Trying to clean motorcycle seat

[saddlebum]

I have a black and grey motorcycle seat from a first gen I am trying to clean. Time has shown its handy work as the light grey has pretty much turned black and I have tried a host of cleaners to try and clean it (even a bit of brake clean on a rag in a not so noticeable spot, That was scary I don't think the vinyl like that move at all) So far I have had the best luck with a product called citra clean http://citraclean.com/ and elbow grease. so far I have only worked on the center triangle of the seat as shown in the pic attached. If any one has a great solution I would love to know it.

[cowpuc]

Years ago I went thru a plathora of products testing for cleaning seats as well as other common materials on scoots I was restoring. The very best product I came up with is a product called "Greased Lightening".. It is amazing well it works if used properly. I found that direct application to the seat (seat off the bike as Lightening will stain aluminum if not carefully used) and scrubbed with a scrub brush and power washed to remove the Lightening worked EXCELLENT! Work hard and fast Bum, scrub for a couple minutes, rinse/spray to see what you have. If not happy = repeat.. MAKE SURE YOU RINSE THOUROULY = stuff is powerful..PS - it does work EXCELLENT as a wash too in a diluted state as mentioned on the jug but you REALLY gotta be careful around unpainted/clear coated aluminum!!

Here's the product on ebay but check out Menards or box store for bigger bottles - this is just an example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-GREASED-LIGHTENING-MULTI-PURPOSE-CLEANER-DEGREASER-3-2-OZ-BOTTLES/163641988082?hash=item2619d293f2:g:g04AAOSwmaVblVs-

[Marcarl]

The seat on my 85 was all gunky and black, and nothing I had would even touch it, even my goto orange based cleaner that cleans everything wouldn't touch it. So the seat came off,,,turned out to be a right move for once,,,, and carb cleaner was applied,,, at first a littlebit for a short time, then more for a longer short time. In the end I had a good looking seat without any noticeable damage. I did treat it with saddlesoap and Thee Tannery afterwards.

[Sylvester]

My , try Krud Cutter. I get it at Home Depot but available elsewhere. It has amazed me.

 

[uhfradarwill]

My seat gets dirtier with every close call!!

[SpencerPJ]

I have found the Magic Erasers, those white kitchen thingys, work great on my Leather truck interior.

[venturesome]

My seat gets dirtier with every close call!!

 

I just went with the brown seat... Saves time!

[Grez007]

I once had a seat that dirty, I couldn’t get it clean, so i gave it away

[saddlebum]

I once had a seat that dirty, I couldn’t get it clean, so i gave it away

 

So after trying to clean it with about 15 defferent cleaners the carb and choke cleaner suggested by Marcarl took first price followed by my citra clean. Plus I followed up the carb cleaner with citra cleaner and finally and industrial vinyl treatment similar to armour all.The seat did not com out perfect but I would say a huge 95% improvement. Interesting little thing although the seat is for a MK I it fits the MK II wexcept the passanger seat is a tad smaller. The drivers seat is a tad lower and so I found myself seating about 1 1/2 inches lower and when I took it for a ride I swear it felt like I could handle the twisties even better than when I had the MK II seat. Although the original upholstry on the bike is brown the grey black does not look half bad. I have a black back rest and left rear arm rest so now all I need to do is find a right rear black arm rest and a set of lack pouches.

Thanks for the seat Grez007

Edited August 12, 2019 by saddlebum

[Prairiehammer]

That black and gray seat was only on the 1984 Standard Venture. Rare bird.

 

I have a couple of gray pouches for the trunk and and maybe a couple pouches for the fairing.

 

[Marcarl]

 

So after trying to clean it with about 15 defferent cleaners the carb and choke cleaner suggested by Marcarl took first price followed by my citra clean. Plus I followed up the carb cleaner with citra cleaner and finally and industrial vinyl treatment similar to armour all.The seat did not com out perfect but I would say a huge 95% improvement. Interesting little thing although the seat is for a MK I it fits the MK II wexcept the passanger seat is a tad smaller. The drivers seat is a tad lower and so I found myself seating about 1 1/2 inches lower and when I took it for a ride I swear it felt like I could handle the twisties even better than when I had the MK II seat. Although the original upholstry on the bike is brown the grey black does not look half bad. I have a black back rest and left rear arm rest so now all I need to do is find a right rear black arm rest and a set of lack pouches.

Thanks for the seat Grez007 https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=117266

 

Not too often I can make this statement, so now given the opportunity,,,,,,,,,,,

 

I told you so!!!!!!!!!

 

Now that is supposed to feel better,,,but didn't make any difference.

[saddlebum]

That black and gray seat was only on the 1984 Standard Venture. Rare bird.

 

I have a couple of gray pouches for the trunk and and maybe a couple pouches for the fairing.

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=117267

Grey huh sounds like it could work. I found some black vinyl paint and repainted the right arm rest from brown to black and now it looks better than the left one I already had.

[Grez007]

I think there was a black pouch in that box of stuff you haded over to me, you are welcome to get it back if you like. I think its one of the smaller ones with a snap, not a zipper( wherever thats supposed to go) that seat looks awesome by the way, glad you were able to save it!

[jdbaker.vet]

I just went with the brown seat... Saves time!

[saddlebum]

Just found another black arm rest in my junk pile I mean surplus inventory. so now I have two matching black arm rests. Glad I didn't repaint the second one. so now everything except the pouches match. So @Prairiehammer what would you want for the grey pouches.

[Prairiehammer]

Just found another black arm rest in my junk pile I mean surplus inventory. so now I have two matching black arm rests. Glad I didn't repaint the second one. so now everything except the pouches match. So Prairiehammer what would you want for the grey pouches.

 

I have three gray trunk pouches and two gray fairing pouches. One fairing pouch snap was pulled free by the PO and has been repaired.

 

$20 each your choice plus actual shipping costs. How many do you want?