Triumphrat

Tbird96jk · 02-23-2008, 11:41 AM

I'm new to the board. I've been riding for about 5 years and have had my Tbird for 4. I love it, but am looking to make some modifications to change it to more of a cafe style racer. I've already have the low bars, end mirrors and flyscreen and I'm trying to find a good single seat & cowl to replace my standard seat that came with the bike.

I've been told the single seat from the 96TBS will not fit, and I don't want to order something if it isn't going to work.

Any suggestions?

Métisse · 02-24-2008, 02:38 AM

Welcome T bird,

Single seat won´t fit a normal Tbird bud...... there are a lot of guys overhere converting the seat or the subframe

See this posting:

http://http://www.triumphrat.net/hin...light=soloseat

Mine was a ´normal´ Tbird too and I needed just a spacer from 10 mm to get more height under the Lock so a bit different than the others, don´t now why

BUT IT FITTS

crosstie · 02-25-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbird96jk

I've been told the single seat from the 96TBS will not fit, and I don't want to order something if it isn't going to work.

Not sure that's true, actually. If you have the locking-style seat (which the '96 T-Bird does, IIRC) then you should be able to get the solo seat to fit (though you may need to move the locking mechanism to a different position, and and modify the rubber spacers under the seat). I'm pretty sure others have done this mod, if you search around the forums.

Corbin also makes a solo-style 'gunfighter' seat for the earlier (locking) T-birds.

Beyond that you'll have to get creative. You can send your stock seat to Sargent and have it re-shaped and re-covered, you can buy something off eBay and try to make it work - AFAIK there's nothing that's a bolt-on mod.

Look around the forums, there are lots of people who have done it.

HTH.

MickMaguire · 02-25-2008, 04:55 PM

The tbs solo seat will fit quite easily on a 96, but you will have to relocate / rotate the seat pawl in order to make it work. You shouldn't need to pack out the spacers etc. on a 96.

wolfd123 · 02-25-2008, 05:37 PM

From my experience with the corbin gunfighter you may have to raise the locking mechanism up with spacers and longer bolts to make the seat fit. I tried to contact corbin to see if this was a usual problem but they ignored my e mails just like they ignore everyone else. With the modifications the seat fits great and I couldnt be happier with it

Tbird96jk · 02-25-2008, 09:06 PM

thanks for the advice, I've been looking through other posts to see if I could figure it out. I found the instructions on moving & rotating the lock. I think I'm going to try that for now. Looking forward to making these changes and will post some pics as soon as I get started.

Studog00 · 02-26-2008, 11:43 PM

Does anyone know why Corbin shows their seats fit 1995 through 1997? What changed in the seat design between 97 and 98? I have a 98 TB and need a solo seat also.

crosstie · 02-27-2008, 02:30 PM

The Corbin is designed to fit the locking Thunderbird seat. At some point (I guess '98) Triumph changed the Tbird seat from locking to bolt-on. So if you have a locking seat, I think the Corbin will work... otherwise it won't.

HTH.

Buelly · 02-27-2008, 03:25 PM

Last I checked the only new TBS seat/cowls remaining in Triumph stock are yellow and orange. So if you want a new one and don't have a yellow or orange bike, break out the paint.

Ombestudio · 02-28-2008, 11:14 AM

I have a '95 T-bird and have the corbin gunfighter seat. I had to raise the latch with some washers other then that the seat fits great and there are no problems. Although when I called corbin before I figured out to put the spacers in, they insisted the seat fits fine without any adjustments.

The seat does put you back about an inch which isn't a problem unless you are as short as me

5'6", now I'm bent at a weird angle unless I sit all the way up which is also weird.

That brings me to a question now, if I want a cafe style handlebar how can I move one back far enough so I don't have to bend way over? Any ideas?