+1 on the remove your wallet.
Not going to advise re the bike but re the back.
I have good days and bad with my back (did the surgery thing but that didn't work worth s**t). Just had a flare up after flying back from London and 3 weeks off work till I saw a Kinesiology Specialist here in town. Monday 4 o'clock appointment, Tuesday at work plastering away like a mad thing. So if you have a Kinesiologist handy (they manipulate the muscles affecting your troubled areas) then I truly reccommend a visit and tell them of your experience on the bike too as they may have suggestions pursuant to treatment.
And good luck brother, bad backs are a pain.

 

Check out a local Chiropractor and get an ajustment.

 

I've had lower back problems over the years with sportsters, softails and touring bikes. My Buell 1125CR was uncomfortable for my 55 year old arms and wrists but I too had absolutely no lower back problems with my feet directly under me as opposed to the feet forward Harley position. As others have said, the backrest helps and I also often ride with my toes on the back end of my footboards in order to get my feet closer to being under me rather than in front of me.

 

My back hurts just seeing guy's riding BMW's........................

Harley Davidson, the most efficient way to turn gas into loud noise without the side affect of horsepower!

 

They are actually a great ride - I know it might not look that way but they are - I sold my RT last week & right now I'm kicking myself in the ***! I'm going to give it a little more time but?

 

I had back surgery on L4 in 1994. I find it helps my back to suck in my gut, and make sure I am sitting up straight , not slouching forward. Highway pegs help too.

My back has been OK, but if it starts to bug me,I will get a Mustang seat, and a backrest. Or maybe have Mean City Cycles mod my stock seat. Mean City Cycles is an HDF sponsor , and many on here give them props.

 

back rest and hiway pegs

 

Before you change anything else, please adjust and kind of play with the PSI on your rear shock.

I am 5'4 140 lbs My wife is 98 lbs.

One up I run 28-30 lbs. Two up 38-45 lbs depending on the luggage load.

From there I would experiment with bolt on mod's

My Road King is much lighter, I use the HD premium coil over shocks.

Good luck,

And by the way BMW are great machines, they have blood lines as rich as Harley

 

So should I increase the air pressure in the shocks? If so, it's my understanding that this should be done with a hand pump & not a compressor - i understand it doesn't take a lot to bump up the pressure -

I really thank you guys for your help on this - this is a big deal for me - to put the dollars out for a dream bike only to find out it that i might have made a bad choice for me - Not a bad choice for thousands of other folks, but I haven't gave up yet.

Funny thing is i really like the setting position of this bike - I like the Mustang seat - If you have been to my site it's not hard to tell I like old school motorcycles - Major factor with me going with the Ultra Classic? I love the old school & this bike is about as good as it gets in that department!

Thanks again for the help. - tom

 

On my streetglide and I am 235# I run 23-25 psi one up with a chopped tourpak in the solo position and go to 35# when I put the King tourpak in the two up position on and load up for a trip (I still ride one up as wife has her own bike)

So I personally suggest trying a backrest and bumping up your rear shock pressures a bit.