Author |
Message |
Moonrunrs
| Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 06:39 pm: |
|
I'm looking for a more comfy seat for my 2003 Firebolt, but I don't want to raise the seat height up by much. Does the Corbin raise your seat much higher? It looks good, but I want to get some opinions before I drop the coin. Thanks. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 11:21 pm: |
|
The corbin is about the same height, but feels a little wider between your thighs when standing. It is more comfortable when in motion though. Just my opinion. YMMV |
Moonrunrs
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 12:31 am: |
|
Thanks. Mostly I'm concerned with putting both feet on the ground when stopped and also maneuvering the bike around when idled, pushing it around with my feet. I can barely touch both feet to the ground as it is, and don't want to be raised up any more. But my behind is killing me on long rides, so I want an aftermarket seat. Thanks again. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 12:52 am: |
|
If you go with the corbin I reccomend buying it through American Sport Bike. Al does a very good quality control on it. I believe he specifies a little different seat than the standard, but I'm sure custom stuff is no problem. I bought mine, in C-F pattern from him and didn't have any of the fitment hassles that I've heard about from other people. |
Moonrunrs
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 01:16 am: |
|
Thanks. I was going to buy with Dave Stueve, but I've heard really good things about Amer. Sportbike too. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 01:26 am: |
|
Dave rocks too. You almost can't go wrong with badweb sponsors. |
Aldaytona
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 08:53 am: |
|
WARNING: All you potential Corbin customers, you should read the newsletter section on this site: www.piratesk12site.net before you hand over your hard earned money. I had a similar experience but not as hideous. |
Olinxb12r
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
|
I really want to pick up a Corbin, but I think it is total BS that the firebolt seat is more expensive than the lightening. Who came up with that? I'm not bagging on the sponsors because I know that they just take the manufacturer price and tack on a percentage for them to stay in business. What I'm questioning is why Corbin is charging more for the smaller firebolt seat. It seems to me that there is more material used for the Lightening and a bigger seat pan needs to be fabed, so why is it cheaper. $240 seems awfully steep for such a small seat especially when there is one available on the Buell site for $149.95. Subtract the 10% discount from Dave and that is $134.96, more than $100 less than the Corbin. I'm not saying that the Corbin is not a nicer seat, but come on that is crazy! At least they have the pricing of the select seat correct with the lightening being $50 more expensive than the firebolt. |
Al_lighton
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 11:10 am: |
|
A word of caution about the Corbin Firebolt seat. Whoever you buy it from, be sure to specify that you want it with the new mounting system. Corbin is in the process of changing the firebolt seat retention brackets, but I'm not sure if they're shipping that way yet, and there may be existing stock built the old way. Up until recently, the retention bracket had a rod that goes from the left to the right side of the bike. On some bikes, that rod can rub through the battery positive cable. I've been trying to get Corbin to fix this for several months now, and have suspended Firebolt seat sales until it is fixed. They recently sent me some prototype brackets for the new design which appears to address the problem, but the new brackets aren't retrofittable to the old seats. I've asked them to come up with a retrofit bracket, but no word yet on that. If you have an older Corbin Firebolt seat, look for evidence of rubbing on your battery hot lead and insulate accordingly. If Corbin comes up with a retrofittable bracket, I'll get them to all our customers that have received firebolt seats from us. There are plenty of Corbin customer service stories of woe, to be sure. I've had them myself, but my new Corbin internal rep is EXCELLENT and I'm a happy customer again. I really like their seats, but I was within a gnats butt of dropping the brand due to customer support and quality issues. But those issues have been addressed, and I'm getting good results with them now. I think it is a good thing to buy your Corbin seat from a dealer that can go to bat for you if/when things go wrong, which is always a possibility when ordering a custom or semi-custome product. On the pricing, well, you said it..they set the pricing, not me. Doesn't make sense to me either. Al |
Olinxb12r
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 12:13 pm: |
|
Thanks for the warning Al. I hadn't heard about that problem. I guess I just need to find someone that has a Corbin and someone that has the select seat and see if I think the Corbin is worth the extra $100. I've always thought Corbin's were pretty expensive, but the Firebolt seat is just silly expensive. However, I do think the Lightening seat is a pretty good deal. If I had a Lightening I would have already bought one. |
Moonrunrs
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 01:07 pm: |
|
Wow, thanks everyone, this is invaluable information. I'd heard horror stories about Corbin service before -- just ask anyone who tried to buy from "Corbin Motors" when they were still around. I didn't hear about that bracket issue, though. I think I'd best wait a while to see if Corbin sorts this out. Thanks again!! |
Hd_pwr
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 01:35 pm: |
|
i've got the custom buell firebolt seat and got it from my dealer for 10% off. It's worth the money and it looks great on the bike with the stitched buell logo. |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 03:15 pm: |
|
That's the kind of customer service I was talking about! Thanks for the heads-up Al! |
Mountainbiker90
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
|
can anyone give a comparison between the h-d aftermarket saddle and the corbin? i'd like to hear your opinions. Thanks Al for the very informative post! |
Aldaytona
| Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 09:15 am: |
|
Firebolt seat hardness scale, from hard to softest: Brick paver you sculpt to fit frame Frame with no seat Corbin Stock Buell Firebolt Custom Seat |
Al_lighton
| Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:29 am: |
|
Al, . I don't have a firebolt, so I really can't speak to that particular seat. I have a corbin on my XB9S lightning, and love it. I have on on my S1W, and love it. I have on on my Uly, and like it more than the stock seat, but the stock seat isn't bad, just tall. I've tried one on my S3, and hated it. It is NOT about hardness. It's all about seat pan shape and position. Corbin's philosophy is absolutely correct, you should not try to compensate for bad seat pan shape by sculpting foam and making it soft. The stock lightning seat pan shape is awful, and the corbin seat pan shape is a dramatic improvement. In the case of the S3, Corbin moved the seat cup back a little on a bike that already had a pretty far back seat cup, and it is hard to get comfortable with it unless you are 6'5" or so (a guess, but I'm not even close). I like the shape and height of the Uly corbin seat better than stock, it has a more radiused corner at the front. I tend to ride my Uly more scooched forward than many because I think it handles better then ( I changed my bars to accommodate that as well). The corbin seat works with the forward riding position better, but is still quite comfy when I scooch back on the highway. I've not heard complaints from Firebolt seat customers with regard to comfort. It is harder, no doubt. Al |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:46 pm: |
|
Al is right on it. Super soft seats feel great on the showroom floor, but are terrible for riding more than 100 miles or so. Shape is far more important. Take a look at what "Iron Butt" riders sit on. You'll see a lot of Corbins. |
Mountainbiker90
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 08:16 am: |
|
i just bought the buell seat. i was thinking of the corbin but the price and these comments led me away from it. i am very pleased with the buell seat. it is a bit higher- sometimes i need to get off the bike to move it around- all 5'7" of me doesn't always do the job. while riding, the saddle is worth every penny over the stocker. i say that with only 50 miles on the new seat so far- it is that much better! |
Moonrunrs
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 02:18 pm: |
|
I thought the select seat was just for the Lightning. They make one for the firebolt as well? Is there a web site? |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 02:35 pm: |
|
They mean the "custom" seat. I have the smaller pillion on the back of my bike. I dig the embroidered logo. http://buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/accessories/index.asp?Menu_ID=2&ProductLineID= 3&CategoryID=3 |
|