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Author Topic: Seat Question  (Read 2512 times)

razz2234

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Seat Question
« on: November 12, 2009, 05:18:36 PM »
Aw c'mon guys...I posted a question regarding Corbin seats and no one replied. Doesn't anyone have a Corbin or aftermarket seat on their R65?
I'm just wondering if you do have a aftermarket seat...are you satisfied with it? Any reccommendations? Does anyone have a seat with a driver back rest?
I have a blast riding my bike but I can't take a long haul without the "monkey butt" thing and want to get a more comfortable seat. The stock seat has some hot spots for me...and I have back problems and a back rest might help in that respect.
Any advise would be appreciated...just thought I would bring a question to the table of dedicated R65 riders...
Thanks
 [smiley=idea2.gif]
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Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2009, 06:26:08 PM »
I don't think that very many, if any members here have aftermarket seats on their R65's .

I had the seats on my '81 and '84 redone by a local one man seat shop, had foam replaced as necessary, thick gel pad and breathable cover installed .

A definite improvement over the 25-28 year old original materials .
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R65_Mark

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 07:05:15 PM »
I have a Sargent seat on my '84 R65.  It was on the 'bike when I bought it, so can't compare it to stock.  It looks stock (no heavy contouring) but is probably a little lower.  It works fine for me - I've done over 800-miles on a weekend without discomfort.  However, I don't see it listed in Sargent's current catalog, so you might need to check with them to see if it is stilll available as a special-order item if you are interested.
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Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2009, 07:28:01 PM »
I never had a complaint with the brown seat on my '79, even though the magazine testers at the time thought it was awful.

It was not until after my divorce in 2000, that I tried taking longer rides and found my old seat wanting, in the comfort dept.

I tried all kinds of cushions, I had my seat reupholstered with "memory foam", and it still was VERY bad. (1 hour at the most)

It was not until I converted to a solo seat/rear rack set-up that I acquired a brand-new (reproduction) seat from  S. Meyer and I found true tank-to-tank comfort, again.

They sell not only the solo seat, but the bench seat for both twin-shock models.  http://www.meyer-bikes.com/ersatz3.php?cat=32

I think their prices are quite reasonable ($260 USD +ship), when you consider what you are getting.


Oh, and I relieve my back pain with low handlebars.  But everyone is different, here.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2009, 07:29:41 PM by Rob_Valdez_79_R65 »
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Offline nhmaf

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2009, 07:46:42 PM »
I have a Corbin seat, but it is on my Kawasaki Concours, not my R65LS.
It is a well made, all leather surface seat with alot of room.  It is also wider than the stock seat and about as soft as a park bench.  The factory seat on the Concours (I have a 1998 model) looks good and is pretty comfy for about 150 miles, but after that the foam slowly lets you down, and by the end of a couple 500 mile days you fill like your sitting in a bean bag but all the beans have come out from under your butt, and you're hip bones are setting on the hard seat pan.   The Corbin is too firm for some folks, but it does easily let you move around, so that you don't develop "hot spots".  It does take some getting used to, and its wideness also decreases how much leg length you have to reach the ground.  

I don't know if the R65-fitment saddles would be very similar, but I think that their general philosophy about seat design is similar.

I have a stock R65LS seat on my bike, which I've recovered, but so far am still using the stock foam in it.
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Offline marcmax

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2009, 08:27:51 PM »
I had a Russell Day Long seat on my R65LS when I bought it. It was a very comfortable seat and I spent  6 hours on it the first day with no discomfort at all. That being said let me tell you that I replaced it with a stock seat because it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen on a bike. I also had a problem with leg length since it is wide and has side 'wings' that wrap around your bottom. I had to slide forward onto the end of the tank before my legs would bend down from the hip enough to let my feet touch the ground. Comfortable when you are rolling, awkward when you have to stop.
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fastcataz

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2009, 08:28:06 PM »
I have a wonderful custom leather mini king/queen seat on mine. My bike came with a stocker and a new looking seat pan. My old friend George, who did my seats for 25 years, did it up for me. It is the best seat I have ever used. Unfortunately, he died last year. I thought the stocker was O.K., but the George special is great.
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Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2009, 11:46:16 PM »
Quote
I have a wonderful custom leather mini king/queen seat on mine. My bike came with a stocker and a new looking seat pan. My old friend George, who did my seats for 25 years, did it up for me. It is the best seat I have ever used. Unfortunately, he died last year. I thought the stocker was O.K., but the George special is great.

Picture!
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Crossrodes

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2009, 01:30:40 AM »
I had a Corbin seat on a K1100lt that I had.  It was hard as a rock.  I had some questions of Corbin and just got blown off.  Since then I had a Russells on a Goldwing 1500 and a Goldwing 1800...both leather seats.  These seats made all the difference in the world to me.  I was able to ride distances I had never ridden before and go between fill-ups without stopping (around 375kms).  The longest I rode on a Russell was this past summer when I rode 1430 km's in one day.

If I put another seat on the R65 it will be a Russell.  I wouldn't even consider a Corbin.
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Offline Motu

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2009, 01:34:50 AM »
I have a streettracker seat on my R65 - I can move all over it,forward and back,slip off the sides.But I don't think that's what you are looking for...it's only good for day rides and doesn't keep me clean or dry.
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fastcataz

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2009, 06:02:42 AM »
You can see it in the gallery, search for fastcat.

« Last Edit: November 13, 2009, 04:21:34 PM by Rob_Valdez_79_R65 »
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515_FOTO

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2009, 08:31:39 AM »
I also have a corbin on another bike--r100rt. I had the 2up touring from the 80s on it forever, many miles on it. Cross country comfy. Decided to replace it recently--got a corbin canyon 2up. not real happy with it, mostly due to rear seat and rear rider displeasure, and corbin was not a pleasure to deal with.
And yes, it was hard as a rock. They say to give it 2000 miles to break in, of course then its a very used seat that can't be returned or sold as new.
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Offline Ed Miller

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2009, 10:48:04 AM »
I have a Russell Daylong, and it's every bit as comfortable as marcmax says.  It's also every bit as ugly as he says.  I'm keeping it.  It came with a rider back rest but I never used it.  Even with it on, my back didn't touch it because I ride crouching slightly forward.  So I got rid of it when I had the seat recovered.



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Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2009, 04:31:39 AM »
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Offline k_enn

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Re: Seat Question
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2009, 08:55:49 AM »
Just be careful if you are buying a Corbin seat.  I looked into getting one.  Corbin still makes seats for some r65s, but not for all years.  Apparently the seat pan was different for a few years in the 80s.  

« Last Edit: November 28, 2009, 09:01:44 AM by k_enn »
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