Experienced touring riders know the importance of having a comfortable and high-quality seat on their motorcycle. The seat is one of three parts of a motorcycle that a rider is in near-constant contact with, and of those three it bears the vast majority of a rider’s weight.

After my first Yamaha FJR1300, a 2003 model, was sent to the motorcycle graveyard by a distracted driver, I decided I didn’t want my time on an FJR1300 to end on such a low.

After procuring a new-to-me 2008 FJR1300, I knew a seat upgrade was in order. My six-foot-two and heavyset frame made the foam in the bike’s stock seat bottom out quickly, and the nearly-unbearable discomfort during 600-mile days in the saddle would set in after an hour or two of riding.

I had been using aftermarket seats of another brand for more than eight years, but was happy to give Corbin’s seat for the FJR1300 a try.

One of the things I really like about the Corbin seat is the wide range of color and styling options. Sixty-nine options are available for the seat covering, and many color options are available for the seat’s welts, stitching and logo.

Upon receiving my seat, the first thing I noticed was the quality of the craftsmanship. The attention to detail and high-quality construction materials are immediately apparent.

Corbin seats are known for being firm, and I was unsure if the stiff foam would be comfortable during long stints in the saddle. I logged 1,500 miles of seat time on the Corbin, and I was impressed with the seat’s ability to remain comfortable after 3 or more hours of non-stop riding.

The foam’s firmness provides a high level of support for a rider’s weight, and the wider, dished shape of the seat further increases rider comfort.

The seat’s only downside was how it fit on my motorcycle. The Yamaha FJR1300 features separate seats for rider and passenger. I had to remove the rider seat’s stock height adjuster in order to get the Corbin to fit. The task was not too difficult, and the Corbin seat’s shape actually provided better leg-to-ground clearance than the stock seat on its lowest setting.

The passenger seat proved to be difficult to fit correctly. While the seat slid into place easily, I could not get the seat lock to secure the Corbin seat in place. With some help from Corbin’s friendly sales personnel, I was able to loosen the seat’s U-shaped bracket and finally got it to engage the seat lock.

For riders who value comfort for the long haul as well as excellent styling and craftsmanship, the Corbin seat hits the mark, and Corbin offers plenty of color and material options to make your bike stand out.—Michael Marino