Deciding on the perfect seat for your cafe racer can be a chore. That’s why we’re here to make it easier!
The Best Cafe Racer Seat Ideas
#1 Get a Tracker Seat
This type of seat looks like the majority of cafe racers. The style comes from the original off-road, oval track racing. Its hump is a little bit lower than the other styles.
While it is comfy, it won’t really make your cafe racer stand out from the crowd. But this might not be such an issue for some of you.
#2 Try a Brat Seat
Brat seats are extremely flat. You can immediately tell if a cafe racer has this type of seat on it.
Arguably, the biggest advantage of fitting a brat seat to your bike is the space you’ll get. However, it is likely that you will miss the back support of the traditional cafe racer seat style. Having said this, you could solve the issue with a buddy cover.
If you’ve never heard of this type before, it’s basically a seat cover that offers back support when you want or need it.
Sometimes, it’s possible to put the front of the seat under your bike’s tank. This creates an interesting look. If you’re wanting to stand out from the crowd, you can’t go wrong with a brat seat.
#3 Get a Bobber Seat
Usually, bobber seats are found on American bikes. It is typically mounted at an equal height to the back wheel. Although, some riders prefer to sit it a tad higher than this.
It sports a pretty deep cavity that is bound to increase your comfort. However, you need to ensure that your particular bike is capable of having this type of seat attached. Most of the time, your cafe racer is best suited to a different type.
#4 If In Doubt, Bike Seat Factory
If you are still stuck for seat design ideas, you can take a look at the Bike Seat Factory. This website has loads of seats to take a look at.
Once you’ve found one that you like, you can either buy it directly from their site or try your hand at making a similar one. If you’re going with the latter option, take a look below, we’ll walk you through the entire process (we suggest you look up some YouTube videos on the matter too!).
#5 Build Your Own From Scratch
If none of our suggestions so far are quite right, there’s always the DIY option. This way, you can create something that is 100% you.
Let’s take a little look at how to do that, shall we?
You Will Need:
- Sheet metal
- Rasp file
- Cardboard
- Masking tape
- Measuring cups
- Micro scale
- Paintbrush
- Fiberglass resin and catalyst (1 kg)
- Dust mask
- Goggles
- 3-inch cut off grinder
- Coarse sandpaper
- Seat foam
- Contact adhesi
Step One: Mounting
Before you start making the seat, you need to have some way to hold it onto your bike. Ideally, you should weld two tabs onto the frame rails and then put some bolts on a flat bar to match the measurements. However, not everyone can weld. And that’s fine.
For those of you who can’t weld, try to use the existing fixings on the seat area rather than welding new ones. Then, you can use lock nuts instead of welding bolts onto a flat bar.
Now, put the fixing bar to one side so it’s ready for the fiberglass. Make sure you know where your electrics will be at this stage too.
Step Two: Lay the Base
The easiest way to do this is to cut some cardboard to depict the shape. You can then cut your sheet metal to the right dimensions and tape it onto the frame.
Step Three: The Frame Rails
Cover everything (the tail, tank, and rails) with tape. Of course, you need to leave enough room for the actual seat so make sure your taping is nice and smooth.
Once you’ve taped everything, run a little release agent over it and make sure you punch holes out for the fixing tabs.
Step Four: Fiberglass Preparation
Here, you need to cut the matting. Make sure you mask any zones that might be affected by dripping resin.
Aim to use between 3 to 6 layers. Put the support bracket and screws in halfway through.
Step Five: Glass Time
Now it’s time to mix your resin! Follow the packet and manufacturer’s recommendations for this. Ensure you can get roughly two layers out of the amount you’ve mixed up.
Lay the first resin layer down before you put the matting on top. Then, work from the top to the bottom, ensuring your brush is soaking the mat with resin to get rid of any air bubbles. It’s a good idea to use a dabbing motion here. Try to stop yourself from dragging the brush. This will only create weak spots in your seat.
Between layers, leave the resin to dry slightly before carrying on. You’ll know it’s time to carry on when the resin becomes matte and is sticky.
On layer two or three remember to put the fixing bar in.
Step Six: Seat Pan Removal
Once you’ve finished this, let it cure for one to three hours. Then, take the seat pan off the bike. Remove all the tape and take off any sheet metal you’ve applied.
Don your PPE (personal protective equipment) and trim the edges. Go slowly to make sure you don’t miss anything. The aim is to make it seamless and smooth.
Step Seven: Make It Comfortable
After the sanding process is finished and you’re happy with it, sit the seat pan onto your cafe racer. If everything has gone well so far, it will be a perfect fit.
Now, cut some foam. This is to shape your seat and make it super comfortable. Use your rasp and contact adhesive for this so you can cut, trim, and glue to your heart’s content.