Product Review: Corbin Seat BMW R1200GS

This is not an objective product review. This is me raving about my new seat. If you are looking for a carefully thought out comparison of after market saddle options for your motorcycling happiness...be gone. But if you are unhappy with your stock seat and are leaning towards a Corbin, let me gush on.

I'll start by stating the obvious, BMW stock seats suck.
It was probably a mistake not to order a Corbin for the GT, but I've never felt committed to this bike and did not want to invest in it.
With its stock seat, the K12 was my 4 hour bike, if the ride was under 4 hours, I could consider taking it. Anything more and I'd be downing the Advil and cursing under my breath.


In anticipation of not liking a stock seat, I ordered leather samples two minutes after I'd made the downpayment.

Customer service at Corbin was good, and the samples were here before I'd picked up the bike. Blue Alligator leather proved to look too tacky for a GS.

The low seat option that came on the R1200GS was a problem right out of the gate for me. My 32 inch inseam and I did not need a lowered bike. I had a knot in my neck the size of Pennsylvania for most of my trip home. Looking at the Killboy shots, I can see the ergo problems, my wrist is higher than my elbow, everything scrunched up.


I was lucky to find a rider willing to loan me his regular seat. This helped the sore neck issue, but did nothing for the numb buns.


Be warned: Corbin does not reuse your seat pan. This seat does not adjust. It is fixed. I did not know this ahead of time.

The seat came in almost 2 weeks ahead of expectations.
Sweet site to find this on the door step!


The difference in look between the Corbin and stock is striking. Seen here resting on my tent as it dries out on the garage floor.



I was a little worried, this looked nothing like the other Corbin's I've known and loved. It looks like a bench seat when I was expecting more of a bucket.

This winter I had a leather "cap" put on the 24 year old K75's Corbin - the front was separating, and held together with tape for about 5 years. Ok, so sometimes I'm slow to put money into the bikes. A local auto upholsterer did nice work on this.


I'm not sure how it happened, but in the month that I've had the GS, I've put close to 4,000 miles on it. The last 750, a little piece of heaven with the new seat.


It is recommended that you break in the seat over 1,000 miles. Does this mean it's going to be even more comfortable? The biggest difference to the stock seat is the width. Clearly your weight is spread out more, as your thighs get into the act taking on some weight. I notice the width when I put both feet down at a stop. If you are heavy of thigh or short on inseam, you may find this a negative point.

Saturday I had the opportunity to put it to a real test. I rode up to the North Country in Maine to collect the ADV North American tag. 12 hours in the saddle. Almost no fidgeting. Happy Days!


I was so pleased the saddle came in early as I leave for a 1,500+ mile trip to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia this week. My only concern now is how the days of rain will effect the beautiful soft leather. I'm sure it will survive. All the others have.

If you are struggling with seat comfort, do yourself a favor and put some money into an after market.

Mother and Daughter Adventure Begins New Chapter

It is not uncommon for dads to get their sons involved in motorcycling. The typical scenario involves starting those boys on small dirt bikes. It is unconventional for mothers to get their daughters involved in motorcycling.
Conformity is overrated.

As a parent, I feel my job is to give my daughter the broadest set of opportunities that I can. Give her tools to learn. Let her dream. And send her off into the world able to make good decisions.

I knew this would be an exciting year of change. It has been very face paced change. In the past 3 months, Lisa has gotten her driver’s license, has learned how to drive a stick shift car, gotten her motorcycle license, and yesterday, at the tender age of 16, threw a leg over her first motorcycle.


Lisa's first bike is a well cared for '06 Kawasaki Ninja 500. Came to us via a friend of a friend. I decided to pass on the 250 route...this girl has to ride alongside me! I hope the 500 is just the right starter bike.

Passing of the keys, thanks for the delivery Jesse!


The next chapter of our adventure starts in a few days when I begin to teach her what she needs to know about riding that green machine as we roll forward toward our goal of riding to the BMW National Rally in Bloomsburg, PA in July to attend Camp Gears

Spot of green in the garage


to be continued...for years to come.

1,400 Mile Test Ride

The conversation usually goes like this
Me: "I bought a bike, it’s in Birmingham, AL"
Them: "Oh, are you having it shipped?"
Me: "No, I’m flying down and riding it home"
Them, confused…"You’re riding it all the way back?"
Me, confused…"Ummm yes, that’s the plan."

Tail of the Dragon, purchased pic from Xtreme Sports Photography


Riders who understand adventure get why I wanted to Fly & Ride.
Others never hear the road calling.


I got to Birmingham 12 hours after the tornadoes.
As much as I like to document everything with my camera, I could not stop and take pictures of the pockets of tornado damage I encountered. It would have been too…intrusive. Who was I, a joy riding vacationer, to walk in on their grief. I looked…I rode on. It was a sobering experience.
Caravan of Utility Trucks Heading Toward N.Georgia


That area of the country has had a spate of severe weather. But my good riding Karma came with me this trip, I encountered the bluest of skies my entire 3.5 days. It was just a little bit of riding heaven.


My ride home strategy was this, hit the highway and put Alabama behind me the first half day. Head toward Tennessee and roads whose names end in “Parkway”.

Ride nothing but nice stuff on Friday, and assess my forward progress and make a plan based on that on Saturday. This plan mostly worked out. As I’ve learned from previous adventures, flexibility is the key to success.
Long evening shadow


Oh the bike. Well yes, the bike was everything I was promised and more. I never expected to bond so quickly with the new machine. But 18 hours after taking title to it, I was putting it through the paces on the Tail of the Dragon.
Killboy.com photo

Pretty impressive comfort level for a bike I’d just met. I liken it to a good first date. Occasionally you will have one where the conversation flows so naturally it is like you’d known each other forever. That is how I felt on the Parkways of Tennessee on Friday; we spoke each other’s language.
Killboy.com photo


to be continued...

OPR-MC

Congratulations Lisa!


I am so proud that my 16 year old daughter passed her MSF class and has her endorsement.
I just sit back and imagine how different things would be if I'd been encouraged to take the front seat when I was her age.


We're shopping for a simple starter bike for her. And we have plans to attend the BMW MOA National Rally in Bloomsburg, PA in July. Her first goal is to be ready to ride the bike to school before the end of the year. I know she can do it!