Seat Pan & Seat Cover Replacement

From my reading here I gathered most of the seat pans were fiberglass.
Mine is for sure metal, I stuck a magnet against it and it sticks.
(bike is an 82 xj650)

Just curious how common this is?
Is the seat possibility not the original?

And does anyone have any links, photos or tips for replacing the seat cover when the seat pan is a metal one?

 

I don't think that's the original pan. All the originals were plastic AFIK

 

A little worried now cause I bought a replacement cover from The Mac fellow on Ebay after a few positive reviews.
Now I'm not so sure it'll fit .....

Any idea what seat it could be?
It seams to fit pretty well.
I never suspected it wasn't original until now.

 

this is what your seat should look like
https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcycle/1982/xj650j/seat

I will get a photo of mine.

 

not metal bottom .on original seat all lines of the seat line up with grab bar yours do not look like that happens. yours also blocks the passangers ability to hold the grab bar. required by law in NH

I also have a high back seat but not the mandatory sissy bar as printed on label

 

My seca 650 is plastic.

 

I'm embarased to say that I didn't notice this before.
You have an aftermarket seat (likely from JC Whitney). Metal pans were SOP for most of them. The stock cover will not fit.

 

Well I dont really know what to do ...

I think my best option might be to source an original seat that needs a cover and and use the new cover I've already bought and paid for.

Or source a new cover. Too bad I didnt clue in sooner. It was just so old looking I assumed it was original.

 

Email these guys see if they can help
https://www.hoopriderparts.com/category/motorcycle parts

 

the cover i have uses a cord around the edge, just get it on and pull the cord and tie it. a little creative hacksaw and that one might still work

 

We have complete seats (pan, foam, cover) available, might be a bit expensive to ship to BC though. Of course we also have just the OEM-design covers available, too, if you can find a used original seat up there......

 

Does the 550 have a different seat? or are they the same?

 

Different.

You want one from the same sub-model of 650 (Maxim), any year.

If you look at your pan the cover is held on by metal tabs. You could remove that cover and see if the factory one will fit and look good on it. Don't peirce the cover to hook it to the seat unless you are sure that it will work.

You could also return the cover you bought and have an upholstery shop make a new cover for you (new foam might be a good idea too).

 

Nuts, but I figured as much.
Found a seat for a 550 .... so close.

 

slow at the typing.
unless your restoring the bike use the seat until you can find a factory seat.

@Toomanybikes is up in the Canada area maybe he has a seat for you

 

if your getting serious go get some scraps of carpet padding out of the dumpster behind the carpet store and have at it
http://diymotorcycleseat.com/

 

I have a spare 550 Maxim seat..

 

OP has a 650.

 

I thought you said the model sub is what's important, which would be Maxim. The model is XJ650, sub-model Maxim.

 

Nevermind I misread.