The Corbin split seat has arrived.
ordered 20th Feb 2012
Arrived 15 May 2012
VPW quoted 8 to 12 weeks, it was very close just over by a couple of days
I found them OK to deal with, it was a phone order with a Credit Card payment in two installments of 50% each, Their choice, I offered to pay the total upfront
Total cost delivered including GST = $691.10
I have unpacked it,
A large cardboard box with layered foam on all sides to protect the seat in transit, the finish of the seat is good, I have not sat in it yet and I wont until after I get back from Lightning Ridge on the 28th May.
Hardware for fitting is supplied along with instructions that look pretty straight forward.
I will update again after I fit it to the GTR and try it out
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/P6100020.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/P6100021.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/P6100017.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/P6100019.jpg)
Running in the Corbin
The afternoon that I fitted the Corbin Seat, I did a quick lap around Singleton, I did not have much time so I did not go very far.
First impression was the different seating position and center of gravity.
Did I like it, well I did not dislike it, as with all things time would tell.
The other week I slipped out for a little ride (150Kms) out the Putty to the old half way servo (Now Burnt out), How did the Corbin
seat feel now, well it still felt a little different to what I was used to.
Firstly, the seating position is lower so the position of the legs and bend of the knee is different.
Secondly, you sit further back, about 2 to 3 inches and that tendency to slide forward is gone so that changes the ergonomics a lot.
Thirdly, the seat takes the pressure from your butt in different areas.
Overall, I came home thinking it felt OK, the handling of the bike did not seem to have changed, operating the bike felt a little
different, this just told me that I still needed more time in the saddle to get used to the new seating position.
I decided that I would go for a decent ride yesterday (Saturday 16th June), Unfortunately the weather was not very good, in fact it
was crap.
I looked at this as a good oportunity to see how my PR3s were in the wet as well considering I hove now clocked 10,000kms on them and
they are starting to cup on the front.
Below is a map of the ride route and a photo of the front and rear PR3
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/Corbinruninride.jpg)
Front
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/Front.jpg)
Rear
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/Rear.jpg)
Any one who has ridden these road knows that there are some good spots, but mostly the roads are rough and contain a mix of pot
holes, protrusions, depressions, troughs and bumps of varying degrees i.e. some sections are worse than others so when it rains they
fill with water, when looking ahead the road looks like it is covered with riverets and ponds.
The ride report,
The weather report does not look great, I knew it would not be overly cold, infact it did not get below 6 deg, so I dressed
accordingly, thermals and wet weather gear.
By the time I got past the old half way servo on the Putty it was raining, not overly hard but consitant, the type of rain that over
a long period eventually gets into everything, the rain got gradually worse as I went on so by the time I got to Lithgow I had
already gotten some water in my boots and gloves and a little around my neck.
Between Lithgow and Merriwa it was worse, continual heavy rain the depressions in the road were full of water and some could not be
avoided, the force of the water hitting my boots almost knocked my feet of the pegs on occasion so my boots ended up soaked,
fortunately for me my socks although wet still kept my feet relativly warm (wet but not frozen), Water had gotten into my jacket from
around my neck, I was wet down the middle of my back and chest and groin area, water had also gotten into my boots and gloves were
soaked, Hands although wet were still warm (Electric hand grips Love em) and my feet wet aswell were not warm but not really cold
either.
As you can imagine I was wet, My face was dry my New Nolan N43E performed very well, My Sena never faulted and kept my music playing
through it all.
I was wet but not cold, I love thermals they work well even when wet.
It was dark when I pulled into Merriwa for fuel, the changes I did to the stock head globes and the additional driving lights paid
off big time, when in conditions like this being able to see well ahead in a necessity, the rain was easing at this point but there
was still a lot of water on the road and the oncoming traffic had increased.
I got 11,500 Kms out of the original OEM tires, they were OK but nothing to write home about, I replaced them after a lot of research
with the PR3, after I run them in I went for an all day rain ride to try them out (there's that rain again) and I though that they
were pretty good, now that I have 10,000 kms on them which is a fair mix of twisty and straight riding I still think the same they
are pretty good and worth the extra dollars.
Now the Corbin Saddle, 656kms, 580 of it in crap conditions.
Did I use my Bead Rider on this ride?
No
Did I use my Air Hawk on this ride?
No
Do I like the Corbin Saddle?
Yes
Do I think it was worth the dollars I spent on it?
Yes - 16 week wait and all
How did my butt feel when I got home?
Good, much better than the stock saddle
Did I feel any discomfort during the ride?
Yes, not a lot but it was there, a quick stop for a leak or fuel got rid of it, by that I mean it did not linger and get worse.
Note:
I have done some very long rides in the Corbin since I fitted it, The last long one in Jan 2013 was 9330km in 12 days. I ride with a bead rider on my Corbin and I give the Corbin a Thumbs up.
Cheers
Paul
thanks for this article :-)
Hi,
I am about to by Corbin seat too.
I wanted to ask you about the material. Did you opt for leather or vinyl? In what temperatures do you ride your bike? I am in Dublin, Ireland. I am concerned about change of the seat quality after some time (cracking), although the seller says that when the conditioner is applied it will not change. I am also concerned about the temperature of it - when left out on the sun or during the cold night. They say that sides can be from vinyl and the top from leather, which I was aiming for and seems to me as the best option. BTW, it looks very good on your bike. I have the mocha colour, 2010 GTR version. Can I ask, what colours did you opt for from the Corbin website?
Thanks for any comments!
Lizard
Hi Lizard. I also have the Corbin Split Seat.. Mine is full leather and is still in great condition after 3 years.
I do treat it to some www.renapur.com now and again to keep it in tip top condition.
I have one also 4 years old full leather still A1 condition although I have only had it for a couple of months :) and if I had to buy another I would buy new despite the cost.
Hi Highett / others,
Do you get water inside the saddle through the stitching? Do you use something to prevent it? Beewax?
Cheers!
Quote from: lizard555 on November 18, 2014, 11:55:24 PM
Hi Highett / others,
Do you get water inside the saddle through the stitching? Do you use something to prevent it? Beewax?
Cheers!
No I don't.. I use Renapur :yes:
http://www.renapur.com/shop/renapur-leather-balsam-200ml-16.html
Cheers
+1