Mike Corbin

Mike Corbin: Innovator, Icon, and the Godfather of Electric Vehicles

Born to Irish immigrants, Mike Corbin’s life is a classic American success story, blending ingenuity, determination, and a passion for motorcycles into a career that revolutionized the industry. Growing up near the historic Indian Motorcycle factory, Mike's fascination with two-wheelers started young. An inquisitive and inventive spirit, he was the type of kid who built robot science projects while sneaking into theaters to watch films like The Wild One. Little did he know, his love for motorcycles and penchant for creating things would lead him to become a trailblazer in the motorcycling world.

At 17, Mike joined the Navy and finished growing up aboard the USS Ranger aircraft carrier, serving as an EM2. After his military service, he worked for Pratt & Whitney before embarking on a career as an electrical contractor. But fate had other plans.

It all began with a Norton Atlas. At a motorcycle rally, Mike’s customized Norton caught someone’s eye—not for its engine, but for its seat. When asked to sell the homemade seat right off his bike, Mike refused, needing it for his 100-mile ride home. But after persistent pestering, Mike finally agreed and rode home on a folded-up jacket with an extra $40 in his pocket and a bright idea: that one sale would ignite a lifelong career, giving birth to the legendary Corbin saddle.

The late '60s saw two major events that catalyzed motorcycling: the release of Easy Rider and the introduction of the Honda CB750 Four. Both brought explosive growth to the industry, and Mike never looked back.

If one word could define Mike Corbin's career, it would be "Innovation." From his invention of the Low CG chopper frame to his Ergonomically Engineered Seating, Mike continually pushed the boundaries of product design. Every Corbin product is meticulously crafted, with a focus on combining cutting-edge innovation and Old World craftsmanship.

Throughout the decades, Corbin’s creativity evolved with the industry. He gave us iconic products like the Gunfighter seat and Warbird body kits, while bringing comfort to the new generation of sportbikes in the ‘80s. His innovations expanded to include Bonneville-proven saddlebags, aerodynamically adjustable fairings, heated and cooled seats, and world-class motorcycle comfort across all riding styles.

Working with Carl’s Speed Shop, Corbin forever changed the world of partial streamliners, even earning a spot on the cover of the Bonneville Speedweek program twice. His design expertise reached beyond motorcycles, helping companies like KLD, Arcimoto, and Robomart achieve form and function in their own vehicles.

With 84 U.S. patents, Corbin’s workshop became known as "The Workshop of Wizards." But it wasn’t just his mastery of motorcycle components that earned him this title—it was his pioneering work in electric vehicles that truly made him a legend.

In the 1970s, long before electric vehicles became mainstream, Mike proved that electric motorcycles could perform at extreme levels. In 1973, his Magnificent Electric Machine was the first electric motorcycle to break 100 mph. The following year, he set a land speed record with his Quicksilver, a record that stood for 38 years.

Mike’s passion for innovation didn’t stop at two wheels. He later led the charge in developing three-wheeled microcars like the electric Sparrow and the V-twin-powered Merlin, promoting these groundbreaking designs within the motorcycle industry. His contributions are now enshrined at the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Skip Barber Museum.

Ever the enthusiast, Mike Corbin chose Hollister, California—birthplace of American biker culture and inspiration for The Wild One—as the home of his factory. His connection to motorcycle history extended to his efforts in helping to revive the legendary Hollister Motorcycle Rally. His East Coast showroom wasn’t far from where Smokin' Joe Petrali once set land speed records on the sands of Daytona Beach.

In 2000, Mike Corbin’s contributions were immortalized with inductions into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Recently, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, named after Arlen Ness, a giant of the industry and a close peer.

When asked about receiving the award, Mike humbly reflected, "I'm genuinely grateful to have spent my life working in an industry that I love so much, and I hope my generation gives all the new guys the courage to stick with it... but mostly, I’m hoping this doesn’t mean I’m finished!"

As a pioneer in both motorcycles and electric vehicles, Mike Corbin’s legacy is etched in the annals of motorcycling history, and his innovations continue to inspire future generations of riders and creators.