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Well when the promised Sea to Sky matching backrest didn't materialize I started to look at something I can get as a good looking replacement. Several folks from here recommended Utopia Backrest. I looked into all the reasonable options that I could find and settled on Utopia. Here are some pictures. This backrest was cheaper and a lot better looking than the BRP one. I think I will be happy.
I rgus
On my 2014 RT spyder I opted for a Utopia, it is very well designed, and for several adjustments that the BRP does not have..
FlyBoy2121
I have been using Utopia backrests for decades ...... They are very adjustable except for one thing ..... LUMBAR SUPPORT ... However it's easy to get some .... get a few different thickness wedges ( wood, cardboard etc. ) and tape it to the seat post where the bottom edge of the backrest touches the post ..... this will tilt the backrest and give as much or as little extra support as needed ..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup: I thought of threading another hole and using a bolt to make it adjustable , but decided it was waaaay to much work , if you just use blk tape no one can see it anyway .... jmho ....MQuote:
Originally Posted by rgus
Is that backrest easily removable?
Yep it slides right out of the mounting bracket.
You will really like it. I have had that back rest on 3 different bikes and liked every one of them.
I replaced the one I bought (see pic) 2 years ago with a Utopia. What a huge difference. My back no longer hurts like it did with the Show Chrome one in the pic. (new pics coming soon)
Does the Utopia backrest fold forward if so does it lay flat sort of?
Anyone have a picture of it folded forward?
I have set my Utopia pad such that it is in the lowest setting as I wanted the pad to be more in my lower back.
Probably the higher the setting the more flat lie it would achieve.. i.e. .. the pad would stand up further from the back edge of the driver seat.
As it is, the bottom of my pad nudges into the driver seat back edge when laid forward.. still makes for good clearance for me swinging the leg over.
Just before I settle into the driver seat I reach around and straighten the backrest up. I have done it this way for years on all my bikes.
P.s… i also tie-wrapped a door wedge, with the fat end pointing down, between the back of the pad and the main support. It gives a little more support to my back with the pad being at a slight angle. Got this great tip from BlueKnight911 here on the forum. I believe he made his own wedge. I don't have any tools to do that but found the door wedge works great for me.
It looks to me like it's a lot bigger than a lot of other backrests I've seen. I like that. It should cover more back area.
Here's a pic of my Utopia.
From others I have seen it is the largest.Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamer
I bought a Show Chrome driver back rest first for my ‘21 RTL because I needed one ASAP and could not get my usual Utopia as quickly as I wanted.. they were closed for a winter’s rest.
What a disappointment! The Show Chrome felt like a tiny little fist poking into my back.
Just as soon as the Utopia came in the Show Chrome was a gonner.
I let a fellow Spyder ryder try it.. he couldn’t stand it either.. gave it back.. and I was not asking any money for it.
Not knocking the Show Chrome for quality or its general design level… maybe if the pad had been a lot larger… it just wasn’t for me.
Guess it all depends on what you get used to.
:agree: ... it's larger in size ie. square inches of support, however it's really quite THIN, which is a Plus if your passengers are " portly " . and it has enough padding to keep it comfortable .... Mike :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamer
I'm just wondering. If you fold that backrest down for mounting the bike, does it stay down on it's own or do you have to hold it down?
There arn't any Springs on the Utopia .... mine just lays flat .... Mike :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamer
Look at my picture above, it stays down like that until I move it back up.Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamer
Click on the picture and it will get larger.
If my wife rides with me, the Utopia comes off, and I use her for a very comfy backrest. Did the same on our '06 GL1800.
My Utopia backrest shipped today. Looking forward to getting it on
I got my Utopia backrest installed yesterday after having it for a week. We went for a 200 mile ride today and I was very comfortable with the stock settings - eliminated my discomfort. I had the BRP backrest on my F3L and am glad I didn’t get it again for my RTL.
Thanks all that recommended the Utopia.:clap:
If I did that all I'd get is a shoulder massage and no lumbar support! IYKWIM...Quote:
Originally Posted by pidjones
roflmao
I ended up cutting the length of the back rest to 3 inches. Back rest now sits lower to seat and right up next to back of drivers seat. Before it was pushing to close to the front. now gets lower back and and im further back from frontQuote:
Originally Posted by Pooch
:agree: It does, it's also thinner than the others I have seen. .... This is a plus if your passenger is a bit portly ..... Mike :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by gkamer