Corbin, probably one of the best known brands among motorcycle seat and accessory makers, is up for sale. Everyone knows the Corbin name, they make seats and a line of accessories for practically every make and model of motorcycle. Most of us have owned one or more of their seats, personally I’ve owned 3.
This listing just came my way, the reason for sale is listed as retirement. I would certainly think this is a great opportunity for someone with the cash or ability to obtain business financing to jump into an established business with an excellent name and reputation.
Listing follows:
Corbin Pacific is recognized as the top motorcycle seat manufacturer worldwide and currently boasts more unique designs and innovations than ever. In addition to being the leader in aftermarket seat production, Corbin’s Team specializes in the design and build of custom fairings, saddlebags, backrests, fenders and other body components built in-house by hand. Additional highlights for this Company include: #1 recognized brand in the after market motorcycle industry.
Established in 1967. 82,000 square feet State-of-the-Art vertically integrated manufacturing facility (Hollister, CA). 11,000 square feet Sales and Marketing Showroom (Ormond, FL). Real Property available for purchase. Highly rated E-Commerce web site. Long term and experienced management team and associates. Superior marketing. Extensive range of seat and fiberglass applications (over 1,500) covering all major brands of street and off-road bikes. Cutting edge technology. Corbin possesses incredible brand awareness that is the standard in the industry. It is recognized worldwide as the top motorcycle aftermarket name in the industry and continues its forward looking first to market philosophy by designing and manufacturing more products for new bike models from stem to stern in order to put more money on each bike. With over 1,500 molds, the barrier to entry is both time and cost prohibitive. The owner is committed to stay with the business for an extended period to ensure its continued high level of success.
Asking Price: $11,500,000 USD USA Dollars
Business for Sale Industry: Manufacturing: Auto & Transportation
Reason for Selling: Retirement
Year Established: 1967
# of Employees: 90
Property Features and Assets:
83,000 square feet. Real property available to purchase.
Like I said, this looks like an opportunity for the right individuals or business to jump right in to an established operation.
Thanks for the tip, Fred and Curt!
Link: BizQuest
Hawk says
I’m so sad to hear about this but I offer a warning to potential purchasers. Be aware that Corbin Motors was bankrupted by stock manipulation about 5 years ago. The Corbin family did not realise that one of their “trusted” executives was up to no good until it was too late. My impression of the family is that they are honest and trustworthy people who got burned.
Of course, I’m sure that most anyone who has $12 million at their disposal would be astute enough to protect it.
Diesel says
Corbin Motors was a separate entity than Corbin Seats, and not affected in that situation.
wd515 says
Sounds like a CUSHY job. HAHAHAHA.
Smitty says
Not a cushy job on a Corbin – they make ’em out of concrete.
WT says
Didn’t they cut off all of their distributors over a year ago? Who didn’t see this coming???
hobomike says
Who thunk there’d be that much $$$ in motorcycle seats?!
I, for one, have never bought an aftermarket saddle in 18 years of riding. Thought about it for my W650, but THAT is the devil’s ironing board if there ever was a bad stock seat.
Do most of you?
B.Case says
Yes, Corbin Motors was separate from Corbin Seats & Accessories. Though, originally set up by Corbin and his son, they sold the assets of Corbin Motors to Myers Motors of Ohio back in 2004-2005. Myers is producing the “Sparrow” with Lithium batteries now, though they call it the “NmG”. I drove the earlier Corbin version right when Myers got a hold of them. It had about 14 car-sized batteries over the front axles, and even though the battery weight was its biggest draw back, it was an absolute blast to drive around town.
-brian
Walt says
I have a Corbin seat on my 2000 Triumph Sprint and find it more comfortable than the (not bad) stock seat. The hard foam Corbin uses is more supportive than the factory stuff. Downside: I’ve heard numerous critics complain about Corbin’s customer service. Haven’t had to test it personally.
john says
way overpriced; the valuation should be pegged at $950,000 including the real property
QrazyQat says
So the owner is retiring but is nevertheless “committed to stay with the business for an extended period”, and the asking price is pretty much the gross sales? And they’ve laid off half their employees since that gross sales was posted (2007; source Hoover’s)? I’m with john here; sounds way overpriced.
todd says
I’m sure they’re taking offers. You don’t want to price it so low that investors swoop in to sell off all the assets. That said, my Corbin dual seat on my GB500 sucks. Good thing I took it off and only use it for two-up emergencies.
-todd
JSH says
I really liked the Corbin seats on my Yamaha FJ’s. (I’ve had 3, all with Corbin Gunfighter and lady seats.) When I starting looking for an aftermarket seat for my BMW I found that Corbin had doubled to $700 for an off the rack seat! I kept looking and found Bill Mayer. He made a custom dual seat for my wife and I for only $500.
tim says
Dont they have motorcycle riots in Hollister? Or was there just the one?
QrazyQat says
I’m sure they’re taking offers.
Yeah, but that’s like the vendors I bargained with in Bali, where they start with asking $12 and you have to knock them down to the $2 they end up taking.
Bruce says
I had a Corbin “Gunfighter & Lady” (w/backrest) for my FJ1200, and was basically happy except for the front ‘bumper’ thing that Corbin likes to add to apparently all saddles – an extension from the seat up the back portion of the fuel tank.
(Hint #1 to potential Buyer…)
Corbin’s prices have become exorbitant as well – Sargent’s and others work as well or better and cost less.
(Hint #2 to potential Buyer…)
I actually lived in Northern California at that time, and had wanted to ride to Corbin’s location for some on-site customization, but was discouraged as they apparently didn’t want to do any actual work while I waited (to ride home…), instead insisting that I should leave the saddle there, and they would then ship it back to me several weeks later.
*I never did figure out the logistics to that puzzle…
Aside from possibly strapping the OE saddle to the back for the ride home!
Corbin’s “Customer Service” seemed more bothered by inquiries than willing to actually help – especially aggravating considering the price of membership.
(BIG Hint #3 to potential Buyer…)
I sincerely hope that someone who understands how to run a business and is interested in actual SERVICE of their customers buys the place.
Oh, and get ride of those ridiculous “Beetle Bags”!
Some of Corbin’s styling is just terrible.
kneeslider says
For those of you who are pointing out customer service issues or other recent problems, you’re really making the case for this being a great buy, you’re looking at this from the perspective of a seat buyer, not a company buyer. Those problems you mention are often signs a company is ready for new management and once in place, improving those problem areas could result in a much improved bottom line.
Big Daddy says
kneeslider, you are spot on. I wish I had teh ability to get my hands on that type of money. Especially in these times, negotiate, negotiate , negotiate. I believe you could get it for less than $11M. Maybe I’ll get my biker friend together and pool our money. I can see it now, Darkside Inc takes over Corbin.
Ron says
Hi,
Just a question to those who seem to know a lot more than myself about seats.
I bought a 2002 BMW police 1150. Any ideas on a back seat ??
I’d appreciate any feedback.
Thanks, Ron.
CFB says
To echo Bruce’s comment, I had a similar experience with Corbin “Customer Service”. I spent $600 bucks on a Gunfighter and Lady saddle for my Bonneville only to receive it damaged, the leather had cuts in it where it meets the tank. I don’t know how they could let it leave the factory in that condition. I had to call “customer service” several times to try and get it sorted. They kept me on hold, told me they requested pick up from FedEx when they didn’t and just seemed generally unconcerned with my situation. Extremely aggravating, especially considering how much I spent on this seat. I won’t buy from Corbin again.
josh says
me and my father both bought a corbin seat for a 2008 and a 2009 yamaha venture. we each spent over $900 and both seats were so uncomfertable we could not ride them over 100 miles without stoping to rest our butts.in my opinion corbin seats are not worth the money. i would recomend that everyone buy MUSTANG seats until corbin makes a better product.I WILL NEVER BUY FROM CORBIN AGIAN.
C J says
After 3 weeks my Corbin seat for the Norge arrived and I wasn’t at all happy. Right out of the box I noticed a few problems. 1, there is a small cut in one of the side panels. 2, there was white stuff or glue on the rear portion of the seat. 3, the biggest problem, they used the wrong materials in making the seat. The seat was suppose to have Carbon-Fiber leather seating panels and Carbonite trim, just as it is pictured on the Corbin web page. What I got was a seat with standard leather seating and no Carbonite trim. I contacted Travis at Corbin. At first he said that I received what I ordered and the seat comes standard with regular black leather and no Carbinite trim. I told him he better look at his own companies description of the seat and the posted company photos, at which point I then read to Travis the description of the Norge seat from Corbin’s own web site, “On top, we include genuine leather seating panels for a luxurious ride. Our standard design includes Black Carbon-Fiber leather seating with Asphalt vinyl contrasting sides, Carbonite Trim & Tri-Color embroidered Corbin logo. For ultra clean looks we do not recommend using a “welt” on this saddle model. “ Travis then put me on hold and when he returned to the phone he informed me he had spoken to his manager and apparently they had run out of the Carbon-Fiber leather and Carbinite trim so they just used standard leather…… WTF!!!!! I told Travis that if someone places a $650.00 order for a custom seat that is suppose to be made out of a material that the company runs out of, then you call the customer and explain the situation. What you don’t do is make it with whatever you want to without at least making a call to the customer and get his approval for the change. Travis said that they will have the correct materials at the shop in a couple of weeks at which time they will pay to ship the old seat back to Corbin for a redo. Travis also gave me the option of just keeping the wrongly made seat and getting use to it, which I declined. I sent the seat back and have been waiting for seven weeks for them to make it right. Apparently once Corbin has your money they have little interest in customer service or correcting their own mistakes. I will never buy anything from Corbin again
C J says
Here’s some follow up to my last post.
Ahh, the Corbin bad experience continues. After waiting nearly 8 weeks for Corbin to return my wrongly made $650.00 Moto Guzzi Norge seat, I finally received the recovered seat a few minutes ago and guess what?? They recovered it in the same exact wrong stuff that they used the first time. Corbin must hire the dumbest f!@#ing morons they can find to work at their shop. Because, despite talking to two different people at that company who both said the shop screwed up and they understood that I wanted my seat recovered in what it is advertised to be covered in, they still can’t get it right. I was even sent a copy of the rework order that says right on it, that it is to be recovered as advertised on their website. Now they’re about to shut down for the Christmas break so in mid January it will go back again and we’ll see if they can get it right. Dumb F!@#ing Corbin Morons !!!! I’d advise those who are thinking about buying from Corbin to think again. If your thinking about buying anything from Corbin, think again and again.
Andrew says
Similar problems with terrible customer service. I ordered a Corbin seat for my 2007 zx6r and the material was different than pictured on the website and it had 2 huge seams down the middle right where my butt goes (not pictured on their website). Most of all the seat didn’t fit. It took over a week of non-stop bugging them to receive an RMA.. Now its been over 2 weeks (which is nothing compared to some of the complaints Ive read) and Corbin refuses to respond to me. I have no clue when I will receive the seat if they received the seat or what is gong on with my order. All I know is Im out $300 and have no seat and no word from Corbin. The representatitives act like they are new and have no clue what they are doing. This was probably the worst purchasing experience. This is not a good thing for a potential buyer either because Corbin has damaged their image, reputation and their name I have sent well over $1000 worth of word of mouth business elsewhere.. Nobody wants to buy a company with a bad reputation or a ruined brand name.