Good experience at the Corbin factory today

[swilson]

Had a great experience at Corbin today. This thread is mainly about the seat I had worked on... but... If you guys are ever passing through Hollister, be sure to stop in. They've got a showroom with about 30 bikes, a ton of sample seats hanging all around to show you what they're capable of making, and even a diner that serves breakfast and lunch. Their factory is very public friendly too, so you can walk around and see what their doing.

 

If you're having a seat made they'll treat you to a meal, and you can watch your seat being built through the window while you eat. I also got to watch as they created a fiberglass seat pan a one-off seat for a new BMW G650 Country model. I figured it was a prototype, but appearantly they don't plan to add this to their normal production line-up, so it was a one off for a customer.

 

Now about the seats...

I had purchased a pair of used Corbin seats for my 1150RT. The shape was comfortable... but too thin in the low area. It turned out it was a low model I had bought, so it was cut very deep, leaving little foam between the rider and seat pan.

 

So today I finally made the trek to Corbin and had the seats reworked. The front seat was refoamed and because of that a new cover had to be made to fit the new shape. Only bad thing was they didn't have the same leathers any longer... so I had to have a new cover for the rear seat made as well.

 

A significant amount of foam was added in the low part of the seat, and a good amount was also added to the sides to widen it. Then they had me go for several mile test ride, sitting on the bare foam seat to make sure I was happy before the cover was made. It was really cool being able to test ride it as it was being made.

 

Start to finish was about 4 hours... that was basically completely reworking the front seat as well as making a new cover for the rear.

 

The difference is very noticable... going over bumps on the way home I could actually feel the foam compressing with the bumps... so much nicer than feeling seat pan.

 

If my buddy is correct, I'll be even happier with it in 1000 miles. He tells me that both of the Corbins he's owned took 1000 miles to break in and conform to shape.

 

Also... the width they added to the seat is noticable when trying to put both feet down. If you're short on inseam stay away from the extra width. I'm 5'10"... in the low position it fits me perfect.

 

Old low seat...

[swilson]

New seat... notice the height difference. They tried to convince me to get the blue piping to match the paint, but I stayed with the silver piping to match all the silver suspension/wheels/lower panels on the RT... good for resale

[swilson]

I forgot to mention... with the purchase of used seats and then paying again to have Corbin reworked them, I still came out $200 under what it would have cost if I just purchased two new seats from Corbin.

[onedae]

I've been a Corbin fan for many years with the caveat that I only buy seats at a ride-in appointment. Their rep is mixed at best and I have heard many horror stories about botched mail orders. However, I've never had a problem witha ride-in and their products are outstanding. So if you need a seat and are in range of their factory in Hollister CA I am sure you will be happy with the product. If you do the mail order route - 50/50 at best.

[Firefight911]

Did you happen to see the blue F800ST hanging around the R&D dept.????

 

I, too, just went to Corbin. I was down there Tuesday morning dropping off Jamie's (2bmwfan) F800ST as they are using it as their prototype bike for production.

 

I was VERY impressed with their facility. Much larger than I thought it would be. They gave me a guided tour all over the place and told me that anyone can just come in and walk around while they are waiting for their ride in seat, etc.

 

When I go to pick up the bike, I hope to take some pics of their facility as it is a worthy place to see.

 

[swilson]

It wasn't in the showroom or in the area where they were working on my bike, right next to the diner. Not sure where they were hiding it. Besides the G650 Country, the only other BMW there was an LT in the showroom.

 

Too bad I was a day late, would have been nice to meet you.

[onedae]

I was there on Tuesday getting a seat made for my RT. I saw your bike in the R&D dept as I was walking around the plant - wondered if it was being used for a prototype. Sorry I missed you there.

[R4ND0M_AX3]

Phil, will you please leave your ST there so they can prototype a smuggler trunk? Pretty please?

 

 

I took a tour there when they were making the sparrows before I was riding bikes. Pretty friendly place.

[W. Mazelin]

Perhaps the best part of going to Corbin's shop is riding Cal. Hwy. 25 to & from!

[Firefight911]

Phil, will you please leave your ST there so they can prototype a smuggler trunk? Pretty please?

 

 

I took a tour there when they were making the sparrows before I was riding bikes. Pretty friendly place.

 

I asked them about that since they are doing one for the R1200S. They said they are not as there is no idientified justification for it. They will, however, do one for you one off. I did not ask, but I am sure cha-ching!!!!!

[Heck]

I was down there Tuesday morning dropping off Jamie's (2bmwfan) F800ST as they are using it as their prototype bike for production.

 

Quick question there....

What good does it do for you to take Jamie's bike down for a prototype seat? Don'tcha think they should be fitting that new seat to her?

[Heck]

Did you happen to see the blue F800ST hanging around the R&D dept.????

 

I, too, just went to Corbin. I was down there Tuesday morning dropping off Jamie's (2bmwfan) F800ST as they are using it as their prototype bike for production.

 

 

Stopped by Corbin today....Phil- tell Jamie that her bike really rides nice....But the seat is a little small for me.