Dirty and matte but not torn. Let's repaint such seat covers with special leather paint!

Motorcycle seats that are stored outdoors and are exposed to rain, wind, and UV rays for several years are commonplace, and some can retain their texture for decades. Although they are known for their durability, poor handling or storage conditions can cause the outer skin to become discolored or discolored. If it deteriorates and is cut or torn, it must be reupholstered or otherwise repaired, but if it is only a matter of color, it may be possible to restore the texture by repainting it with "leather paint.

Is it only inconspicuous because it is black?　A motorcycle seat that is actually very dirty.

Like the steering wheel and steps, the seats are in constant contact with the body but receive little attention. Except when removing anchorage or replacing torn up upholstery, some riders may simply wipe the seat with a rag when washing their car. Seats are usually overlooked, but among the many parts that make up a motorcycle, they are by far the strongest and most durable. It is no exaggeration to say that the toughness of seat covers, which repeatedly expand and contract while being exposed to wind, rain, and ultraviolet rays, is astonishing. Among synthetic leathers, which are commonly used for seat upholstery, the material used for motorcycle seats is particularly durable and weather resistant. While it is not unusual for the upholstery and sponges of dining chairs, sofas, and working chairs to wear out after a few years, it is common for motorcycle seat upholstery to last 5 or 10 years. It is not uncommon for motorcycle seats to remain flexible for 30 or 40 years if the bike is stored in a garage. Regular cleaning is an effective way to maintain the condition of such seats. Washing with the same car wash shampoo that is used for the gas tank and cowl is effective, but the black seat surface skin is hard to see dirt, so it may actually be dirtier than expected. In such cases, a cleaner specially developed for seats can be useful. Wise Gear's Yamalube Seat Cleaner has the effect of lifting dirt that has gotten into the grain pattern of the outer skin, and by simply spraying it on, waiting a while, and wiping it off with a cloth, you can remove stubborn dirt.

If the luster has been pulled off and the surface is just white and bulky, repainting is better than silicone spray.

Some types of stains still cannot be removed even with sheet cleaner. In some cases, traces of chemicals or cleaners may stain the surface, and in others, strong degreasing agents may pull out the luster of the surface skin, causing it to become crusty and cracked. In these cases, silicone spray is often used as a stopgap measure. Silicon, which is sometimes sprayed on used cars to make them look good, can temporarily restore the dark luster, but the effect wears off after a short period of time as the rider sits on the car, and above all, it becomes slippery, which interferes with riding. An effective solution to such a situation is repair by painting. Paint used to paint exterior parts, whether lacquer or urethane paint, hardens after drying and is not flexible. When painting soft materials such as polypropylene resin, which is often used for the exterior of trail cars, it is not uncommon to add an additive called a softener to provide flexibility. Seat upholstery is not only even softer than polypropylene. Because it can be bent to the point of wrinkling, common paints will crack and peel off the paint film. In contrast, leather paints are literally specialized for painting leather products. The products introduced here are two-component urethane paints that react with a base agent and a hardener, and are applied using a spray gun. Some brands are also available as one-component canned spray type products. While brush-type paints are also available for easy use, it is recommended to choose spray-type paints that do not easily become uneven if the entire sheet is to be painted.

Easy refreshment with flexible and hard-to-peel leather paint

The procedure for painting motorcycle seats with leather paint follows the instructions for use of the paint. Some products require surface preparation, but the paint shown here could be sprayed after degreasing and cleaning with a mild detergent. In this case, we were able to achieve a one-coat finish because the original surface color was black over black paint. However, when painting in yellow or red when changing colors, painting once in white may improve the color rendering. However, when considering a two-coat finish, it is necessary to confirm in advance whether or not the paint is compatible with layering. Also, the texture after painting may differ from what is expected. Exterior parts are generally painted so that the painted surface is smooth. However, seat covers generally have a grained pattern, and if this pattern is broken (filled in), the atmosphere of the seat may change. In addition, depending on the paint, the luster may not be as desired. The paint used in this project has a separate matting agent that allows the gloss to be adjusted, but it may not be possible to adjust the finish to be either too shiny or too matte. These are the risks and cautions associated with repainting, but the benefits of a significant refreshment effect without having to replace the upholstery should outweigh them. The seat paint job shown here was done more than 10 years ago, and the skin is still flexible and has no problems with the paint peeling off. We cannot guarantee that the same effect will last for all paints, but knowing that there are repair methods like this can make freshening up easier and more effective than you might imagine.

Go to  (10)