CT70 seat

I know that an NOS seat probably does not exist, but is this correct enough to replace an original seat?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-CT70-TRAIL70-1969-TO-1971-COMPLETE-SEAT-HONDA-LOGO-DYED/124080225368?

Looks pretty nice to me, I’m no expert though! If I had a K0 I would definitely buy it.

top-quality-covers is a seller on fee-pay. They have a better seat with the correct ''split rear seam''. Around the same price as the seat you posted.

Do yo have a link?

Mine has a couple small slits if you will, and was hoping to make it better.

I think this is the one OLDCT was referring to.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CT70...832003?hash=item288e399c03:g:dF4AAOSwCglePhsU

BloFish said:

Mine has a couple small slits if you will, and was hoping to make it better.

Click to expand...

If yours only has a couple rips, someone wants it. If it's original, you might want to keep it on the shelf. Either way, don't toss it out. It has some value, to someone. Sell it to offset your costs.

Thanks for the link. As for my seat, I will post some pictures later today and hopefully you can tell me if it is indeed an original.

Looking at Top-Quality-Covers site noticed they have listed CT70 K1 / Hk1 1972 - 1973 complete seat, also have available seat foam, anyone know how accurate that really is for a K1 / Hk1. I would order the seat foam if I thought it was correct.

K1 foam is unique, as in one model only. It's thinner than any other year and has a distinct profile that differs a lot from the K0 and K2-79.

I can think of only one way to judge the "correctness" of reproduction foam...see if the original cover fits properly. Generally speaking, it's best to source both the foam & cover from the same maker. Only exception to that rule, that usually turns out okay, is sourcing just a new cover, reusing the original foam.

There is another ebay seller that offers K1 foam and seat cover . I'm going to take a chance and order both ,then i will compare with original seat and hope its close.

The primary issue is getting the right tension (i.e. "stretch") on the cover. With too little, the cover will take on a flabby look. You can get away with more on the overly-tight end of the spectrum. However, I ran into one situation where the cover was so tight that, weeks later, the seams began splitting(!). FYI...the cover had to be stretched, hard, another inch beyond the point where the vinyl was taut, to reach the barbs. It wasn't rocket science, the owner of the seat parts insisted that everything was "correct", despite my advice.

My goal was to use the original seat pan and trim, because both parts are in good condition, no cracks in pan. Unfortunately, seat cover and foam are in rough shape.

Let me know if this seat is original or worth saving to sell.

Hopefully, you'll get a 2nd...3rd and 4th opinion. But it sure looks original to me. And it's in better condition than 95% of the K0 seats that are still around.

Definitely original. Too bad that old seat cover material isn't still used. At least, I havent seen it anywhere.

Thanks for the information. I think I will put it in storage and buy the aftermarket one listed above.

BloFish said:

Thanks for the information. I think I will put it in storage and buy the aftermarket one listed above.

Click to expand...

I bought one of those aftermarket seats for my HK1 while the original was being restored. To me, the original foam and aftermarket are night and day. With the original, I can ride all day long, but with the aftermarket, about half an hour because it kills my derriere. I would say that if you weigh 180plus, then the aftermarket foam would probably be okay.

I’m holding firm at 150 lbs.

Yeah, the new repops usually have very stiff foam and much more pliable vinyl than was used back in the day. If you're a lightweight rider, it's definitely not gonna yield to your arse. Honda used 4 different types of foam and 4 different profiles.

K0 & K1 used latex foam rubber. Latex foam was used in many applications in the era, especially automotive seats. Unfortunately, it became expensive...and...worse yet, it's a perishable material. IMO, Honda went too far with softening the seat foam, punching holes out of it. The thinner profile K1 doesn't have much between rider & seat pan.

K2-1979 went to a stiffer, synthetic, foam material which provided better support. It also ages much more gracefully. Unfortunately, the profile is very different from K0 & K1.

1980-later went to a different synthetic than was used in the 1970s. It's the best of the original seats in terms of comfort and longevity. It doesn't come close to fitting a K2-79 cover, let alone K0 or K1. In the late 90s service replacement seats got an even better foam, in the same shape as the 1980-94 bikes...the best of the best. Good luck sourcing it. The last run of OER Honda seats went on the NLA list circa 2006, stocks vanished by 2009.

IMHO, polymer technology has come a long way in the last 50 years. The vinyl used in 1969, like the plastic used in K0 headlight shells, was not chemically stable and aged poorly.