Driver's Backrest

[nomadbehappy]

I have been looking to get a backrest for the spring and figured I would get a Grasshopper (heard great things about them for the price), when I came across this http://www.mutazu.com/products.php?cat_id=121&menu=Driver%20side%20backrest&product_id=304&s=prod.php. It is only $65! Has anyone bought one of these or know anything about them, quality, comfort? To me it looks like a knock off Grasshopper but even cheaper.

For $65 I am tempted to give one a try, but then again grasshopper is only $25 more and tried and tested, hmmm.....

[nomad561]

It may or may not be a good deal. Price isn't everything when it comes to getting a good deal.
I would go with something that is "tried and true" instead of taking a chance.
On a seperate note,I try to support the members here first if everything else is fairly even.

[nomadtom69]

Might want to email them and find out if you have to unbolt it everytime you want to take it off total cost on theirs in 77 you can get a grasshopper for 90 if you just keep making a min. bid on ebay you will get one sooner or later for that price and free shipping

[minst7877]

I have one from them that I got after the riding season ended for me last year. The bracket is heavier than the one on my buddy's grasshopper and it is chrome plated. Overall quality seems good but it does seem to push me farther forward on the seat which I'm not sure that I will like. May just need to do a little tweaking on it once I start riding in the spring.

DC

[nomadtom69]

can you take it off quick or do you have to unbolt it ???

[minst7877]

To tell the truth I don't remember. Haven't looked at it since I put it on three months ago. Will pull the cover tomorrow and give it another look.

DC

[rickyboy]

I went with the adjustable Utopia. Worth the extra cash for me and my "bad back".
I have heard many say the grasshopper "pushes them fwd" and at 6' that's exactly what I don't need. I tend to slouch a bit when I ride.

[nomadrider]

I have the grasshopper and it improves my riding position.Good lower back support.I like the larger pad on the mutazu backrest but from the picture you can't tell if it is quick release like the grasshopper

[brote]

I checked out he Grasshopper because of the low cost. I thought it was a very basic unit. I then saw a Utopia on a friends bike. This unit can be adjusted in almost any way and without to much effort. I bought one and haven't looked back. I think the additional $$$ I paid for the Utopia was more than worth it.

[ve3hzz]

I checked out he Grasshopper because of the low cost. I thought it was a very basic unit. I then saw a Utopia on a friends bike. This unit can be adjusted in almost any way and without to much effort. I bought one and haven't looked back. I think the additional $$$ I paid for the Utopia was more than worth it.
But the utopia mounts by removing the seat padding on the rear pillion and then attaching a bracket and cutting a slit in the covering and then reattaching it right? The Grasshopper mounts to the fender bracket bolts of the rear pillion and the frame of it sandwiches between the front and rear seat correct? So the Utopia maybe nice, but I have a Mustang seat on mine and would not want to have to remove the covering to reattach!! Or did they change there design???

[rickyboy]

I don't recal having to remove any seat padding. I do recall cutting a slit so the piece that the seat attaches to, can come through. They give you a heavy duty piece of material to "finish" the edge of the material where you made your cut. If that makes any sense. That's it ! I think it might have taken around 1/2 hr. if that, to install. There are a number of videos on the internet. None specifically for the Nomad, but they're pretty much all the same.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Utopia+backrest+install+on+a+ Nomad&aq=f

[ve3hzz]

I don't recal having to remove any seat padding. I do recall cutting a slit so the piece that the seat attaches to, can come through. They give you a heavy duty piece of material to "finish" the edge of the material where you made your cut. If that makes any sense. That's it ! I think it might have taken around 1/2 hr. if that, to install. There are a number of videos on the internet. None specifically for the Nomad, but they're pretty much all the same.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Utopia+backrest+install+on+a+ Nomad&aq=f

Thanks Rickyboy, I did look at the website. Then I called them and directed me to a section of the site about Mustang seats. It looks like the normal bracket you have to insert it after you cut the pad and measure, it has to have a section of the bracket removed (cut) and then welded back together!!! SAY WHAT!!! It's a bit cheaper do to the extra work required to make it work. I'm not really that secure in putting a hole in my mustang seat!!! I have a spare rear pillion from the stock seat, that would need to be reupholstered that has the seat foam off already. So not sure I'd want to do that to this seat?? I understand that the grasshopper may push me farther forward, and don't want that either. Still waiting to find out about the original posted link to see if those have quick remove like grasshopper does or if it's a permanent install. I do like the fold down feature of the utopia, just not sure I want to do surgery on it yet!!!!

Thanks for the info however.

Scott

[brote]

You can remove the Utopia by taking the bolt off. You only have to put the support through the seat. You do remove the covering but it isn't as hard or difficult as it sounds. It is mounted in the passenger seat at the very front. The Grasshopper is just a bolt on and I guess it can be adjusted by bending it.

[minst7877]

I pulled the seat on my bike to get a couple of pics of the backrest. It is not a quick detach backrest. I think when I go to the solo setup it will allow me to get it moved to the rear more. Right now the rear seat is not allowing it to go back any farther. The spots are from a dirty lens on the camera.

DC

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p53/minst7877/Bikes/IM000534.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p53/minst7877/Bikes/IM000535.jpg

[ve3hzz]

I pulled the seat on my bike to get a couple of pics of the backrest. It is not a quick detach backrest. I think when I go to the solo setup it will allow me to get it moved to the rear more. Right now the rear seat is not allowing it to go back any farther. The spots are from a dirty lens on the camera.

DC

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p53/minst7877/Bikes/IM000534.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p53/minst7877/Bikes/IM000535.jpg
Thanks for the pics, shows off how it mounts great. I don't like the fact you have to unbolt it to take it off unlike the grasshopper which you can quick disconnect. Wish someone had same pictures like your of that setup to show how it mounts and the quick disconnect works as there website doesn't either.

Great pics, looks good, may seat me a bit too far forward...oh well no rush now got lots of snow to deal with for a week or so :'(

[nomadtom69]

will try to get some pics when I take pics of my new saddlebag rails I am in the middle of installing

[Yellow Jacket]

For anyone interested in a Utopia backrest check out my For Sale listing. This comes already installed on a passenger seat.

http://www.vulcanbagger.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=20684

[hammer]

I have had Grasshoppers products and liked them. He makes good quality stuff and syands behide it. It is also easy to put on and take off. After trying Rickyboy's Utopia, I went with that and it is a world of difference and I needed that after back surgery.

[ve3hzz]

will try to get some pics when I take pics of my new saddlebag rails I am in the middle of installing

That would be great.

One thing when mounting the saddle bag rails on the top of the bags, best if you didn't get a template with them is this.

Take a piece of bristol board (stiffer then paper) and lay it over the top make it the same size as the top of the bag from side to side and full length of bag top. Once you have it cut out to the shape, tape it down on all 4 sides. Do the same for the other side at the same time. Then place the rails on top on both sides and step back. Look at the side to side alignment, next front to back alignment on each side. Now you can MEASURE them exactly, but to ensure astetically they look good eyeball them to make sure they look to be the same distance front to back to one another and over the seat from the side. Once your sure they are in the CORRECT position take a SHARP pencil and mark around each stand off on the paper (white bristol board is better) After you have done all 4 stand off's on each side take a pencil and orient the plane angle that the screw will enter from the bottom through the bag. This is important. When you determine from the top the angle that the screw will go up into the threaded part of the saddle bag rail you can drill DOWN on that angle into the saddle bag. Also best to drill a small 1/8 in pilot hole and would help if you have a small drift punch to make an indent to start the pilot hole. Again at the angle that the screw will come through. Followed up with the correct size drill for the screw to pass through. If you are careful, should not have to re-drill or enlarge the hole. The other benefit the bristol board does is ensure you don't WALK the drill bit and scratch your saddlebags on the top (I've seen that done).
Sorry, hope this isn't reduntant, if it is just disregard. Good luck post some pics once your done.

Regards

Scott

[markusmaximus]

For anyone interested in a Utopia backrest check out my For Sale listing. This comes already installed on a passenger seat.

http://www.vulcanbagger.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=20684

Hey Yellow Jacket,
Wish I had read your post sooner... I ordered a new Utopia backrest to replace my Grasshopper a few days ago. Ok well!

Good luck selling yours.

[minst7877]

My buddy had the grasshopper on his 1600 classic and I never felt like it was stable enough. It was just bolted to the rear fender with the same bolt that held the seat on. He switched out to a mustang seat with a backrest and it is much better. Adjustable and will pull right out if you want to remove it. I can get some pictures of the backrest later this week if you would like them but it won't be mounted.

DC

[nomadtom69]

got some pics of the Grasshopper backrest on my bike
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00811.jpg seat brackett rear seat off
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00810.jpg seat brackett rear seat off
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00815.jpg slot it fits in with rear seat installed
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00812.jpg backrest and brackett that slides in
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00814.jpg back rest installed no back seat
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00813.jpg brackrest installed no back seat
http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/Nomadtom/DSC00817.jpg backrest installed with back seat

[nomadbehappy]

For anyone interested in a Utopia backrest check out my For Sale listing. This comes already installed on a passenger seat.

http://www.vulcanbagger.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=20684

Bob do you have any pictures of the backrest on the bike? I like the adjustability of the Utopia, but to be honest don't think I have it in me to take apart the seat and cut into the cover so one that is already installed is very intriguing, you may just have a sale.

Some of you seem to have switched from the Grasshopper to the Utopia, is it worth the extra bucks? Anyone have any problems with water seeping into the slit made for the backrest bar? or any issues with them.

Thanks