Backrest Spoiled
 

Backrest... I'm wondering if I've just become spoiled over the last few years...

Bike in question... '18 Heritage 114. It has a Russell Day Long seat and passenger pillion installed. I also have their backrest option for the setup...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...14c306742c.png

Since acquiring these RDL goodies, I haven't wanted to ride the thing without the backrest. I would continue this practice if it wasn't for a new problem. There always has to be one. Nothing is ever perfect. Anyway... I've replaced the passenger backrest with this one...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...6bf45a403d.png

This moves the support further up my wife's back (providing better support). The downside is that it moves her slightly forward in her seat. This doesn't leave enough room for her - front to back - to accommodate my backrest bracket. So... I may be SOL when having my wife ride along.

Assuming that I may be SOL... I've taken the pillion and sissy bar off and have been trying to ride with just a solo seat setup/no backrest to get used to it. I can keenly feel the missing backrest. My back gets sore over time without it. I'm wondering if I just need to get my muscles in shape (and this will go away over time) or work on better posture (hasn't worked so far).

Wondering if other backrest afficionados now find it insufferable to ride without one. Is it possible to return from the dark side?

I'll probably contact RDL to see if another option can be engineered. Probably will be costly. But if necessary... one must do what one must.

Once I went to the dark side, I haven’t seen the light of day since.

I really should get one since I had a back injury a few years ago. No disrespect but I hate the look. I just can't do it on mine. Not yet anyway.

But damn it does look comfortable

A back rest will extend your ride.........helps with posture.

Once I started riding with one, I would never go back. I had a similar issue to yours when I installed a seat that moved me back 1.75", not enough space left for the passenger. I solved it by moving the tour pack back with the DK relocation kit. I wonder if there is a passenger backrest you can get that is moved back some? Maybe even be able to have one made?

I found that doing back exercises helped me. I got lazy riding my ElectraGlide with a backrest.

As to the Russell Daylong saddles, they are great but expensive. I do not see how my seats look while I am riding. I have the HD police seat on my 2019 FLHTP.

Neither do I.

Yeah... the look isn't the priority here. Besides... my ass loves the look.

I only ride with backrests now.

I know a guy, 83, with a 2019 Road Glide Limited who has ridden Alaska, Canada, US, Mexico, and into central America. He won’t ride with one. His wife is 79, has 230,000 some odd miles on her 2016 Road Glide Limited and I don’t recall her riding with one either.

That question has crossed my mind. Hard to tell from just shopping around/looking at pictures on websites. But, it might solve the problem.