Corbin or Sargent alternative

Does anyone know of a cheap alternative for a gel type seat? Or at least can someone explain to me why Corbin is so expensive so I can justify it?

Thanks! :D

you mean besides the fact that the Corbin's are the best looking, mass manufactured and affordable aftermarket bike seats?

The deal is this: Corbin's aren't the most comfortable seat on the market - Sargent, Bill Mayer, Russell Saddles and several others are FAR more comfortable. The Russell saddles are reported to be simply the most comfortable seat in existance - check out the Iron Butt and all you pretty much see are Russells.

Unfortunately, Russell seats are seriously ugly. I mean, F-U-G-L-Y. They also have a 6 month backlog in orders since each seat is custom built.

Corbin's on the other hand are mass produced with a design that allows your butt to spread out over a more supportive surface that is custom formed to fit a set of butt-cheeks.

What you are effectively paying for is a seat that is light years better in comfort than any (ok, excepting Gold Wing's La-Z-Boy design) slab of foam that the HonYaKaZuki makers use.

Are Corbin's better than AirHawks or Gel Pads? I think so, but your ass is the better judge.

Spoken like a true Beemer rider!
Viva sport-tour.

Welcome BMW-K

I haven't tried the other seats, but I have a Corbin on my TLR, so I can speak to that.

It is SO nice. Comfortable, looks good, and I like it. When they tell you to give it 1000 miles to break in, they mean it.

At first, I didn't like it. It was uncomfortable as hell. Once I stuck it out for the 1000 miles or so, it became a whole new seat. The closed-cell foam they use formed to me, and it was like the seat was custom carved for me.

I put in a few 500 mile days last summer, and my backside was by far the last thing to bother me.

The only downside that I can even come close to thinking of is the fact that it took 4 weeks to get. Seems they don't keep many TLR seats around. :laughing

The corbin is great. The others are right on... It spreads out your weight over the entire seat and prevent the pressure points that the stock seats torture you with. The wait is long even for a F4i, and customer service sucks, but the product is good. If you order from Corbin you can request changes to the shape in the first year at no cost as long as they can still use the same covering material. Corbin usually make it a little harder to touch the ground, and move you back from the tank because of the front hump. There are mixed views on if it limits your ability to hang off. I don't think it does.

Thank you BMW-K! :D

Originally posted by BMW-K

What you are effectively paying for is a seat that is light years better in comfort than any (ok, excepting Gold Wing's La-Z-Boy design) slab of foam that the HonYaKaZuki makers use.



I liked the Corbin I had on my old 6R and if my 9R gives me trouble I'll likely get another.

I must say however I was NOT comfortable in the stock Goldwing seat. I know I can say it's different after 4700 miles or so in two weeks, but it just wasn't for me.

don't know anything about Russell seats...but i was plenty comfy on my Corbin saddle after 14 hrs....and that was the 2nd day on a 3 day trip, back to houston from san fran. rode 10hrs the furst day and 6 the 3rd day...so....30hrs in 3 days on the bike.


btw, i stopped in at Corbin in Hollister,CA, and the fitted the saddle to my bike there. :thumb

(Bill?) Russell created the design for the Police motorcycle bikes, and for quite a while actually made them. Really wide seat, broad as all hell, specially designed foams, etc. The "Stripper" model seat runs around $600. I have heard prices up to $1200 for one.

Basically, Russell makes the seat to your exact specifications. Height, weight, materials, etc.

But it's still damn ugly!

I've owned a Corbin and a Sargent. Although the Corbin was comfortable, apart from the ball-smashing front hump, its quality left A LOT to be desired. Not even in the same league with Sargent. The Corbin also weighed about 4 lbs more than my stock seat while the Sargent is within a pound. I think Dennis Kirk has some gel pads and some nice sheep skin if that's a look that works for you :laughing .

Originally posted by Gixster
I haven't tried the other seats, but I have a Corbin on my TLR, so I can speak to that.

It is SO nice. Comfortable, looks good, and I like it. When they tell you to give it 1000 miles to break in, they mean it.

At first, I didn't like it. It was uncomfortable as hell. Once I stuck it out for the 1000 miles or so, it became a whole new seat. The closed-cell foam they use formed to me, and it was like the seat was custom carved for me.

I put in a few 500 mile days last summer, and my backside was by far the last thing to bother me.

The only downside that I can even come close to thinking of is the fact that it took 4 weeks to get. Seems they don't keep many TLR seats around. :laughing

Do you or anyone else with a corbin seat have any close up pics?

just got a corbin for my f3 took a few days to grow on me but it looks great annd feels good .well worth the money and the wait to get it.

Not a GREAT picture, but it's the only one I have right now.