Triumphrat

UJMrider

I've looked at the Corbin web site and noticed that they make an aftermarket seat for the earlier (95-98) T-bird (the locking seat model, I presume) but not the newer (screw-on) model. Does anyone know if the earlier seat can be adapted to a later T-bird? I don't care for the Triumph K/Q seat and I've pretty much given up on being able to find a Legend seat, but I know I'm going to need a better seat if I want to do a Saddlesore this Summer.

Does anyone know of any other companies (besides Corbin) that make an aftermarket seat for the T-Bird?

My other option is to get a custom seat fitter to modify my existing seat, but for that I either need to get another seat (or just the seat pan), or put up with not riding for 3-4 weeks while the seat gets made, and that's really not an option.

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Martin

08 Scrambler "Unscrambled": AI removed, Dunlop D404 street tires fitted, Bonnie Saddle, Slipstreamer S60 windscreen, Renntec Rack, JC Whitney top box and handgrips, Triumph C-Stand and number board kit, 1" handlebar spacers.

Rincewind

If you don't mind shopping across the pond, Sprint Mfr has seats.
www.sprintmanufacturing.co.uk/

Another option is to get a seat cover and keep the stock seat. There is a company that's literally right down the street from me, Butt Buffer, who deals with pads developed in the medical industry to alleviate bed sores and the like. He may be able to rework your seat with quick shipping if you call him. Or you can buy a seat pad which would sit on top of the seat and achieve the same end. See http://www.buttbuffer.com/ . I haven't used any of his pads, but it seems to me that they would work very well and be much less expensive than a whole new seat.

Good luck with your Saddlesore this summer. :chug:

UJMrider

Sprint does indeed have some great stuff but between shipping costs and the lousy exchange rate, it's just too expensive.

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Martin

08 Scrambler "Unscrambled": AI removed, Dunlop D404 street tires fitted, Bonnie Saddle, Slipstreamer S60 windscreen, Renntec Rack, JC Whitney top box and handgrips, Triumph C-Stand and number board kit, 1" handlebar spacers.

crosstie

A number of folks (Mick, Hyzer) have adapted their later-model birds to take the locking TBS solo seat - I don't see what the Corbin would be any different.

See this thread for details.

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"Creag an Sgairbh"
'99 SpeedLegendRetroCafeFighter:
ZX12R USD Forks : Custom 3-1 exhaust : FactoryPro jet kit : Speed Triple cams : Pod filters : ZX9R shock : 5.5" rear wheel : Customized seat : FEK : SPA speedo/tacho : Pazzos

Shades

I put a Corbin on my 96 Thunderbird about a month ago. If you do the conversion, you won't regret it. With the Corbin I can ride all day without fatigue where the stocker had me squirming within an hour.
It seems like it would be easier to fabricate some brackets to make the seat fit your mounts. Could the mounting brackets from your stock seat be used on the Corbin? If I remember correctly, my Corbin has a metal seat pan so the brackets could be easily attached. If you convert to the cable lock of the earlier model you will either need to cut a hole in the left sidecover for the lockset or find a sidecover from an early TB.

UJMrider

I saw some of the pictures of the conversion to the locking seat, but there was no text or step-by-step instructions.

This is why, in the "suggestions" section, I suggested that the Triumphrat board post some kind of "tips and tricks" or "archive of wisdom" section, or something like that where people can post the various tricks they have discovered, which can help other people out (and keep us from having to constantly reinvent the wheel.)

A good entry would look a lot like the one that Pipercollins did describing how he got the Memphis Shades windshield on his Adventurer: A description of the parts needed, approximate cost, and how to install them.

I just think it would be smart to 'capture' this institutional wisdom rather than have people (like me) come in here and constantly ask the same questions.

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Martin

08 Scrambler "Unscrambled": AI removed, Dunlop D404 street tires fitted, Bonnie Saddle, Slipstreamer S60 windscreen, Renntec Rack, JC Whitney top box and handgrips, Triumph C-Stand and number board kit, 1" handlebar spacers.

Bushwhacker

I have adapted the early Tbird seat to the Tbird Sport and it required removing, reversing and repositioning the locking pin.

So in addition to adapting the locking mechinism to the TBS you then have to adapt the Corbin Seat to the TBS locking system.

If I were going to do a conversion of the locking system to use the corbin seat I would try to find the locking system from an early Tbird rather than a TBS.

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When you look like a rude, crude, scum sucking cretin people tend not to ask you stupid questions!

Wombat

That would be the 'Technical Aids & Information' section found under 'Downloads'

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Bob

Click to see My Photo Album

Age is of no importance, unless you are a cheese.

hyzer

I did adapt my 2002 TB and installed a TBS single seat. Several photos of parts and the results are in my photo album (vol 1, page 5).

Before I got started, I did a search for threads featuring seat lock installations. And Mick helped with some answers to particular questions and if I remember one of his albums has several good photos too.

I have some extra parts from the conversion - dealer sent duplicates by mistake - free to a good home for cost of postage / packaging.

I'll write up all the steps I took plus parts if there is interest and it will be of service.

Hyzer

UJMrider

Thanks, I'd really appreciate that. If you don't want to post it yourself, you can email it to me and I can post it for you. I'm not terribly mechanically inclined, but I can do simple things.

The stock seat looks OK, but it's got to go if I want to be able to do that saddlesore this Summer!

I would prefer the Sprint seat, but with the current exchange rate it would run me almost $400 with shipping!

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Martin

08 Scrambler "Unscrambled": AI removed, Dunlop D404 street tires fitted, Bonnie Saddle, Slipstreamer S60 windscreen, Renntec Rack, JC Whitney top box and handgrips, Triumph C-Stand and number board kit, 1" handlebar spacers.