Seat suggestions?

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KSUWildcatFan

Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
1,043
Country flag
I'm sure this has been addressed about 86,000 times, but..

I'm pretty damn short (5'8") with a 31" inseam (approx).. I really like the look of the Corbin Gunfighter seat but I'm worried the bike will sit much too high if I replace the stock seat with it. As it is, I'm on my toes a bit with the factory seat.

Suggestions?

-Jordan
 
I have a gunfighter on mine, and I don't think it added any seat height. It's been too long since I replaced the original to remember perfectly.

Why don't you call Corbin and ask them? My experiences with them (have bought four seats in the last as many years) have been great, both in terms of product and service - YMMV, but such has been my experience.

Good luck.
 
BrianK said:
I have a gunfighter on mine, and I don't think it added any seat height. It's been too long since I replaced the original to remember perfectly.

Why don't you call Corbin and ask them? My experiences with them (have bought four seats in the last as many years) have been great, both in terms of product and service - YMMV, but such has been my experience.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Worth a call. I wouldn't have thought anything about it except I was looking around and I noticed people were saying it sat higher, so it got me worried.

All I know is that I think the Gunfighter looks GREAT on the Commando..
 
I have the single seat that Old Britts does and I'm happy with it. I don't have your issue but Old Britt's is not as wide as the Corbin so it would take less leg to get to the ground and the seat looks great!!
 
Got to spend time in Gunfigter or slinger Corbin seat. Its lower than factory brick but not softer being so sexy thinner. I'm 6'3" so mostly noticed more knee bend on pegs than reach to ground. I love the looks but have no desire for one because they are lower and harder cushion than I like.
I put a 1" lower Corbin on my goat crashed SV650 and it really make control position much nicer and a better reach to ground in creeping across rutted loose stuff.

Cdo could be lowered by clipping springs though that makes them a bit stiffer.

hobot
 
KSUWildcatFan said:
I'm sure this has been addressed about 86,000 times, but..

I'm pretty damn short (5'8") with a 31" inseam (approx).. I really like the look of the Corbin Gunfighter seat but I'm worried the bike will sit much too high if I replace the stock seat with it. As it is, I'm on my toes a bit with the factory seat.

Suggestions?

-Jordan
Click to expand...

I'm a 32" inseam and have zero issues with the Corbin. The Corbin will be lower than the stock seat.
 
I like mine. Corbins are definitely FIRMER than most seats, but I think that's a plus - fewer "hot spots." My tailbones are still the first to go, but a good Corbin increases the miles before I START to feel those, and then again before I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER!!!

Best of luck.
 
Not sitting tall in the saddle myself, I went through the touching-ground thing when I rebuilt my Mk3 last year. I had a Combat in the early 70's and remember the discomfort I felt every time I came to a stop: do I ground left side or right side? This time round, I was determined to avoid the problem, and I'm happy to say that I ground firmly with both boots at every stop. Here's how I did it:

1. I bought a Corbin Gunfighter, but had them shave 1/2" off of each side. Corbin is happy to do this, and it really makes a difference, This seat is MUCH more comfortable than the original "loaf of bread" roadster seat. The Corbin is a bit wider than the OEM seat, so the shaving down is an important part of the process.

2. I installed 12" shocks (Dommi shocks) which lowered the rear of the bike 0.75 inches. This has the effect of increasing the front rake by 0.75 degrees. I can't feel the effect at all, but if it exists at all, it stabilizes the ride on the straight, and slightly reduces the side-to-side quickness of the bike. A very minor change in handling yielded a major improvement in rider confidence, at least for me.

3. I installed an 18" wheel on the rear, but increased the tire size slightly, so that the rolling diameter was pretty much identical to the OEM front tire. This change made, in the end, little change to my ability to ground at stops, but improved, IMHO, the appearance of the bike by avoiding that weenie rear tire.

I'm enjoying this bike far more than the Combat.
 
rick in seattle said:
Not sitting tall in the saddle myself, I went through the touching-ground thing when I rebuilt my Mk3 last year. I had a Combat in the early 70's and remember the discomfort I felt every time I came to a stop: do I ground left side or right side? This time round, I was determined to avoid the problem, and I'm happy to say that I ground firmly with both boots at every stop. Here's how I did it:

1. I bought a Corbin Gunfighter, but had them shave 1/2" off of each side. Corbin is happy to do this, and it really makes a difference, This seat is MUCH more comfortable than the original "loaf of bread" roadster seat. The Corbin is a bit wider than the OEM seat, so the shaving down is an important part of the process.

2. I installed 12" shocks (Dommi shocks) which lowered the rear of the bike 0.75 inches. This has the effect of increasing the front rake by 0.75 degrees. I can't feel the effect at all, but if it exists at all, it stabilizes the ride on the straight, and slightly reduces the side-to-side quickness of the bike. A very minor change in handling yielded a major improvement in rider confidence, at least for me.

3. I installed an 18" wheel on the rear, but increased the tire size slightly, so that the rolling diameter was pretty much identical to the OEM front tire. This change made, in the end, little change to my ability to ground at stops, but improved, IMHO, the appearance of the bike by avoiding that weenie rear tire.

I'm enjoying this bike far more than the Combat.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great writeup! I think #1 and #2 are definitely doable for me. As for #3, my bike came with brand new tires, so I think I'll just deal with it as-is, at least for now. :)
 
rick in seattle said:
Not sitting tall in the saddle myself, I went through the touching-ground thing when I rebuilt my Mk3 last year. I had a Combat in the early 70's and remember the discomfort I felt every time I came to a stop: do I ground left side or right side? This time round, I was determined to avoid the problem, and I'm happy to say that I ground firmly with both boots at every stop. Here's how I did it:

1. I bought a Corbin Gunfighter, but had them shave 1/2" off of each side. Corbin is happy to do this, and it really makes a difference, This seat is MUCH more comfortable than the original "loaf of bread" roadster seat. The Corbin is a bit wider than the OEM seat, so the shaving down is an important part of the process.

2. I installed 12" shocks (Dommi shocks) which lowered the rear of the bike 0.75 inches. This has the effect of increasing the front rake by 0.75 degrees. I can't feel the effect at all, but if it exists at all, it stabilizes the ride on the straight, and slightly reduces the side-to-side quickness of the bike. A very minor change in handling yielded a major improvement in rider confidence, at least for me.

3. I installed an 18" wheel on the rear, but increased the tire size slightly, so that the rolling diameter was pretty much identical to the OEM front tire. This change made, in the end, little change to my ability to ground at stops, but improved, IMHO, the appearance of the bike by avoiding that weenie rear tire.

I'm enjoying this bike far more than the Combat.
Click to expand...

Rick--

Do you by chance have a link/model number for those shocks? I can't seem to find anything other than 13" shocks.

I did find these, but it doesn't say they're for Commandos:

https://www.domiracer.com/comersus/stor ... uct=124993
 
KSU,

I checked back on my records, and in fact the shocks I ordered were for a Norton Atlas, 12" as opposed to the 13" shocks for the Commando; the one inch difference projects to 0.7 inches vertically. They are Hagon shocks I bought from Dave Quinn, who is an excellent resource; give him a call. They fit perfectly, just a bit shorter than the standard Commando version. Of my 3 bikes, the Mk3 is now my favorite ride with these changes (OK, the electric start is a plus as well).

Rick
 
rick in seattle said:
KSU,

I checked back on my records, and in fact the shocks I ordered were for a Norton Atlas, 12" as opposed to the 13" shocks for the Commando; the one inch difference projects to 0.7 inches vertically. They are Hagon shocks I bought from Dave Quinn, who is an excellent resource; give him a call. They fit perfectly, just a bit shorter than the standard Commando version. Of my 3 bikes, the Mk3 is now my favorite ride with these changes (OK, the electric start is a plus as well).

Rick
Click to expand...

holy cow! Those Hagon shocks are like $260/pr! :O
 
The standard twin Hagon shock 12" length exposed chrome springs is sold by Quinn for under $200 per pair. Similar shocks and prices at Walridge for NJBs. Both Quinn and Mike at Walridge will help you get the right shock. Quinn will set it up according to your weight and whether you often ride 2-up. You seem to be quoting custom prices for shrouded shocks. The NJB for an Atlas, by the way, is shrouded and will look a bit odd on a Commando.
 
rick in seattle said:
The standard twin Hagon shock 12" length exposed chrome springs is sold by Quinn for under $200 per pair. Similar shocks and prices at Walridge for NJBs. Both Quinn and Mike at Walridge will help you get the right shock. Quinn will set it up according to your weight and whether you often ride 2-up. You seem to be quoting custom prices for shrouded shocks. The NJB for an Atlas, by the way, is shrouded and will look a bit odd on a Commando.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll add shocks to the wishlist. I think between the seat ($400) and a new kickstarter ($75) I'll probably be on the wife's bad side again..lol

-Jordan
 
KSUWildcatFan said:
rick in seattle said:
The standard twin Hagon shock 12" length exposed chrome springs is sold by Quinn for under $200 per pair. Similar shocks and prices at Walridge for NJBs. Both Quinn and Mike at Walridge will help you get the right shock. Quinn will set it up according to your weight and whether you often ride 2-up. You seem to be quoting custom prices for shrouded shocks. The NJB for an Atlas, by the way, is shrouded and will look a bit odd on a Commando.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll add shocks to the wishlist. I think between the seat ($400) and a new kickstarter ($75) I'll probably be on the wife's bad side again..lol

-Jordan
Click to expand...

I will tell you this, if you want a really low seat a Proddy one will put you way down. :mrgreen:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top