Custom Corbin - Thumbs Up!

JustAnotherSquid · 05-09-2002, 10:05 AM

Hi all,

I'm a big guy (6'4" 225lbs) and, like a lot of you out there, I found the seat-to-peg distance of the S a little too cramped. I could ride for only about 30 minutes before knee pain set in.

So I had Corbin take one of their standard S seats and build it up 2". The result is enough increase in the seat-to-peg distance to make the bike all-day comfortable.

It also effectively moved the bars lower, but since my bike already had the high bars the resulting seat-to-bar distance was very good.

As you can see in the pics, the seat foam comes straight across from the front of the seat, instead of dropping down several inches. I highly recomend this to all the tall guys out there.

JAS

Joe · Joe's Garage

JAS

Where's that crappy logo of their's? They wouldn't let me order the smuggler without it.

Good idea keeps your ground clearence and keeps the short people from borrowing your bike.

JustAnotherSquid · 05-09-2002, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe
Where's that crappy logo of their's?

It's hidden under the cover. They attached it to the piping on the passenger section. Perfect.

BTW, they also sent those shiny thumb-screws with the seat. Much much better looking than the nasty stockers, although they don't have that cool "lock in place" feature, so you have to check them for tightness frequently.

JAS

buckeyeRS · 05-09-2002, 11:02 AM

How much did they charge you over the regular seat? I'm in your height range, 6'4" 230lbs. I 've been thinking about this seat for a while.
-john

motoman · motoman's Garage

Nice! Can they do this to a Smuggler too?

( Never could understand the thinking on the S seat cowl...

)

ErricZ · 05-09-2002, 12:16 PM

Argh, guys! Height is not what matters! Measure your inseam! That's what counts!!!!!!

Mike Gehl · 12:36 PM

I've been thinking of having Sargent or whomever do the same to a stock seat; basically adding as much thickness as the stock seat cover allows. I run an inseam of 36"; my knees can tolerate most of a day in the saddle, but not consecutive days. Certain valuable parts of the anatomy are not pleased with the the incessant sliding forward the slope of the stock seat causes, though.

Is this something any sort of upholstery shop could do, or do I need to grin and bear the 4 week wait and have it done "right"?

Mike

JustAnotherSquid · 05-09-2002, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeRS
How much did they charge you over the regular seat?

Same price as standard - $399.

My wife bought the same exact seat for her Suzuki - carbon fiber-look leather for the seating surface and carbon-fiber vinyl for the rest of the seat. Hers was $199.

I asked why mine was double and they said "because it's for a BMW".

LOL.

JAS

JustAnotherSquid · 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoman
Nice! Can they do this to a Smuggler too?

Don't know; didn't ask. But they should be able to. Corbin's sales number is 800-538-7035.

JAS

Raven · 05-09-2002, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JustAnotherSquid

Same price as standard - $399.

My wife bought the same exact seat for her Suzuki - carbon fiber-look leather for the seating surface and carbon-fiber vinyl for the rest of the seat. Hers was $199.

I asked why mine was double and they said "because it's for a BMW". LOL.

JAS

Don't complain! I bought my seat two years ago from Corbin for $500.00.

It is good to see the price come down.

buckeyeRS · 05-09-2002, 05:35 PM

JAS,
Thanks for the note. $399 is a lot. Although a stock seat can run north of $260. So a custom leather for $400 is at least understandable.
-john

bertbrumfield · 05-10-2002, 08:40 AM

How does the corbin plastic seat base fit on the S??
Does it seal the tool tray area well??
Most corbin bases do not fit as well as the stock (or seargent) on BMWs.

jdlowery · 05-10-2002, 09:09 PM

JAS,

How did the 2 inch elevation of the seat affect the wind buffeting on your chest/helmet? Did it also lower the wind protected areas 2 inches?

JustAnotherSquid · 05-11-2002, 05:04 AM

buckeye,

For the improvement it made, I consider $399 cheap.

bert,

I had no problems installing the seat. It does seem to fit a bit "tighter" than stock, but it went on fine. I've never seen a Sargent so can't compare the two.

j,

I haven't had the buffeting problems others have had, and the new seat didn't change that. Maybe it's my height, or maybe it's that I'm used to riding sport/naked bikes that don't offer much wind protection anyway. With the bars in the same position, the higher seat feels like it moved my head forward but not up.

JAS

Jim Karns · 06:35 AM

JAS,
Waiting for the exact same thing from Sargent seat. They're charging me in the area of $300. with all the bells & whistles (leveled via front build up, widened, super cell foam, cf patterned covering). I think it's worth the the price for comforts sake. Hopefully it'll keep me from moving foreword on the seat every time I roll off the throttle. Time will tell. I am in full agreement that it will be a benefit for all of the tall drivers. They did the seat on my 89' R100RS and it's perfect.

716MP · 05-11-2002, 11:03 PM

Like someone else mentioned here, I paid $500.00 + tax in 2000 for the Corbin..
but it's been worth every penny...and it comes equipped with the shiny alloy screws
to hold the tail-piece on....and it's leather.....
It fit tighter than the stock, and seals the tool kit/tire patch kit better than stock..
8 hour days in the saddle are fine....when I get tired, it's because I'm tired,
not because my butt hurts.....
And two years down the road, the saddle has held up exceptionally well....with
not much more than a saddle soaping and leather conditioning at the beginning
of the riding season....
If it's cheaper now, all the better....
I've heard good things about the Sergeant, but have never sat on one...
I'm 6'2", 195 lbs....the Corbin seems to be just the ticket....

Raven · 05-12-2002, 10:06 AM

The Corbin saddle seat frame is fiberglass, not plastic. The fiberglass offers more support. The whole design concept is more support and comfort, it works!

Two years old now! Looks like new.

motoman · motoman's Garage

I just received my Corbin Smuggler... In black of course. Very Nice! I also got a 2" build up, with a front build up to prevent sliding forward. Only problem is the cutout for the luggage rack on the right is MUCH bigger than the one on the left..

I'm gonna have to call them about it... I selected the 'accent' (semi-perf) leather, with a Yellow welt (classic BMW). Plus the yellow welt matches the yellow spring on my shock.

Markermc · 05-12-2002, 11:02 AM

JAS Said...

"My wife bought the same exact seat for her Suzuki - carbon fiber-look leather for the seating surface and carbon-fiber vinyl for the rest of the seat. Hers was $199.

I asked why mine was double and they said "because it's for a BMW". LOL."

My wife got hers done at Corbin for $199 also for her Honda, but it was $199 because it was a CBR600F4i, and she only had the front seat done. The seat on this bike is 2 pieces.

If your wife's bike is a SV650 Suzuki for example, it's the same way. That's why it's $199 and yours is $399... NOT because it's a BMW. Besides, the BMW seat is a BIG seat compared to most, so it's going to take more materials to make it.

Mark

JustAnotherSquid · 05-12-2002, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Markermc
My wife got hers done at Corbin for $199 also for her Honda, but it was $199 because it was a CBR600F4i, and she only had the front seat done. The seat on this bike is 2 pieces.

Nope, her bike is a Suzuki GS500E, which has a one-piece seat.

JAS