Corbin Fire and Ice Seat | Gear Review

Corbin Fire & Ice Seat
Corbin’s Fire & Ice Seat offers both heating and cooling functions.

Corbin has been making replacement seats since the late ’60s. I’ve put Corbin seats on several of my motorcycles over the years, from Harleys to dual-sports and adventure bikes, and I’ve always been impressed with their quality. Recently Corbin released the Fire & Ice seat that offers both heating and cooling.

Corbin has offered optional heating on its seats for years, but cooling is a unique feature. The cooling function results from the Peltier Effect, a thermoelectric cooling phenomenon in which heat is transferred between two different conductive materials. When electric current is run through the Peltier element, it moves heat from one side to the other, resulting in a temperature differential of up to 15-20 degrees. Peltier devices are commonly used in electric-powered coolers, and they’re ideal for use on a motorcycle because they have no moving parts or circulating liquid and they’re durable, small and have flexible shapes.

Installation of the Fire & Ice seat on my 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra was easy and straightforward. It’s a direct replacement so I was able to keep my stock seat, and it includes a pigtail that plugs right into the bike’s fuse box. Once installed, I went for a ride on a hot summer day here in Southern California, with the mercury pegged at 99 degrees Fahrenheit. A single, lighted toggle switch under the left side of the rider’s seat is marked red (up) for heat and blue (down) for cooling; the middle setting is “off.” With the switch on “cool,” I went for a half-hour ride and the seat felt noticeably cooler. At home, I pointed a laser thermometer at the ground and got a reading of 99.6 degrees; pointing it at the surface of the seat, the reading was 78 degrees.

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Corbin's Fire & Ice Seat Unfortunately, the cooling effect wasn’t as noticeable by a passenger. On a long weekend ride with my wife, the outside temperature got up to around 95 degrees. I turned the toggle switch to “cool” and within minutes I could feel the seat cooling off. Even after
45 minutes in the saddle, however, my wife felt little to no difference. When I contacted Corbin about this, a representative said there’s more padding between the passenger’s seat and the cooling element which likely accounts for the less noticeable cooling effect, but he assured me that both rider and passenger cooling elements are tested before Fire & Ice seats are shipped to customers.

Corbin seats, which use closed-cell Comfort Cell foam, have a reputation for being firmer than stock seats. This one is no exception. Corbin says the break-in period typically lasts 1,500-2,000 miles, and after logging 3,200 miles it’s still quite firm—a bit too firm for my tastes. The Fire & Ice seat is also heavier than my Harley’s stock seat, which weighs 8.4 pounds—the Corbin weighs 17.8 pounds.

Although the limited passenger cooling is a drawback and the firmness of the seat may not suit everyone, overall the Corbin Fire & Ice seat delivers good support and can help you stay comfortable year-round. It’s available for 2009-2018 Harley-Davidson Touring models and the 2014-2017 BMW R 1200 RT, and pricing starts at $993.

For more information, see your dealer or visit corbin.com.

10 COMMENTS

  1. It’s *very* important to note that the oft-quoted Corbin firmness is NOT set in stone. If you are smaller or lighter than, say, 210 pounds and 6 feet, I would recommend that you speak to a Corbin representative directly to discuss your seating concerns.

    I ordered a seat for my bike and they made it softer than normal (yes indeed, that can be done) and I’m very happy with it.

  2. Purchased mine this year for my 2016 Streetglide. At times I can feel the cooling working. My passenger said it feels hotter than normal sometimes too hot and I have to turn it off. I don’t know if it is pulling heat from the motor.

  3. I having issues from day one seat arrived with hot wire out the back of plug and they sent me a new plug and got it fixed and on the bike. Turned on cooling and both fans stop running when you set on the seat now have to send seat back and wait again to use it.

  4. I have an 18 Ultra Classic Limited. I ordered a fire and Ice seat. Each time I make the electrical connection and start the motor, I get a check engine lite and it doesn’t work. I called corbin and the tech didnt know, said try another fuse. I can’t figure it out. Harley wont touch it. Gotta try to find a shop to fix it

  5. They don’t honor the warranty. My seat was 5 months old when the color started peeling. Corbin said that was normal wear?? I’ve never had a five year old seat do that.

  6. Terrible customer service. East Coast manager Mike completely rude and obnoxious. Do not buy Corbin. Other brands are cheaper and better quality with good customer service. Buy saddlemam or Mustang if you are looking to make a purchase.

  7. I have had the same problem with the Corbin fire and ice seat. I bought the seat and tour pack back rest in March of this year, 2022, and when it was hooked up to power, it turned the check engine light on. I have a 2018 Roadglide Ultra, called and spoke to a rep. at Corbin, they were of no help, sent me a jumper wire with no directions and at this point I have a $188 bill from Harley and when I asked them to split the cost as it was their problem they hung up on me. I would not recommend you buy anything from these people. You have to stand behind your product, which they do not do.

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