Comfy two up cruising???
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Heck of an idea Bill.
The more I look at your design, I can't help but think it won't necessarily move your passenger back. They will still be constrained by the placement of the sideplates. Your design will allow a passenger to lean back a bit, but I'd think it may cause the mid-section to protrude further.
I could be way off on my thinking. I'd say give it a shot and see what happens. The worst is it doesn't work and back to the drawing board.
EDIT: Try modifying a different setup...like the Kuryakyn Plug-n-Play. It is a backrest that does not use sideplates. it merely bolts to the fender. Now, there is a concept to start with.
You'd be free to position the backrest so it may actually move the passenger back.
The more I look at your design, I can't help but think it won't necessarily move your passenger back. They will still be constrained by the placement of the sideplates. Your design will allow a passenger to lean back a bit, but I'd think it may cause the mid-section to protrude further.
I could be way off on my thinking. I'd say give it a shot and see what happens. The worst is it doesn't work and back to the drawing board.
EDIT: Try modifying a different setup...like the Kuryakyn Plug-n-Play. It is a backrest that does not use sideplates. it merely bolts to the fender. Now, there is a concept to start with.
You'd be free to position the backrest so it may actually move the passenger back.
Last edited by SC-Longhair; Oct 12, 2009 at 02:15 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Good point, SC-Longhair. Enough so that I went outside to check it out. With the fat touring seat, the top of the sideplate is about 1.5" below the top of the seat at the very rear corner. Since my wife's butt isn't a bubblebutt(she'd kill me if she read all this) and since I'm trying to get her mid-section away from me, I feel I can put her right on the edge of the seat and pick up the needed 3-5". Even if I can't move her back any distance, I can still lean her upper body back a few and since we're compressed; my back to her belly, this will stretch her out a smidge and flatten that tummy.
Last edited by billjoat; Oct 12, 2009 at 03:07 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
I wasn't sure if the sideplate cleared the seat or not. Too lazy to peek outside at mine. 
One other thing... you may have to compensate for the bends by making the sissybar a bit longer or the pad will undoubtedly be lower on your passenger's back and may cause issues.
Each bend in your sissybar will cause the overall height to be shorter.
One other thing... you may have to compensate for the bends by making the sissybar a bit longer or the pad will undoubtedly be lower on your passenger's back and may cause issues.
Each bend in your sissybar will cause the overall height to be shorter.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Good point. I did that plus one better. Called my wife at work to see if she would like it a bit taller as well. Sure she did. Here's what I've made this afternoon. She's already home, sat up there, and now we have PLENTY of room.
One more thing. Since I still have to weld the pad support on the bar, I think I'll wait until tomorrow and see if the local HD shop has a little larger and possibly wider back rest in stock. Even more comfort for my wife. If she feels she has to go along, might as well make her(and me) as comfy as possible.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Good point. I did that plus one better. Called my wife at work to see if she would like it a bit taller as well. Sure she did. Here's what I've made this afternoon. She's already home, sat up there, and now we have PLENTY of room.
One more thing. Since I still have to weld the pad support on the bar, I think I'll wait until tomorrow and see if the local HD shop has a little larger and possibly wider back rest in stock. Even more comfort for my wife. If she feels she has to go along, might as well make her(and me) as comfy as possible.
One more thing. Since I still have to weld the pad support on the bar, I think I'll wait until tomorrow and see if the local HD shop has a little larger and possibly wider back rest in stock. Even more comfort for my wife. If she feels she has to go along, might as well make her(and me) as comfy as possible.
This really opens up a wide range of options. Today, after checking out the backrest pads(may even use a wider touring style) I think I may make yet another one ...now just a little shorter. I've also thought of the possibility of a backrest for myself when I rally alone(most of the time..so far). I'll base all the backrests off the detachable mounts. If I don't use the rear rack; it requires the backrest to be drilled and tapped, I can probably get away with just the outward pressure of the backrest arms to hold it in. 5/8 solid rod, a little heat, a few bends, a little paint(I'm a gloss black Rustoleum man) and a new rest is just around the corner. Hard to beat the price, fun to do, quality is definitely a 10 footer(looks good from 10 feet) and a wide range of options.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,732
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
I had a 05 Sportster and fabed my own side plates and had them chromed for about $45.00. Took the originals and put them on a piece of cardboard traced what i thought would be a good position to have the new ones. cut 10 gauge steel and welded receiver bracket on them... sanded and cleaned them up. Had them chromed. Voila.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Got it finished for a ride this weekend. Put the new pad on it for my wife's back and it fits her great. Seems a little high so I'll probably make another one and out of 3/4" this time for a little beefier feel.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
