Is there a way to prolong life cover seat?

[deltarider]

I've scored a sound secondhand buddyseat yesterday (PN.: 77200-374-003). Now all seat covers will end like the one on the right, presumably UV light being the main culprit. Yet I wonder, is there anything one can do, to prolong its life? Is it vinyl and does that absorb any substance that may help to keep it supple? Anyway to shield it?

[Johnny4428]

I think the smallest crack will soon turn into a major tear with the breakdown of the vinyl due to uv light and age. The foam inside the seat breaks down without the uv light just with age (different material ofcourse) I have had both my 550 and 750 seat professionally recovered, question is - is the new vinyl any better than the old (or worse) time will tell.

[K2-K6]

Heat and UV affected, seems almost impossible to prevent as latent instability is such a part of the material. See attached for good explanation

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[AshimotoK0]

I use Avon Skin-So-Soft 

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

It's not cheap but I use 303 Aerospace protectant on my Hot Tub lid that is now 6 yrs old and still in very good condition. Its designed for use on boats etc. As bike seats are not very large a bottle would last ages.

[Johnny4428]

That Avon skin so soft is also a great Midgie repellent, actually beating marketed repellent, and it moisturises. 😜😜

[AshimotoK0]

That Avon skin so soft is also a great Midgie repellent, actually beating marketed repellent, and it moisturises. 😜😜

I bought three bottles off eBay and when my daughters saw it, they thought it was for them. They were most disappointed when I told them it was for renovating bike seats. 

[Johnny4428]

That Avon skin so soft is also a great Midgie repellent, actually beating marketed repellent, and it moisturises. 😜😜

I bought three bottles off eBay and when my daughters saw it, they thought it was for them. They were most disappointed when I told them it was for renovating bike seats. 

😂😂😂 Poor deprived girls! You’ll have to double your order next time.🤣

I’ll have to try some on my bike.

[deltarider]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. My English is limited, so it is a bit hard for me to conclude whether Avon Skin-so-Soft is perfectly safe or it might contain a harmful ingredient as meant in the document K2-K6 has attached in reply #2. Anyway, I have to find out if we have that same product in Holland or possibly an equivalent. Just came to mind: would castor oil harm?

[AshimotoK0]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. My English is limited, so it is a bit hard for me to conclude whether Avon Skin-so-Soft is perfectly safe or it might contain a harmful ingredient as meant in the document K2-K6 has attached in reply #2. Anyway, I have to find out if we have that same product in Holland or possibly an equivalent. Just came to mind: would castor oil harm?

Your English is perfect 

Safe on vinyl

https://www.ebay.nl/itm/232809530138?hash=item363487831a:g:ZbIAAOSwk95bJo3x

[Kelly E]

I saved the seat cover on my 94' Kawasaki Concours ZG1000 with a product called SC-1. It comes in a spray can. The seat almost looked gray when I started. I sprayed on a coat and let it soak in, when absorbed I sprayed it again. At the end I wiped it down with a clean rag. I went through half of the can but the seat is still good 4 years later. The best part is the label says "New Bike in a Can".
When I take the Concours on long rides I spray the fairing and side panels with an even coat and leave it alone to dry. After a two week roadtrip the bugs and bug guts wipe right off.

[deltarider]

Your English is perfect 
Safe on vynyl

Thanks Ash, but my English is not perfect. Uhm... btw, vinyl is spelled vinyl and not vynyl.

[K2-K6]

The Avon product ingredient that seems to be acting is Jojoba oil from the seed of that plant, the rest is alcohol and perfumes.

The Maxima SC1 product is Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbons (synthesised from petroleum base) and held in lpg (liquid petroleum gas) as solvent and propellant, I presume.

Castor oil may be of use (try on the old one just on a tiny bit) also used as base oil in many cosmetics etc.

Guess the problem is to get something to soak in rather than lay on surface. The research paper suggests that there's not much that can have any real effect though, PC is pretty resilient stuff and why it's used in the first place.

[K2-K6]

Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbons usually means Naptha/lighter fluid (why the sc1 product is so flammable along with lpg) also found in bbq fire lighters etc in those white blocks that make your skin smell of paraffin.