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New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:45 pm
by jstone
I got an idea from work for some new floor mats for sprees. I wire wayside crossing houses that railroads use. The floor of the houses are covered in good rubber, and every once in awhile we have to cut a square out to put a rack in. Now none of that concerns you guys, but that square is just large enough to cover a spree floorboard. We just throw it away usually, but I've started saving it and am going to make some floorboard covers out of it.

One side of it has ridges, and the other side is mostly flat. The way the floorboard is made, you can use either side of the rubber mat.

These are still in sort of a "testing" stage right now, and when I get it how I want it, they will be VERY limited. Only because I may only be able to get my hands on 1-2 a week.

Anyways, heres some pics of the prototype, appreciate any feedback!

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Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:51 pm
by bradthreee
I think that looks great! The only concern would be how to avoid the mat raising or falling off @ high speeds. Maybe you could use velcro strips?

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:14 pm
by wiguy05
jstone wrote:I got an idea from work for some new floor mats for sprees.
bradthreee wrote:The only concern would be how to avoid the mat raising or falling off @ high speeds.
LOL....what?

Too bad the Elite floorboard is much bigger, those are nice mats!

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:42 pm
by mr pibbs
Has anyone thought about stainless steel floor panel? I saw it on another honda somewhere

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:49 pm
by Videonut
ya at the super high speed of 32mph i would be afraid that it would whip up and hit me in the nards......ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha no just kidding but if you had some kind of way to hold it down. No on the velcro. the glue is just too........well it wont work. maybe a cool bracket that makes it so you can use the 4 bolts to hold it on. but then the lead edge will fly up...... well im sure you can figure it out.......

Rivets??? then i gotta drill holes.

ill stick to diamond plating aluminum. very nice

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:56 pm
by jstone
To hold it down, I was just figuring you could get longer bolts that would go up through the rubber. Use a washer, and find something as a spacer to fill the gap under then rubber where the bolt usually sits, and voila! I'll have to actually use it to see, which isn't going to happen because my spree is tore apart and will be for awhile.

I'm planning on sending the first good one I do to somebody with a cherry spree, as long as they'll take good pictures of it for me to show off. I'm GUESSING the leg shield will be enough to keep the wind away from the lead edge, not to mention you will have your feet on it too. I don't see holding it down as a big problem...

And if I sell these, I'll include the bolts, washers, and spacers with it as a kit so its just plug and play.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:19 pm
by Lunytune
I don't have a spree but I do have an Elite "E", which is also little and narrow floorboard. It's not cherry, but in pretty good shape.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:28 pm
by jstone
I might could do it for an elite. The only one I know of that I could use though is a late 80's model.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:07 pm
by Lunytune
jstone wrote:I might could do it for an elite. The only one I know of that I could use though is a late 80's model.
I didn't think about you needing a pattern. I'm sure mine is close in size, but still not exact configuration. Frame is same as I understand, but panels are different. Yes, you probably would need a pattern. Mine is 1988. They were only made for 2-3 years, 1988-1990.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:22 pm
by Videonut
jstone wrote:To hold it down, I was just figuring you could get longer bolts that would go up through the rubber. Use a washer, and find something as a spacer to fill the gap under then rubber where the bolt usually sits, and voila! I'll have to actually use it to see, which isn't going to happen because my spree is tore apart and will be for awhile.

I'm planning on sending the first good one I do to somebody with a cherry spree, as long as they'll take good pictures of it for me to show off. I'm GUESSING the leg shield will be enough to keep the wind away from the lead edge, not to mention you will have your feet on it too. I don't see holding it down as a big problem...

And if I sell these, I'll include the bolts, washers, and spacers with it as a kit so its just plug and play.

i have a pretty cherry spree i will do it for ya then ill pay for the mat if i like it..

Videonut

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Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:31 am
by adark248
what about attaching a spacer of some sort and a nice magnet to the underside, so that you can just lay it down and it'll snap onto the floorboard bolts? Would that be workable? That way you'd get the nice clean look in your pics and it would still hold firmly to the bike. I would be interested in one of these, maybe my wife will want it for her Spree after we get it all painted and everything.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:34 am
by ALOW1
Off topic sorry........

But I love the knobbys on that Spree!

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:44 am
by Lunytune
adark248 wrote:what about attaching a spacer of some sort and a nice magnet to the underside, so that you can just lay it down and it'll snap onto the floorboard bolts? Would that be workable? That way you'd get the nice clean look in your pics and it would still hold firmly to the bike. I would be interested in one of these, maybe my wife will want it for her Spree after we get it all painted and everything.
What kind of spacer? Like a washer? How bout this? Get some of those little magnets like the cute note holder things the wife puts on the refrigerator. I'm sure you could find them in a craft store. Glue them to the rubber with gorilla glue, maybe lined up with the floorboard bolts. The magnets would cling to the bolts or floorboard.

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:29 am
by dreamer1uk
Hey,

I like the idea of that aftermarket mat. Maybe after you figure out that spacing issue, you could make some kits and sell them :)

As for that all black spree, that looks exactly like mine with all the black parts, except my wheels are silver. But after seeing those black wheels, thats next on my to-do list!

Re: New rubber floor mats (possible)

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:00 pm
by Clivester
Hey Videonut:

How do those tires ride on the road? What size are they - they look a bit bigger than 2.50 x 10?