Due to a misunderstanding with a 17-4 hand horse a couple of years ago (he wanted me off, I wanted to stay on, that's a long way down, and Mercer County clay is hard) I wound up with a compression fracture in the middle of my back. It starts to bother me at around the 100 mile mark. So to do any distance riding, I am thinking about getting a backrest for my Ultra. My question is, I sit all the way back on my seat (factory) With the installation of a rider backrest, would I have to sit farther up? And do they really work for relieving the strain on your back? I have never ridden with one, as I always figured they were spine snappers if you get rear ended, but looks like if I want to distance ride, which I do, I may have to install one.

 

Get the adjustable version, you should still be able to sit as far back as you want. I've had a backrest on my last 3 bikes, can't hardly ride without one anymore.

 

Windup08 is right on.
I also have a backrest and stock seat. For other reasons, I sent the seat to Mean City Cycle and had Allen install memory foam and "scoop out" the seat to set farther back. So far a good combination.

 

You will feel like you are sitting a little closer to the handlebars with the backrest. I had a fractured lumbar vertebra due to a headon accident with my Road King; the backrest did not contribute to the fracture; it was a common flexion fracture that occurs allot with headon collisions - car or motorcycle. The backrest makes ridingcomfortable for me; it does take a little getting used to. In the long run it makes long-distance riding more comfortable. Email me if you have any questions.

 

I had had the HD adjustable backrest on my Ultra for 5 years and then moved it to my RG. For youring it is must...IMO.

 

Uh oh, looks like I hit the button twice and put up duplicate threads....where's the delete?[sm=escape.gif]
And thanks for the info..