Heidi has let me know, that although the drivers seat of a Raider is suitably comfortable, the passenger pillion leaves something to be desired. Just like most bikes of it's kind... they just don't put much effort into a passenger seat... After maybe 30 miles or so, that lil' pad gets to holding your attention... and pokin' your butt... or so I'm told! :o) ... so...
I rode into Bitchn Stitchn, just before 9 in the morning so Dan and Brian could set to work strippin' that less than sit worthy, factory pillion.
Brian did most of the skinning, while Dan and I sorted out what it was I was looking to achieve...
They had much of the 'new' base foam put into place by the time Heidi arrived to start the 'fitting' process... and right about then is when oops #2 really took hold...
Bitchin' Stitchin' has their own Backrest system... only... it really wouldn't work, but poorly, with the Raiders seat pan... I'd figured to use their Backrest... and we really needed the rest to know where the seat had to... or could, go... so, a quick phonecall and a Yamaha Backrest, designed just for the Raider was located, in stock, at Coyote Motorsports, up the road a ways...
That was a few hundred bucks I'd not planned on... but... I wanted this done right so I coughed it up!
Uh... oops #2? What was number #1?... Uh... the night before, I flushed the dust off the bike at a car wash... but... they can't work on a seat all full of water! ... so... OOPS! :o) luckily... it wasn't saturated... just had a bit of water that had got into one corner of the foam, that Brian was able to blow dry out in short order... so... if you're heading to get a seat worked on... Keep it Dry! :o)
Took a bit over an hour to collect the Yamaha Backrest, grab some chow at Mickey D's... and run on back to the motorcycle seat shop... to get it bolted in place...
... and guess what?
The new foam fit like it was designed for that Yamaha Raider Backrest... Their experience was showing! Suh-Wheet! :o)
Dan, Heidi and I spent another bit of time, while Brian was cutting in the gel pad, and installing the final wrap of foam... hashing out how and what the cover would look like... and actually decided to redo part of the Backrest Pad too... so it ties right in to the rest of the bike...
... 'course the total plan includes recovering the drivers seat as well... but I can't do that until I replace the factory handlebars...
When I sit, all the way back in the seat, and sit how I want to sit... the factory grips are too far forward... forcing me to lean, a bit too much... the cure, for me, is to find a proper set of Pull Back bars... to position my hands where I want 'em... Letting me sit in the easy posture I want...
The factory bars are more of a drag bar type I guess... I'm lookin' at a variety of bagger, beach or dresser style bars... just have to make a decision which ones seem to fit the best.
Keep watching... there will be a full article on the site... with more pictures... as soon as I get it all put together...
Then? On to the Saddlebags! :o) This is gonna take some careful calculating as well... I'm apparently one of the few who actually like... and prefer the stock pipes on my Raider. The only problem I'm having is that those pipes run pretty high, taking up space where bags need to sit. Sooooo... I'm going to have to get a mite creative and squeeze bags of proper shape and function... into the space I have...
It's a sweet ride, setting up a bike to fit just you...
Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian
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