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What I'm trying to find out, after reading all the info I could about replacements seats, is there any consensus about which seat does the best to eliminate forward lean?
I know this is opinion, but that's what I'm looking for, the overall opinion of COG riders who have addressed my same discomfort, being pushed into the tank. Seat cover material (as in the KAWA Tour seat) is not of interest to me, just the ergonomics of the seat itself.
I ride it like I stole it when I get to the roads that allow that. Some are close, some are far (great roads in North and South Carolina, and tons of them) but I'm looking to improve the "Tour" in this amazing Sport-Touring machine. I'm getting ready to "invest" as a "Merry Christmas to me!"
Thanks in advance for your help and replies, and opinions, and again, sorry for 'yet another'...
I doubt there is an consensus because everyone is so different not only in size / shape but also wants and expectations.
I can say with certainty that a Corbin saddle is extremely flat. It is dished quite a bit but in reality, that does not really effect the riding position and is not all that noticeable when using one.
Brian
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If you do not carry extra padding on your posterior, which lifts you above the hump in the front, and cannot actually ride in to Corbin so they can actually make a seat to fit you, it has the potential to be a very painful seat. I actually prefer a firm seat, and had the Corbin been made without so much dish, and no hump, it would be great.
The Touring seat woks great for me. I do not slide forward, and it is comfortable, and puts me in a perfect riding position.
I would like to try a Sargent standard height seat, made with the firmer foam they used in the seat they made for my RC51. I loved that seat. My Sargent was great for about 14,000 miles or so, then it broke down enough that it didn't support me as well, and the front part mashed down too much. I believe the Sargent low is made with firmer foam. I have not personally tried one, and would really not like a lower seat. Now if they would make me a standard height seat with the firmer foam...
I would like to try a Sargent standard height seat, made with the firmer foam they used in the seat they made for my RC51. I loved that seat. My Sargent was great for about 14,000 miles or so, then it broke down enough that it didn't support me as well, and the front part mashed down too much. I believe the Sargent low is made with firmer foam. I have not personally tried one, and would really not like a lower seat. Now if they would make me a standard height seat with the firmer foam...
Sargent makes good stuff. But their low seat is very hard. I have not tried their "standard" seat, since I MUST have a low seat to reach the ground (AND lowered bike AND tall boots), so the standard one might be far better from a comfort standpoint.
So my advice is: If you must have a low seat, the Sargent World Low is as low as it goes... well made, nice looking, great "pod" option, but not comfortable because there is so little foam. If you don't have to have a low seat, make sure not to opt for the low model, go for the standard.
A bicycle has a seat post, just like a motorcycle forum.
I remember a certain joke about seat posts...
Yeah, I am almost in the identical size / shape as you; it has been years since I have bicycled, ran or lifted anything I did not have to..... although I am quite a bit taller, weigh significantly less than 165 kg.
The passenger is also raised quite a bit from the stock height; my wife really likes that part because she is relatively short while I am relatively tall so the only saddle we have tried that has ever allowed her to see anything but the back of my helmet has been a Corbin on a C-14.
...and before you cannot unread it somebody starts talking about oiling their seat.
Regular sergeant- must say it looks great- came with silver piping to match my atomic silver paint. Much more comfy than stock. However, with 25k miles on it, not so much. It shoves me into the tank
and cushion seams to have disappeared, feels more like a Corbin . I have a rock hard Corbin on my Suzuki but that works because the seat shape is perfect for me. But the shape of the sergeant isn’t ideal . I’m going cross country next summer and I’ll likely get a Kawasaki touring seat.
That was my experience as well. Initially, and for some time after, the Sargent seat was great, I do like the shape though. After around 20,000 miles, give or take 5,000, I forget how many, the foam broke down enough that it no lover have the support necessary in the front, and you were pushed forward. Great seat until that happened.
Corbin made some great seats for many different bikes, but I cannot fathom why they decided to make the C14 seat shaped like one designed for a cruiser. The shape, for me, simply does not work well on the C14. I do wish I had originally simply cut down the hump in the front part of the seat. The seat does make a nice platform for an Airhawk though.
Well, in all fairness, I am not sure any foam in any seat (or chair or whatever) will last but so long before it starts to lose its spring/form/support. It probably depends on the quality and type of foam, but also how often it is used, weight, and environmental conditions (like how long it sits in the sun being heated, humidity, temperature cycling). I am sure some lasts longer than others.
This has been my experience: in the end (very small pun intended), a mold-able, conforming saddle surface is needed for my own, as well as my wife's, long time riding comfort. Even a saddle that was shaped exactly to fit a person, such as sitting on rigid foam while it hardened (yeah, couple jokes in there somewhere too) would not fit as well once clothes were changed, and the riding position was changed in any amount at all. An air (water would also work but not gel) cushion or actual saddle will always conform to the area above it and even compensate for any lumps (Easy Boys!- I mean like a wallet!). After trying out several saddles, including custom made types, we have found that only an air cushion provides us with the ability to spend eight, ten or more hours in the saddle without discomfort, if not outright pain; A stock Corbin will limit my own riding time to 45 minutes and then I am done for at least 12 hours due to discomfort.
Considering the above, what has worked best for us has been the Corbin, not because it is a 'good' saddle in and of itself but because it is a wide, [close to] flat surface that extends somewhat forward, and gives excellent area for an air cushion. It is actually the cushion that is providing the actual comfort.
The saddle / air cushion combo. is not without its problems though; the cushions are subject to damage / leaks, can be stolen easily, and require some fiddling to get them situated correctly over the saddle as well as filled with the right amount of air. The tendency is to over- fill them by quite a lot, and that is like riding on a beach- ball and I believe a prime reason why some people who try them do not like them at all. Properly filled, you really do not feel like you are floating above the actual saddle at all, in fact, it does not feel like it is even there or actually doing anything.
Brian