Passenger Backrest Vibration

MikeInFla · 01-05-2009, 07:22 PM

I did a search but couldn't find anyone talking about this issue. My girlfriend complains that the passenger backrest vibrates so much that it hurts her back.

One day while riding down the road I carefully reached around and felt it. The backrest does vibrate like crazy. I checked all the hardware thinking something had to be loose but that wasn't the case.

Has anyone else had this problem and how do we correct it?

Mike.

refugio · 01-05-2009, 07:51 PM

Mine vibrates pretty good as well. My kids tell me that it tingles their back and they will actually try to avoid leaning against it. The passenger seat will also vibrate at certain loaded RPM's
I think I may be just the nature of the big V-Twin beast.
Mine will vibrate while parked and just reving the RPM's up with the throttle.

Does your passenger seat vibrate also...but not as bad as the backrest......I'm wondering about this myself.

My 900 Classsic LT's passenger backrest used to vibrate like crazy too.

MikeInFla · 01-05-2009, 08:09 PM

The passenger seat doesn't vibrate anymore than the drivers seat. The backrest doesn't really vibrate that much when reving the motor, just when the bike is moving.

refugio · 01-05-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeInFLA

The passenger seat doesn't vibrate anymore than the drivers seat. The backrest doesn't really vibrate that much when reving the motor, just when the bike is moving.

Hmmm.....Your's may be related to drive train or tire balancing or drive shaft....I don't know...However, I just came in from starting the bike up in the garage to check the vibes and mine does seem to vibrate while holding the throttle at a higher RPM.

I was kind of hoping you were going to say that your passenger seat vibrates also (more than the driver's seat)....so I could feel better about mine.
Maybe I need to solo mine out and ride....That way I don't have to listen to complaints from passengers...LOL

rksaw · 01-05-2009, 08:29 PM

There was a conversation that on this thread that skirted the issue. It may help you a little...check it out.
Rich

**Cajunrider** · 01-05-2009, 08:30 PM

Mike,

My wife used to complain about the vibration issue with the passenger backrest. She claimed it made her back itch. I removed the backrest and added a Mutazu trunk with the wraparound backrest and the problem is resolved. I think the passenger backrest was much more rigid than the trunk which probably absorbs most of the vibration.

ells · 01-05-2009, 09:15 PM

There have been reports that some riders have come to particularly enjoy the vibration, details on exactly what they are doing back there are missing though.

**glwilson** · 01-05-2009, 09:25 PM

Absolutely no vibration on my passenger backrest; never has been -- for what it is worth.

Ck out the thread rksaw provided as this subject was covered there quite a bit.

I ride a stock 2004 1500 FI

**billmac** · 01-06-2009, 02:31 AM

Our 2007 backrest vibrated, no doubt about it. We installed rubber grommets between the backrest and bar. Much better now.

phenrichs · 01-06-2009, 09:19 AM

My wife complained about the vibration making her back itch as well. She complained about the vibration of the footboards too. I made rubber bushings to put between the floorboard and the mounts and that took care of that. I was going to do the same with the backrest but I have now opted for a trunk which will be rubber mounted. Putting some rubber washers between the backrest frame and the hand grips might reduce the vibration enough. I don't know that you will be able to eliminate it completely though.

MikeInFla · 01-06-2009, 12:04 PM

I'll give the rubber grommets a try.

I was talking to coacha over the weekend and he had the same suggestion. I was also thinking of changing the padding to something a bit softer, they may reduce the irritation to her back.

Thanks for your help.
Mike

phenrichs · 01-06-2009, 02:08 PM

I talked to a guy that reworks seats with special types of foam and inquired with him about the backrest issue and he said that the foam wouldn't really help with vibrations. He thought softer foam may actually make it works because it would allow her back to sink in a little farther and actually be closer to the frame which would allow more direct contact to the source of the vibration.

bear · 01-06-2009, 04:01 PM

2006 Nad with no vibrations to speak of in the rear seat/backrest area. Who knows??????

01-05-2009, 07:22 PM	#1
MikeInFla Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bushnell FL Posts: 611	Passenger Backrest Vibration I did a search but couldn't find anyone talking about this issue. My girlfriend complains that the passenger backrest vibrates so much that it hurts her back. One day while riding down the road I carefully reached around and felt it. The backrest does vibrate like crazy. I checked all the hardware thinking something had to be loose but that wasn't the case. Has anyone else had this problem and how do we correct it? Mike. __________________ Mike Morrison KawaNOW #00454 IBA# 42214 2007 Nomad 2008 Concours Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-05-2009, 07:51 PM	#2
refugio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Refugio , Texas Posts: 359	Passenger Backrest Vibration Mine vibrates pretty good as well. My kids tell me that it tingles their back and they will actually try to avoid leaning against it. The passenger seat will also vibrate at certain loaded RPM's I think I may be just the nature of the big V-Twin beast. Mine will vibrate while parked and just reving the RPM's up with the throttle. Does your passenger seat vibrate also...but not as bad as the backrest......I'm wondering about this myself. My 900 Classsic LT's passenger backrest used to vibrate like crazy too. __________________ 2008 Vulcan Nomad
	0

01-05-2009, 08:09 PM	#3
MikeInFla Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bushnell FL Posts: 611	Passenger Backrest Vibration The passenger seat doesn't vibrate anymore than the drivers seat. The backrest doesn't really vibrate that much when reving the motor, just when the bike is moving. __________________ Mike Morrison KawaNOW #00454 IBA# 42214 2007 Nomad 2008 Concours
	0

01-05-2009, 08:29 PM	#5
rksaw Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Damascus, OR Posts: 1,430	Passenger Backrest Vibration There was a conversation that on this thread that skirted the issue. It may help you a little...check it out. Rich Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-05-2009, 08:30 PM	#6
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Passenger Backrest Vibration Mike, My wife used to complain about the vibration issue with the passenger backrest. She claimed it made her back itch. I removed the backrest and added a Mutazu trunk with the wraparound backrest and the problem is resolved. I think the passenger backrest was much more rigid than the trunk which probably absorbs most of the vibration. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

01-05-2009, 09:15 PM	#7
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Passenger Backrest Vibration There have been reports that some riders have come to particularly enjoy the vibration, details on exactly what they are doing back there are missing though.
	0

01-05-2009, 09:25 PM	#8
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Passenger Backrest Vibration Absolutely no vibration on my passenger backrest; never has been -- for what it is worth. Ck out the thread rksaw provided as this subject was covered there quite a bit. I ride a stock 2004 1500 FI __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
	0

01-06-2009, 02:31 AM	#9
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	Passenger Backrest Vibration Our 2007 backrest vibrated, no doubt about it. We installed rubber grommets between the backrest and bar. Much better now.
	0

01-06-2009, 09:19 AM	#10
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	Passenger Backrest Vibration My wife complained about the vibration making her back itch as well. She complained about the vibration of the footboards too. I made rubber bushings to put between the floorboard and the mounts and that took care of that. I was going to do the same with the backrest but I have now opted for a trunk which will be rubber mounted. Putting some rubber washers between the backrest frame and the hand grips might reduce the vibration enough. I don't know that you will be able to eliminate it completely though.
	0

01-06-2009, 12:04 PM	#11
MikeInFla Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bushnell FL Posts: 611	Passenger Backrest Vibration I'll give the rubber grommets a try. I was talking to coacha over the weekend and he had the same suggestion. I was also thinking of changing the padding to something a bit softer, they may reduce the irritation to her back. Thanks for your help. Mike __________________ Mike Morrison KawaNOW #00454 IBA# 42214 2007 Nomad 2008 Concours
	0

01-06-2009, 02:08 PM	#12
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	Passenger Backrest Vibration I talked to a guy that reworks seats with special types of foam and inquired with him about the backrest issue and he said that the foam wouldn't really help with vibrations. He thought softer foam may actually make it works because it would allow her back to sink in a little farther and actually be closer to the frame which would allow more direct contact to the source of the vibration.
	0

01-06-2009, 04:01 PM	#13
bear Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 322	Passenger Backrest Vibration 2006 Nad with no vibrations to speak of in the rear seat/backrest area. Who knows??????
	0

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