Corbin Vs Standard Vs 'It there anything else?'

[rom_selecta]

My seat is split in the front and I was going to reupholster it with a nice non-slip cover or something of that sort - I have a few choices here.
http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/116648494
http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b103169295
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f80188882
http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u31895126

As if being spoiled for choice wasnt making it hard enough, I have seen the corbin options and now cant make up my mind...

So while I like the feel of the standard seat (I am 188cm and 105kg) I am wondering what the corbin is like by comparison, or any thing else for that matter.

Any input would be good guys.

[SkyFive]

Those are some nice seat covers, I like the third and forth ones the best. Corbin seat; I've never owned one but I suspect the leather would not hold up very well and the seams would allow water intrusion in the foam padding. I understand they are comfortable though.

[BSI]

I recently bought an 86' that came with a Corbin that looks like it's been on the bike for a while and it's a very comfortable seat

[Marsh White]

So I see that this one is aprox $95.00 USD:
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f80188882

Is that just a seat COVER that you have to staple on yourself?  Or is it a whole seat - padding, seat base and all?

I took 1 year of Japanese language class in college - but it is long gone out of my memory...

[pdxfj]

I removed the cover off a stock seat and cut the foam to what is comfortable to me.

Found someone who does custom car interiors to recover the seat.  Was about $100 to get the modified seat recovered.

I had a Corbin and it wasn't very comfortable to me.

[pdxfj]

Marsh, here's what Google Translate came up with..



Dimple black image as the driver's seat, rear seats black carbon Zhang sorts.

Trading Procedure
1. Marugame, Kagawa Please send your bike seat. （送料：落札者負担） (Shipping: responsibility of the buyer.)
↓ ↓
2. We will deliver your new skin replacement sheet Zhang. （送料別途：1,300円） (Plus postage and packing: 1,300 yen)
↓ ↓
3. Delivery is approximately four days.

If individuals other than the genuine notes sheet ■ The Q & A please.
Insect belt - bon appétit service will be.
Bon appétit - will be without the services Anko.

[Marsh White]

Oh - okay.  So we have to pay $95.00 then ship our whole seat to Japan and pay for shipping.  Then pay for shipping back.  That clears that up.

A quality local upholsterer could do that for cheap... especially in Santa Ana!  I'll track down a local shop - I bet I can get quality work for less than $80.00.  I bet they could duplicate it if I brought them a printed picture.

Though...if I lived in Japan I would TOTALLY take them up on it!

Thanks for the translation though Garth!  

[rom_selecta]

So I see that this one is aprox $95.00 USD:
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f80188882

Is that just a seat COVER that you have to staple on yourself?  Or is it a whole seat - padding, seat base and all?

I took 1 year of Japanese language class in college - but it is long gone out of my memory...

Those are all just covers as far as I can tell... my jap aint that good yet LOL

[rom_selecta]

Marsh, here's what Google Translate came up with..



Dimple black image as the driver's seat, rear seats black carbon Zhang sorts.

Trading Procedure
1. Marugame, Kagawa Please send your bike seat. （送料：落札者負担） (Shipping: responsibility of the buyer.)
↓ ↓
2. We will deliver your new skin replacement sheet Zhang. （送料別途：1,300円） (Plus postage and packing: 1,300 yen)
↓ ↓
3. Delivery is approximately four days.

If individuals other than the genuine notes sheet ■ The Q & A please.
Insect belt - bon appétit service will be.
Bon appétit - will be without the services Anko.

I think that sending the seat to be fitted is an option, from memory. I am pretty sure this is just for the cover, but I could be wrong... it does seem a bit much as I regularly buy seat covers for Katana's and they are usually 4800 yen.

[rom_selecta]

Well, I had a stuck indoors day today - bloody rain... I got bored, so I got the staple gun out and some black upholstery vinyl and did my seat with that for now. Looks the part, at least better than the ripped cover taped up with black duct tape

[Marsh White]

Well, I had a stuck indoors day today - bloody rain... I got bored, so I got the staple gun out and some black upholstery vinyl and did my seat with that for now. Looks the part, at least better than the ripped cover taped up with black duct tape

So show us a pic!

[rom_selecta]

err... okaaay... here it is. A plain, everyday FJ1200 seat  well, at least its shiny and new looking LOL



I cant show it on the bike - its pissing down outside and I dont have a garage... the only thing I hate about Tokyo.

[Tuxracer]

WOW that's amazing! Awesome job

[rom_selecta]

Cheers! Not that hard really... all you need is a staple gun, a hair dryer and patience. Some seats you can get away with using one flat piece of vinyl - and the FJ seats are one of them. This is my 2nd FJ seat that I have done so far.

[Pat Conlon]

So while I like the feel of the standard seat (I am 188cm and 105kg) I am wondering what the corbin is like by comparison, or any thing else for that matter.
Any input would be good guys.

I have found that it's not about the seat cover, but the foam underneath.
For way too many years on long tours, I just used my stock seat and covered it with sheep wool pad. This kept my ass cool but still, after the second gas stop, about 400 miles, the ass squirm would start.
I have always been interested in a Corbin, but the thought of shelling out a couple of hundred buckaroos for a seat which I may, or may not, like was a gamble I did not want to take.
A couple of years ago (IIRC the last time we had the WCR at Willits) Marsh was living in Flagstaff AZ and he and Klavdy trailered their bikes from Flagstaff to the WCR in Willits. We had a great time. On Sunday morning when Marsh and the Kman was at Denny's having their gut bombs, their bikes were loaded back on the trailer ready to leave for home to Flagstaff, and someone took Klavdy's Corbin seat off his bike and put it on mine! WTF? These WCR guys, you gotta watch 'em. Never, never leave your keys in the ignition of your bike unattended.
Anyhoo...What a perfect way to try a Corbin seat. I rode straight thru from Willits to Palm Desert via Monitor Pass and Hwy 395 about 760 miles. Yea, after a long week of riding, and the WCR rides, and long trip home I was tired, but importantly on the trip home with the Corbin I had no ass squirm! None whatsoever! Amazing.
I'm now a fan of Corbin seats. Sitting on a Corbin vs. a stock seat, you will notice that Corbin is much harder and the stock seat is seemingly more plush. It's this softness that causes the ass squirm.
Over distance, the harder Corbin seat in much, much more comfortable.

As always....Your ass may vary.