An E-mail exchange between a customer and Corbin.

 

 

 

Customer E-Mail 1  2/7/00  5:33 pm

To Whom It May Concern;

I recently received my saddle at my dealer, [Name] in [City].  This was the second time it had come as the first saddle had a cut in the leather on the underside of the seat.  The first saddle also cut into the underside of the driver's thighs while stopped.  It was sent back and the foam trimmed in the thigh area and the cut fixed.  It now looks flawless and fits perfectly.  Though it took some time to get to this point, I couldn't be happier with the fit and finish.

There are, however, some significant problems that have surfaced since riding on the seat.  First, it is extremely slippery.  I have heard this could be a problem, but was assured by one of your sales staff that the 'accent perforated' leather I specified minimized the problem.  I thought of putting something 'tacky' on the seat to help with the problem, but surely this would get messy, clog the decorative perforations, and collect dirt.

Secondly, the design of the seat gives the driver a little too much room.  The vertical portion of the dished out driver’s area is a bit far back as to create an extensive reach to the bars, even for a 6' rider such as myself.  This also considerably takes away passenger room and thus comfort as well.  Furthermore, this fact combined with the slipperiness means one is constantly sliding fore and aft in the saddle during accelerating and braking to the point that it makes controlling the motorcycle safely difficult.

Compensating by gripping the tank with the knees and/or gripping the bars harder defeats the point of buying an aftermarket saddle that promotes comfort since it does just the opposite.

In my opinion, the best way to solve the problem would be moving the driver's portion of the seat forward slightly.  The most comfortable area for the driver's butt is back against the vertical area of the dish, it just needs to come forward about an inch with maybe a little bit of foam going up the tank area as well.  This would mean the seat would hold the driver in place thus solving the sliding problem and also give the passenger area more room thus living up to the claim of better comfort.  Please let me know your suggestions and ideas.

I hope this can be solved as I think this can be a great saddle.  However, as it is the stock saddle is better for both driver passenger comfort and safer due to the fact the riders do not slide around on it.  If you feel these problems cannot be solved please let me know how I can return my saddle and backrest.

Sincerely,

[Customer Name]

HSTA

RAT

Triumph List

Sprint ST List

Ducati List

ST2/4 List

 

Corbin E-Mail 1 2/8/00  11:04 am

[Customer Name],

   I've talked to our service dept.,we could move the seating position

forward which will in turn give the passenger a little extra room.What they

will also do is build up the front of the seat and recontour the seating

area in order to keep you from sliding forward.There will be a fee involved

in doing this work however,at this time i'm not exactly sure what it will

be.If that is something you would like to pursue let me know.You can e-mail

me or call me at (800)538-7035.

           Rolando

 

Customer E-Mail 2  2/8/00  5:19 pm

Rolando,

Thank you for your quick response to my inquiry.  Your Service Department's suggestion of moving the driver's seating position forward slightly, building up the front of the seat a little, re-contouring the seating, and giving the passenger area more room sounds like it may solve the problem.  I object, however, to paying a fee to have this done.

From my perspective, I paid a premium price for a seat (and backrest) that promised increased comfort for passenger and driver.  The seat not only does neither as is, but is in fact a safety problem due to the fact that it makes controlling the motorcycle difficult.  Please let me know if you would like the opportunity to correct the seat.

[Customer Name]

Honda Sport Touring Association

Riders Association of Triumph

Triumph Internet List

Sprint ST Internet List

Ducati Internet List

ST2/4 Internet List

Honda Riders Club

AMA

 

Corbin E-Mail 2 2/10/00  9:49 am

[Customer Name],

   Being it was sent once before and it was modified at that time,that leads

us to believe that you had the opportunity to try the seat before you sent

it in.If that was the case,we would have been able to modify the saddle at

that time.With the modifications you are requesting,we would have to put a

new seat cover on in order for the lines of the material to look correct.If

you would like to continue in getting the seat altered,let us know so we can

give your dealer an RA# to have the seat returned for the rework.

          Rolando

 

Customer E-Mail 3  2/10/00  12:47 pm

Rolando,

Months after ordering the seat, the seat came in.  The seat was boxed up to be sent back immediately after it was received because it was shipped from you defective.  It had cuts in the leather right out of the box!  I did not ride with the seat at all!  It never left the dealer's showroom and was only installed on a showroom bike for five minutes where I sat on it briefly.  On Corbin's recommendation, the seat was call tagged without me riding on it as to not cause further damage and tearing of the leather.  The process of getting a call tag for the manufacturing defect, sending it in, repairing it, and finally getting it back was another month long process. 

The problems we are discussing now could only be known after riding on the seat.  Yes, I would like to either have the seat modified or return the seat and backrest.  As I have stated, I paid a premium price for a seat (and backrest) that promised increased comfort for passenger and driver.  The seat not only does neither as is, but is in fact a safety problem due to the fact that it makes controlling the motorcycle difficult.  Please either issue a Repair Authorization for the seat to have it modified or a Return Authorization for the seat and backrest to [Dealer] in [City, State].  Thanks for your help.

[Customer Name]

 

Customer E-Mail 4  2/14/00  11:52 pm

Rolando,

Any decision on this?

[Customer Name]

 

Customer E-Mail 5  2/16/00  6:04 pm

Rolando,

Are you sending an R/A to return or have my seat fixed?

[Customer Name]

 

Customer E-Mail 6  2/18/00  9:39 am

Rolando,

I sent you an e-mail on the February 10th asking for an R/A for the seat to either be repaired or returned.  Also sent e-mails following up on that e-mail on February 14th and 16th.  None have been returned.

I will ship the seat and backrest back to Corbin to your attention next Wednesday.  I expect you will either contact me to get the details on making repairs to the seat, or you will give full credit for the seat and backrest to [Dealer] in [City].

I ordered this seat back in November '99 and with February '00 coming to a close I'd like to either have a seat that works or the money back to do something else.

[Customer Name]

 

Corbin E-Mail 6  Response 2/18/00  11:29 am

[Customer Name]

    I've explained your dilema to our service manager.He continues stating

that there will still be a recovering fee involved.If you want to have the

seat modified,have your dealer contact us for the RA#.Only a rework will be

authorized through them at this point.I'm sorry that i didn't get a response

to you sooner,been tied up with other business.

         Rolando

 

Customer E-Mail 7  2/18/00  6:00 pm

Rolando,

I appreciate the effort you put in, but I would just like to return the seat and backrest at this point.  Please issue the Return Authorization to [Dealer Owner] at [Dealer] in City, State. Phone].  I will get my credit through them.  Thanks again.

[Customer Name]

 

 

No Corbin response or R/A ever came again.  The seat was not sent back.  Essentially, I have adapted to the seat, adjusting riding style to minimize the seat defects.  It still allows movement fore and aft in the saddle, but is ok when touring.  I would never buy anything from Corbin again.  Obviously they are more concerned with electric cars and making furniture out of old cars than with servicing motorcyclists.  Call Sargeant!

 

After reading the above information, another lister wrote the following:

 

I read your piece on the Hinkley page and thought somebody had been following

me around and decided to print my experience with Corbin.  Mine has been back

and forth three times and I'm done with them.  I'm 6'4" and might seat sits

back about 2-3" too far on my 98 Sprint Ex. They must have test the original

pattern on a 7' rider or a guy laid down over the tank.

 

I think it's the best looking seat I've ever seen but I'll get one next time

that somebody will work with me on to get a good fit.  And hopefully not have

to go through the cuts and seam tears.  I call it my $565 lesson.  I too have

the backrest and not enough room for my passenger while I slide around in the

big bowl in front.

 

Maybe I'll put the seat up for sale.