Corbin owners, would you have it made differently?

[GoldOxide_imp]

I've never owned or sat on a Corbin saddle, regardless if modelled for someone else.

I would try it if it meant a meaningful improvement in riding comfort, especially if it was the root contributor.

Until then, I will enjoy reading about the success, and otherwise, of Corbin saddle owners.

[Ollie]

LOL I wish I were more like you Gold because it'd have saved me a LOT of money! I must have a low tolerance for seat discomfort and if during a ride I find myself squirming around, trying to scoot back on a seat that slides me forward, too narrow, etc. I try to improve it. Some are the same with windshields but oddly I simply adapt to them, other than on my Road King I did replace it with one 2" shorter to be able to look over it.

I used to buy Corbin's for my bikes because I like how they make them with FIRM foam and a slightly wider bucket rather than a narrow crown shape, sloping toward the tank, with soft foam like most stock seats do. More recently I have switched to Seat Concepts because they make about the same shape but often with different height options, will use firm foam if requested, and cost considerably less than Corbin. Unfortunately they don't offer as wide a fitment selection.

I have SC seats on my Tenere' and XT250 which made a huge improvement. Both of these were kits which include reshaped foam and matching cover that I fitted to my stock seat pan and cost less than $250 each. SC offers complete seats for more popular models which run around $400. Quite the bargain compared to $680 for the Corbin (delivered) but whenever I sell the bike I do so with the stock seat and sell the aftermarket seat separately for about 1/2 what I have in it, so I'll have around $340 in this seat.

[GoldOxide_imp]

LOL I wish I were more like you Gold because it'd have saved me a LOT of money! I must have a low tolerance for seat discomfort and if during a ride I find myself squirming around, trying to scoot back on a seat that slides me forward, too narrow, etc. I try to improve it. Some are the same with windshields but oddly I simply adapt to them, other than on my Road King I did replace it with one 2" shorter to be able to look over it.

I used to buy Corbin's for my bikes because I like how they make them with FIRM foam and a slightly wider bucket rather than a narrow crown shape, sloping toward the tank, with soft foam like most stock seats do. More recently I have switched to Seat Concepts because they make about the same shape but often with different height options, will use firm foam if requested, and cost considerably less than Corbin. Unfortunately they don't offer as wide a fitment selection.

I have SC seats on my Tenere' and XT250 which made a huge improvement. Both of these were kits which include reshaped foam and matching cover that I fitted to my stock seat pan and cost less than $250 each. SC offers complete seats for more popular models which run around $400. Quite the bargain compared to $680 for the Corbin (delivered) but whenever I sell the bike I do so with the stock seat and sell the aftermarket seat separately for about 1/2 what I have in it, so I'll have around $340 in this seat.

I think having the option to improve saddle comfort is quite nice - and arguably safer. I considered it a lot for the CB1100. However, my issue was mostly with leg comfort. Nevertheless, a wider saddle sounds luxurious on very long stints, regardless of its impact on bike appearance. For me, I don't care. From the running side view, most people can't tell anyway.

[Ollie]

RE appearance I agree, but am hoping having it covered smooth (like Chip Beck did) helps it look a little more stock. However if the Corbin looks too out of place I can always put the stock seat back on when just doing short rides.

[tommymck]

I'm definitely in the minority. On a typical long commute, (once or twice a week), I'm at 100mi round trip. Mostly it's 30 miles round trip for daily commuting. Weekend rides are usually no more than 150 total, and maybe a couple of times a year, I'll do trips that are 6 hours out someplace, and eventually 6 hours back. I don't think that I've ever thought about seat comfort one way or the other. While sitting 3 hours or so at a stretch between fill ups in general isn't comfortable, that's more arms and legs, and generally being in the same position.

To me, Corbins sort of remind me of those toilet seats that are squishy. Looks odd, and I can't say that I ever thought about the need for a more comfortable seat under those circumstances....

[Ollie]

I'm definitely in the minority. On a typical long commute, (once or twice a week), I'm at 100mi round trip. Mostly it's 30 miles round trip for daily commuting. Weekend rides are usually no more than 150 total, and maybe a couple of times a year, I'll do trips that are 6 hours out someplace, and eventually 6 hours back. I don't think that I've ever thought about seat comfort one way or the other. While sitting 3 hours or so at a stretch between fill ups in general isn't comfortable, that's more arms and legs, and generally being in the same position.

To me, Corbins sort of remind me of those toilet seats that are squishy. Looks odd, and I can't say that I ever thought about the need for a more comfortable seat under those circumstances....

This is the only time I've ever heard Corbin seats described as "squishy".
But for only 30-50 miles at a time I wouldn't bother with a better seat either.

[Crazyirv_imp]

I have owned several Corbin seats. In my opinion it is like sitting on a brick unless you have it customized at the factory, which I did for previous bikes but not for the one I tried on the CB. It was SO uncomfortable I didn't even want to try to have it adjusted I just sold it. I also bought and tried a HK seat which was way more beautifully constructed (the Corbin is primitive compared to it) but again it was not real comfortable and I sold that. I hate to say it but the stock seat, for me, rules! It is the only stock seat I have ever liked.

[Ollie]

See I''m just different, give me a firm and well shaped dish seat over one that is soft, crowned, and sloped forward. I could sit on an old steel tractor seat all day but the soft, narrow, crowned, sloped forward, seat on my Tenere' 700 became uncomfortable after only 30 minutes before I needed to stand up (Seat Concepts kit remedied that). I find the CB1100 not quite as bad but similar.

I was on the CB1100 yesterday and took specific notice of how the seat was for me. To sit where I felt natural on the bike for my arms and legs was unfortunately right on the hump for the passenger portion. So I moved forward just off the hump, but that section is sloped forward which had me sliding further forward another inch or more to "the natural riders dish" between the tank and hump. I had two choices; sit there too close with cramped knees and arms too bent, or shift back on the hump where it slid me forward and I had to constantly push myself back. I found myself doing both over the ride. I only rode about an hour there and hour back so it wasn't a problem, but it would have become pretty uncomfortable when riding 2+ hours at a time.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I've done the "sit on the passenger seat" while riding the CB1100 over long distance. It is relieving, but not sustainable. In addition, it likely looks awkward in appearance.

[Ollie]

Yeah I have too, Gold. For me sitting way back on the passenger seat is a way to stretch out for a few minutes on a long ride.