When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
For long trips I strap on a dry bag and adjust for any space needed for me to lean my back against (some kind of cushion etc) on local rides I don’t need anything.
I generally don't use the backest around town, but it's really nice to have for longer rides...heck, it's really nice to have on any ride, but I do like the clean look without it!
Demoed a CVO ultra limited a few years ago that had one and hated it. I'm a bigger guy which probably has something to do with it but I felt like I was sitting on top of the fuel tank, couldn't wait for the ride to be over. Obviously others have great experience but I think I would see if I could try one before spending the money.
My backrest never comes off the bike.
I actually have one on the Corbin solo, and another one on the Corbin 2-up.
Adding the backrest and the taller bars is what saved my back and lets me ride all day.
I have used backrests twice on my Road King. First I tried the Harley stock backrest. I hated it. It gave no useful lumbar support and pushed me forward in the seat in a very uncomfortable manner. I finally took it off and was happy to do so. I then switched seats to the Saddlemen Solo Seat and its backrest. That backrest was sensational. It gave great lumbar support, looked awesome, and did not misposition me in the seat. Unfortunately that seat raised me up too high so for now I am not using it.
Bottom line is that it makes a huge difference which backrest you use. For me, one was useless, one was terrific.
Have Mustang on my Heritage and Super Glide. Won't have another bike without a backrest unless I get another KLR. One of the guys I ride with has an Ultra that has the Harley backrest and he likes it, but I prefer the Mustang that lays flat on the seat when not in use and for mounting the bike.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.