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[Twolanerider]

Have been gone for a few days and while away the tour pak backrest arrived from Corbin after being recovered to match the seat.  It's still bright red.  The bright red is still a nice match to the brightest red of the three reds in the bike itself.  But it's still bright red. 

The leather darkening product didn't arrive while I was away.  Will have to check on that package tomorrow.  The backrest got quickly attached awhile ago though; after coming home from giving the SEEG a nice little ride.  So here's the completed look front to back:

[Twolanerider]

Opposite perspective:

[Twolanerider]

Also in the box with the backrest was a 24"x24" piece of the "candy red" material.  That's the darker of the two colors on the tour pak backrest.  It'll be used to recover a spare set of these tour pak rack sidecovers I scored off eBay for $15 last month.  That will remove the color mismatch that the side covers now bring to the palette.

[spydglide]

Looks cool!  spyder

[Fired00d]

Have been gone for a few days and while away the tour pak backrest arrived from Corbin after being recovered to match the seat.  It's still bright red.  The bright red is still a nice match to the brightest red of the three reds in the bike itself.  But it's still bright red. 

The leather darkening product didn't arrive while I was away.  Will have to check on that package tomorrow.  The backrest got quickly attached awhile ago though; after coming home from giving the SEEG a nice little ride.  So here's the completed look front to back:

Maybe that's not a bad thing it brings the eagle out more.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

Looks cool!  spyder

Thanks Spyder.  As loud as it is I've been surprised by how well I like it even pre-darkening.  It's actually becoming a toss up as to whether I do anything with it or not.  Probably will.  Definitely work on the spare material swatch (sic?) first.  But nothing is 100% right now.

[Twolanerider]

Maybe that's not a bad thing it brings the eagle out more.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Especially in good light it really does do that Gary.  And it carries the bright red stripes as they flow back toward the seat.  The summer seat (the tan  ostrich saddle) is on the SEEG now too.  I need to get both bikes outdoors someplace now for some better photos of them side by side with all their plumage displayed.

[spydglide]

Thanks Spyder.  As loud as it is I've been surprised by how well I like it even pre-darkening.  It's actually becoming a toss up as to whether I do anything with it or not.  Probably will.  Definitely work on the spare material swatch (sic?) first.  But nothing is 100% right now.

Exactly!  It's so good now and with the normal darkening that's going to occur with regular replenishment of the oils as it weathers.......I'd say that's the way I'd proceed.    spyder

[Twolanerider]

Exactly!  It's so good now and with the normal darkening that's going to occur with regular replenishment of the oils as it weathers.......I'd say that's the way I'd proceed.    spyder

That is precisely the question I intend to ask the local leather god.  He who who knows all and whose skin oozes oils soaked up from leather and hides over a lifetime.  Want to find out what I might expect from different treatment products over time?

It's been explained to me that since this is a "finished" leather (i.e., it's outer surface is at least partially sealed [this is apparently common for all automotive or other upholstery leathers]) that any darkening product or even dyes won't soak in as much as they would to a "natural" or "virgin" skin.  He's also described what we've all experienced and what you're suggesting again here; that over time and treatment it's going to darken up some on its own.

All that makes it very tempting to just leave it be.  I don't want to use some darkening product that brings it down now and then as time passes watch as it turns brown.  Age and time and the proper normal conditioning products may very well be the ideal course of action here.  Will be interesting homework in an area I have no familiarity to find out more.

[Fired00d]

That is precisely the question I intend to ask the local leather god.  He who who knows all and whose skin oozes oils soaked up from leather and hides over a lifetime.  Want to find out what I might expect from different treatment products over time?

It's been explained to me that since this is a "finished" leather (i.e., it's outer surface is at least partially sealed [this is apparently common for all automotive or other upholstery leathers]) that any darkening product or even dyes won't soak in as much as they would to a "natural" or "virgin" skin.  He's also described what we've all experienced and what you're suggesting again here; that over time and treatment it's going to darken up some on its own.

All that makes it very tempting to just leave it be.  I don't want to use some darkening product that brings it down now and then as time passes watch as it turns brown.  Age and time and the proper normal conditioning products may very well be the ideal course of action here.  Will be interesting homework in an area I have no familiarity to find out more.

Might not be a bad thing to do. Sometimes in our attempt to make things better they turn out to bite us in the butt.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[spydglide]

The Corbin light grey leather on my softtail seat darkened considerably over time with normal conditioning.  spyder

[Twolanerider]

Just had one of those "light bulb over the head" moments.  Rather than having a couple of pleats sewn in to the new candy red vinyl side covers I think I'll see if an embroiderererer can do a good version of the Screamin' Eagle from the fairing.  Might be a stretch but it won't hurt to ask.

[Twolanerider]

The Corbin light grey leather on my softtail seat darkened considerably over time with normal conditioning.  spyder

Ok, I'm sold on waiting.  Less anxiety with doing that than there is potentially permanently ruining the saddle's appearance trying to alter it unnaturally.

[ccr]

Wow!  Don, that looks real nice.  I am unsure why you think you need to adjust anything at all.

It will definately change colors over time.  If you try to force it, you will not get an even natural weathering (I suspect).  And it looks great, just the way it is.  Enjoy.

[Twolanerider]

Wow!  Don, that looks real nice.  I am unsure why you think you need to adjust anything at all.

It will definately change colors over time.  If you try to force it, you will not get an even natural weathering (I suspect).  And it looks great, just the way it is.  Enjoy.

I've come to agree Candy.  Everyone's counsel has won the day. 

When I got the original color swatch I'd made up my mind then that it was the closest to what I wanted that could be had but ought to be darkened just a bit.  So I entered this process with that decision already in hand.  Had to work my way off of it.  Now it's all good .