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How do I make my Corbin more comfortable???

8K views 23 replies 18 participants last post by  Big Boy 
#1 ·
I've had my 05 DL1000 since 2011, and it came with a Corbin on it when I bought it. I'm 6'3", 185 lbs. I love the bucket shape of the Corbin and the fact that I can slide further back in the seat. However, from the day I bought this bike back in 2011, that seat has been hard as nails. Whenever someone asks me about the seat, I always tell them, "It's like riding on a horse saddle." That not much of an exaggeration. The leather on my Corbin truly feels like horse saddle leather. I have tried leather conditioners, and nothing will soften it up.

I've always just accepted it, and dealt with the pain. However, I recently went on a 3 hour ride, and when I got home, my tailbone and butt bones were numb. The next morning, my entire backside felt bruised. So, is there anything I can do with this Corbin besides throwing it in the trash. Can somebody like Mayer or Russell do a custom job on it, or will I have to order a new seat?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Corbins are know to be hard saddles, but some here love them. Buy an oem one(from the classifieds) , have it directly shipped to Terry Adcox or RDL. Once you get back your custom seat, put the Corbin up for sale.

You seat should not cause any pain....hands, shoulders back, legs...yep...arse...no.
 
#3 ·
I use air hawk and sheepskin on everything that bothers me. The VStrom Sargent saddle is rather firm, but just a simple no-slip venting pad does it most of the time.

If you like the Corbin shape, might get someone to re-foam it. I'm sure they come apart fine.
 
#8 ·
Your seat is at least 6 years old, and maybe 10 for all you know. It could be that the foam has broke down. Corbin's are hard by nature, but my leather is soft and supple. Like Motor 7 said, shop for an original and then send it to Terry Adcox, or take yours to a local upholstery shop and see if they can refoam it.
 
#9 ·
#11 ·
Had a Corbin on my FZ6. It was super hard, but could do 600+ mile days without issue. It did take a few longish rides in the beginning of the year for my bum to get used to it, good after that.
 
#12 ·
I too had a Corbin on a GS1100E, would never break in.
The Sargeant I have on the ST1100 can get firm at times so I got an Airhawk R. I love it.
It's rubber on the bottom and does not slide around. It comes with straps so you can stand up and not worry about it blowing away.
You can play with the air pressure to suit your comfort. It doesn't heat up like a gel seat in the summer.
And if you want, you can put it in your car, on your farm tractor, ATV, whatever...works just fine on my V-Strom too.
 
#14 ·
Well, I did a lot of interwebs researching and experimenting with the Corbin the last couple of days. My conclusion is this. Corbin's are built for fat asses, and not boney butts. I have a boney butt. While testing the seat the last couple of days, I can reach under my legs and literally feel my butt bones cutting into the seat. There is about 1/2" of skin between the Corbin and my butt bones.

So, it seems my options are to sell the Corbin and get a plusher seat (maybe a Sargent or custom job), get a large gel pad, or an airhawk. During my experiments, I took a 2" foam pad and stuck it on the seat. It didn't feel bad. However, the added foam material bunched my balls up, which I'm pretty sure would uncomfortable after a while.

For those of you with Sargent experience, do you find them to be more plush? I've thought about buying a beadrider, atv pad, sheepskin, airhawk etc, and seeing which one works best. I'm just not keen on the idea of stacking things on top of the seat.
 
#15 ·
The Corbin on my XR650L is the same thing. Like sitting on a sandbag.... But I did notice that after a long day in the saddle I am not nearly as sore as the stocker. So I decided to continue using it. Plus I also know if ever needed I can pull it off and it for self defense as it weighs a ton and is harder than a 2x4 HAHAHAHAHA
 
#16 ·
LOL.. true, the Corbin is very heavy. I tried a sargent on my Glee and it was just too firm. Next best thing is the Terry Adcox. But I will say also, by the time you mess around buying other stuff that may work, you end up spending much more in the end. I saw an original seat in advrider flea market for $80. Buy that and send it to Terry. Again, I think that if you didn't like the firm Corbin, you won't like the firm Sargent.
 
#17 ·
Sell it and get a RDL.
 
#18 ·
Never had the chance to try a stock Wee seat; it came with a Sargent and my bony hind-parts were most happy! Three hours on the road at a time and the only issue was my knees hurt from being bent so long. I currently have the stock seat on my Glee, but not for long. I've met cinder blocks with more effective padding. Once I have enough loose change, I'm buying another Sargent.
 
#19 ·
I also posses a boney butt and tried a Corbin but felt it was a tad too hard. Before that I tried a Seargent which I hated and returned. I used an Airhawk on my Aprilia, a much smaller seat, and it was OK. Also modified the stock seat with memory foam, again just OK. Now I have a Russell on my Strom and love it. Everyone is different, all is you can do is try different options, but many end up with a Russell, or now maybe an Adcox, it's usually cheaper to get one straight away.
 
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#20 ·
Try one of the newer Airhawks but it's shape not hard or soft that is the key ...one reason the Adcox ( that I use ) and the RDL ( which I've had ) are popular...that big wide tractor seat style.

Given your height OP...an RDL would be a good choice ...BUT you have to have an original seat pan ( which might not be hard to find ).
 
#22 ·
I don't currently have the stock seat pan, but I'm looking for a used one. I'd love a RDL, but I can't see myself shelling out that kind of money. I'm thinking I will either go with a Terry Adcox, or a Seat Concepts kit.

Does anyone here have experience with the Seat Concepts? I'm reading nothing but good reviews on them.
 
#23 ·
Same here, I have it in my Triumph for a week, I literally got sick with it, my back hurt so bad I couldn't ride for a week. On top of that the frame o f the seat is made of metal so is twice the weight of the original seat. For the price you would thing is the ultimate motorcycle seat. I end up changing my handlebar for one a bit more straight and that changed my seating positioning and my discomfort was gone. Now I have a Corbin seat for a Triumph America for sale.
 
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