My cousin offered me a FREE Corbin solo seat and I politely refused it, simply because it didn't include the backrest provision.
Once you ride even a short distance w/ a backrest, you'll wonder why you waited so long.
Helps relieve/eliminate a ton of back, neck, and shoulder pain after a long ride.
Backrest is a game changer. I prefer the aftermarket seats that have the receiver built in vs the Harley options that require the bracket to be installed. Thankfully I don't give two flying fu(ks whether someone thinks backrests (or fork deflectors, cup holders, you name it) are ugly. If they add to my comfort and/or convenience, I'm all in.
I made one for my wife's Dyna that has a solo seat. Gives her something to push against when she's backing up.
Bike isn't close right now, so sorry no pic.
It mounts higher than the smaller Harley one I have (shown in the picture of my starting post). The bolt pattern is at the bottom vs. at the top of the Harley pad. It's much thinner than the Harley pad as well (1.5" vs. ~ 3"). If it solved the problem, I could send it out the RDL and have it recovered in the diamond stitch pattern so that it matches. Wouldn't that be something if it worked? Have to wait until the wife gets back from her business trip to start the experimentation. First stop... Sit her on the bike without the backrest pad in place to so how much room I need.
Seems like a good time to invest in that Tour Pak and scoot it all the way back on the two-up rack
I thought of that too. It would probably solve the problem nicely... assuming we were taking a road trip. However, I'm guessing it wouldn't be all that desirable to have to put a tour pack on the thing every time I take the wife along for an afternoon ride. But, this is certainly something I'm looking at.
Right now... my luggage department is covered by this...
That bag (Nomad USA Bags Aero Expandable Motorcycle Sissy Bar Bag) is expandable and has pretty good capacity.
But a tour pack isn't out of the question for road trips.
I suppose for short outings with the wife, I could suck it up and go without the backrest if I had to. But, I'd like to solve this riddle, so that I have the option.
Never had a backrest on my bike so can't tell you what it's like riding with one, but riding without one? Well, I start to feel it on long rides at highway speeds. With the handle bar setup on my bike, wind always feels like it's trying to push me off the back. Probably be much different with a fairing or even a windshield though. Since I don't have support from a backrest and everything's just hitting me in the chest I feel it in the legs and hips as I alternate where the pressure builds. Tighten the core, takes pressure off the arms and hands, relax the core, put the pressure in the hands and arms, back and forth over and over. That'll usually get me from one point to another. Find it coincides with gas fill ups, so 112-115 miles straight doing 55-85mph. Once it starts to get a little more than just uncomfortable, oh good, I need to get gas anyway, type of thing. Get off, stretch, grab a soda stand around for a few and relax. Back on the bike and do it all over again.
Starting to get a little older and as much as I love my seat and dread the thought of changing it and the lines on my bike? A back rest is something I consider from time to time... Usually when I'm 150 miles away from home and know I've gotta do it all over again to get back.
Maybe check with Mean City Cycles? The mod seats, and I would think they could do back rests as well.
I have not seen backrests on their website as a category. Just Driver and Passenger. But yes, I would think they would. It doesn't hurt to ask.
That said, for the driver and passenger seats, they are very clear they will work on aftermarket seats, but there is an upcharge. I just did a brief search on the HD website and there are not a whole lots of choices for driver backrests. But yeah, what would you do, for example if you spent a whole lot of cash to upgrade padding, leather, and/or stitching on your seats and later, decided to drop in a backrest? What you're not going to do is start over.
04-17-2024, 01:52 PM
