Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rider backrest help needed

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 07:49 AM
  #1  
gnewman's Avatar
gnewman
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Default Rider backrest help needed

I've got a bad L4 which causes sciatic pain. I traded up to my 13 Ultra Classic last July and it's helped me stay in the saddle much longer. But after trips, I still have sciatic issues, just not during the ride.

Saturday, I went up to the dealer and bought the adjustable rider backrest and mounting kit. Mounting kit part #52596-09A, it has the accentuator that mounts behind the heat shield below the seat to control the angle of the seat.

After installing the mounting kit, I opened the box for the "comfort stitch" backrest and was really disappointed in the quality. The stitching was loose, the stitching and color doesn't really match my stock seat. I took it back to the dealer the next day and was going to swap it for a different style. Opened that box at the dealership and same deal. Sloppy stitching and this one actually had frayed stitching.

My question is, does anyone know of an aftermarket backrest that will fit with the mounting kit I installed? I know I can just keep the backrest I purchased and send it to someone like mean city but that seems overkill to fix something that HD can't get right in the first place.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:15 AM
  #2  
Boomer1143's Avatar
Boomer1143
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
Default

I bought a used backrest off ebay and recovered it. I saved some money going this route.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:26 AM
  #3  
gnewman's Avatar
gnewman
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Default

Originally Posted by Boomer1143
I bought a used backrest off ebay and recovered it. I saved some money going this route.
Might have to go this route. I've been searching the web trying to find a replacement that will fit the mounting hardware and there doesn't seem to be anything.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:32 AM
  #4  
shooter5074's Avatar
shooter5074
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 31
From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
Default

Here's what you need while you heal

http://www.backaline.com/index.html
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:39 AM
  #5  
gnewman's Avatar
gnewman
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Default

Originally Posted by shooter5074
Here's what you need while you heal

http://www.backaline.com/index.html
Does this really work Shooter? I've always heard these magnetic devices are scams. However, if they DO work, I'm game. I see they have one specifically for riders.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:47 AM
  #6  
bksmoky's Avatar
bksmoky
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 5
From: Wisconsin
Default

Check with this guy. http://www.utpr.com/

I haven't used him but know of others who have and say his work is top notch.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:48 AM
  #7  
KCFLHRC's Avatar
KCFLHRC
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Default

For what it's worth, I bought the non adjustable model and the pad seems to be very high quality. Not sure why yours is crappy but I would take it back. My issues are in the C6/C7 area, higher up which causes shoulder pain and numbness in my fingers. A few weeks in PT and the back rest has significantly helped my issue.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 09:56 AM
  #8  
shooter5074's Avatar
shooter5074
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 31
From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
Default

Originally Posted by gnewman
Does this really work Shooter? I've always heard these magnetic devices are scams. However, if they DO work, I'm game. I see they have one specifically for riders.

Don't get the magnetic one..... get the motorcycle back brace. It's a fiberglass pad that will conform to the shape of your back after you wear it for a while. It made a world of difference for me.


This one

http://shop.backaline.com/Back-A-Lin...eatherette.htm

Or this one

http://shop.backaline.com/Back-A-Lin...DBS-Deluxe.htm
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 10:09 AM
  #9  
gnewman's Avatar
gnewman
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Default

Originally Posted by KCFLHRC
For what it's worth, I bought the non adjustable model and the pad seems to be very high quality. Not sure why yours is crappy but I would take it back. My issues are in the C6/C7 area, higher up which causes shoulder pain and numbness in my fingers. A few weeks in PT and the back rest has significantly helped my issue.
I did, they have a new one coming in later this week for me to look at. But the three that they had in stock were all crappy. Hopefully this new one will be good.
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2014 | 10:10 AM
  #10  
gnewman's Avatar
gnewman
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Default

Originally Posted by shooter5074
Don't get the magnetic one..... get the motorcycle back brace. It's a fiberglass pad that will conform to the shape of your back after you wear it for a while. It made a world of difference for me.


This one

http://shop.backaline.com/Back-A-Lin...eatherette.htm

Or this one

http://shop.backaline.com/Back-A-Lin...DBS-Deluxe.htm
Ok, thanks for clarifying. Do you use this with a backrest? 54 bucks is not a bad price if it's going to keep me out of pain.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:43 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-18 10:29:31


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE