Is yours is the type that has round bars and a spring between them ? if so that is the type I had. Since my vice was not large enough I took two 2x6 hunks of wood, set them on the ground side by side with a several inch gap. Laid the backrest across them with the area I targeted to bend in the middle of the gap, took a large sledge hammer and gently thumped each round bar a time or two until I bent it uniformly. Then I stuck it on the bike to see how it felt. It worked for me. Oh yeah I wrapped the backrest pad in a towell so it would not get damaged.

 

True. I have the Tallboy. (If anyone is wondering about my signature pic, I don't use the rider seatback when my wife is riding with me, as she was when that was taken. I use her for the seatback in those cases.)

 

When I first installed my HD riders backrest I also thought I was going to hate it. Just couldn't seem to get used to something pushing on my back.

I toughed it out and kept making very minor adjustments with the screw in the back of the backrest. Minor adjustments seemed to make a big difference in the way it felt while riding. Even 1/4 to 1/2 turn adjustments.

I carried a allen wrench with me and made adjustments while on rides. What felt good in the driveway felt wrong after riding for a while.

I finally got it adjusted perfect. I think it was about 50% adjustment and the other 50% just getting use to feeling it on my back. Now I don't want to ride without it.

Be patient and ride with it for a while making minor adjustments and I bet you will end up loving it.

 

IMHO it's the best money I've spent..that said, i have the bracket all the way back, which doesn't line up with the slot in the seat, and the adjustment screw about3/4 on the loose side. I'm now spoiled, won't ride without it, even thought it does crease the seat..

 

I am surprized that nobody mentioned that there are two or three sets of holes that the backrest can lock into the bracket that adjust the height. I just had bike serviced and when they replaced the backrest back on they clicked it into a higher position on the bracket. When I picked the bike up, it didn't feel right and was pushing me forward. When I got home, I took the backrest off and re-installed it in the lowest position which also sets it back a bit further. I was comfy again just like before the service.

Try re-installing it by squeezing the rails together and put it into the lowest holes in the bracket. I had to open the seat slit with my hands and had someone shine a flashlight in so I could line it up. I felt like a gynocologist....

Hope this helps.

 

+1 on bending. Put mine in a vice, heated with a torch and gave it a few taps. It is so much better now.

 

To the OP - are we talking about the cable operated rider adjustable backrest (which I think is great) or the other one? If the other one, look in to the cable operated one.

 

I have the HD backrest and I love it.

 

I also have the basic harley backrest , it takes some fartin around , but it's worth the trouble.
I'm pretty short , but have a very curved lower spine , which is tough to fit properly.
If you slide the backrest into the mount from the top , the top position is high and forward.
The next set of holes is one notch lower and rearward.
The bottom set of holes is shortest and furthest back.
I found that I couldn't get the angle right , so I "carefully" put it in a 20 ton press.
I bent the legs back to probably 15 degrees more rearward , so I could use the screw to finish off the adjustment.
Just mark the legs and bend just above where they would protrude from the bracket when all the way down.
This is only one adjustment.
You can set the lower mount (at the fender) to the third set back and still get quite a bit of adjustment.
I must have tried 20 combinations before I got it right , then I changed seats and had to do some of it again.
I still keep an allen wrench in the tourpack as my jackets make the rest feel different at times.
Still worth the aggravation when you get it right.
Mick

 

Me also! However I frequently hunt big game out of trees sitting on limbs so the seat and backrest are an easy do!