Triumphrat

bborzell

I took the day off and rode from my home in the California Sierra foothills to Hollister, home of Mike Corbin. I knew that part of the 400 mile round trip would be endless straight miles down and back on Interstate 5 so the notion of a screen made sense. After checking out pretty much everything that has been
mentioned on this forum, I settled on the Triumph Summer Screen.

The screen was delivered the night before the ride and I installed it in about 30 minutes. Parts are high quality and, best of all, it is designed (the mounting hardware) for the TBS.

The morning started out with a light rain. I had decided to pass on the Aerostich suit for this ride in favor of the full leathers (in part because I am still pretty giddy about fitting into a 15 year old suit). Off I went with a windshirt and Gore-Tex pants for about 30 miles. As it was, the Summer Screen (I hope I don't get cited for having installed it in the fall) kept me quite dry. The first several miles were simply checking out wind buffetting and looking for any sail effect from crosswinds. The real test was yet to come.

It took about 150 miles to get to the San Luis Reservoir where whitecaps and two foot swels are the order of the day. For the trip down, the crosswinds were pretty light, maybe 15-20 mph. Nary a whimper out of the Summer Screen in the crosswinds nor did I feel any effect at 100+ mph on a particularly boring early stretch of the highway. By this point in the trip, the Summer Screen looked like a keeper.

I arrived at Corbin's at 10 and, after trying to determine
whether the Corbin basepan would fit (the alternative was to build a seat on the Triumph pan which is significantly lighter build and unable to support the Corbin passenger backrest), we realized that the TB seatpan that Corbin has manufactured (which at first appeared not to fit the TBS) expected to see the lock
lug about 1 1/2 inches from where the lug is on the TBS. After a quick relocation, Jack (runs the ride-in, custom seat build part of the operation) announced that we were in business. Several hours later, I rode out with a new Corbin Gunfighter & Lady (that's the last time I will utter, type or write the full name of this seat) with standard black leather seating areas, basketweave sides and demarcation trim and gold piping that comes quite close to the color of the gold pinstripe on the tank. The backrest, which bolts into the ear of the Corbin seat is similarly finished and is adjustable for front/rear lean.
I had the driver seat shaved about 3/8" in order to get a bit more of my boots on the ground at rest (I'm 5'9", but with longer torso than legs).

As I headed out by mid afternoon, the wind was coming up and I expected an interesting ride over Pachaeco Pass (the infamous San Luis Reservoir again). I underestimated the leved of interest. By the time I got to the Pass, the crosswinds were gusting to 55 mph.

By this time, I had grown somewhat used to the seat which is so far from the stock seat in every way one might consider the attributes of a seat. It is firm, but since I had the seat carved to fit me, the firmness was a real pleasure (Corbin Q&As mention that the stock Corbin fits about 90+ % of riders, in their experience). Where I the trip down had me moving around to get comfortable after the first 50-60 miles, the ride back
was nothing of the sort. In fact, I would guess that the seat comfort and control contributed greatly to my handling 50 mph crosswinds at 75 mph down the Pass. By the way, if you noticed that I have not mentioned how the Summer Screen perforned during this Banzai ride down the Pass, it's because it was simply not a
factor. I never knew it was there except to note that I wasn't getting blasted by the wind off the front.

Verdict, well, this is my second Corbin seat and it's really for my wife. When I got home, she hopped on board and smiled broadly. She will enjoy rides alot more with this seat. As for me, I told Jack to get ready to make a solo seat for me (as soon as I figure out a way to frame the need for a solo seat to that same wife). As for the summer screen, if you are considering one of the universal screens, but have been off by fittment concerns, buffetting or control issues, I would advise to bite the bullet and spend the $250 for a screen that is pretty much unobtrusive, offers more than adequate wind protection for a sport bike and fits like a glove. Adjusting the screen to try to optimize wind flow and the llike is not an issue. There is only one way to put
the screen on and that seems to be the right way.

Two big thumbs up for the Summer Screen and the Corbin G&L.

BTW, the new Scottoiler worked great, too.

...Bob

How about some pics Bob ? I would really like to see the seat and screen.

bborzell

Pics would be good. Since we just moved into a new house, the digital camera seems to have become a temporary casualty. As soon as I track down the box that is hiding the camera, I'll post pics.

...Bob

bborzell

OK, it took the better part of the evening, but I found the camera. Here are a few random shots of the seat, screen and the oiler. I haven't captioned any of them as they all seem to skeap for themselves. Here is the site link:

http://www.msnusers.com/hkr0n334etmoehegufq3pauei5

I hope these are viewable. Please let me know if this is not the case.

...Bob

Wombat

I appears that it is a 'Members Only' area and when I clicked on "Join This Group', I got a refusal.

__________________
Bob

Click to see My Photo Album

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

bborzell

Hokay, time to regroup. When I get it sorted out, I'll let you know. I will also find out what I need to de to get pictures on this site.

...Bob

bborzell

Just sent a request to Mick to open a members album thing. As soon as I get the go ahead, I'll post a slew of pics, maybe one of my cat, too.

...Bob

glgavin

Glad you worked things out with Corbin - any chance they will remember that modification so other TBS owners can just order one up over the phone?

-g

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Gare

cafetbird

It's not that tough... you move it 1 1/2" forward from the T-Bird. I had to do the same thing in reverse when mounting the TBS cowl seat to my Bird....

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Scot Dail, IBA #31553; 59 Club #29906
Old Photo Album : New Photo Album
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bborzell

Not a problem. Just ask for Jack Cortez who runs the custom shop. He was pretty jazzed at knowing that the T-Bird listing they have in their files would also work with the TBS with the simple movement of the locking lug. He will remember.

...Bob