Seat Confusion

[Nowheelies]

Two piece, one piece? I bought my bike very end of July (2004) and it came with the original seat. Or I thought anyway. I have had the seat off a couple of times goofing with things and it occurred to me it was a two piece seat and the one I got as a spare is a one piece seat. I assumed it did not fit my bike and was an inadvertent addition.

Cleaning out my garage in anticipation of winter and took a second look at the seat. It is indeed a one piece seat, but the bottom of it is marked "y.fjr.13. The symbols are melted into the black plastic. Oddly there is a black leather strip on the bottom side front of the seat that is not smooth like the seat material itself, but more rough natural leather feel to it.

When I got the bike I put a pic on this site to which a kind soul suggested it looked original. That fit with what I then thought was a random Yamaha seat, but now I am back in my natural state of general confusion. Any opinions?

 

[RossKean]

I think both Corbin and Sargent made one-piece seats for Gen I FJRs. Not sure if Yamaha sold one of these as an upgrade with their mark on it?? No other indications on the underside?

Edit: Looks like the one in the following thread from 2014. Corbin...

https://www.fjrforum.com/threads/gen-1-corbin-one-piece-seat-275-shipped.156128/

 

[boyitgobob]

That’s a Corbin. Lift the fabric tab at back , should be a hole to locate a post for a backrest.

 

[Old Guy]

That’s a Corbin. Lift the fabric tab at back , should be a hole to locate a post for a backrest.

Yeah. That looks almost exactly like the Corbin I had for my ZRX.

 

[LauraM]

Likely a Corbin built seat sold as an accessory by Yamaha. That’s what they did also in ‘01 with my Yamaha FZ1.

 

[keithq]

Two piece, one piece? I bought my bike very end of July (2004) and it came with the original seat. Or I thought anyway. I have had the seat off a couple of times goofing with things and it occurred to me it was a two piece seat and the one I got as a spare is a one piece seat. I assumed it did not fit my bike and was an inadvertent addition.

Cleaning out my garage in anticipation of winter and took a second look at the seat. It is indeed a one piece seat, but the bottom of it is marked "y.fjr.13. The symbols are melted into the black plastic. Oddly there is a black leather strip on the bottom side front of the seat that is not smooth like the seat material itself, but more rough natural leather feel to it.

When I got the bike I put a pic on this site to which a kind soul suggested it looked original. That fit with what I then thought was a random Yamaha seat, but now I am back in my natural state of general confusion. Any opinions?View attachment 2771

Definitely a Corbin seat. Stock is two piece. I found my previous FJR seat none too comfortable and had it rebuilt (and covered with a different material) by Laam. The seat was good but was a little unhappy with the passenger as it didn't quite fit right. Not too big a deal but definitely more comfortable.

 

[Nowheelies]

I might put it on the bike just to see if it feels good. Looks like it has seen a lot of weather. If it is better one would assume they would have left it on the bike. Passenger seating is very important to me. Well, Mrs. Nowheelies thinks so anyway.

 

[keithq]

Corbins are known for being less cushy and more stiff, if that is the right way to put it. I have used them before on my Honda ST bikes and liked them. Each of the various after market seat companies have different reputations. Some are wider, some are softer and some are just too tall for me!

 

[Nowheelies]

That’s a Corbin. Lift the fabric tab at back , should be a hole to locate a post for a backrest.

Yes, I just ran out and checked it, there is indeed a hole built into it.

 

[Nowheelies]

Corbins are known for being less cushy and more stiff, if that is the right way to put it. I have used them before on my Honda ST bikes and liked them. Each of the various after market seat companies have different reputations. Some are wider, some are softer and some are just too tall for me!

Put the Corbin on a few minutes ago. Sat like well sculpted granite. Dang, this thing is hard. It is only about 55F in my garage at the moment, but I cannot imagine it makes that much difference. I am going to give it a real test riding when possible (rain, cold, blah blah blah) to see how much better it feels ergo-wise. Mrs. Nowheelies uses a pad so she sits higher anyway, maybe it will not matter to her if is not as soft as the one we have been using. It looks like it will push her closer to me and the transition from rider to passenger seems much more defined with more of a back to it than a slope.

 

[Nowheelies]

Likely a Corbin built seat sold as an accessory by Yamaha. That’s what they did also in ‘01 with my Yamaha FZ1.

Interesting. That would explain the Yamaha name on it. Wonder why the two piece seat is there, I was told by someone (cannot remember from where) that it looked like original equipment. We will never know.

 

[blassoff]

Absolutely looks like a Corbin. If it weights a ton (even heavier than my fatass RDL), it's a Corbin.

 

[user 90243]

Corbins are known for being less cushy and more stiff, if that is the right way to put it. I have used them before on my Honda ST bikes and liked them. Each of the various after market seat companies have different reputations. Some are wider, some are softer and some are just too tall for me!

Corbin good, 29k. They even have help for us 29" inseam guys. Counterintuitive but I like the firm seat better.

 

[Nowheelies]

Absolutely looks like a Corbin. If it weights a ton (even heavier than my fatass RDL), it's a Corbin.

That fits the growing consensus. The thing not only appears granite in composition, it also weighs like a slab of granite. Rode to town today for an errand. It felt hard when sitting on it, but mildly surprised it was not uncomfortable. Of course that was only a short ride.

 

[RedRiderMN]

I have a Corbin seat. To make it soften up a bit, I placed it on my office chair and sat on it for several weeks. It did, in fact, soften up after that.
Now it fits me like a "glove"?? YMMV

 

[mophead]

Ride it for 4/500 miles and then see what you butt says. I like them firm and it works for me for long rides.

 

[boyitgobob]

I had a Corbin on my fj1200. It put my butt back farther from the bars, which aggravated neck and shoulder pain. The hard foam wasn’t much of an issue. Sold it and modified my stock seat.

 

[Nowheelies]

Finally got out yesterday. Went for a ride with grandson number two. I could feel more initial pressure on my butt bones (which using minimal Google fu found are really called ischial tuberosity) but after an hour of riding I realized I did not feel worse than with the softer seat I had been using. In fact maybe better. Grandson confirmed he was comfortable as well. It actually felt better in the insides of my thighs which always seemed to mildly chafe with seat I had been using. Rode another twenty minutes or so after a stop at a wayside rest which has a phenomenal overlook and made it home happy. Think I will leave on for the rest of the season and maybe leave it on for good. But, man, it is ugly. To my eye anyway.

On an mildly related note, I asked my grandson if he wanted to go on a long ride or a short ride, he answered, a long one. Have ridden in rain and cold with him and he just eats it up with a smile on his face. Another win!

 

[Nowheelies]

I have a Corbin seat. To make it soften up a bit, I placed it on my office chair and sat on it for several weeks. It did, in fact, soften up after that.
Now it fits me like a "glove"?? YMMV

That is both funny and a great idea. Also reminded me of a thought I had riding around yesterday. If Corbin seats require a break in period to form I wonder if a used seat already formed to someone else will ever truly synch up with my anatomy. Or I am thinking to hard.