Modern Vespa

Was the seat sensor re-inserted and does it still work?

I took particular care to point out the sensor when I shipped it to them and it came back intact and working.

Excellent, full marks to both you and them.

8)

That looks fantastic!!!!! You won't regret it. Now the more ride time you put in the more comfortable the seat will be. I really like the back rest. Did you get the seat heater?? Let us know how you like it in a 1000 miles. Happy riding and the seat looks great.

R.B.

Durango

Can the back rest be removed?

Wayne B

Durango - Would love to have the same mod done to mine. Same question asked by Wayne: Is that backrest detachable?

I am quite fearful that I am going to HAVE to have one of those!!!

I love the seat (esp. the backrest), but I have to know - how much did it cost??

Zang

I am sensing considerable seat envy as this thread progresses...

i think Durango is on vACATION

We hate the seat too.

Signed: the tiny-assed europeans.

Very nice Durango! Does the backrest come off pretty easy if you want to stow it and ride without it?

Go to the website and they have a price list. It's between $480 and $615 for the seat and $240 for the back rest. So not cheap, but the best mod you will ever do to you bike.

Wayne B

With his new seat, Durango is still out riding with a comfortable butt.

According to the web page the backrest is easliy removed.

The backrest is removeable. It's mounted on an L-bracket and the lower leg slides into a receiver built into the seat. The upper leg is at an angle and there's an adjustable wedge for setting front-to-back distance. There's also a height adjustment. The pad is on a hinge so it conforms to the rider. The legs of the bracket have a spring hinge so it can be lain flat to open the seat and it springs back into place when ready to ride. All in all, pretty nifty.

As for price...
Saddle (all leather).....$675
Heavy weight spring....$45
Backrest....................$270
CA-NC shipping..........$47
TOTAL.......................$1037

Believe it or not, there are more expensive options, like crafting the saddle for two people (I went with solo).

No heated seat option for me, it just doesn't get that frigid here.

Now that´s a saddle worthy of a king Im european, and I can assure you that there is nothing tiny about the size of my ass

Looks great. Is the backrest removable?

I have had my 250 in a little less than two weeks now and my back is killing me, not so much my *ss but the lower back, its torture.

I belive that it´s sad that one of the first things you have to do after spending 8000-9000 Euros on a new is to spend another 200-1000 Euros on a new seat.

Interesting how it affects different people - I have to be very careful of my lower back - if it gives me jip I find going for an hours ride round the twisties gets it better every time.

What screen have you got on yours? I find the wind around my OEM screen on the Fugly actually pushes me forward slightly at higher speeds. Without it I'm sure my back would complain!

I have the original one you get when youbuy it from the store. I have some serious lower back problems and I think that I will take the saddle to be customized. Lowering it and making a better back support.

Then you need a better windscreen - search the posts here going back to the beginning about this!

Re-modelling the seat 'for you' may well be a good option too. I'm going to do mine soon if I find a round tuit.

+1 My tall fabbri made a world of difference...i've had no back problems since i installed it...leg and butt are a different story but no back

Thanks guys, I got the advise to buy the Fabbri mid-size windscreen in the beginning of another tread, so it seems to be the moust sensible thing to do. So the question would be to buy a mid-size or a large one. I suppose thats a mather of taste, really.

I believe the ideal is to just see over the screen. This give better visibility in rain but minimal wind buffeting on helmet. In summer some wind is good, but not excessive. On this basis the screen height depends on your height. I am 6'2" and bought a tall Fabri and cut 3" off it. I have ridden with a medium Fabbri and the wind on my helmet is excessive.

JLAW,
The underside of your saddle looks like someone took a heat gun to it and semi-melted the plastic to gain a bit of rearward position. Is that what they did? If so I can't help wondering if that's going to be a stable long-term solution. Stretching the plastic that way can't help but weaken it as it ends up being ultra thin in spots. I'd like to know if that's what they did or if it's just how the photos look.
Thanks,
LL75

Question Durango; see you got the heavy spring support added? It states for 225 Lb. and up weight. Are u in that zone, or did russel suggest to add it? I am 200 and going for a Russell this november.

GO3:

I chose to added heavy spring b/c I'm 250 (down 13 in 3 weeks, woohoo!).

Durango... I LOVE the seat and backrest you have. Well, it's been a couple months since you posted, and I was wondering how the seat has been working for you. How does it feel on long trips? Is there a definite difference on your behind from the stock seat?

I just took my mp3 500 out yesterday on a 2 hour trip, and my butt is still aching from the ride! I know that a new seat is a MUST for me, but I need to make sure it's gonna be worth whatever price I pay.

Is that the only design they offered you? Can they do custom jobs also? I was thinking of having a seat made with a complete backrest....kind of like a lounge chair for ultimate comfort!

Derwin

Would you recommend that seat over the Corbin seat? Just wondering.

Well considering Corbin doesn't make a seat for the MP3 500, I am sure the Russell is a better choice than the Corbin.

Wayne B

Smart( * ) answer.


I was pointing my questions towards Durango since HE is the one that actually owns the seat with the backrest.

Corbin does, however, make seats for the 250 and 400. I don't think it would be a great leap for them to make one for the 500. I've contacted them several times over the past couple years about the CanAm Spyder, and they eventually came out with seats for the Spyder. So nothings impossible, and in this case it's not even improbable to think they would do it.

Fuzzy and I talked to Corbin down at biketoberfest and the short answer is NO 500 seat. they ain't going to do one or have any plans to do one. But with everything in life I am sure they will you just have to wait and wait and wait. Could be a couple of years though. It only took them 2 years after the 250 hit the streets here to get that seat out. Oh it was not that comfortable either. JMO though.

Corbin is like any other company, though, in that they will do whatever it takes if they think there's MONEY to be made. The only reason they would NOT consider making a seat for the MP3 500 is that they must not see any money in it for them.

So, you saying that the Corbin seats for the other models aren't comfortable? That's interesting and good to know.

What about any other suppliers? Is Russell the ONLY supplier to make an aftermarket seat for the MP3 500? What about any companies that do CUSTOM seats as a one-off? Has anybody had this done?

I just know that the stock seat is intolerable. My back end HURT after the last long ride!

Yup, do a search for seats on the mp3 forum...been several nice mods. One recent one is from Sargent seats out of Jacksonville, Florida.

Derwin:

I had a Corbin on a Honda rice rocket about nine years ago and if one had been available for the 500, would have gone with it. Since it was not, I went with the Russell la-z-boy and believe it among the best of what's out there.

Prior to my Russell, I went with a local shop who did a horrible job for two hundred bucks (those pics are earlier in this thread).

Was that the whale seat

Wayne B

Durango... I noticed that you chose ALL LEATHER for your seat. Is that a good option? Is it worth the extra money? What about how high it is.... I'm 5'6" tall, and I'm already on my tip toes reaching the ground. Is this seat any higher than the stock seat? I hope not!

Can you give me some contact information? I think I'm sold on the seat that you have. I really do like it and think I'll order me one.

Thanks.

I saw the Corbin in Daytona. I think it is a significant improvement over stock for a 400 and 250. For shorter people it is lower than stock. It is however not what I want. I want wider for my butt cheeks, I want taller as I am 6'2" and I definitely want a back rest.

As for the 500 the salesman said they need a seat for a couple months to develop the design. Pretty tough to give one up that long, but then maybe if someone up north is storing for winter they can work something out with Corbin.

There are lots of happy Corbin customers out there so don't be too quick to discount them. If you want custom the only options they offer is what the cover of the seat is made from and colors.

Ques: Where or how would a second rider sit? Is that back rest removable? Nice seat.


Disregard....Hadn't read the previous posts..

I am always sliding forward on my seat and today I had it torn apart to install my utopia drivers backrest and decided that next week I am going to open it up again and add enough foam at the very front to form a bit of a horn to keep me from sliding. I am a small guy so I don't need more room, just need to keep from sliding forward.