Modern Vespa

I emailed Corbin about a seat for the MP3 5 or Fuoco. Ms. Nina Marsh of Corbin promptly answered they have in stock for the MP3 400. Is this the same fit for the MP3 500 or Fuoco? I would appreciate any inputs I want to find out first hand from anybody who is using a Corbin seat please.

From what I remember, they are totally different pans.

2 different seats and corbin was not going to do anything for the 500. That is per a face to face with them while in Daytona in Oct during biketoberfest.

It might not be such a big loss as all that. I've got a Corbin on one of my other bikes and after 15,000 miles it's still hard as a rock. The only way I can get comfortable on it is by using an Air Hawk seat pad. Check what some of the other riders have done on this forum, there're plenty of good alternatives for custom seats and their prices are similar.

LL75

corbin's are known to be a really firm seat. IMO they are just so so. the bill mayer looks more tailored to the rear end, just wish they would do a riders back rest with it.

Thank you mvtrioano, old as dirt, larrylarry 75, I had a Corbin on my GTV and miss the comfort. Guess will have to wait unless someone comes up with an alternative. Just need to get the rise a little lower.

Ah, the old "Corbin seat for the MP3" myth raises its head again! It goes in there right after the unicorn. Several of us have cut our seats down and there are many threads about that on here. It is easier to do than most think. One of the biggest quick fixes for us short people is narrowing the seat so as to allow us to close our legs enough to get the feet to the ground.

The mp3 500 seat is far too wide! I spent about $180 at a shop my dealer recommended and had padding removed from the front sides and a little off the top. I can now reach the floor with ease, and after 600+ miles my bike settled down a few inches for even more comfort. The seat is sittable, but I have recently added an airhawk cushion for comfort.

Far as I know the Corbin store in Florida is just that, a store. The Corbin manufacturing plant is outside Hollister, Ca. That is where the seats are all made. They get a customer's stock seat and use it to make their pattern. Corbin foam is unlike most others. It is sprayed on and is carved for comfort. It is never soft like most foam.

If someone not too far from Hollister wanted to get their own Corbin seat, maybe they could contact the factory and get it free by letting Corbin use their seat as a proptotype. This is how they duplicate their seats for different model bikes/scooters.

The way Corbin get's it's comfort is by spreading your body weight on more of your seat, not by giving you a soft feel. How do I know all this ? I had them make me a custom seat over 20 years ago and still use the seat on 1 of my Moto Guzzi MCs. I bought another Corbin seat(used) on eBay for my Suzuki MC too.

Airhawks are a good substitute if you don't mind your butt being higher than originally. I have 1 of them too for other rigs.

A little more detail on what we were told at Corbin in Daytona Beach. Yes it is a retail store but extensive with knowledgeable sales personnel. They had an X9 seat in stock which is similar to an MP3 seat. He said that for Corbin to make a seat for MP3 500 they need a 500 seat to build a prototype on and will need it for a few months. So someone has to be willing to do without for a long period of time before they will attempt making one. They do not see a large enough market to go out and buy a seat for a pattern.

Personally I prefer the Russel All Day and would like to find a salvage 400 seat so I can get one made wihtout parking my 400 for several weeks. The Corbin design is one size fits all and the Russell is custom fitted with a back rest option.

So if for some reason you can't ride your 500 MP3(weather, repairs), then for your time loss of riding you could maybe get a new Corbin seat to ease your anxiety. But I would think they need a MP3 too to make sure their fibreglass base fit right and to shape the seat so it would be comfortable. I don't see this time of year why it would take months to finish it. If I was interested in this arrangement I would contact the Corbin factory.

As I have a 400 did not ask a lot of questions as to what is involved. You can call them to verify. Once one person gets one then they can make them without needing the bike or even the old seat there. In my opinion they should give the first person a discount.

I heard they give the person who let's them use their rig 1st a free seat.

That's true and if you send your email address to Microsoft before midnight tonight they'll send you a free laptop that matches your scooter. It's all part of a scooter awareness program that Bill Gates started as he rides a Vespa.

I'm serious, Larry. How else would Corbin get someone to have their rig for awhile ? If you really know otherwise, how ?

[quote="norCal Randy"] I'm serious, Larry. How else would Corbin get someone to have their rig for awhile ? If you really know otherwise, how ?[/quote]

I dunno man, but if it were true I'd expect the line would be long with volunteers, especially those who're snowbound for months. In any event it shouldn't be hard to prove, just contact Corbin and ask. If they say yes then I'd bet the ranch someone will step up to the plate with their seat. Crimoney, I think I'd be willing to do without Red Dog for a couple of months if it meant getting a free saddle redo by Corbin. If it turned out I didn't like it I could always peddle it and move on.

In any event, Happy New Year!

LL75

Hope someone has one done? Only time I guess who knows someone is having it done now. Happy New Year