Home made driver's backrest

[daddylaci]

I missed a support for my back for long lasting ride, because my back was painful after a couple of miles. So, I developed and designed a backrest for the driver. You can see, that very simple, but very effective and usefull. If you want reproduce yourself or by a fitter and upholsterer I attached the drawings for you, also. It's easy and very cheap.
http://www.postimage.org/aVdR2ar.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVdR2ar)

http://www.postimage.org/gx7r6Or.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx7r6Or)

http://www.postimage.org/PqeaUxi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqeaUxi)

http://www.postimage.org/Pqeb3vS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqeb3vS)

http://www.postimage.org/Pqeba_i.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqeba_i)

http://www.postimage.org/Pqebdur.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqebdur)

http://www.postimage.org/gx7rgN0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx7rgN0)

http://www.postimage.org/gx7rjh9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx7rjh9)

http://www.postimage.org/gx7rlMi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx7rlMi)

[mrlmd1]

That is a great mod - too bad you can't make more and ship them to us, or have them made somewhere, like over here. I'm sure there is a market for them.

[BusyWeb]

Hi, there.
This is a great accessory for the GZ.
I think that it might be also good for the any other cruiser style bikes.
:roll: :2tup:

[burkbuilds]

That is an awesome looking backrest!

[alanmcorcoran]

Daddyl,

I have two dumb questions:

Where do you buy metal plating (and what do you buy?)
How do you cut/bend it?

I used a sheet metal bender back in eighth grade metal shop a lifetime ago, but it was a huge shop machine. I'm pretty familiar with most woodworking tools/techniques, but my metal experience is limited to cutting a threshold with a Sawzall and cutting bolts and stuff with a hacksaw. I think I can also drill holes okay.

[adrianinflorida]

The pieces are all welded together, not bent. The guy in my office who does our welding is going to put one together for me when he get's some time, I gave him the plans. Then I'll go to one of the local metal plating places to get it chromed, I'll post pics and pricves as it progresses, and maybe I can have a few extras made, if it's cost effective.

Alan, this is best to take to a metal fabricator near you to get done. It's not simple bending.

[alanmcorcoran]

If you go through with it, and it doesn't end up costing more than the bike, I'd be happy to pay for the extra parts, your time and shipping.

[adrianinflorida]

It won't be a horrible cost for materials, my welder can cut the parts from scrap. The plating and a few bucks for his time are all that I'd need to cover, and youd need to either buy or make the backrest (Padded part). I'll keep everyone posted after the first one is made, then we can figure out if it's worth it. I don't know if I want to use it for myself, as I tend to sit further back on the saddle to extend the distance to the pegs for myself, so the prototype will probably be available at the very least.

[mrlmd1]

I'd try one too, it might be not only more comfortable but also more secure having your butt/lower back up against that rest.
Can also use it secondarily to secure gear sitting on the passenger seat, tied between the 2 backrests or on a rack. It also gives a passenger something to hang on to besides the driver.

[JWR]

I had one of these on my Silverwing.
Utopia backrest.

Could be modified to fit pretty easy.


http://www.postimage.org/gxXktbS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxXktbS)

[alanmcorcoran]

It won't be a horrible cost for materials, my welder can cut the parts from scrap. The plating and a few bucks for his time are all that I'd need to cover, and youd need to either buy or make the backrest (Padded part). I'll keep everyone posted after the first one is made, then we can figure out if it's worth it. I don't know if I want to use it for myself, as I tend to sit further back on the saddle to extend the distance to the pegs for myself, so the prototype will probably be available at the very least.

I think I can manage the backrest okay. I can make that out of materials and tools I am comfortable with.

[Quimrider]

Anyone interested in this should check out http://www.protac.net. They quoted me one on for my Vulcan for $130. I think they are a small shop and would probably consider making one for the GZ. Main advantage is removablility. You could also look at http://www.utpr.com/ for the Utopia back rests

If they aren't willing and if there's interest. We do metal fabrication where I work, mostly structural stuff. I could ask my shop manager how much it would cost to fabricate something similar. We don't have a CNC cutting machine so everything would be a straight cut shear and/or hand cut. In other words It wouldn't have all the pretty radius cuts shown on daddylaci drawings. We'd probably use 1/4" steel and not weld the bends. This means the bends would not be as sharp, but will cut the cost down significantly. The pieces would come as raw uncoated steel. We have no means of chrome plating. You would have to use a grinder to clean up any sharp edges and prime/paint as you see fit. Also you'd be on your own for all fastening hardware and the actual back rest cushion. Unless there is significant interest I personally don't see how we could make it cheap enuff to be worth it.

[dannylightning]

haha i wouldent want to ride on the back seat if you had to slam on the breaks... crotch right in to a metal bar hahaha...

great idea, a little back support is always nice i hate setting on something like aa stool with no back for long periods of time, my back always hurts.

you could probably sell those on ebay especially if you could make them for other bikes too

[daddylaci]

Daddyl,

I have two dumb questions:

Where do you buy metal plating (and what do you buy?)
How do you cut/bend it?



So, there is a little cheating. :whistle: I made the plan of the all backrest and after that had the backrest base made by a mechanic shop. They gave the metal plate. After that I took away that to a chrome plating shop to make a chrom surface. Meanwhile, I made the backrest from plywood and had the cover made by an upholsterer. The prise altogether is about 45 USD.

[D Futch]

I used your idea and it worked out great. Not as nice as yours just painted mine no chrome. But it is nice and it is a much better ride now. I used some scape metal, wood and paint I had around the house and had a local upholstery shop make the black pad/cover it cost $35.00 and maybe 2 or 3 hours of my time any how thanks for a great idea!!!!!! :2tup: :2tup: :2tup:

[Irishmike]

:rawk: Man, you are the greatest. A back rest would cost $300 to $400. you didn't say what ind of steel you used or how to shap it!!?? Irishmike (newbie) :2tup: :)

[Water Warrior 2]

You do realize this thread is 2 years old ??? But you could fabricate your own pretty easily out of bits and pieces. If you can't work with metal go and find a fab shop with the dimensions you want and they can cut and bend for a reasonable fee.