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Mine was bending back when I hit the throttle, (and when I was using my bike as a lawn chair )
So I reinforced it with a little steel and weld. No problems now, but it looks bad. No hurry to make it pretty though , since I leave the rear seat on anyway.
I recommend tightening those thumb nuts with a pliers. Be careful not to bump the screws, they are held in place by thin sheet-plastic keepers and it is difficult reaching up in the fender. Trust me, lol
The shim underneath was necessary to lever the whole bracket forward and make up for the thickness of the grab strap. The grab strap is sandwiched between the Grasshopper mount and the seat pan mount, which kept the seat lower but sacrificed the integrity of the backrest mount.
The Grasshopper seems like a bad engineering idea. There is not enough strength in that mounting method. Just spring for the proper seat.
Just how I dealt with it, redesigning a little, it's about $300 cheaper this way. It would work better without the grab strap, but I wanted to keep it on.
Last edited by Toolmaster; Jul 31, 2018 at 07:45 AM.
Reason: forgot something important to discussion
The shim underneath was necessary to lever the whole bracket forward and make up for the thickness of the grab strap. The grab strap is sandwiched between the Grasshopper mount and the seat pan mount, which kept the seat lower but sacrificed the integrity of the backrest mount.
Curiosity getting the better of me. Why are you keeping the grab strap? Most owners take them off and chuck them out before the get the bike home Mine is in a box with other stock parts that will go with the bike if and when I sell/trade it.
In its proper position my Grassopper works great for me, but I don't lean on it (like a lawn chair). I use it just to keep me keep me in the saddle, so to speak, and sitting up straight while providing restraint to rearward movement while accelerating.
I have the sissy bar back rest for my lady so she can't really go anywhere(forward or backward) between the two back rests. Don't know if she could even use the grab strap. A little snug fit in betweed the two if you know what I mean. Again
I am not in need of any mods to the bars or risers. I have been riding with the Mustang seat and backrest and it is like riding in a Cadillac. That is an old expression meaning it is very comfortable. At this point the Mustang seat and backrest are the only mods.
Curiosity getting the better of me. Why are you keeping the grab strap? Most owners take them off ...
... but I don't lean on it (like a lawn chair). I use it just to keep me keep me in the saddle, so to speak, and sitting up straight while providing restraint to rearward movement while accelerating.
I put alot of time and miles on my bikes. I ride everywhere I go, all year round (except when road conditions are too dangerous, and even then sometimes)
I keep the strap on for a place to hook bungee cords when I need to.
There are times you can find me using my bike like a recliner, or even taking a nap, especially when out on a long ride or hanging around with other bikers.
Before the mods to the seat mount, it bent back enough to eliminate any support every time I accelerated.
The backrest is necessary for me to ride, the support removes pressure from a couple degenerated discs in my lower back, without positive and reliable support, I can't ride very long.
When I bought my Cherry, I liked the look of the bike with the stock locking saddlebags. However, after a short time now, I find the design of the bags to be horrible. The opening out top with the top latch latch is the pits. The big hoop latch bar inside gets in the way of almost anything you try to put into the bags unless it is soft and squishy.
Just wondering, does anyone know of an aftermarket bag maker that offers (or plans to offer) a direct replacement that uses the same H-D mounting hardware, either hard or soft.
I'm not really looking to change the look of the bike, but would like a better designed, more useful set of saddlebags.
I would be very interested in some better designed bags too.
with all all due respect, this sounds like someone who is owning their first Heritage. This is my 4th...and let me say categorically, that hole previous model’s bags looked good....They were very difficult to deal with. Getting in and out of the bags was the pits. The new bags are a sizable part of why I traded for the 2018.
everyone has their preference, but the previous bags were not that great.
I would be very interested in some better designed bags too.
I went with LeatherPros XL Classic bag specifically designed for the '18 Heritage or Deluxe.
EZ isntall. Key locked quick release mounting and bags are also key lockable.
Good quality and I like the more triditional old school look.
See my sig pic.
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Mine is in a box with other stock parts that will go with the bike if and when I sell/trade it.
