My wife was injured in a car accident and now has pain in her lower back (L4-5). She loves to ride but is down for days after a weekend of riding. I am trying to find a way to limit the vibration into her lower back. We just pulled the trigger on the 11 Limited Ultra. We love the bike and have put close to 2K on it in a month.
I looked at putting the 2010 CVO passenger backrest (the 11 is VIN restricted) on it but have heard some negative feedback. We already have a gelpad for the seat. Is there anything else out there that might help minimize the vibration on her. I like having her on the road with me so I need to come up with something that will work.

 

Back brace. Helps me when in the need.

 

You are putting the correct amount of air in the shocks? Just asking because some of the guys i ride with with ultra's saw me putting air in my shocks one ride when i took my wife with me and had never put air in before. Three of them and two were set at 0 lbs and one at 10 lbs with about 330 lbs between him and his wife not counting what was loaded on the bike. Not everyone has a pump or even checks to see how many pounds are in there shocks, mine was at 0 lbs when i bought it and for me 10lbs is about right and with my wife were at about 35-40 to be comfortable depending how much gear and if we have the tourpac on and loaded.

Just putting it out there?

 

+1 on checking air in shocks. Does wonders.

 

I don't have any backrest advice for you but I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that 11 Limited Ultra.

 

I had surgery on my L4 and L5 back in '98 so I can empathize with your wife.
Before I had my 06 EG Standard , I rode a Buell XB12S and what really helped was the FXRG jacket with the built in kidney belt.
Got rear ended by a truck and lost the Buell in '04 , started riding the FLHT but I had to go with a rider backrest.
The vibration actually helped while riding with the backrest , as I could "aim" the vibration to my back with minor adjustments of the rest.
Also found that my foot position was critical for comfort while riding.
You might have to experiment and listen to her input , but her foot position and backrest padding position on the new bike might do it for her.
The jacket was a lifesaver also , I tried a couple larger kidney/back support belts that also worked pretty well.
My wife likes the rear boards at the highest position , although I thought it looked too high , she said it works way better for her on our '09 bike.
The knee position changes the curvature of the lower back and can really help on longer ride days.
Mick

 

Is there any reference material that tells you how much pressure per pound of passenger/rider weight on the bike? I'm at 225 and my wife just below 190. She hasn't ridden on the bike yet (waiting for the Mustang back rest on order). I'd like to make sure I have the pressure set appropriately.

 

Its in the owner's manual.

 

1+ on the air in the shocks...but also you might want to try something that keeps her back moist. A back brace, wrap, etc. Warmth keeps the muscle loose (even in the summer this is needed).

 

Thanks for the input. I do monitor and maintain the air in the shocks at the appropriate pressures. It helps when she wears her Olympia air Glide jacket that has the built in back armor. We will have to try the back brace style belt to see if that helps.