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General Category => Modifications => Topic started by: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM

Title: Corbin backrest
Post by: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
Hi Amigos
Does anyone know if all the Corbin backrests fit all their seats? I plan to buy a used backrest from Ebay for my Gunfighter.
Thanks much from New Jersey!
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: FJmonkey on November 13, 2011, 07:56:42 PM
Wow! Your first post. I think they will. Tell us more about you. What year do do have? How long have had her...Etc....
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: Don G on November 13, 2011, 10:52:49 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on November 13, 2011, 07:56:42 PM
Wow! Your first post. I think they will. Tell us more about you. What year do do have? How long have had her...Etc....
Thanks for asking, and thanks to the people who keep this forum going.
I have an 89, purchased it new. The other bikes in the stable are two RD400s bought about five years ago, and an XS750 bought new that now has an 850 mill.
My FJ is stock except for fork springs; it's a truly awesome bike.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: Marsh White on November 13, 2011, 10:55:42 PM
Unless something was changed recently - the answer is yes - all will fit.  At least FJ seats anyway...
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: Mark Olson on November 14, 2011, 11:42:26 AM
Quote from: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
Hi Amigos
Does anyone know if all the Corbin backrests fit all their seats? I plan to buy a used backrest from Ebay for my Gunfighter.
Thanks much from New Jersey!

the correct answer is no, or maybe.

Just because it is a corbin seat does not mean it has the hardware to support a backrest . There is a welded tube inside the seat like a trailer hitch receiver that the backrest slides into . If your gunfighter does not have this port in it you will have a problem attaching the backrest.

you will have to send your seat to corbin and have it modified for the backrest feature.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: FJmonkey on November 14, 2011, 06:47:13 PM
Quote from: Mark Olson on November 14, 2011, 11:42:26 AM
Quote from: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
Hi Amigos
Does anyone know if all the Corbin backrests fit all their seats? I plan to buy a used backrest from Ebay for my Gunfighter.
Thanks much from New Jersey!
the correct answer is no, or maybe.
Just because it is a corbin seat does not mean it has the hardware to support a backrest . There is a welded tube inside the seat like a trailer hitch receiver that the backrest slides into . If your gunfighter does not have this port in it you will have a problem attaching the backrest.
you will have to send your seat to corbin and have it modified for the backrest feature.
On my seat there is label that is can be lifted up (Velcro) to expose the square hole the rest slides into.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: cyclenutk75 on November 14, 2011, 08:16:00 PM
Quote from: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
Does anyone know if all the Corbin backrests fit all their seats?
-

Welcome, Don.  Be careful.  I had a corbin seat on a BMW that had a backrest with adjustable angle on the back pad. I now have a corbin on my 89 FJ that has a receiver for a backrest.  If I recall correctly, before I sold the beemer I tried it's backrest on the FJ and the angle of the post that goes into the receiver on the seat was not correct - even using the angle adjustment on the back pad wouldn't get it right.  Fortunately the guy that gave me the corbin seat for the FJ later remembered he had the backrest and gave it to me, too.  I believe my FJ corbin is a gunfighter and lady model.  The backrest pad angle is fixed. I guess I would assume that if the backrest was made for the seat model you have, it should work regardless of what kind of bike the backrest was on.
GT
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: Marsh White on November 15, 2011, 09:41:23 AM
Quote from: Mark Olson on November 14, 2011, 11:42:26 AM
Quote from: Don G on November 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
Hi Amigos
Does anyone know if all the Corbin backrests fit all their seats? I plan to buy a used backrest from Ebay for my Gunfighter.
Thanks much from New Jersey!

the correct answer is no, or maybe.

Just because it is a corbin seat does not mean it has the hardware to support a backrest . There is a welded tube inside the seat like a trailer hitch receiver that the backrest slides into . If your gunfighter does not have this port in it you will have a problem attaching the backrest.


Thanks Mark.  Of course I was assuming that the guy was talking about a seat that had the backrest hole already in it.  But good point to clarify that the seat must be able to accept a backrest in the first place.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: rktmanfj on November 15, 2011, 09:54:33 AM

Last I checked, it was pretty much cost-prohibitive to have Corbin retrofit the seat for a backrest.

If the Corbin tag is on the rear welt of the seat, it should have the backrest pod underneath.  Otherwise, they put the tag on the left side.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: weymouth399 on November 15, 2011, 10:07:42 AM
My new seat has the square hole for the backrest, my tag is on the right side. My spare seat has a hole and screw mount hole in the pan, covered by the seat cover. It looks to me like the seat is setup for it just don't know if all backrests mount the same. I think I remember seeing one with a flat mount bracket somewhere. Either way a Corbin is priceless mod.

It does make a difference if your seat comes from east coast or west, I know it shouldn't but it does. My seat east coast and Travis's seat west coast are different and only a month or so different in age.

Bob W
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: moparman70 on November 15, 2011, 11:13:15 AM
If you have the tag at the back then you have a chance of getting a back rest but it will not be worth changing you existing seat.  I have a west coast seat -- square mounting metal bracket about 1cm x 1cm.  If you don't have the receiver you might consider selling your existing corbin and buying one either on ebay or from the manufacturer.  You might pay more but you can offset the cost by selling your existing seat.

stevecc
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: Mark Olson on November 15, 2011, 11:46:38 AM
Just trying to be clear .I know I went thru a lot of corbins for sale that did not have the back rest feature , so I made sure of the one I finally bought.

If the seat has the receiver in it under the velcro tab on the back near the tail of the fj, then if the backrest is from a fj and not some other bike ,you should be ok.

There was quite the epic adventure when I picked up mine.

Corbin is sometimes in a deal making mood. call them and check on a new one , It may surprise you.
Title: Re: Corbin backrest
Post by: rktmanfj on November 15, 2011, 01:44:56 PM
Quote from: weymouth399 on November 15, 2011, 10:07:42 AM
My new seat has the square hole for the backrest, my tag is on the right side. My spare seat has a hole and screw mount hole in the pan, covered by the seat cover. It looks to me like the seat is setup for it just don't know if all backrests mount the same. I think I remember seeing one with a flat mount bracket somewhere. Either way a Corbin is priceless mod.

It does make a difference if your seat comes from east coast or west, I know it shouldn't but it does. My seat east coast and Travis's seat west coast are different and only a month or so different in age.

Bob W


Yeah, that sounds about right.  FWIW, the info I posted above came from the Corbin shop in FL.

Since they make them by hand, every one of them will be slightly different.  Good thing that the bottom of the seat pan is always hidden, because it's a cobby POS looking thing.

My back rest was an eBay score from a SoCal BMW shop, who insisted that it would only fit a Corbin installed on a Beemer.  Yeah, right.  $20 + shipping later, it fit the ol' FJ just fine.