Best Bride Seat replicas?
 

Looking to get a seat of Stradas for the FD but the cost of the real Bride seats is of the scale. I've seen some replicas that look good on pictures but not seen them up close. Any word on the source of the best replicas? are there many?

Thanks

Jpr

Recently bought a parts car with some Rep BRIDE seats. I have the Vios III low max buckets and a set of the replica buckets... Visually they are really really hard to tell apart. Stitching, shape, and embroidery are spot on but the fit is super tight. I'm 6'-0 190 and fit in a size 32 seat but these seats I can barely squeeze my ass into. I know BRIDE fits tight but these are for someone that's 5'-8 155lbs honestly. Also there are no certification tags or stickers on them as to the safety of them

IMO the best replica seats are your current OEM seats.

Safety is important, safe seats are important, replica seats are a pretty bad idea ;)

Agree with the safety statement above ^^. Buttt... These Replica seats do make for a really nice looking man-cave chair lol

The stock seats so not provide a good driving position. You sit on them rather than IN them. even normal height folks get to sit way to high up and there is no remedy unless you change the seats.

Jpr

Look into a set of Sparco EVO Buckets. They can be had for around $600 each and are an affordable, none replica, certified seat. Or if you have the extra coin go with the BRIDE, but I would steer clear of the cheaply made replicas seats IMO.

Link to seats below:
Sparco Evo Series - Competition Motorsport

When it comes to safety equipment, do not get replicas. Get a set of lower end sparcos and call it a day.

sounds like a solid choice. is there any way to accommodate rake dynamic rake on these seats or are you stuck with what you dial in on the seat brackets?

Jpr

Yeah, I don't think most the people replying understood you were looking for a reclining "sports seat" not a "racing seat".

Bride Stradia
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...43e552131b.jpg
I haven't looked at the China copies too closely, but the one I was looking at copied the real Bride recline and folding mechanism exactly so it should be safer than an OEM seat as it has the Bride safeties (recline only works on knob, folding is a separate positive/robust mechanism).

The biggest things are the materials and workmanship are cheap on the copies so the cloth will fade fast, isn't fire retardant the welds/materials are much more likely to break in an accident than real Bride.

Stock seats aren't great for safety.
There is no safety on seat recline/folding. I just started driving with a co-driver who wants a different seat position in my RX-8 and had the rude awakening of the seat back collapsing (probably wasn't set correctly after changing recline position) on a very hard braking transition from around 60mph and it was like one of the people in those silly Japanese core workout machine commercials. On my FC I also had a stock JDM rail break off completely racing with a 130lb passenger, though I never had a problem with the more robust USDM rails.

Yes, those are the ones I was referring to. I have also seen some made in Canada that are Kevlar. They I have read those referred to as real licensed Bride seats but its not clear.

Jpr

What Goodfellas said - seats are important for your safety :nod:

Either save up the money and buy genuine Bride, or look to get a cheaper model. For the best pricing on Bride seats checkout RHD Japan. Even with shipping they are the best by several hundred dollars :icon_tup: