I've owned both. These are my opinions, from what I can think of. My pros are cons for some people, and vice versa. Both are great seats, it just depends on what you want.
Corbin Pros:
Corbin Cons:
- Leather
- Has mounting hardware installed
- More comfortable on longer rides
- More durable surface
- Can buy rider / passenger seats separate
- Neutral seating position
- Fitment issues
- Easy to mar surface
- Has a break-in period
- Harder seat
- Feels wider compared to stock
Shad Pros:
Shad Cons:
- Better initial comfort
- No break-in period
- Perfect fitment
- Surface easy to maintain
- Surface resists marring
- Width feels same stock
- Must use stock seats mounting hardware
- Less comfy on longer rides
- Surface easier to tear or puncture
- Must buy both the passenger and rider seat
- Slight forward slope compared to stock
It took a few months for them to make and ship it?
long story but to sum it up i originally ordered the black/gold seats which ended up being discontinued right after my order, and with no luck tracking down one that was un-called for i was offered the black/grey seats at a small discount for the confusion on their end. i still wanted the seats in general so i took that offer
I agree. The passenger Shad seat is really nice looking. I bit the bullet and just ordered the Shad.
The Corbin looks more comfortable though!!
- Slight forward slope compared to stock
This would be the deal breaker against the Shad seat for me:
I find the biggest problem with the stock seat is its forward slope which pretty much forces you forward to sit on the narrow part of the seat - it's almost impossible to comfortably keep your ass back on the widest part of the seat. So even more forward sloping just wouldn't work.
Sounds like the Shad and the Top Sellerie seats are out for me. My alternatives appear to be the Corbin (nice that I can get just the rider's portion) or having the seat reshaped/covered, which is always a crap shoot, especially if you can't work directly with the person doing the job to get it the way you want it, plus I'd be without a seat while it was being done. I should probably ask around on a local forum and see if there is someone local who is skilled at this sort of thing.
Hmm that sounds good. I've heard many times on many bikes of trouble with the fitment of Corbin seats. Good to have another data point, thanks.I just got the Shad seat last week. I don't find it slopes as much as the stock seat and the difference in comfort is immediately noticeable. I went for a ride the other day that would usually having me squirming with the stock seat and I didn't have to move once with discomfort. I never rode with a Corbin but have sat on one and didn't find it as comfortable and on top of that there was the fitment issues that others have experienced(not to mention questionable quality control) pushed me toward the Shad . I also had a good experience with Shad when I had one on my 08 Yamaha FZ6
I agree. The passenger Shad seat is really nice looking. I bit the bullet and just ordered the Shad.
This would be the deal breaker against the Shad seat for me:
I find the biggest problem with the stock seat is its forward slope which pretty much forces you forward to sit on the narrow part of the seat - it's almost impossible to comfortably keep your ass back on the widest part of the seat. So even more forward sloping just wouldn't work.
Sounds like the Shad and the Top Sellerie seats are out for me. My alternatives appear to be the Corbin (nice that I can get just the rider's portion) or having the seat reshaped/covered, which is always a crap shoot, especially if you can't work directly with the person doing the job to get it the way you want it, plus I'd be without a seat while it was being done. I should probably ask around on a local forum and see if there is someone local who is skilled at this sort of thing.
What do you mean by fitment issues with corbin? Also how is the rear passanger of a shad vs corbin? Is shad install easy? .
On every forum or mailing list (remember those?) I've been on for a bike I've owned, when it comes to Corbin seats I always read the same stuff: heavy, crudely made seat pan. Not all required hardware included. Poor fit of the seat to the factory mounting points. No experience with them myself, but I've seen these kind of complaints about Corbin seats again and again. The seats themselves, once mounted, most people seem to be reasonably satisfied with. Not everyone likes them, but the same seat shape, firmness, etc, doesn't work equally well for everyone. For all I know, some people may find the stock FZ8 seat to be quite comfy. I find it tolerable at best, and then only when I'm using the right combination of riding shorts, pants, sheepskin seat pad, etc - for long rides. Without that stuff, just wearing jeans, I find it uncomfortable pretty much from the get-go.