BMW Comfort Saddle or Corbin Follow-up

[tinytrains]

I have read the discussions here about Cobin seats, and the BMW Comfort Saddle, and wanted to get updated opinions from owners now that they have a few thousand miles on them.

I know everyone raves about the custom makers, but I do not want to give up my stock seat.
That leaves BMW and Corbin.

BMW Comfort Saddle ($554):
Expensive
factory seat pan for proper fit
Available from local dealer
No seat back

Corbin ($439)
Less expensive
Looks better
Seat pan does not always fit right
Customers are not always happy with service, but would BMW be any better?
Seat back available.

Opinions Please: Which is more comfortable.

Thanks,
Scott

[Talon Six]

FWIW, Corbins are reputed to be poor quality, although admittedly I have no first hand experience to make a qualified judgment. I'm leaning toward the BMW Comfort Saddle myself for the same reasons you mentioned.

[xprof]

I haven't tried a Corbin on my "R", but I had one on my VX800 for over 15 years, and I can say that it was marvelously comfortable. It was a hard little slab, but perfectly contoured, and I soon was convinced that "hard" was the way to go. It fit with difficulty at first, but worked in nicely. Corbin was a bit distant and did not give instant feedback, but they make a hell of a saddle, and you get to keep your original, with no down time. Others experience may vary, but I speak well of Corbin.

[Caroanbill]

I ordered a Corbin on the strength of some of the older Corbin saddles I'd seen here in Oz(tralia).
Kept it all standard - the one thing I'd have like to customize was the fit, but Corbin don't do that.

When it arrived, it didn't fit me - or the bike. Finally adjusted it to fit the bike, to find it didn't fit me. Not a lot of options to return it across the Pacific and no takers here for an unused Corbin, so it rests in my garage

So - find one and make sure it fits, first.

But the more important reason you should see one first is so you know what utter crap you're getting for your money. OK, the topside looks OK even though quality is so much lower than the older ones I'd seen .... the real mess is underneath. The pan is made in a slapdash fashion and the attachment etc is even worse. I described it at the time as like surgery performed butcher on a feral pig, undertaken drunk and in the dark - and that's probably a compliment.

To be fair, the pillion seat is a definite improvement on stock and the rider's seat would be as well, if it fits you.

BTW - Aussies (Sydney) - yours for $150 ... still probably more than it's worth, but I can put the $ towards my new farkles.

[Liam]

Hi,

The only Corbin saddle I've had was on a CB750. That was well over a decade ago. I liked it. At that time the construction and material quality were fine. I don't know what the case is now.

I bought the BMW Comfort Saddle for my R1200R in part because I had confidence in the OEM quality. I have over 5000 miles on it now. I can ride for a couple of hundred miles without a problem, and then ride more after a ten minute leg stretch. I use a high saddle for the sake of my knees, and the BMW saddle shape lets me flat foot without a problem. I do need to sit back in the saddle to get my rear on the wide part. This hasn't been a problem. I like this saddle more than I liked the old CB750 Corbin. YMMV.

For me, I think I'd need to do a ride-in custom from a Mayer brother (if I could pick which one) to do better. It's a pity the BMW isn't less expensive but that seems to go with the territory. As is, if a couple of years from now I change my mind and want a Mayer's saddle, I've got the old bench saddle sitting in a box ready for the job.

Liam

[Lost Rider]

If you are talking pure comfort...

My R has nearly 60,000 miles on it.
I have a high quality custom seat.

My 09' GS has nearly 30,000 miles on it.
Stock, painful seat.

I don't leave home for a long trip without my Airhawk Medium Cruiser seat pad.

Both bikes are equally comfortable on my butt.


$159.99

[daveyator]

I'm actually in seat hell right now! I got a mayer saddle conversion. Comfortable but really high for me. Had it "tweaked" due pressure on underside of thighs. Well that pressure is what kept me from sliding forward which I now do, plus it's still damn high and wide. SO I ordered a BMW high comfort seat. Believe it or not it "feels" better than the Mayer saddle (to me) but its still too high although its narrowness toward the front allows me to almost flat foot the bike. Am probably going to switch it to the low comfort seat. This is meaningless without numbers so I'm 5'11 with a 31" inseam. The Mayer saddle I have gives a seat height of almost 33". The BMW high comfort seat is 830mm or 32.6", the low comfort seat is 800mm or 31.4". Now don't let that low comfort label scare you because low comfort is the same as standard bench at 800mm. Just for reference low bench is 770mm, standard is 800 and high is 830. Just call me the goldilocks of seat height and comfort! I'm hoping to break $1000 spent on seating by the end of the week.

[deilenberger]

If you are talking pure comfort...
I don't leave home for a long trip without my Airhawk Medium Cruiser seat pad.
Both bikes are equally comfortable on my butt.
$159.99

I prefer FreedomAir's cushion.. same reason - long trips it goes with me. And the FreedomAir has room for the boys..

[mogu83]

I have maybe 5K on my Corbin, so far I'm satisfied with it and have no reason to believe that will change. The finish is totally acceptable and I did have to spend about half an hour adjusting the seat latch when I initially installed it. The under side of the seat pan isn't finished off, but it's a trade off because the pan seems to be extremely sturdy in comparison to the flimsy stock pan. Seeing as the bottom of the pan can't be seen when the seat is on the bike I have about as much concern about it, as I do about what the inside of my tires look like.
I bought the Corbin mostly for looks as I really didn't have a major problem with the stock seat. However the Corbin does correct the sliding forward problem, and the twins are a lot happier.

Generally I stay away from discussions about motorcycle seats, because over the years I've come to the conclusion that something is wrong with me. I rarely sit on a motorcycle that feels uncomfortable to me, in fact the R1200R was most likely the worst seat I've ever sat on (and I rode a few Guzzis) and I still could do a 1K day on it.
I ride a 125cc in the MotoGiro with an after market seat that consists of a sponge 5" X 13" and 2" thick, two seven hour days (300 miles) back to back and it really isn't too bad. So you can take my opinion of the Corbin for what it's worth.

[dderrig]

I broke down and ordered the 800mm (Low, but really standard height) comfort saddle from Max BMW. They have to order from Germany so it will be a week or so but I am looking forward to it. I have a local guy in Seattle (Rich's custom seats) who did my wife's and did a good job (F650 twin) but I like what I had seen of the BMW and if I don't like the BMW version I will sell it and have Rich modify my stock saddle. What I should do is get a low seat for mine and a stock seat for my wife's 650 so we can swap bikes once in a while just for kicks.

Dave

[GT Guy]

I've had two Corbin seats, both on an RT (different RTs). The first one had to be returned immediately due to a tear in the cover. That was a 4 month adventure of them losing it, etc. The second seat I bought because I figured surely they've gotten better over the years but nooooooooooooooooooooo. This one had no damage, but fit as poorly as the first and it got to the point that I would prefer to remove the engine rather than remove the seat and go through all of the hassle required to get it back on and latched.

I called it the leather covered brick. Better than stock, but barely. Never again.

So now I'm on the pain cushion, the OE seat, but I don't live anywhere near a Mayer brother and I don't care for the Sargent seat and I'm not sure that BMW makes a "comfort" set for the GS. Eh, I just need to toughen-up, I guess.

Michael

[Mollygrubber]

Michael:

Check in your neighbourhood for upholstery shops that do work on bike seats. We have one locally that lots of guys use (I'm using them for my dual sports, I'll take my RR to Rich's in Seattle because he is THE MAN). You can likely find somebody able to shave that annoying bump that exists where a depression should be. Probably way cheaper, too.

Peter

[Acpantera]

Got 20,000 miles on my corbin and I love it. Sure I had to adjust the latch but I can ride 500 miles a day and my but never complains, on the stock seat I would be suffering from but burn at 200 miles and wishing to call it a day. Corbin was money well spent for me. No problems with ordering, receiving or quality.

[tinytrains]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds kind of a wash. The opinion on Corbin is about 50/50. The BMW seat has 1 vote for, and none against, but only one tester.

I am leaning towards the BMW seat. Expensive, but seems to be a sure thing.

Next question is high or low? I currently have the stock low seat and reach the ground easily with a 30 inch inseam. The low is safe, but the high would be more comfortable I assume.

Thanks,
Scott

[dderrig]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds kind of a wash. The opinion on Corbin is about 50/50. The BMW seat has 1 vote for, and none against, but only one tester.

I am leaning towards the BMW seat. Expensive, but seems to be a sure thing.

Next question is high or low? I currently have the stock low seat and reach the ground easily with a 30 inch inseam. The low is safe, but the high would be more comfortable I assume.

Thanks,
Scott

If you can wait hold out about a week or so and I will let you know as mine should be in then.

Dave

[Radar in oz]

I ordered a Corbin on the strength of some of the older Corbin saddles I'd seen here in Oz(tralia).
Kept it all standard - the one thing I'd have like to customize was the fit, but Corbin don't do that.

When it arrived, it didn't fit me - or the bike. Finally adjusted it to fit the bike, to find it didn't fit me. Not a lot of options to return it across the Pacific and no takers here for an unused Corbin, so it rests in my garage.

Bill,

If you are still looking for a personalised seat, I'm happy with the job John Moorhouse (ergo motorcycle seats in Brisbane) did for me. I posted something about it somewhere else here recently.

A photo of mine (I only wanted the pillion section modified) is here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25151929@N06/4431556098/

Cheers
Peter

[AllanCook]

I have read the discussions here about Cobin seats, and the BMW Comfort Saddle, and wanted to get updated opinions from owners now that they have a few thousand miles on them.

I know everyone raves about the custom makers, but I do not want to give up my stock seat.
That leaves BMW and Corbin.

BMW Comfort Saddle ($554):
Expensive
factory seat pan for proper fit
Available from local dealer
No seat back

I can't seem to find this "comfort" saddle in the BMW catalog. All I see is high or low. Do you have a link or a part number?

FWIW, I had a Corbin on a Harley years ago, and it was divine. I'd have one for my Beemer, but I think they look awful.

[Liam]

AllanCook,

The part number for the tall version of the "Comfort saddle" is 52 53 7 721 958. It isn't quite as tall as the bench style tall seat. I got the part number from my dealer by asking him to look up the saddle used in the "special touring edition" of the R1200R. The part number for other heights probably differ only in the last digit.

I don't know where you're located, but my dealer is Cliff's in Connecticut. After telling me there weren't any in the U.S. they placed an order with the factory. They were able to put the saddle in my hands in about (less than) three weeks.

Liam

[daveyator]

I used Gateway BMW. Had the high seat within 8 days. After discussing my seat woes and returning the high comfort seat (see pervious) he too said he has to order the low comfort from Germany but felt bad about the info he gave me and is "overnighting" it. I too will give comments if anyone is interested. They do offer free shipping. I still can't figure this out. I'm one inch taller and have an inch higher inseam than Liam and yet he says he's happy with the high seat which was just too tall for me. Oh well go figure.

[Caroanbill]

Bill,
If you are still looking for a personalised seat, I'm happy with the job John Moorhouse (ergo motorcycle seats in Brisbane) did for me.
A photo of mine (I only wanted the pillion section modified) is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25151929@N06/4431556098/

Peter - John Moorhouse' reputation is wide! If I could stand using the Corbin pan, I'd send it to him. Actually doin' OK with stock low + AirHawk ... including a run to the spot where your pic was took (C*ckle Creek T.O. - I have a 5' x 5' Geoff Dyer oil of Lune River and wanted to see the source, then get as far as the dirt was rideable)