Will a Corbin Seat fit a 1969/70 Commando S ?

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Ted Lang

Ted Lang

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Its time for a new saddle and paint on my 1969-70 S model. I saw a note somewhere that the larger "S" style side panels will interfere with the bottom of Corbin seats. I looked through the gallery and saw lots of corbins, but always on later models. It does LOOK like there might be an issue based on the photos and the relation of the seat bottom to the tank. I asked Corbin, and they said "hard to say". Or -- can they be modified to fit without a big deal?

Thanks in advance if anybody knows.

Ted
 
Yes , probably. Those 70 sidepanels do angle up and touch-wear at a seat. Fettle. Always Fettle. :roll:
 
You can take your bike to Corbin and they'll custom make a seat for you.

Or, you could talk to Matt at CNW, I imagine he'd be happy for you to send him your side panels for him to mock up on another frame and then modify a seat for you.

Or, you could modify a seat yourself, as to whether or not this is a big job is down to your own abilities I guess. You would have to remove the cover, modify the base, refit the cover. Personally I wouldn't take this on due to my inability to get a 'factory finish' when recovering.

I have a Corbin on a '74 Roadster, and judging by how close it is to the side panels, I would say that it would not fit on an S.
 
Should fit. This is the Corbin on my 70

Will a Corbin Seat fit a 1969/70 Commando S ?
 
Great---Just what I needed to see (love this forum). It looks like just about 0 inches margin to the side panels, but fits! Nice looking bike.

Next questions, since I never actually sat on a Corbin/Norton: Clearly this is not intended as a touring seat, but is it comfortable for say, 2 hour rides? That's about how long I can enjoy my stock, 45 year old "S" seat. Then it starts feeling pretty hard as I thumpity-bump through the Michigan potholes. I am 6'-0", about 210 lbs.

Thanks again.

Ted
 
The seat is fairly hard. I have no problem riding for two hour intervals. You'll be stopping for coffee/fuel any how every couple of hours :-)
 
Ted Lang said:
...since I never actually sat on a Corbin/Norton: Clearly this is not intended as a touring seat, but is it comfortable for say, 2 hour rides?
Ted
Click to expand...
I have had one for about 8 or 9 years. Loved the look, but when I opened the box up I was appalled at how hard and unyielding the foam was. After I dropped it on and took a ride I found the firm seat was actually MORE comfortable than the soft stocker. I really like the bum stop nature of the seat. I feel planted at all times but I can still hang off the side for corners if needed. I have only had the stock seat on the bike a few times since then when I needed to pick up my daughter after school. Long lines of Moms in minivans and me on the Commando.... guess who was the cool kid at school the next day. I digress. Every fall I do a three day ride in southwestern Wisconsin with a bunch of people from the ChiVinMoto group. Nice twisties and no LEO's. I can comfortably ride all day on the Corbin (usually 200-300 mile days, all in the twisties with stops every couple of hours) given the fuel range of the Roadster tank. I am 65 so youth is not on my side either. I can't help you with knowledge of "will it fit" but I don't feel you need to worry about the comfort aspect between gas stops. I would never consider taking mine off unless I wanted to take a pillion...which never happens any more. It has held up well although my bike lives indoors and rarely sees rain. An outdoor bike might have issues...but who would do that to a Commando? The only bad thing I can say about it is that it is WAY heavy.
 
Freefly, Flyboy, or others with Corbins - how tall are you (if you don't mind)? I'm still just a little worried whether the fixed position would be cramped. Pretty good testimonials! Of the various stock seats, I always liked the look of my "S" seat, but the corbin is a real standout. I think your point about keeping the old seat is probably a good thought for the possible 2-up ride, besides keeping the stock option.

Ted
 
The most comfortable seats are quite firm. But people sit on a new bike and settle into the comfy softnesses and tell the salesman "sold !". So a sculpted seat to your derriere in firmer materials the way to go.
 
Corbin's take forever to "soften" up ,ha ha ha :lol:
I have had several Corbin's over the years and the fit & finish has always been good . I have over 100k on a gunfighter seat on a guzzi and it's still firm.

Tim_S
 
5' 11" and 178 pounds for me... so the Corbin adds approximately 1/10th of the rider weight.
Terry
 
Ted Lang said:
Freefly, Flyboy, or others with Corbins - how tall are you (if you don't mind)? I'm still just a little worried whether the fixed position would be cramped. Pretty good testimonials! Of the various stock seats, I always liked the look of my "S" seat, but the corbin is a real standout. I think your point about keeping the old seat is probably a good thought for the possible 2-up ride, besides keeping the stock option.

Ted
Click to expand...

Another important thing to consider about the Corbin is that it is quite a bit wider than the stock seat so your inseam needs to go out and around more seat with a Corbin. That said, I can touch down just fine with mine on my '74 Commando. I am 6'1" and have a 32" inseam.

Agree with all the posts regarding comfort. The Corbin is hard but you want firm foam for good support and all day comfort. Also depends on your weight to a certain extent. I am about 215 lbs so most stock motorcycle seats are way too soft for me. The Corbin forms to your butt and provides great support. You also feel like you are sitting more in the bike rather than perched on top of it. Very comfortable. I also have a Corbin on my '08 Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport and had one on a '96 Triumph Thunderbird previously. Highly recommended.

Tobin
 
I put a Corbin on my 1969 Commando. When I first mounted it, the seat sat hard on the up-slanted side panels. I marked the seat with tape on both sides where the fiberglass seat pan needed to be modified and sent it back to Corbin. They kindly recut the pan and re-stretched the leather. All good now.

When we spoke to them, we learned that they used to say on the website that the Corbin Norton seat was for newer Commandos with the horizontal panels, but that in a website up-grade that language disappeared.

I don't know if they now can make the alteration before sending. Best inquire.
 
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