Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Observations on a Corbin

Just recently got a pre-owned Corbin solo from another member. Kinda always wanted to give one a try and the opportunity finally presented itself at a reasonable price.

So what do I think? Well like the look and the feel. Seems harder than stock but feels pretty good on the caboose. Really kind of fit right into it. Looks like it’s lower, but seems to sit higher. Biggest thing is it seems to push the driver forward a bit, and into more of an upright position. Took a bit of getting used to but I’m starting to like it. Handling seems to be sharper….of course this could be my imagination. All in all I think it’s gonna work out. A stock solo saddle will probably be appearing in the classifieds here before too long.

Hi Doug

You are right it does push you closer and I seem to sit up more with it, has it got the back rest on?

I love it with the back rest on it feels like I am in a arm chair, I do think it is too hard for my backside though and I am going to get it recovered this year with a little bit more support in...

Glad it's working out for you Doug!

no backrest yet ray, but it may be an option for the future

thanks drew!

I just got mine with backrest and i love it.Stock seat was like sitting on plywood compared to corbin. 200 mile trips are a pleasure now.

The backrest is pretty sweet alright!

I'm glad you posted this info.I've got a corbin on order and I'm really looking forward to it arriving.I had a mustang seat on a honda vlx cruiser I had.It put you up and forward and was firmer than stock .Great for long trips.
I'm hoping the Corbin will be the same.

We can always count on you, Ian.

Is there something that makes my opinion any less valuable than any other? I personally like the stock seat. Have to remember I rode a hardtail with a springer front end for the last 20+ years with an occasional burn to my inner thigh from my oil tank, doesn't get any better than that. I miss that bike and want to rebuild it again but lack the cash. Probably park the SM for a while if I did.

about 100 miles was all i wanted on the stock seat. love me corbin. thinking about getting 1 for the tiger.

+1 on the stock seat. I'm with you Ian. I can't comment on the Corbin, but then some people have weird shaped bums.

Yeah, the pros and cons of Corbins have been coming up here for years.

My opinion is, there are some who's backsides just aren't suited to it. Not sure what sort of backsides but I don't normally look at bloke's rear ends anyway

All I can say is this, after doing less than 400klms one day after I first got my speedie, my bum got so sore I had to continually shift around just to get home. I knew then I had to look at a better alternative and the blokes on here were discussing the corbins.

So after dong my research I bit the bullet and bought a Corbin solo with backrest. Now whilst I had been warned it took a while to break, after 2 or 3000k's it was still not as good as I'd expected. Well, not long after that it all fell into place and I guarantee I've never once looked back as far as seat comfort goes.

So be prepared for a hard seat to start with but once it mounlds into your shape, you'll never be without one again.

The other aspect that many including me have found is that whilst it does feel you are sitting more further forward, it also made me feel like I was sitting in the seat and not on it. More like part of your machine which I found one of the best things going.

It's hard to explain but I'm not the first to say it.

Honestly I bought my corbin for the backrest, mostly. The AirHawk cushion handled my butt on the stock seat. But the corbin seat is good enough that I don't have to use any other "enhancements." I've tried gel pads, sheepskin covers and the Airhawk. All were more of a pain for the amount of comfort they added. With my rear pegs shifted forward so I can stand occasionally, I can ride straight through between fill-ups, all day. That's all I can hope for.

So, if you want/need a backrest, find a nice used corbin for cheap.

Yep 100 miles-160kms and I want OFF for awhile.Even just a few minutes rest is enough sometimes.I've had harder foam put in mine too.
I hope to do a bit more with the corbin [if it ever gets here!It's been on order 10 weeks now.

I thought you explained that very well!
Hope it's the same experience when I get mine.

And ya know... it's worth mentioning that you have to break YOURSELF in too. Last year I rode with my new Corbin/back rest and ended up loving the extra miles I could ride without discomfort. Winter came... and the bike and I became housebound. Then this Spring I rode again and thought, WHAT? The sore butt syndrome returned, until... until I put a few rides under me and now I'm back to luxurious comfort with my Corbie! My point? Ya need to break yourself in, much like a horse rider would have to do the same. Corbin, stock, Mustang or otherwise I believe it's as much physical adaptation as the saddle you sit in.

That's true Keith.Don't ride for awhile and it takes time to get the body,including the rear end conditioned to it again

I have chimed in on this a few times over the last few yrs.

27,000+ miles and my seat STILL gets uncomfortable (Corbin gunfighter). I suffer with it. But I'll be dam*ed if I go another year. I am going to this place.

http://www.knoplace.com/
http://www.knoplace.com/Gel_Pad_Installation.html

I want the gel and the memory foam. I might do it all myself, but they will do it and quoted me pretty good for the service.

Am I the only one who really doesn't like his seat that was a lot of money for a name?

Interesting link. I like the DIY aspect. Now I'm thinking about custom seat design in leather at the same time.

I have the Corbin, with back rest, & the Airhawk. When I rode to California last fall I found that the Airhawk didn't seem to help as much as it used to. It just transferred the sore spot to another part of my posterior. I ended up just using the bare Corbin seat and shifting my feet around on the floorboards more. That seemed to help more than the Airhawk.

As someone said earlier, it seems the butt breaks in as much or more than the seat. The backrest is a Godsend.

I hear y'all about buttocks conditioning. 200 miles is nothing. Yet do 200 the next day and all bets are off as far as comfort goes. (for all yous day riders) Likewise with 500+ miles/day. Day 1 at 400 miles the monkey butt syndrome is on your mind. Day two the first 100-200 miles are interesting. Day three no more saddle thoughts. Well maybe but nothing like day two.

Corbin: Leather breathes. OEM: vinyl does not. Compound that with the oem foam forming around your buttocks and the stage is set for monkey buttitus extraordinaire. The Corbin with the backrest tube hurts some folks coccyx.

Point? Time in the saddle is the only thing that alleviates sit down pain. Having a saddle that minimizes the saddle time needed to thwart the pain is really what the Corbin/oem debate is about.

However, ride in 100 degree heat with a 30mph cross wind and guess what? The saddle is the last thing you are thinking of.

All good points being said here, particularly as I also bought an Airhawk and then I just didn't need it anymore.

The only conclusion I could come up with was, the memory foam took longer to remember but once it did I flogged of the woopee cushion to someone with a stock seat.

Also as Moe points out

Quote:

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The Corbin with the backrest tube hurts some folks coccyx

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Well, I nearly forgot about that cos I also had that problem for a little while and then it just disappeared like - Huh???

I was concerned with that one and to this day don't know what happened but all I care about is the Corbin seat with Backrest for my bum is as good as they come.

Btw, I have the Corbin Solo which might be another aspect to consider when comparing with the Gunfighter for instance

So yeah, there are a few factors in there but without doing a survey, I'd have to say the the "I"s have it imho

I still think butt shape or should that be size has a lot to do with it though. Of course that's a bit of a tender subject (pun intended)

Hi guys - just recently did 3,600klms in 7 days on my 2007 America with custome Corbin seat and backrest. Truly sensational although as some forums have noted, it really takes a couple of thousand to break them in. Now it is like sitting in an armchair. Well worth the bucks and the 8 week wait to get it to Oz

Nice one Michael. It's hard to understand how they don't agree with some other riders when we feel like we hit the jackpot. Your point about time to reach Aus is on the money too. Distributors know how to milk it that's for sure.

At least the dollar would have been on the right side of the ledger for you though. I bought mine at just about the worst time when the dollar wasn't worth much and not long after I got it, Corbin actually discounted their saddles dramatically. Grrr

Some things I learned this week from a pro. I have run the gamete concerning seat problems, lower back ache, painful tailbone, etc. I am lucky enough to live near one of the best custom seat makers in the country. I went to visit Rocky (www.rockybags.com) mid week and questioned him about Memory foan=m, Gel, and Corbin seats, what he told me and demonstrated was:
Corbin does not take 1-3000 miles to break in, you ass breaks in...not the seat. Leather does not breath and breaks down faster than the new vinyls.
Memory foam less than 3 inches thick bottoms out and is useless.
Gel disperses to wherever your not putting the pressure (going away from where you need it).

All of this was not told to me in order to steer me to one of his seat, he will build what ever I request but all that he told me and demonstrated (memory foam & Gel) made 100% sense and confirmed what I suspected all along.

I am having Rocky make me a custom seat, it will take until the end of the month, it's not a order and pick-up deal. I left my bike there and when ready I will go to the shop, he will wrap the progress in plastic & I ride of about 30 minutes to feel out any potential problems, he is willing to go through this process as often as needed until the seat is right. Then he covers and stitches the seat with a design of my choice (custom) and my choice of materials (Ostrich, snake, carbon fiber..all vinyls). The jobe will cost between 400 & 450 out the door which is a bargain considering what Mustang and Corbin cookie cutter seats cost. I know that some of you will wonder if just 30 minute rides will be enough to determine comfort, in my case I could tell in 10 minutes. I will post finished pics in early August.

This sounds very interesting Jerry... and I appreciate your comments. Looking forward to the pics and your review in August.

I think it’s as much, whole body position, as seat comfort, that makes the difference. I recently rode 2700 miles in 8 days on the Maverick lowrider seat, no problem