185s stock seat foam?

[Jim mac]

does anyone sell stock type seat foam for a 185s?
Hi flite would be nice but $200 with shipping for a cover and foam is a little more
than I want to spend on my trike. I was hoping to use the 30 dollar ebay cover and a foam to fit. jim

[oldskool83]

If you buy directly thru their site its not as much. I got new 350x seat foam was $130 shipped.

Other thing you can do is buy a big foam block and start to shape it by hand with a big bread knife. You will check up your time vs money but i say time is money.

[Jim mac]

I went to thier website, 29 bucks for shipping, the foam only fits thier cover so 158 probably tax too so 200 plus dollars. shame too, I have a really nice, solid pan with all the tabs intact. jim

[oldskool83]

How bad is your OEM foam. I ask this because I use auto upholstery shops near me and they can cut out the bad sections and put in new like density foam. Normally this only costs a few bucks since they do it all day every day. Ive fixed many seats for around $40-50 with a cover installed. Post up a photo.

[Jim mac]

I just have a really nice pan, no foam. jim

[oldskool83]

next step but another trike, rob the seat, part or sell it off, make all you money back. I do it all the time. Just bought a machine for the header. Parted entire machine have more parts plus free header now and more money. If not get a foam block and start to shape it.

[TexFest]

atcheaven.com sells foam but says out of stock

[Jim mac]

locally not much of a market for atc parts. And if I bought another trike, I'd be the guy buying parts to fix it back up. I have a 200s frame and have been inventoring parts to see what I need to get it running. no plastics, or seat on that one. jim

[MrConcdid]

Other options, check with a auto upholstery shop for generic dense foam, cut up a 4 wheeler seat and rob the foam from it and re shape it.
buy a whole seat off ebay.

MrC.

[Jim mac]

the 3 185s I have, 1 has a really pretty nice pan, sponge and a new seat cover that looks really good and smooth.
trike 2, I had to fiberglass the rusty pan and fill some divots on the factory foam, I used screws to hold the cover on and the cover looks like cellulite.
trike 3 has a cherry pan, just no sponge. maybe put the lumpy seat on trike #3 with no title and sell it. And just order a desert seat kit from hi flite and have 2 nice 185s. Sadly I bet I don't get 400 bucks for a complete running 185s and a seats going to cost half that. jim

[ADOR]

If you are thrifty and have a local wrecking yard go check out what seats they have there to rob the foam out of it. I have some foam saved from a Ford ranger that is about the same type as the 185 used. Shaping it with a hot wire is best, but taking your time with a good razor blade and tracing out your shape using the pan as a pattern it should work. When I redid my 52 Ford F1 seat I cut down a full size truck seat foam as it was thicker than the mini truck size foam.

[ATC King]

Seat foam breaks down with time and use. Old foam is old foam. For anyone sub 165lb, they can probably get away with used or old foam, anyone over that, and spirited riding will have their rump slapping into the seat pan.

Spend the time shaping/gluing new foam yourself, or buy it ready-made. It's going to be about the same cost in the end when trying to get something similar to a stock replacement.

I ordered new seat foam for one of my post-2000 motorcycles. The OEM just had too many miles and was to the point I could actually feel the seat pan at the rear of it and was extremely uncomfortable. I've had the bike since nearly new and remember what it used to feel like. Think '80 something ATC foam is as good as new just because chunks aren't out of it? I can get on bicycle and ride for 100 miles and still be comfortable, I know when a ATV/motorcycle seat isn't living up to it's full potential.


Want to flip it? Then either don't repair the seat and let the next owner deal with it, or repair it and don't sell unless someone is going to pay up. It's pay-to-play with trikes now, even the entry priced ones. The cheapest thing in them right now is the gas.


When it comes to my personal trikes, I'll either buy a new block of foam and shape it myself, or ready-made seat foam. I've done both, and if ready-made is available, I've found it's more of a bargain in the end. Unless you want to custom build something with gel inserts or a heating element, I don't think that'll change.

On a 185S, I don't think there's anything better than the tall, desert (safety nose) seat. All that room to move and the increased seat to peg distance, really opens up the cockpit and smoothens out the ride. After riding on something like that, the stock seat feels too restrictive for spirited riding.

[Jim mac]

I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and order the seat kit and plan on keeping the nicer of the 3
I already have a new fiberglass rear fender, lights work, have new brake shoes, and cables for it too. plus it's got 3 new tires and originally (before theb350x) it was going to be my keeper. jim

[shortline10]

Travelclade saddleman used to offer foams and covers .
Might be worth a call ?

Also the Atc 110 from 79-82 foam is very similar in size and shape .

[Jim mac]

well, went for broke and ordered a black hi flite seat kit. will post pics when it shows up. jim

[ATC King]

With a good seat pan, I think you made the right choice. New upgrade, over old foam and a cheap cover. Take care of it and keep any animals you may have off of it (damn catz), and it'll hold value.

What firmness did you order?


Just a tidbit of info, Hi-Flite and Ceet have the same owner, along with a vintage Suzuki company (I'll let you guess that one).

[Jim mac]

well the seat kit arrived Monday and took about 20 minutes to install. for some reason the site won't let me upload pics. I got the blue cover and medium foam. jim

[Jim mac]

picture of the hi flite seat with foam

[badasskfx]

That looks awesome. Hi flite seats are the way to go.

[Jwheeler]

picture of the hi flite seat with foam

Good morning Jim, that turn out great. I've always liked the Ceet/Hi-Flite products.