Two-up Riding question
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 137
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Two-up Riding question
I'm "this close" to deciding to buy a 2006 Sportster custom. Great deals are now to be had! My only concern is two up riding. I'm a normal sized guy but my wife is a little ... round. We fit fine on my honda VTX1800 ... it's a huge bike. Of course if i buy the sportster custom I'd replace the stock saddle with a touring seat ... probably the "Sundowner" and put on a sissy bar and back rest.
My concern/question. Is there enough room for two full sized people on the bike? I test drove a stock 2006 and it fit me great but with a different seat will the wife fit on back? She's not tall ... just a little round.
On the VTX she can sit back against the sissy bar pad and her front doesn't touch my back. (although she's usually touching me which of course is fine with me.) One problem with the saddles is they give you the side to side dimentions but NOT the lenght of the seat. does anyone know how LONG the Sundowner passanger pad is before it becomes the drivers pad? That info would help a lot! I could measure my current saddle and see how much smaller the Sundowner passanger pad is lenght wise. Bringing the wife with me (which isn't an option right now) wouldn't help much because the stock Sportster custom saddle is nothing like the sundowner and frankly i don't want her sitting on the stock seat and getting a bad 1st impression of the bike. She's not crazy i'm spending the cash to start with!
Hopefully someone has this info tonight because I might just be doing this business Tuesday afternoon. Guess i need opinions and if possible the actual length front to back of the passanger seat part of the Sundowner Sportster seat.
Thanks in advance for your help!
My concern/question. Is there enough room for two full sized people on the bike? I test drove a stock 2006 and it fit me great but with a different seat will the wife fit on back? She's not tall ... just a little round.
On the VTX she can sit back against the sissy bar pad and her front doesn't touch my back. (although she's usually touching me which of course is fine with me.) One problem with the saddles is they give you the side to side dimentions but NOT the lenght of the seat. does anyone know how LONG the Sundowner passanger pad is before it becomes the drivers pad? That info would help a lot! I could measure my current saddle and see how much smaller the Sundowner passanger pad is lenght wise. Bringing the wife with me (which isn't an option right now) wouldn't help much because the stock Sportster custom saddle is nothing like the sundowner and frankly i don't want her sitting on the stock seat and getting a bad 1st impression of the bike. She's not crazy i'm spending the cash to start with!
Hopefully someone has this info tonight because I might just be doing this business Tuesday afternoon. Guess i need opinions and if possible the actual length front to back of the passanger seat part of the Sundowner Sportster seat.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Cistern,Tx
RE: Two-up Riding question
I can't help you much cause I just got to work and my sons Sportster is at the house and by the time I get home an measure his seat you will of done done what your going to do. He put the Sundowner on his and I would think you would have plenty of room. He has had his wife and her sister on his and he did not complain about anything. Best thing you can do for that bike is replace the seat(which you are) and change the shocks and fork springs(he put Progressive on his)and its a different bike.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 223
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From:
RE: Two-up Riding question
I have an 04 883 and ive got to tell you my fiance and i arent very bit maybe 300 combined and when we first got it we had a alittle room ( she could carry food or beer on her lap) but I put risers on it to be more comfy and now if i hit the breaks to hard shes sitting on my shoulders. I think you should look at a dyna.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Carrabelle, Fl
RE: Two-up Riding question
ORIGINAL: rrlavigne
I'm "this close" to deciding to buy a 2006 Sportster custom. Great deals are now to be had! My only concern is two up riding. I'm a normal sized guy but my wife is a little ... round. We fit fine on my honda VTX1800 ... it's a huge bike. Of course if i buy the sportster custom I'd replace the stock saddle with a touring seat ... probably the "Sundowner" and put on a sissy bar and back rest.
My concern/question. Is there enough room for two full sized people on the bike? I test drove a stock 2006 and it fit me great but with a different seat will the wife fit on back? She's not tall ... just a little round.
On the VTX she can sit back against the sissy bar pad and her front doesn't touch my back. (although she's usually touching me which of course is fine with me.) One problem with the saddles is they give you the side to side dimentions but NOT the lenght of the seat. does anyone know how LONG the Sundowner passanger pad is before it becomes the drivers pad? That info would help a lot! I could measure my current saddle and see how much smaller the Sundowner passanger pad is lenght wise. Bringing the wife with me (which isn't an option right now) wouldn't help much because the stock Sportster custom saddle is nothing like the sundowner and frankly i don't want her sitting on the stock seat and getting a bad 1st impression of the bike. She's not crazy i'm spending the cash to start with!
Hopefully someone has this info tonight because I might just be doing this business Tuesday afternoon. Guess i need opinions and if possible the actual length front to back of the passanger seat part of the Sundowner Sportster seat.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I'm "this close" to deciding to buy a 2006 Sportster custom. Great deals are now to be had! My only concern is two up riding. I'm a normal sized guy but my wife is a little ... round. We fit fine on my honda VTX1800 ... it's a huge bike. Of course if i buy the sportster custom I'd replace the stock saddle with a touring seat ... probably the "Sundowner" and put on a sissy bar and back rest.
My concern/question. Is there enough room for two full sized people on the bike? I test drove a stock 2006 and it fit me great but with a different seat will the wife fit on back? She's not tall ... just a little round.
On the VTX she can sit back against the sissy bar pad and her front doesn't touch my back. (although she's usually touching me which of course is fine with me.) One problem with the saddles is they give you the side to side dimentions but NOT the lenght of the seat. does anyone know how LONG the Sundowner passanger pad is before it becomes the drivers pad? That info would help a lot! I could measure my current saddle and see how much smaller the Sundowner passanger pad is lenght wise. Bringing the wife with me (which isn't an option right now) wouldn't help much because the stock Sportster custom saddle is nothing like the sundowner and frankly i don't want her sitting on the stock seat and getting a bad 1st impression of the bike. She's not crazy i'm spending the cash to start with!
Hopefully someone has this info tonight because I might just be doing this business Tuesday afternoon. Guess i need opinions and if possible the actual length front to back of the passanger seat part of the Sundowner Sportster seat.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Took a couple of quick pics to give a better idea.
Mine is the 1200R but I don't think it would be that much difference...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Two-up Riding question
My experience with 2 up on my 883L is that there is really only room for little tiny teenage type girls. My daughter is in high school, so that's why I've been riding teenage girls...didn't want ya'll to think I'm a perv) With my wife, there really isn't much room. She's not really a BIG girl, just full figured, typical mid 40's type female build. Neither one of us enjoys the ride when she's on the back. I'm planning to get a Softail next spring for 2 up riding.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: Two-up Riding question
I have an 05 1200 C and ride solo. I love the bike BUT, if I was concerned about riding two up I would have bought a Dyna. Two up for any distance at all is not comfortable. Truthfully, even though I've put in a few 10 hour days, the Sportster isn't the bike for people that plan on lengthy rides on a regular basis.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
RE: Two-up Riding question
I would get the next step up above a Sportster- (opinions will differ on what that would be).
My heart was originally set on the 1200 Sporty but I found a deal on a used '04 that I couldn't pass up and the Sportster happens to fit my budget better. I have the title, it's paid for and everything, but now I'm finding myself wanting extra power when passing on the hills and such. The low end power is DEFINITELY there, but I'm finding myself looking for that extra gear. (I had a feeling that was going to happen getting the 883, but I rather have 883CC than 0CC!)
I ride 1-up mainly to work, but I have taken it 2-up with my wife twice (our combined weight is 340). Get the dyna. You'll BOTH be more happy.
Instead of going from the 883 to the 1200, I'm thinking about keeping my 883 long enough until I can buy a dyna or something else that's more of a cruiser and better for 2-up riding.
Yeah, go for the next step up - especially if you're thinking about long rides.
My heart was originally set on the 1200 Sporty but I found a deal on a used '04 that I couldn't pass up and the Sportster happens to fit my budget better. I have the title, it's paid for and everything, but now I'm finding myself wanting extra power when passing on the hills and such. The low end power is DEFINITELY there, but I'm finding myself looking for that extra gear. (I had a feeling that was going to happen getting the 883, but I rather have 883CC than 0CC!)
I ride 1-up mainly to work, but I have taken it 2-up with my wife twice (our combined weight is 340). Get the dyna. You'll BOTH be more happy.
Instead of going from the 883 to the 1200, I'm thinking about keeping my 883 long enough until I can buy a dyna or something else that's more of a cruiser and better for 2-up riding.
Yeah, go for the next step up - especially if you're thinking about long rides.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 39
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From:
RE: Two-up Riding question
First of all, I had a VTX1300 and it had more passenger room than my Sportster so coming from an 1800 might be quite a shock for you. For short trips the wife and I are fine with the Sundowner on my 1200C. Other than clunking helmets once in a while when you hit the brakes there is just enough room. It really depends on how "round" you and your passenger are. Two heavy set people might be a problem. I had an 03 Dyna and it really didn't have any more room than the Sportster Custom does for a passenger so I don't think the Dyna is the answer either. You really need a Road King or a Glide to be really comfortable for two-up riding but you will sacrifice handling and being rather clumsy and awkward at slow speeds and parking lots.