Corbin for R1200R

[AllanCook]

Here it is: http://www.corbin.com/bmw/bmwr12r7.shtml

I think Corbin pretty well blew it. They made F800S and ST seats that followed the stock seat's elegant lines. I had hoped they would do the same on the R1200R, but this chunky $439 lump looks horrible to me. I wonder how the back of it looks without the rack. I imagine not so good. No sale.

[ErikM]

I don't think it looks so bad...hope it fits, and is comfortable

[deilenberger]

Do away with the silly backrest - and it's better looking than a Russell. Question is - comfort and fit. Some Corbins were reasonably comfortable (at least compared to BMW K bike seats) - but had awful fit, would rub the paint off parts of the bike.

Someone buy one and let us know how it is..

[celticus]

I was prepaired to hate the looks of the new Corbin seat. But I thought it was OK. Still I have heard too many bad things about Corbin to buy one (unless I could try it on first). I'm sure my wife would like the backrest and for that reason I would tolerate it happily. I am very happy with my Rick Meyer seat but it's passenger accomidations are lacking.
Mark

[bobelliot]

I've had 5 Corbins over the years. They seem to degrade in quality each time. The latest was for my F650 GS. Got it over a year ago. Couple of production flaws from the factory, but rides very well as did the one on my KLR I rode to Prudhoe Bay.

Still holding out for a Sargent for the R1200 R, (had one on my Duc and loved it). That being said, if Sargent doesn't come through this year, I would still buy a Corbin to ride next year in the 2009 Iron Butt Rally. Would definitely be much better than stock and fits the look of the bike better than the Rick Meyer.

[celticus]

"and fits the look of the bike better than the Rick Meyer."
Well I don't know about that but it is a matter taste. The leather on my Rick Meyer seat is nice and soft and the interface between it and my leather riding pants allows me to slide my arse over from side to side for better manuvering in the twisties.

[famousperson]

I think the Corbin looks okay. It is MUCH better looking than the Russell Day Long. I am still going to get a Russell, unless someone here gets a Corbin first and swears by it...

[bmwk100]

I think it looks pretty good!

[vielzebub]

now i'm daydreaming...

i don't really like the luggage rack on my R, but i occasionally ride with a certain lovely lady who is much more comfortable with a backrest.
so, to accommodate her (and a few others) i bought the top box.

now i'm daydreaming.....
what if i sold the top box and side rails and just got the corbin?

hmmmm.....

[RonR]

To me, the design complements the R better than the other aftermarket seats I've seen. I've used Corbin products in the past and have been satisfied, including with their customer service when I had to return a seat that rubbed the plastic side panels on a Suzuki Katana. They reworked the seat, sent it back, and all was well. Word is, things may have gone downhill over the last few years, so I'm not going to jump in just yet. Next month I'm heading north (L.A. to Portland), so I'll stop by the Corbin factory, take a look and report back.

[michaeljp]

I am looking for some feedback on the R1200R corbin seat after being left in a desporate way by Rick Mayer Cycles. The "custom" seat that took 3 months to receive was not as you might say satisfactory . Within 30 days the foam pealed under the cover looking like an unmade bed , the back pillion is unuseable from the foam bieng ground down to repair the damage when removing the stock cover and the exchange pan that he used is missing bumpers and is warped. After a string of emails , each one becoming more and more condisending , my confidence in their quality and my willingness to park my bike for 6-8 weeks and send them more money became less and less.
So I am stuck with a miserable seat on an inferior pan. It seems that my only option is someone that builds their pan as well. Sargent is only offering a foam convertion at this time for the R1200R leaving Corbin. Before spending an additional $450 I am hoping to hear from someone that has spent some time in the Corbin R1200R seat.
Here is an example ove the Rick Mayer seat I recieved.

[AllanCook]

Can't speak for the Corbin, but I would be furious about that crappy seat.

[Caroanbill]

I don't think it looks so bad...hope it fits, and is comfortable

I've put my deposit down (there are way too many seat threads going right now!) - seems OK value here since Corbin seats used to be aroud $1000AUD and this one is $658. I agree with Don - it's OK visually without the backrest (peeeuke, that's ugly). Anyhow, with my colour-coded panniers / topbox, my bike doesn't have the clean end lines of the raw bike anway. I liked the look of Sargent's worldsport seat (pity it won't be made ), and the Corbin is similar enough ...

My real concern is height - about 790mm / 31" vs my low seat at 770mm / 30.3") but ordering from here I thought the absolute standard would be a safer bet, and I can touch down with enough control (just) on the standard 800mm / 31.5" seat. I'm guessing my legs will be a little more spread without the BMW 'inside curve' seat, so maybe it'll be too awkward (oh, boy, so much self-control required not to take THAT analogy a little further!).

Still, a Another 20mm to unbend my knees on tour won't hurt, and I'll use the OEM low seat around town ... I use two different seats on my F650CS as well - high for touring, standard around town.

LET'S SEE IF WILDPIG'S CORBIN IS SHORT ENOUGH AT 29.5" / 750MM (oh, shoot me)

[WILDPIG]

WELL THE SEAT IS HERE-- MIXED EMOTIONS-- THIS IS THE 5TH CORBIN FOR ME 4 HARLEY 1 BMW-- OK HERES THE DEAL -- FORGET THE LOWERING CORBIN PROMISED IT NEVER HAPPENED-- SAME HIEGHT AS BMW LOW PROFILE. FORGET THE "NOSE" JOB,, APPEARS JUST AS WIDE THRU THE NOSE AS STOCK BMW SEAT. SOME HOW I GOT A 2 TONE SEAT-- DONT ASK ME HOW-- SIDES ARE CARBON FIBER WEAVE CHARCOAL GREY TOP OF SEAT IS THE SIVLER SHEEN AN I HAD ASKED FOR BLACK PIPING.. ACTUALLY-- THE SEAT LOOKS PRETTY DAM GOOD VISUALLY EVEN THOUGH I HAD SPECIFIED A TOTAL CHARCOAL GREY WITH BLACK PIPING. I AINT A FAN OF TWO TONE ANYTHANG BUT THIS LOOKS PRETTY DAM GOOD.-- COMFORT? WELL ALREADY I CAN TELL ITS BETTER THAN STOCK-- FITMENT-- NOT BAD--COULD BE BETTER. FACT O THE MATTER IS CORBIN NEEDS TO SPEND 3 DAYS DEVELOPIN A FIRST CLASS SEAT PAN-- AN THEY HAVENT,,PERIOD --END O STORY. ALSO I HAVE TO ADD WASHERS TO THE LATCH ON THE SEAT TO MAKE IT LATCH INTO FRAME. I MEAN HOW SIMPLE IS THAT? LIKE I SAID AN CORBIN OUGHTA PAY ME FOR THIS-- THEY NEED A TIGHTER,, BETTER,, SLICKER SEAT PAN. ALL IN ALL -- NOT BAD-- BUT OVER ALL--COULD BE SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER.

[deilenberger]

Why does this not surprise me? (Thinking back to the BMW seat by Corbin for the '87 K bikes - where even with factory paying for it - they couldn't get the pan to fit correctly..)

I guess it's good to know some things never change, as much as you might wish they did.

[WILDPIG]

WELL I GOT BOUT 300 MILES ON THAT NEW CORBIN-- VUSUALLY-- NOT BAD --NOT BAD AT ALL-- BUT THEY DIDNT FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS AN I OR THEY LUCKED OUT IN THE VISUAL DEPARTMENT-- FUNCTIONALITY-- BETTER THAN STOCK NO DOUBT, SEAT ISNT BROKEN IN YET,,, SEAT HIEGHT-- OH THEY LIED THRU THIER TEETH ON THAT ONE-- THEY DIDNT LOWER IT 1 MM-- WHICH PISSES ME OFF AFTER SPENDIN 30 MINUTES DISCUSSIN THE 29 1/2 INCHES THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE GONNA GIVE ME WITH NO LOSS OF COMFORT-- FOR THAT LIE-- THEY GET 50 LASHS ON THE BARE BACK WITH WITH A WILD DONKEY DI*K. IM RIDING DOWN NEXT MTH TO FALL RALLY DAYTONA AN WILL ASK EM TO EXPLAIN TO ME IN FRONT OF THE R12 WHY THEY LIED. THAT OUGHTA BE FUN.

[TexasMule]

WELL I GOT BOUT 300 MILES ON THAT NEW CORBIN-- VISUALLY-- NOT BAD --NOT BAD AT ALL-- BUT THEY DIDNT FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS AN I OR THEY LUCKED OUT IN THE VISUAL DEPARTMENT-- FUNCTIONALITY-- BETTER THAN STOCK NO DOUBT, SEAT ISNT BROKEN IN YET,,, SEAT HIEGHT-- OH THEY LIED THRU THIER TEETH ON THAT ONE-- THEY DIDNT LOWER IT 1 MM-- WHICH PISSES ME OFF AFTER SPENDIN 30 MINUTES DISCUSSIN THE 29 1/2 INCHES THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE GONNA GIVE ME WITH NO LOSS OF COMFORT-- FOR THAT LIE-- THEY GET 50 LASHS ON THE BARE BACK WITH WITH A WILD DONKEY DI*K. IM RIDING DOWN NEXT MTH TO FALL RALLY DAYTONA AN WILL ASK EM TO EXPLAIN TO ME IN FRONT OF THE R12 WHY THEY LIED. THAT OUGHTA BE FUN.

My wife just wrote Corbin complaining of the seat height. We measured her seat at 32" which puts her on her tippy toes. According to their website it should measure 31". We will see what they say. Otherwise, it will be going up for sale. She hasn't even put a 100 miles on the seat. The seat looks great and the other little things you had to do to make it work would have been okay, but tippy toes just doesn't work for her. We'll let you know if, or what, they say.....the saga continues!

[TexasMule]

My wife just wrote Corbin complaining of the seat height. We measured her seat at 32" which puts her on her tippy toes. According to their website it should measure 31". We will see what they say. Otherwise, it will be going up for sale. She hasn't even put a 100 miles on the seat. The seat looks great and the other little things you had to do to make it work would have been okay, but tippy toes just doesn't work for her. We'll let you know if, or what, they say.....the saga continues![/quote]

Does anyone remember seeing the seat height listed on their site. It was under Spec at the bottom beneath the other specifications of the seat. The other night when my wife wrote Corbin we saw it there, but today it has been removed. Just wondering?!?!?!

[deilenberger]

Does anyone remember seeing the seat height listed on their site. It was under Spec at the bottom beneath the other specifications of the seat. The other night when my wife wrote Corbin we saw it there, but today it has been removed. Just wondering?!?!?!

This sounds so Corbin like. Sleezy isn't a strong enough word for them.

I asked about their return policy - first hand - at the MOA Charleston WV rally where they had their truck.. It was explained to me that "every" seat is "custom made" and not returnable - even the ones they were selling in boxes out of the back of the truck.

Their slimy business practices are only surpassed by the crappy fit of their products.

[WILDPIG]

MULE - I REMEMBER THE SEAT SPEC BEING LISTED. LIKE I SAID I SPENT 30 INTENSE MINUTES CONFERRING WITH BRIAN AN JR-- FLA STORE-- AN WAS REPEATEDLY ASSURRED THEY COULD BRING SEAT DOWN TO 29.5 INCHES WITH ZERO COMPROMISE ON COMFORT OR LOOKS. WELL-- THEY LIED............. AN THIS IS MY 5TH AN MOST LIKELY LAST SEAT FROM A COMPANY THAT PLAYS FAST AN LOOSE.................. STILL GONNA LET EM TELL ME WHY IN PERSON IN 3 WEEKS AT FALL RALLY-- DAYTONA. BUT FOR THE LIE THEY TOLD--- 50 LASHES ON THE BARE BACK WITH A WILD DONKET DI*K.