Passenger backrest vibration

[Bull Durham]

Question, see if anyone else has this problem and what they did to fix it.

I have the stock passenger backrest on my 2005 Nomad. It vibrates enough to drive my wife crazy where she has to stop and scratch her back. At first I thought she was nuts, but she lifted up her shirt and her back was all red from being itchy. Yes, the backrest is bolted tight, it's just the vibration from the engine.

Same thing happens when my boy rides back there, and he's not a little boy either.

The only way my wife can take it for more than a mile or two, is to put a small pillow under her coat so it doesn't cause itching.

Anyone else's passengers experience this? I've seen some other comments on the web about the Nomad and passenger backrest causing itching.

If you had this problem, what did your passenger do to stop the problem?

[scott2007nomad]

Yep, I'd say it's a common problem.
My wife noticed it but didn't complain too much.
It got a little better after I put rubber washers between the back rest and the bracket.

After I installed the V&H pipes, it got worse.
I've been trying to think of a way to put a black sheep skin pad on it.
Some have bought Mustang pads but I'm shooting for a cheaper solution first.

[cnc]

I'm not sure but I think there was a thread about this maybe a year back.
I just asked my wife as she has spent some long hours on the back of my bike. No issues for her at all, but she did ask what type of coat your wife wears. My wife wears either a heavily padded leather MC jacket or a ballistic nylon Joe Rocket jacket depending on the temp or her mood.

[dank]

My wife didn't ever mention this problem, and we rode many 600+ mile days together, but she also always wore a heavy motorcycle jacket.....FirstGear Kilimanjaro. So maybe it is differences in bikes, or maybe just the jacket. Mufflers were stock, baffles in.

[dabull]

i can understand the backrest shaking, but the mufflers making it worse??

I like the rubber washer idea...maybe the thicker the better?

[Bull Durham]

I should of mentioned, everything is stock for pipes. She has tried different jackets, shirts, etc. I've tried to think of something to 'slip on' it for when she rides but haven't quite thought of a good solution yet.

[cnc]

I should of mentioned, everything is stock for pipes. She has tried different jackets, shirts, etc. I've tried to think of something to 'slip on' it for when she rides but haven't quite thought of a good solution yet.

Ok, then the only thing I can think of is your bike vibrates, or at least the back rest, more than mine. What is the mileage, do the handle bars vibrate, is there any particular rpm that is worse?

[Cajunrider]

My wife had the same itchy back until I added the tourpack with the wraparound backrest. The OEM backrest vibrated because it was mounted so solid. The trunk has a little springback in the mounting bracket which lessens the vibration.

[rez]

I also have an '05 and deal with the same issue. My wife can't put up with the vibration very long. I have a gel type seat pad (folded double) I mount on the back rest which cushions much of the vibration and gives her a lot more comfort for longer rides. I have discussed this in a thread at length here some time ago which resulted in no real resolve. I imagine some bikes are worse than others but I do believe it's an inherent characteristic of the bike. I notice that vibration at the base of the backrest isn't bad but as you move up towards the top of the backrest it intensifies greatly. The vibration is also most noticeable in a certain RPM range. I just sat on and ran an '08 and feel the 'same' sort of vibration I feel on my bike. I'm wondering if guys that have installed aftermarket trunks/tour packs in place of the stock backrest have noticed an improvement for passenger comfort ?? Any more help/suggestions on this issue would certainly make me a happier camper.

[rez]

Cajun - did u install the Mutazu/DMY style trunk?? If so..what do u think of it...durability/construction etc. How did u mount it? If you have any pics they would be helpful. Thanks

[Bull Durham]

I've got 16,000 miles on it now. I don't notice any vibration myself other than regular motorcycle vibrations, but then again, I'm never on the back riding as passenger. I have Mustang seats on it with the driver backrest, no problem there.

No abnormal vibration in the handlebars, don't know if the passenger backrests vibrates differently at different RPM's.

[ndbigfish]

I had the problem when I had a tall Cobra backrest mounted directly to the fender struts. When I got a Jardine quick release backrest the problem abated. The Jardine mounts on "spools" attached to the fender strut, so it is slightly isolated.

[Cajunrider]

Cajun - did u install the Mutazu/DMY style trunk?? If so..what do u think of it...durability/construction etc. How did u mount it? If you have any pics they would be helpful. Thanks

Rez, It is a Mutazu DMY. I've had it on the bike going on 3 years. You get what you pay for but it has served us well. I've replaced the rubber lid gasket twice, the locking mechanism once, and the bottom finally cracked a few months ago. But for a little over $100, what can I say. I fabricated my mounting bracket out of 1 1/2" x 3/16" flatbar shaped like a U and welded a 3/4" pipe nipple on the ends of the U that mount where the backrest mounted. I welded 4 tabs on the inside of the U that the trunk bolts down to. I have a pice of 3/16" alluminum that is sized to fit inside of the bottom of the trunk and another the size of the exterior bottom of the trunk. The base of the trunk is sandwiched between the 2 pieces of alluminum and bolted to the U bracket. Had the U and the posts chromed at a local shop. I have some pictures somewhere on Photobucket that I'll dig up and post for you.

[cnc]

I've got 16,000 miles on it now. I don't notice any vibration myself other than regular motorcycle vibrations, but then again, I'm never on the back riding as passenger. I have Mustang seats on it with the driver backrest, no problem there.

No abnormal vibration in the handlebars, don't know if the passenger backrests vibrates differently at different RPM's.

I'm wondering if there is a way of dampening it. This may sound funny, but something like filling the main tube with foam using expanding foam crack sealer might dampen or change the amplitude to the point it is not bothersome.

[cactusjack]

I'm not sure but I think there was a thread about this maybe a year back.
I just asked my wife as she has spent some long hours on the back of my bike. No issues for her at all, but she did ask what type of coat your wife wears. My wife wears either a heavily padded leather MC jacket or a ballistic nylon Joe Rocket jacket depending on the temp or her mood.

You're right. Every so often this question gets asked, so it must be a real issue for some. Unfortunately, I don't ride 2 up and I have a tourpak with a wraparound backrest, so I can't offer any personal insight.

My only advice would be to try and isolate the backrest with rubber dampeners to reduce the vibration, or replace the backrest with a tourpak.

[kenk]

People handle vibration differently but rubbing your wife’s back red is in excess . Drawing on past experience with other bikes, check your engine mount and down tube bolts and retorque them.
Never heard of cracked frames on these bikes being a problem but a hair line crack will produce this vibration also.

[Bull Durham]

Hmmmm, I will try some type of rubber washer, see if that will help. It's going to be a couple of weeks before it'll be nice enough for her to get on back and see.

I wish I could think of something where it just stretches over the backrest for when she is on back, something I could slip on and off. 'Cause I don't think a Tourpak is in my near future!

[Loafer]

Hmmmm, I will try some type of rubber washer, see if that will help. It's going to be a couple of weeks before it'll be nice enough for her to get on back and see.

I wish I could think of something where it just stretches over the backrest for when she is on back, something I could slip on and off. 'Cause I don't think a Tourpak is in my near future!

My wife had a issue with the sissy bar pad on my XS650. I bought a toilet seat cover (black) and some soft foam from a store that sold material for making clothes and drapes and such. My wife cut and sewed the cover and foam to fit over the pad. She used the pieces to keep the elastic still around the edges. When she was going for a ride, I would stretch it over. And when she wasn't I just kept it in a bag. ;)

[Bull Durham]

Loafer,

Something like that is what I'd like to think up. I can think of things, but can't sew. Well, I can do buttons..........

[Loafer]

Loafer,

Something like that is what I'd like to think up. I can think of things, but can't sew. Well, I can do buttons..........
You must know some one with a sewing machine. Ask around.
For another great idea:
See my post on the preferred foot pegs thread. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Bull Durham]

Love the Fuller Brush, great concept!!

[scott2007nomad]

. . . check your engine mount and down tube bolts and retorque them.

What/where would I look for the "down tube bolts"?

[kenk]

Right side frame tube, there's two bolts just below top of raditaor above bake Reservoir and two bolts below swingarm.

[mobandy78]

Hmmmm, I will try some type of rubber washer, see if that will help. It's going to be a couple of weeks before it'll be nice enough for her to get on back and see.

I wish I could think of something where it just stretches over the backrest for when she is on back, something I could slip on and off. 'Cause I don't think a Tourpak is in my near future!

My fiance complains of the same problem... says it's almost unbearable for her. I put the rubber washers at each connection point and it didn't seem to make a difference. I may need to try some thicker washers or double up the ones I have. If you find something to use over the backrest, let me know. I'll need to try it too.

[Bull Durham]

MoBandy, I will. My wife can't bear it for more than a couple miles. I'm sure people are different and might be more sensitive than others, but there are too many passengers having the same problems.

I'm not sure that the rubber washers would work, I'm going to try and think of some type of pull over contraption, something I'm going to have to make like Loafer said. Maybe some type of gel pad sewn into something that I can just slip over the backrest and a strap that goes underneath between the bars and velcro's to the other side just to make sure it doesn't come off when she is moving around or getting on and off.

[Loafer]

Now your thinking.

[ndbigfish]

The Missus could hardly stand the directly attached Cobra backrest. I got a new backrest and the problem abated. I've not owned a 1600, so I have not fought this monster. I think you have got to isolate the backrest from the fender struts or isolate the pad of the backrest from the backrest frame.

[04bagger]

I recently took off my stock backrest pad and wrapped some thin black neoprene around the bar, making sure the cloth covered side of the neoprene was on the inside to allow it to swivel still. Then I took the metal backplate and covered the whole backside of it in the same neoprene and put it all back together. This helped isolate it somewhat. The vibration's not totally gone but much better. Hope this helps

[Sooperarthur]

Reviving an old post here I know but hopes it might help someone else out. For me the was the fix. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SekkGezmO4E/YRgpXfb-UhI/AAAAAAAAKqo/H7FaoT2xsqwynLTjXNsfJegjSMw_UpIowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210814_142929.jpg

[Sooperarthur]

This is a fix... https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SekkGezmO4E/YRgpXfb-UhI/AAAAAAAAKqo/H7FaoT2xsqwynLTjXNsfJegjSMw_UpIowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210814_142929.jpg