Question on Passenger Comfort

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by 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.

I have a long legged wife , and added the passenger floorboard relocation kit. It moves the floorboards down about 2", forward about 2" and tilted with the toe up. giving about 2.8" of extra leg room, and her foot is in a more natural position. Here's a link to them........
http://kawanow.proboards77.com/index...ay&thread=4717

My original set was from his first run about 3 years ago. DKdixie had gotten a set of these and his wife didn't like them. We done some trading, and I got his ( chromed ) and I gave mine (polished) to a friend. (Thanks Dick). My friend's wife is about the same size as mine, and she really likes them.
About the backrest, I had originally installed a Yamaha Venture trunk on my bike, and the wife LOVED it. She said it was soooooooo much better than the OEM. I was wanting to add speakers to the trunk, and to make a long story short, I replaced the Venture trunk with a Harley Ultra Classic trunk (Oldbikers now has the Venture trunk). The wife likes the Harley trunk better than the Venture Trunk. We have ridden 750 miles only stopping for gas, and still could have kept ridding.
As far as the ride and handling go, I could tell no difference between OEM backrest, and having a trunk mounted.
The biggest difference in ride and handling was when I switched from Metzelers (880s) to Avon Cobras. It's so much smoother and responsive with the Cobras.

[paul]

I offered her the altered floorboards but she liked the riding positition fine and my backrest was no problem. Only complaint was the stock seat a little hard after time.

I replaced it with the regal and no more complaints. On the advice of a friend, I added sheep skin and now she won't let me take it off. On extended trips these things make a BIG difference.

[phenrichs]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

My wife used to complain about the vibration from the stock backrest. She claimed that it made here back itch.

That is word for word what her complaint is, exactly!

[bobzinger]

Originally Posted by OP

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

Those are Russell's Day-Long Seats. Wouldn't go over 100 miles without them!

[dragon57]

My wife was getting uncomfortable on long rides, till I added a set of "bitch pegs" to the rear.
she still has the floorbaords, but, also a set of fold up ISO pegs up[ about 10" higher and forward .
I used Harley Dyna highway pegs, and didn't even have to drill anything out.
she loves it this way, cause she has a choice.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by dragon57

My wife was getting uncomfortable on long rides, till I added a set of "bitch pegs" to the rear.
she still has the floorbaords, but, also a set of fold up ISO pegs up[ about 10" higher and forward .
I used Harley Dyna highway pegs, and didn't even have to drill anything out.
she loves it this way, cause she has a choice.

Dragon,
Got any pics....and what did you mount them to??

[phenrichs]

I would guess they just clamped onto the frame. Right? Ok so if the trunk took care of the vibration in the backrest I assume it has to do with the mounting. Which means I should be able to modify the way the stocker mounts and eliminate the vibration too? Seems straightforward enough. I will still ask now, any suggestions for getting a trunk that won't cost me $500?

[phenrichs]

Ok so if I decide to go with a trunk I found a place where I can get them at a decent enough price but isn't there someone that makes a mounting bracket for the nomad to mount a stock HD pak?

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by OP

Ok so if I decide to go with a trunk I found a place where I can get them at a decent enough price but isn't there someone that makes a mounting bracket for the nomad to mount a stock HD pak?

http://www.wompusracks.com/

This guy makes a great trunk mounting bracket specific for various bikes, including the Nomad. I spoke with him awhile back on the phone...very informative. Good luck.

[dandantmm]

My wife hated the stock backrest. She said if felt like she was being broken in half because it was too low. She could not relax because she had to keep herself upright. I solved that by purchasing a Mustang replacement backrest. It is at least 2 inches taller than stock and is shapped different. It also makes her sit more upright because the top is thicker than the bottom. She said it is a huge improvement over the stock one.

[jastearns]

I had a set of brackets made for the passenger floorboards to raise them up an inch as my wife was having leg pains from not having her feet comfortably on the floorboards. While she could reach them, she wanted some bend in her legs. It was based on Gadgets's drawing but the guy who fabricated them used is as a reference but it was shaped differently.

I also had her seat redone and it is about 5 inches wider than the standard size, we haven't traveled with it yet but it will be a great improvement. After about 300 miles, she would shift about every minute and a half and it makes life exciting when she didn't tell me she was going to do it.

We also are trying a cheap trunk to see if that is more comfortable on her back. She didn't mind the backrest but I thought a trunk with a semi-wraparound seat would make it more comfortable for her. If it works out, I already have the Wumpus rack so can order a "good" trunk.

Now that I write all this, I could have had almost all the chrome and exhaust system for what I've got into trying to make her comfortable. However, this is something that we can do together and I'd like to spend a great deal of time touring over the next few years and if she is comfortable, we might just get that done.

[VulcanE]

Hey Jerry, It's like the old saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody going to be happy" . After you take care of her, then's the time to catch "chromafilla"

[jastearns]

The sun was out today and while I didn't get a chance to ride, I was able to take some shots of the seats that I just had redone.

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/i...tyCycles-seat/

The passenger seat is about 17-18 inches from seam to seam. We only have about 20 miles on them and I don't think we'll get much more riding in this season other than around the block to say I rode in December....

[ruruson1]

Hell, my wifes 5'2" she can barely reach the floor boards. Anyway, no complaints but I did install a trunk and made my own bracket to mount it and moved the trunk back about 1 inch and that made her more comfortable.