[Pumbaa]

After much deliberation and "moaning" from the other half about "u need to slow down, I feel like I'm gonna fall off the back" blah blah blah... (should never have let her sit on the back in the first place...lol) I decided to get a Strada touring seat to see if that would make a difference.

Low and behold, I got the comment "yeah it is much more comfy than the original, but I still feel like I'm gonna fall off the back" So once again I folded and started looking at the possibility of a "sissy bar", only problem is u cannot mount the Strada Backrest without the Strada Grab Rail kit, which to my horror includes the new Ridiculous and very ugly back end, with silly little blinkers etc.

But I'm pleased to announce that after some late night engineering and head scratching I have managed to Modify the Strada Seat to incorporate the backrest (without the grabrail), It is not fool proof and I doubt it will hold up to her full weight pushing against it for an extended period of time, but that's not what a sissy bar is there for, She is Soooooo much happier now, and said, "just the psychological effect of knowing there is something behind her back, is enough to make her feel 100% more secure".. So now when I want to Play on my own, I ride with the Stock seat and Cowling.. and when I have to take the "cook/bottle washer" on a sedate Saturday/Sunday cruise, I put the Strada seat on.

Unfortunately i did not take any pics of "the actual build" but I will be more than happy to explain how I did the mod if anyone is interested, I will post up a "how to do it" very soon...

 

[duc13]

I'd be interested in seeing what you've done Pumbaa.
Post those pics with a "how to".
There was another thread on the same thing a while back but can't seem to find it.

 

[Luckyphil]

+ 1

 

[Karma]

Pumbaa,

Thanks so much for your post. When I bought my bike at the dealers, my wife kept insisting I put the strada grab rails and the light system on immediately so she can have the back rest installed.

I delayed that process and said I will do it after running in the bike.

Honestly, the back rest is great for the wife but the light system really is not that hot unless its on a diavel strada. On its own, not so hot.

Please do put up some photos when you can.

Cheers,
Karma!

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Luckyphil]

I am ok with mine now i am used to seeing it ,wife loves the grab rails and back rest ,just bolts on (5 mins ) .I have some smaller indicators coming from Rizoma which will streamline it a bit more but thats just cosmetics

 

[Pumbaa]

Ok as promised here is the "HOW TO".

Basically what I did was I got hold of a 3mm piece of stainless steel plate and then cut and shaped it. I measured from the top of the foam seat and then slid it in between the seat base and the foam padding.. as shown in the PIC (yes I removed the staples and peeled back the leather first)

Once I had the basic shape cut out I then bent the edge up to follow the original contours of the seat, all the way to the top edge of the foam. I rounded all the edges so that it does not rip the leather. The holes were then marked out using the backrest as a template, (the upper edge of the backrest is flush with the top of the seat)

The plate was then secured to the base of the seat using 5 stainless steel Bolts/washers and nuts (bolt heads on the inside) I had to grind the nuts down slightly so that the seat still clamped into place. The back rest holes were marked out/drilled and the leather was pulled back over the newly inserted plate and then was also secured using Stainless bolts again the heads on the inside. I drilled an extra hole into the backrest in the center for added support.

The Staples were then reinserted, this was a bit of a mission, might pay to take it too an upholsterer that has the proper staple gun. I got a solid rubber block from Clark Rubber and trimmed it down to size and inserted it into the gap between the bottom of the back rest and the original Grab Handle (make it as tight as u can, but still ensure that the seat "CLIPS" into place) this rubber block was then secured with 3 tech screws directly onto the base of the back rest.

I still have to get some 2pac putty or Belzona and tidy up the nuts so it is nice and smooth. but it works like a charm.. I had the missus on the back on Saturday and we got into some really tight twisties and some really Loooooong straights well over the speed limit and she was very happy with the secure feeling..