Corbin Seat

[Paul Master <masterps@xxxxxxxx>]

Saturday it looked like rain, like a heavy mist when we left for
Hollister. Jeanne drove, I was outfitted in my Triumph Rainsuit etc.

An hour and a half later, we pull up to the Corbonm Factory for our
scheduled appointment. Moments later, we are in the service bay, talking
to Gustavo about my new seat. Jack, found our prepaid (at the show,
saved 10%) paper work and we began. They put the new seat on, and placed
a couple of pieces of naughahyde over each seating area, and we rode
around the building. Gustavo marked where Jeanne wanted a bit off the
sides, and I did the same. After several trips and adjustments, the seat
fit us both great. The reason we are doing this is Jeanne doesn't like
the forward can of the pillion, and she is forever trying to hold
herself from falling into me. Now she has more of a saddle that doesn't
tip her forward. They ended up adding a bit to the front of the pillion
to give her the support she wanted.

Then to the showroom where we looked at other seats. I had originally
envisioned a Union Jack of the side of the seat, but they were going to
have to make the flag out of vinyl, at considerable cost (another 25%),
so I scrapped the idea. I really did like the carbon fibre leather
though. But I wanted a simple, elegant design. So I asked them to not
use the customary black naughahyde on the sides, but to use the
CFLeather throughout. We talked about welts and color accents, but I saw
the VFR on the floor that didn't have the wraparound piping and I liked
it. So I ended up with one small accent on either side. It'll take
another two hours to complete, we were told.

When we first arrived, we were given a coupon good for a couple of
breakfasts at their cafe. So we headed off and had a really delicious
breakfast. Everyone was so friendly and nice. We chatted with the only
other bike there at that moment, a brand new soft-tail, pearl white, 150
miles on it. The owner had just got it. Her husband was there taking all
sorts of pictures while they fitted the new saddle to her and the bike.
So we ended up chatting quite a bit.

While we were waiting, we were asked if we wanted to stroll around the
plant, which we did. Very interesting operation. I thought they grabbed
a base, added foam, shaped it and then covered it. Not so, they take a
mold, paste up with mold release, buff it. Then they lay up the base
material. I should've asked, but it looked like a black fiberglass, that
was pushed and molded to form the base plate. I think this was then heat
treated to cure a bit, then the mold was closed up and injected with
foam. A few minutes later, they opened the mold and popped out a seat.
These are then trimmed and covered, or in our case, custom fitted to the
customer, tehn covered.

When Gustavo came and found me, the seat looked great. I asked about
leather protectant, which I also purchased there, along with a custom
made vinyl cover for the seatr that can be slipped on and ridden.
Gustavo applied a bit of the leather protectant and the seat just sprang
to life. It really brought out the CF look. He made sure the seamstress
oriented the several piece of leather in the same direction. Next to the
CF tank protector, it looks fantastic.

The Harley owner was nice enough to take a couple of picture in the
factory, and was very complimentary. The seat fits beautifully, and
offers many more riding psoitions than the stocker. The only bad thing
about it at all is it probably weighs easily twice what the Triumph seat
weighs. But I love it, and most importantly, Jeanne loves it. So, when
it warms up a tad, I'll send another report, from the pillion :-)

When I sit as close to the tank as I can, it feels like I'm support by
the crotch and inner thighs, but when I slide back to the touring, or
definitely tucking behind the windscreen mode, I am support by the outer
portions of the posterior. So as I move around, I can find totally new
areas to sit with. On the way down, my but was getting a bit sore by the
time we got there, and on the way back, I never even noticed.

I know there has been volumes written on how awful Corbin service has
gotten over the years, but my experience can be summed up in two words,
"totally impressed". The service was fantastic, the product looks even
better, the folks were extremely pleasant, as were ever other customer I
spoke to. If you can get to the factory, and are interested in a Corbin
seat, I highly recommend getting it custom fitted. What a great experience.

I have sent Eric a few pictures. Hopefully you can view a few of them on
his site.

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