Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Problems with Corbin

Did anyone have any problems fitting their corbin seat? Just got my solo seat today and I had a ****** of a time trying to get it to fit right. It still doesn't. I did remove my airbox, move the battery and jam all the wiring under the seat so I'm wondering if any of that did the trick. I dunno, lemme know people!

Mine fit perfectly. Tongue in the front slid in just right, and the back bolthole lined up perfectly! It's a lot tighter fit than the stock seat, but it's all good.

You are a master of subtlety.

I put mine on last year. It came with a black bracket on the back of drivers seat (have pillion too). I removed that and replaced it with the one from the OEM seat (chrome). Fit much better after that.
That same type of black bracket was on the rear of pillion also and I replaced it with the one from original rear seat.
Come to find out now, that is what Corbin is recommending on their web sit. Wayne

What year is your bike....do you have a battery re-location?ie, battery under the seat....on my 06 speedmaster I had no problems fitting the seat

Looks like I get to +1 on everyone's issues this week:
Just received my new Corbin for my 2010 Speedy (stock-no battery/airbox mods yet) and the fit is HORRIBLE/unusable.
The seat is bad, tongue no where near fitting correctly, rear tab way high and off, sides a good 1/2" high and back. Beat the snot out of it thinking that might "wedge it in there" (bigger hammer theory) with no joy.
Then...put on the back rest and found it angled FORWARD!
I have fired a "friendly" note to Corbin, I'll let you all know the response. Enjoy the pics:

Ooops, sorry Photo posting virgin:

I too had an issue fitting my Corbin solo and also ended up swapping the Corbin bracket with the factory one and with a little grunt every thing came together. Once you've had it in and out a few times, the seat back relaxes and shapes to the bike. The harder part is the initial Two Thousand Mile He11 Week break in ordeal. After that, Corbin'll be your best friend. Comedians please exit stage left.

Maybe just the new seats, but my rear bracket is riveted in...I would have to drill the little bugger out, and there are no guide holes in the Corbin...could just make it worse. (Corbin is two bolts horizontal/OEM is two rivets vertical)

Corbin is a reputable company, and many here have and use their products, and they will no doubt resolve any issues that come up.

The staff for your backrest should incline astern about ten degrees-check that it is inserted properly in the square socket in the seat back - it doesn't look right in the pic. I don't bother with the horizontal locking bolt for the backrest mast, as I remove the backrest for mount and dismount.
On my seat the rear bracket is held on by two Torx fasteners that kind of look like rivets but are not. With the correct bit they remove easily. I think the front tab is cast. Maybe a careful heat gun shot would soften the plastic undershell enough to more easily bend to fit up the rear bolt. DO NOT WHACK THE SEAT. I thought my dead blow mallet was safe to use, and got a small cut in the skirt for my efforts. Some here have had to remove and carefully bend the rear bracket a bit to make it fit better.

Your seat is not right, it should look like this, nice and snug to the tank:



I believe it is possible you may have a seat intended for an older model pre-fuelie indented tank bike. That backrest is another story altogether...I've never seen one do that.

Ah Ha! Found the back rest problem (Thank you Thundershortz) They had zip tied the mast to the backrest through the allen screw hole, and taped the allen screw to the inside of the plastic back cover. In turn making the "recline" function "non-functional"...that was nice of them.

I think Oldroadie may be onto something, this just isn't right. Perhaps they are thinking the 09/10 tanks are the same as earlier models. More to follow Monday when I call Corbin to ask. Till then, it's back in the box hiding from the "Whack-a-mole-Mallet"

Avast, Chief; Corbins need a firm but gentle hand. That front tab can be a bugger to get right, as the seat hugs the tank much tighter than the stock unit. And a dab of silicone grease on the feet and tab will help too. Patience and perseverance will prevail - hold your course-it will fit.

WILCO, Shipmate. Patience rates right up there with reading instructions for me... I'll give it a good cool down period before I go at it again.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Good to see you here.

It's a bit hard to see the detail in your pics but I can remember when first fitting mine, it did take a bit of persuation to push the front tongue in far enough so the rear bracket hole would line up properly. Just make sure there is no difference between the older and newer models as you obviously will.

Even then, you still need to be completely happy with your purchase cos they are hand built and who would know if you got a late Friday arvo model???

I've givin it several cool down periods and attempts to fit. I got it on but with a much smaller bolt and nut through the hole as the corbin bolt will just not line up. Which makes it a pain to put my pillion on. I'll get over it. The seat is awesome though. A little stiff of course but it's getting there already. Put about 350 miles on it since i got it Thursday, haha.

You got a "Corbin bolt"? Now I'm gettin mad.
The tech dept just " answered" by nasty gram by sending me the installation picture from the Corbin site and a "Installation Instructions Update: Classic Solo now includes installation brackets to mount directly to the Bonneville America and Triumph Speed Master"

then asked if that "helped"....um, that would ne "NO", but thanks so much for pointing out that your instructions are wrong, that will come in handy.

Yeah, came with a solted bolt so the pillion goes on and off easily. Too bad I can't use it cause the ****** thing won't fit right. Oh well, I still love the look and feel of the seat. Can't wait for the magic "break in"

Nice, well I on customer service rep # 3 as of today. First said " just send it back", second sent me the link to the website that I quoted in my email then wouldn't call/ email back, third asked for pictures, said she would call right back...still nothing. Even gave # 2 a second chance, he referred me back to # 3...REALLY?!?.
This is rocketing towards rediculous at warp speed.

Any other saddle suggestions other than Corbin?
This is very disappointing!

Huh, and yet I recently got a Corbin solo (about 1.5 months ago)... took it outta the box, slid it into place and bolted it down. No surprises, nothing amiss. I love it, and although it is not yet 'broken in' I already find it VASTLY better than the stock seat.

Sorry to hear there are those that have problems.

I got my corbin about 2 weeks ago it was so tight on the shocks that i ripped the leather on the under side putting it on. I was not happy

No problems getting mine on. Not very comfortable at the moment, but I have faith that will change.

Keep the faith Joe, it takes time to mould to your shape but once it does you'll be greatful every ride you have. Trust my friend.

Just got mine today. Suprised, it only to a week from the day I called in my order till it arrived. No problems installing it. Can't say about ride as yet. But it fits and looks right.

Installed a Corbin Gunfighter, it fit perfect. Yesterday was the first ride on it, way different than the stock seat. Different rider position, farther back and a bit lower, going to take some getting used to.

I was expecting farther forward also. You sit down in the seat more, holds you in better. I like the longer squared off tail, matches the fender well. Got the tail in Baby alligator, looks good.

I have an 07 Speedy. I ordered the seat with a pillon for the passenger and a red leather welting that kinda matches the red/blk tank on my bike. It was a bear to install. The rear bolt on the Pillon is still not fully screwed in because it just will not line up.

However I am using it as it is and it is more comfortable than the stock seat. I am sitting lower and the center of gravity has shifter lower also so the bike is handling much better and is a joy to ride through the twisties.

So folks, I do believe the 08 tanks are different. We know the 09 and up ones are but I'm pretty sure the 08 is slightly larger. Also, I finally got around to fitting my bonnie tank and the seat fits perfect with that on and looks awesome btw. Just my 2 cents I guess.

I put mine on last weekend. It was a bit of a tight fit at first I needed to pry it forward a little to get the bolt hole to line up. With the newer style tanks (2008 EFI+) you need to push down and forward at the bolt mount to make it "slide" into place. Be very careful as the leather can snag on the shocks if to force too hard. There is room to move the leather a little around the shock mounts. You really need two people to make it work smoothly, one to push and one to fiddle with the leather. I found using a green handle Robertson screwdriver through the mounting bracket and into the hole to pry forward worked really well. I had to repeat it a few times before I could hold the seat in place long enough to get the bolt started.

all you guys were making me nervious.... just got my corbin in yesterday, only took 2.5 weeks to get it! wow.. and the fit? perfection.. and easy to install... lucky i guess. 08 speedy.

Finally putting an end to my Corbin nightmare, to bring everyone up to speed:
It has been 5 months, 3 saddles/3 returns, 27 e-mails, numerous phone calls, and Zero joy getting this right.

All I asked for was a chrome rear tab (like stock) and a little shaved off the nose to fit the tank bra.

First one didn't fit at all- they called it a "warped seat pan" (no chrome tab)
Second one same issues just a little less-not warped, but wouldn't fit no matter what. (still no chrome tab)
Third was actually the second back again...they took it to a triumph dealer, put it on a 09 America and it "magically" fit. so the put it back in the box and sent it back.
Now note that they didn't fit it with the tank bra as requested and you guessed it...still no chrome tab.
So I called today ****** bent on getting this fixed and poor Vincent flipped his lid basically trying to make this all my fault.
It all ended with Vincent claiming I was being "abusive" on the phone. (I wasn't aware that asking someone to do what they promised was considered "abusive"...I was quite nice about it I thought)
But in the end...sending the seat back for full refund.
Shame...I really liked it when it fit without the tank bra, but they couldn't get it all together in one box.
And then I just couldn't take Corbin blaming anyone else they could find to make it someone else's fault...very ugly.

Any used ones I may be interested, maybe after some therapy (aka: Scotch) I will try again through California showroom...but wow...what a mess this has been.

I've owned a Corbin, Here's my review.
They look good. That's about it.I sold mine.

Bummer about the seat Drew... sorry it didn't work out!