271
    113
    Cambridgeshire
    #12 timboo, Jun 2, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2022
    what was your reaction when you first saw the seat WOW? I’m predicting so however with the forks and grips i’m guessing you were not as convinced hence you request for feedback. At the end of the day it’s what you think which matters.
    I will give an opinion purely as constructive feedback as you have requested.
    I dont like the grips nor the forks more so the forks, they look like the grip on a tennis racket however dont write custom grips off per say. the right company should be able to compliment the seat and be of appropriate quality to set the bike alight if thats what you desire. Bit of back to the drawing board but isn’t that what its all about.
    I went through a similar issue with my genuine tail tidy. A standard sized uk plate looked awful then i found out regulations in the uk do not stipulate a plate size, which fixed my problem otherwise i’d be back with the standard kit.
     
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  13. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Thanks for you're honest feedback. I'm starting to believe I'll take the fork wraps off...but I do like the grip wraps. I was always on the fence with the fork wraps.
     
  14. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Thanks for your feedback, intended to agree with you. With regard to the leather grip wraps, the wraps are directly on top of the grips. I was able to get them so tight that they don't move at all. I don't have any issues with vibration in the grips but I occasionally see the vibrations in the bar end mirrors.
     
  15. Baza

    Baza Elite Member

    Jul 25, 2020
    2,561
    750
    Home of Amazing Grace
    Regarding the vibration, get hold of some lead sheet as used for flashings from your local builder’s merchant, roll it up tight so that it’s a snug fit inside your handlebars and slide it inside the bars. About 150 mm should do the trick.

    And the exhaust wrap, I know and understand the marginal technical advantages this is striving to achieve but really? On a road bike?
     
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  16. MPTriumph

    MPTriumph Well-Known Member

    Sep 12, 2021
    85
    68
    Commiefornia, USA
    Lol! Ok, ok, ok...the fork wraps are gone. I really do like the bike without them. It was just an experiment...a failed experiment! Thanks everyone for your honest opinions.
     
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