To back rest or not?

[muaymendez1]

This is the first bike I ve had with a back rest and I absolutely love how it feels riding down the road but absolutely hate trying to get off the bike with it protruding upwards.

 

I have found that If I mount is loose I can lift my but off the seat, the backrest collapses and allows me to dismount.

On the other hand when mounting I throw the leg over and stand forward while lifting the backrest before sitting down.

Sounds like a lot. How are others dealing with this?

[naturbar]

getting on i brush my right foot over the seat and sit down - getting off i place left foot firmly on ground and lift right leg over the tilted down back rest. i found if getting on the bike i try to lift right leg over the backkrest, i kinda fall into the seat, which i am not comfortable with. so whatever works best for you is the right answer. before i put on my back rest my back (and butt) got sore fairly quickly, since the back rest my back never bothers me and when my butt gets uncomfortable i can push my back against the back rest and lift my butt off the seat for a quick rest and reposition. best of luck.

[garyw]

I have a Diamond R backrest and do exactly what you said. I lay it down to get on and off. After time it becomes loose all on it's own so as far as loose mounting goes I would never mount anything loose! I never found any easier way of getting my leg over either.

[muaymendez1]

I have a Diamond R backrest and do exactly what you said. I lay it down to get on and off. After time it becomes loose all on it's own so as far as loose mounting goes I would never mount anything loose! I never found any easier way of getting my leg over either.

 

By loose I meant that the backrest falls and raises with ease. The boot and lock nut are on very snug. I actually had to hammer the bolt/pin in and out. No fear of it falling off

[alwrmcusn]

I step my left foot on the left footboard (drivers or passengers) and throw my leg over the seat/backrest (I have a trike) but I also did the same before I had it triked. The 2-3 second hastle of getting a leg over the backrest is more than offset by the comfort and longer distances the back rest allows me.

[BigLenny]

I have an Ultimate Seat with an Ultimate backrest. The backrest folds down nicely for me to swing my leg over it while getting on and off. Couldn't live without it.

[XV1100SE]

I just step thru, putting my right foot thru over top of the drivers seat - in front of the back rest. When I get off I do the same in reverse.

 

When Nancy gets on the bike, she steps on the left passenger floorboard and steps thru behind the back rest. Getting off she pushes the backrest forward if I get off first, or reverses the way she mounts.

[Flyinfool]

Yup backrest is a pain while getting on and off the bike. But I figure that I spend very little time getting on and off the bike compared to the amount of time I spend riding it in comfort.

[Mike G in SC]

I just step thru, putting my right foot thru over top of the drivers seat - in front of the back rest. When I get off I do the same in reverse.

 

When Nancy gets on the bike, she steps on the left passenger floorboard and steps thru behind the back rest. Getting off she pushes the backrest forward if I get off first, or reverses the way she mounts.

 

 

YEP, like that,, both with my RSTD that has a back rest and my RSV that does not.

[theportunionkid]

I stand up on the pegs then dismount, step on peg with left foot then step thru in front of the back rest with right foot when mounting. (when on kick or center stand)

[Oldodge]

YEP, like that,, both with my RSTD that has a back rest and my RSV that does not.

 

I am a little short legged to just step over, but I do step my left leg over and give a little skip/hop with my left to get my butt closer to the seat. Getting off I can pivot without the skip/hop. I loved the backrest on my Vulcan (Grasshopper backrest)and put the same on the RSV. It hits me further up my back on this bike but I haven't ridden more than a mile with it in place yet. I think I may need to bring my handlebars back closer to me to allow full use of the backrest.

[VentureFar]

I changed my mounting movements when I saw a motorcycle officer mount by grabbing his right ankle as he swung it up. That allows you to pull your boot close to your butt missing the backrest all together. Other way is step through with the right foot and balance on the left. Other way is stand on the footboard getting the extra height. Never seen another way to clamber onboard, but if you figure one out please send the video.

VentureFar...

[djh3]

I think it partially depends on which backrest you have. I don't know if they all swivel in the same way. I have a Utopia and it is like double hinged I guess. It will flip backwards onto the passenger seat or almost fold down till the bottom of it touches the drivers seat. I agree the slight bit of adjusting mounting or dismount is well worth the comfort.

[muaymendez1]

I changed my mounting movements when I saw a motorcycle officer mount by grabbing his right ankle as he swung it up. That allows you to pull your boot close to your butt missing the backrest all together. Other way is step through with the right foot and balance on the left. Other way is stand on the footboard getting the extra height. Never seen another way to clamber onboard, but if you figure one out please send the video.

VentureFar...

I have too seen that. If I could grab my ankle while in the air I probably wouldn't have a mounting problem .LOL

I do the step thru most of the time but getting off is somewhat of a bad yoga pose. Its like crouching grasshopper laughing Hieyena