Question on Passenger Comfort

[phenrichs]

My wife has mentioned that she would like me to find a way to improve her comfort before we head to Custer next year on the long haul.

Has anyone done anything with relocating the passenger floorboards? She said she feels squished so I was thinking of trying to move the boards forward and down if possible.

She also asked about ways to reduce the vibration felt through the backrest?

I know many of you ride with passengers so I figured someone must have come up with something by now.

[bigjohn]

Nancy had a serious problem with the angle of the back rest on our Nomad. It caused her to lean back too far inducing neck strain or else making her sit up and unable to use the back rest. When I redid the back rests I upholsterd hers in a wedge shape with the fattest paart on top. Gave her more of a vertical posture.

I'm looking for a way to give her more/better foot room on the V2K next.

[zoom45]

My wife has never complained about the passenger position. She will go to sleep if I don't keep patting her on the leg. We have ridden 16 hours in one day (only stop for gas or bathroom break) and she's still ready to go. Mine is a 2000 Nomad 1500. Not sure if it's a different seat or riding position from the newer models.
Zoom45

[roadman]

My wife hates the backrest on our 2008 nomad.....she says it is to low and sticks out to much ? i guess the pad is too thick ::)
But i can't seem to find a replacement for it :(

[damark115]

Last year my passenger complained about her back and the ride stiffness. This year no problem
No complaints at all. Ride all day.
(I changed the passenger).

[phenrichs]

I found a link on Gadget's site for board relocation brackets but I need a solution for the backrest. She doesn't mind the thickness. I am thinking of getting her a gel pad to put on it. Maybe that would reduce the vibration. I don't know. I guess I could make some rubber bushings out of an old inertube or something for the bolts. I did that for her footboards and she said that helped with the foot vibration.

[darthvulcan]

No complaints from my passenger, either. Although, sometimes when she feels the need to stretch a little, she'll lift her leg up and rest the heel of her boot on my thigh - one leg at a time of course.

I suspect she likes the rush of cool air up her leg more than anything. Seems to work though...

I have heard there are kits available to re-position the floorboards.

[bobzinger]

I left my floorboard the same height by tilted them forward and my wife loves it. The drawing to make my brackets are on Gadget.
I also had a custom Backrest made that improved her comfort greatly. Diamond Seats may still have the template. I think it was $110 shipped.
http://www.diamondseats.com/catalog.htm

[phenrichs]

Is that where you got those seats? They look comfy but look like they might get a little warm.

[burkazoid]

Originally Posted by OP

My wife has mentioned that she would like me to find a way to improve her comfort before we head to Custer next year on the long haul.

Has anyone done anything with relocating the passenger floorboards? She said she feels squished so I was thinking of trying to move the boards forward and down if possible.

She also asked about ways to reduce the vibration felt through the backrest?

I know many of you ride with passengers so I figured someone must have come up with something by now.

My wife is petite, so no, no squishing here.

[glwilson]

I have an '04 1500FI

That bike is as smooth as silk; which is one of the reasons I bought it. I have heard on other posts about passenger complaints of vibration and such on other model years -- particularly later year models; but I don't seem to have any.

I double-checked with my wife, who rides with me all the time, about vibration and comfort when riding on our bike. She has had no problems; and said that our bike is completely smooth riding.

Sorry to hear how many are having these problems. "We" ride together all the time and take long day-rides and over-night rides. Being uncomfortable would surely ruin the experience -- so again we hope you "guys" can figure-out how to make your ride comfortable for your passenger.

[rksaw]

I'd be interested to hear comments regarding vibration from any of the guys with trunks on the back. I bet the extra weight helps to reduce the amount of vibration on the passenger's back.

[Cajunrider]

My wife used to complain about the vibration from the stock backrest. She claimed that it made here back itch. Since mounting the trunk with the wraparound backrest she says that the vibration is no longer there. She really likes the trunk backrest.

[coacha]

I have floorboard relocation brackets on my '99. They were about $75 from a gentleman on eBay. They are chrome and my wife loves the way they moved the boards down and tilted them at a better angle. She is 6' tall.

[macman13]

I thought of doing this mod from Gadgets page. Might help.

http://www.gadgetjq.com/1600_floorboardmod.htm

I am also gonna have my and the passenger seat / back rest re-done with memory foam.

D_Spyz