Author Topic: Solo seat conversion (Read 14972 times)

wolfpack · **on:** July 03, 2015, 05:01:45 pm

Does anyone know of a conversion kit to convert my stock factory two up seat on a 2007 iron head bullet to a solo spring seat? Preferably the large Harley type. I tried the search feature for the forum but I can't seem to get it to produce any results on the topic.

Chuck D · **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:15:50 pm

http://www.nfieldgear.com/deluxe-solo-seat/

ROVERMAN · **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2015, 09:54:55 pm

Whatever you do don't order the "American style" solo seats from E Bay from an Indian vendor. Doesn't even come close to fitting,the chrome was pitiful, same for the welding and paint. I did manage to fab a bracket and fit it but the springs were laughably weedy and i pogo-ed back onto the fender every time i hit the gas! Needless to say it is going back,lesson learned.
Roverman.

wolfpack · **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2015, 12:48:16 am

Thanks Roverman. I was seriously considering ordering the exact one your talking about. It may be best to just order the parts for a bike build and make it work. I traded for some Harley sportster parts with my nephew a few years ago when he upgraded his seat and exhaust. One of the items I got out of the deal was an extra stock seat. I made a few brackets for the Harley seat and mounted it today, now I can plant my feet firmly on the ground when I stop at lights. Would still like a springer seat.

Tarnand · **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2015, 01:18:02 am

Wolfpack - It was not a 5 minutes job but I used Harley bobber Ultima Seat and with some help manufactured all the missing hardware myself. I am pleased with the results.

dginfw · **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2015, 01:36:52 am

Tarnand, that seat looks good on there. Nice job

Tarnand · **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2015, 02:02:18 am

Thank you dginfw. I realized that perhaps I also should have posted the entire profile of the bike.

ROVERMAN · **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2015, 03:33:36 pm

Returning my seat was a bust, shipping would have cost $80. So i will sit (pun intended) and think on it awhile, especially after seeing what Tarnad did.

Roverman.

Jharrison58 · **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2015, 06:48:29 pm

Great looking seat Tarnand, I had to fab a piece of 12 gauge one inch steel to get the solo seat I picked up at Nfield to fit. I thought it was just that I'm a pretty big guy and that the pogo bouncing was just something I was going to have to live with. HAAA

1 Thump · **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2015, 05:19:43 pm

Quote from: Tarnand on July 07, 2015, 02:02:18 am

Thank you dginfw. I realized that perhaps I also should have posted the entire profile of the bike.

Thats a beauty right there. Does the old yoke move the handlebars back by a couple of inches. It looks that but I thought I'd ask.

1 Thump · **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2015, 05:20:07 pm

Thats a beauty right there. Does the old(er) yoke and light setup move the handlebars back by a couple of inches. It looks that but I thought I'd ask.

rtillery02 · **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2015, 08:23:03 pm

Oh man, thanks for the whole bike profile, that's REALLY a nice lookin ride. Well done seat & all around maintenance really shows.

wolfpack · **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2015, 12:15:42 am

Great job Tarnand. Beautiful bike and seat. I was wanting a brown springer seat to match my bags. Just like the way they look on a thumper. I was going to order the Hitchcock seat, but with shipping and the currency exchange the money just isn't there right now. Thanks for the detailed pics.

Tarnand · **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2015, 04:19:23 am

Thank you guys - your comments really made me feel good.

1 Thump - I am not sure if the top yoke made much difference. I will take some measurements and pictures tomorrow.

Tarnand · **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2015, 05:55:04 pm

Well, below are the images. Just as I thought the top yoke offset is about the same. What actually made for me a considerable difference was the currently installed WD CO steering bar. Maybe on photos it does not appear much but I definitely feel it after a longer ride.

1 Thump · **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2015, 06:35:47 pm

Quote from: Tarnand on July 16, 2015, 05:55:04 pm

Well, below are the images. Just as I thought the top yoke offset is about the same. What actually made for me a considerable difference was the currently installed WD CO steering bar. Maybe on photos it does not appear much but I definitely feel it after a longer ride.

Thank you.

The last pic explains it all. Now, where to get those bars?

Tarnand · **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2015, 11:02:23 pm

I ordered them from Hitchcock. They were not that expensive, Ł 27. However, the shipping charges (I believe Ł 50) for the bars, oil pump spindle and worm just shocked me.

wolfpack · **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:43:25 am

My extra Harley Sportster seat modified to fit the bullet.

wolfpack · **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:51:33 am

Took the stock Harley sportster seat and removed the nylon cover, cut down the sides of the seat pan and cut down the foam padding. Bought a piece of leather ($5.00) from the local flea market and a bottle of brown leather dye ($5.00). Doesn't match perfectly, buy much better than the black. Oh yeah, I made a bracket to mount the seat to the frame. Cheap alternative to a store bought seat.

blasphemous · **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2015, 11:44:50 pm

I bought the mounting kit from nfield gear for like 75 bucks (with springs) and bought the seat on ebay for like 80 bucks. Looks good I think:

strat71 · **Reply #20 on:** July 25, 2015, 03:18:39 am

Quote from: Tarnand on July 16, 2015, 05:55:04 pm

Tarnand, i love what you did on your bike... specially on your headlamp combo...
give me some details: i see you used the FORK TOP YOKE (TRIALS) and a front HEADLAMP WITH SWITCH AND AMMETER from hitchcock...

what did you used on your handle bar (lever bar etc..)?
where did you relocated the ignition key switch? the on/off switch? etc...
Ben

Tarnand · **Reply #21 on:** July 27, 2015, 01:51:13 am

Ben,
Thank you.
The ignition key switch was relocated to the left toolbox. To do that I needed to change the wiring. On the occasion I removed some of the wires and now I wish I had removed even more. The cigarette lighter socket was added later. I use it mostly to connect a tender charger during winter storage.

As for the handlebar controls I initially used these from Hitchcock. Later they were gradually replaced with break-choke combo and matching clutch lever bought at at local swapmeet. I paid $25 and $15 respectively. The decompression lever with valve and cable was also bought at a swapmeet for I believe $20. The LH switch comes from eBay.

I also tried to hide the turn signals and that's how it turned out.

Yes, it is what you think it is.

lonsomecrow · **Reply #22 on:** July 27, 2015, 02:20:12 am

I like your number plate holder! where did you get it from? (including break lights!)

Tarnand · **Reply #23 on:** July 27, 2015, 04:24:50 pm

The plate holder is from Hitchcock. The break light was bought on eBay. It is Lucas M110 replica. The lenses are made of plastic so it is better to use LED bulb as they do not generate heat. It is a great looking light but keep in mind that it is not visible as well as much larger lamps typically used today.

I have not actually seen this one but it seems like another alternative. It is Lucas 477/1 replica.

This one is also a grate looking light but it is even smaller than the two above so I am not sure if I would recommend it. It is Lucas MT211. I also have one of these and I like the MT110 more.

strat71 · **Reply #24 on:** July 27, 2015, 05:52:49 pm

Now that's details....

many thanks, i'm very tempted to do so on my 500ES, i hate the modern handle bars control... and your bullet is a prefect example of a neat old looking bullet... i love it...

i don't see the on/off switch (the big red security switch) anywhere, did you simply remove it??

you say you changed the hitchcocks controls.. why??? the quality is not good? you just find better looking ones??

anyway, thanks, lot of ideas for my new 500 ES...
Ben

lonsomecrow · **Reply #25 on:** July 27, 2015, 06:24:34 pm

Thanks!

Tarnand · **Reply #26 on:** July 27, 2015, 09:05:51 pm

The controls from Hitchcock were fine but when I stumbled on the mentioned combo I could not pass on it. Also, it saved room on the handlebar and allowed for cleaner arrangement of these controls. The compression release lever came from a friend of mine who also bought it at a swapmeet. He said "Andrew, I liked it so much I just had to buy it".

As far as the kill switch ... I got rid of it. To turn the motor off I use the ignition switch and occasionally the decompressor. I am not missing it a bit.

Below is an old photo of how the handle bar looked with the controls from Hitchcock. You can see the difference for yourself.

strat71 · **Reply #27 on:** July 28, 2015, 06:00:51 pm

totally understand...
thanks for all the ideas...
Ben

Hondo · **Reply #28 on:** August 07, 2015, 01:41:55 pm

I went a very similar route. I installed the war era bars, old school controls, and reproduction old school switches. I moved my on off switch to the same location on the tool box, removed about half of my wiring harness, cloth wrapped the harness, and run a mini battery in the same tool box.

Camerich · **Reply #29 on:** October 16, 2015, 06:42:03 am

I've got a 2005 Bullet 5 Speed with a dual seat. What would be needed to install this Biltwell solo seat?

http://www.nfieldgear.com/biltwell-solo-seat/

pushrod · **Reply #30 on:** October 20, 2015, 11:26:33 am

Wolfpack, I don't know if the model year would make a difference or not but I replaced the two up seat on my 2000 iron barrel this this solo I bought off an ebay seller from India. Pretty simple swap without too much trouble.