'Importing' a corbin seat

[nurse]

This is not a moding question (well it is sort of related, but im not asking about the moding product!!)

I am toying with the idea of getting a corbin gunfighter + lady seat.  Done lots of reading about and they seem like a good way to go.  However the issue i have is cost.  In the US without out any extra bells or whistles the website lists them as $369 (about £236 in the uk) quite reasonable.  However if i go to one of the uk distributers they want about £600 (around $937 usd).  Thats almost $400 in import tax, sales tax, retailers profit and daylight robbery!! i dont expect anything for nothing but crickey that is obscene!   
Have looked for 2nd hand ones but they are  rarer than rocking horse poo!

My question is does anyone know or have any experience of 'buying' something for personal use then donating it to a third party as a gift outside of the us?  Shipping something for business to the uk?  I live near to USAF bases mildenhall, Lakenheath and Feltwell (all less than 20 mins drive) so if any of u know anyone based over here that could purchase on my behalf and/or act as an intermediary!!  I know that the bases act like satelite extension of the US and as such operate in the same way (your gas is the same price as at home, whilst we have to pay about three times as much, but i digress) so can purchase anything from 'home' and have it sent to them here in blighty.  Guess i need to make some yankee-doodle-dandy friends and then ask for a favour.  Bit of shallow basis for a friendship if you ask me, but all is fair in love and Fj moding.

Obviously i would cover any/all expenses and the cost of seat (unless there is some wealthy Bill Gates style philanthropist that wants to help out!)

I would appreciate nothing more than a suggested game plan of how i could make it happen for myself if thats all you've got!  I guess i could ship me and the bike over do route 66 have one fitted whilst in the neighbourhood and then ship it back as 'standard' fitment to the bike!  But i reckon that will cost me about 10 grand all in, kind of defeating my initial cost saving intentions! 

All constructive help/suggestions welcome.  I say constructive coz i have seen some of the help you guys offer each other and on occasions sticking ones nuts in a blender would have been more help 

[Arnie]

Can't offer any real insights to getting stuff to UK, but there may be opportunities similar to Australia if you go looking for them.  Currently in Aus, if you have something shipped to you via post and the declared value is less than A$1000, then it comes in without having any duties or GST (VAT) added to it.
Many manufacturers who have Aus distributors will not allow their US dealers to ship directly to Aus (or any other country for that matter).  Due to this, there are a number of buying services that will purchase an item for you, take delivery in US, then re-ship it to you in Aus for a fee of 5-10%.  The item is still labeled accurately and the value is still declared.  IF this is the case in UK, then perhaps some list member would be willing to purchase on your behalf and re-send it to you.
All depends on UK importation regulations.  Realize that postage or freight charges on a seat would be pretty high.

Arnie

[nurse]

Cheers Arnie.

Anybody else have any thoughts, dont be shy! 

[aviationfred]

I live in the states and I am not willing to pay the price Corbin wants for a seat. In my searches for suitable alternatives. I have come across these, One is a complete seat the other is a cover using the original seat. I have ordered the one that is just the cover, waiting for it to arrive. Here are the links.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FJ1200-custom-seat-/221057718350?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item337811184e

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-FJ-1200-Typ-3CV-3CW-3YA-1988-1999-SEAT-COVER-/130707752304?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e6eca0570


I am not affiliated with either Ebay seller.

Once my cover arrives and I get it installed, I will post a photo to my gallery. If your heart is set on the Corbin, good luck and hope someone can help.

[jwh]

someone like tony archer will make you one for a lot less than a corbin and will make it just how you want it. pretty cheap for what he does, plenty of other companys in uk as well.
http://www.tonyarcher.co.uk/

[nurse]

someone like tony archer will make you one for a lot less than a corbin and will make it just how you want it. pretty cheap for what he does, plenty of other companys in uk as well.
http://www.tonyarcher.co.uk/

Cheers fella, he seems to be worth a further look if nothing else!

[nurse]

I live in the states and I am not willing to pay the price Corbin wants for a seat. In my searches for suitable alternatives. I have come across these, One is a complete seat the other is a cover using the original seat. I have ordered the one that is just the cover, waiting for it to arrive. Here are the links.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FJ1200-custom-seat-/221057718350?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item337811184e

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-FJ-1200-Typ-3CV-3CW-3YA-1988-1999-SEAT-COVER-/130707752304?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e6eca0570


I am not affiliated with either Ebay seller.

Once my cover arrives and I get it installed, I will post a photo to my gallery. If your heart is set on the Corbin, good luck and hope someone can help.

Nice one! I have seen these before and although nice I prefer just black!

[Pat Conlon]

What makes a Corbin seat so comfortable,  is not the seat cover.

[nurse]

What makes a Corbin seat so comfortable,  is not the seat cover.

Which begs the obvious question, what does make them so comfortable?

[fj11.5]

had mine re,covered, and styled like a cafe racer seat  $100 took small amount of foam from the sides, was my original 1100 seat, and compared to the 89 12 seat , are a lot comfier

[baldy3853]

There are several things most Corbins are a generic make ie they make them for all sizes eyc. 2 the other thing is they add a shit load of weight to your bike
If you try some of the smaller guys they tend to make the seat to suit you personally, the guy I've used here in Australia is quite good in that he shapes how u want and what suites your sitting position.
The things you need to see is
1 Does he take photo's of you on hte bike
2 length of arms
3 leg length
4 does he use high density foam
5 does he fill all of the gaps in the original plastic base ( this is where you get your weight saving)
6 does he guarantee his work and are you able to see his finished product and get comments from satisfied customers
baldy

[CanDman]

had mine re,covered, and styled like a cafe racer seat  $100 took small amount of foam from the sides, was my original 1100 seat, and compared to the 89 12 seat , are a lot comfier

or...............you could do what I did.........make your own..........all you need is..........an 82 seca 650 turbo seat........ a sawsall........a turkey cutter....some screws....and lots of toothpicks....a 120 lb female with a decent butt.....and some expanding foam insolation......and one good upholsterer ........and ......bobs your uncle.......I made mine for about 300 bucks....check it out


CanDman

[fj11.5]

nice seat  , was going to ask where you bought the hugger, but realised that isnt a standard swingarm 

[Travis398]

What makes a Corbin seat so comfortable,  is not the seat cover.

Which begs the obvious question, what does make them so comfortable?

The seat pan is way wider on the corbin.  When I received mine it was so much wider I thought they sent the wrong seat.

[SlowOldGuy]

It's the high density foam that makes a Corbin better.  Most people think a seat should be soft, but that's the last thing you want (assuming you're going to ride for more tha a few minutes).

I like the people who say Corbin is no good because they sat on one once and it was too hard.  They don't realize that's what makes it work.  I could only take the original seat for maybe 2 hours before I needed a break.  With a Corbin, I can ride all day. 

I paid $400 for my first Corbin about 12 years ago and I'd gladly pay it again if I didn't have one.  My second one was $199, but it's more vinyl than leather, and still way more comfortable than stock.  For my FZ1, I lucked out finding a shop in Az going out of business (actually selling out to a Harley dealer) and got the Yamaha/Corbin seat for $104. 

There are many aftermarket seat people out there.  I'll bet any of their products are superior to the stock seat.

DavidR.