I'm looking at getting a drivers backrest and still have my stock seat, but just looking at pictures of the brands just isn't helping me decide. Is one more comfy than the other ? So i'm turning to the place were people come to get expert opinions. You guys that do don't realize how well they help people like me decide on things. Thank you..
Last edited by threefingers2; 04-17-2016 at 04:00 PM.
We have two spyders.
My wife has the ShowChrome and I have the Utopia.
Mounting wise they are a horse apiece.
I recently purchased the Utopia and had some problems obtaining the right mounting hardware for my Comfort Seat but to be fair after 7 email exchanges, they sent the right parts.
Both my wife and I have had Utopia backrests (on our RT's) and loved them. They're a breeze to install, when you order the right product. We now both have Ultimate seats.
2020 Chalk, RT Limited, Dark and matching RT622 trailer and BRP hitch. BRP Drivers Backrest, Auxiliary Light, Garmin Zumo XT, GPS Support, RT Rear Panel and Travel Cover. Spyderpops LEDs on fenders, mirrors, saddlebags, top case and RT rear panel. Spyderpops Rock Guard. BajaRon Swaybar, Wolo Bad Boy horn, Freedom Windshield, Elka Shocks.
We have two spyders.
My wife has the ShowChrome and I have the Utopia.
Mounting wise they are a horse apiece.
I recently purchased the Utopia and had some problems obtaining the right mounting hardware for my Comfort Seat but to be fair after 7 email exchanges, they sent the right parts.
I deliberately didn't include that because I have only ridden my wife's Spyder for very short distances.
So I doubt if there is a huge difference.
Both came with nice pouches, the hardware while not exactly same are pretty equal.
The Utopia stitching, IMHO matches the stock stitching a bit better.
Hope you are keeping a record of who likes what but our problem is we don't have many that have had them both so they opine on the one they have. You need to find an event club or group and see if there are those for you to try out. Good luck I'm no help if I had a backrest and used it I couldn't reach the bars...
Gene and Ilana De Laney Mt. Helix, California
2012 RS sm5
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
I would love to see and try out things for my Sidee before i purchace them but in my state or my area there are not very many if any spyder clubs or get togethers to see differnt peoples equipment. My wife and i just got our RT this winter and i have been trying to get spyder riders to get together, i even put out an ad to see if anybody would want to help start a spyder club in North Dakota and to see if we could get all 3 wheeled cycles to be in our big 4th of July parade but not a single reply. So i have to ask for peoples opinions and go from there.
Originally Posted by Chupaca
Hope you are keeping a record of who likes what but our problem is we don't have many that have had them both so they opine on the one they have. You need to find an event club or group and see if there are those for you to try out. Good luck I'm no help if I had a backrest and used it I couldn't reach the bars...
Show chrome has 2 models! 158 n 168 the 158 is only 8 3/8 " wide the 168 is 12 3/8 " wide n many people have complained about the 158 model been too narrow while others complaint about the 168 been to wide!
The utopia is 10 3/8 " wide which IMHO is the perfect size! Keep in mind that the prices between show chome and utopia are different, show chrome been the most economical!, but utopia can match your seat fabric!
Sorry I can't give you my opinion on the comfort, because I don't have either one, but I'm buying an ultimate seat with the utopia backrest! Happy hunting!
Boy we sure would like yo come to syderfest but for our first road trip we are planning to go to Deadwood, South Dakota to the 3 wheeler rally which is about 300 miles away for us, that way we can see what we might need to do differently for a longer trip like Spyderfest.
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
You're just gonna have to come to SpyderFest, and talk to the owners of both backrests...
I wanted a driver's backrest for my RS, which is set up a lot like an RT with saddlebags and a top case with a passenger backrest. The wife has the driver's backrest on her RT-Limited and if we ryde two-up on it the backrest makes it a bit tight as we aren't too awfully skinny. When two-up the passenger IS the backrest for the driver on my RS or her RT with her driver's backrest removed.
Based on this I didn't really want just a driver's backrest so I ordered the Bikers Friend bag/backrest. Normally we each ryde our own Spyder and if we needed to go two-up I can move the bag/backrest to the luggage rack on the top of my top case. This gives me a backrest plus extra storage for more stuff!
I can't add value to the discussion of the 2 mentioned since I went straight from stock seat to Ultimate seat with backrest, however I would add the following to consider... Look at the adjustability of the backrest. The Ultimate backrest adjusts front/back and I really had to dial it in, so you may find if one is more adjustable or one is and one isn't at all I would go with the best adjustment as you may find that makes a difference in comfort.
NEW/CURRENT (Wife's Bike, I ride Goldwing/Africa Twin)
2023 RT Limited Petrol Blue Metallic
Working on the upgrades... so far... Show Chrome Isolator Fuse Block, Tackform Adventure Wireless charger phone mount
OLD/TRADED
2015 RT Limited Intense Red Pearl
Farkles: Ultimate Tallboy seat, FOBO, JT Dash Mount, Lamonster Spyder Cuff, Kradellock, TricLED lighting - fenders, A-Arms, saddlebags, run/brake, Custom Dynamics high brake light, brake modulator, Drink2Go passenger, MUTH turn signal mirrors, Bajaron sway bar, Kuryakyn ISO grips, SpyderTV front grilles & rear trunk organizer, homemade trunk light
Pending: Elka shocks, Yokohama S Drive rear tire, EVO 595 front tires, Centramatic balancers, Neutrino black box
Sorry I can't give you my opinion on the comfort, because I don't have either one, but I'm buying an ultimate seat with the utopia backrest! Happy hunting!
Don't know if that was a typo, but if not - why would you do that? Why wouldn't you use the Ultimate backrest with the Ultimate seat? They match perfectly,and are made specifically for that seat, adjust and work well.
NEW/CURRENT (Wife's Bike, I ride Goldwing/Africa Twin)
2023 RT Limited Petrol Blue Metallic
Working on the upgrades... so far... Show Chrome Isolator Fuse Block, Tackform Adventure Wireless charger phone mount
OLD/TRADED
2015 RT Limited Intense Red Pearl
Farkles: Ultimate Tallboy seat, FOBO, JT Dash Mount, Lamonster Spyder Cuff, Kradellock, TricLED lighting - fenders, A-Arms, saddlebags, run/brake, Custom Dynamics high brake light, brake modulator, Drink2Go passenger, MUTH turn signal mirrors, Bajaron sway bar, Kuryakyn ISO grips, SpyderTV front grilles & rear trunk organizer, homemade trunk light
Pending: Elka shocks, Yokohama S Drive rear tire, EVO 595 front tires, Centramatic balancers, Neutrino black box
TE=SpyderSteveFL;1118475]Don't know if that was a typo, but if not - why would you do that? Why wouldn't you use the Ultimate backrest with the Ultimate seat? They match perfectly,and are made specifically for that seat, adjust and work well.[/QUOTE
That's what the seller was selling! That's what I bought!
Don't know if that was a typo, but if not - why would you do that? Why wouldn't you use the Ultimate backrest with the Ultimate seat? They match perfectly,and are made specifically for that seat, adjust and work well.
(Correction) the seat comes with an ultimate backrest, not an ultimate! My apologies!
Have you decided what you your going to get. if not head up to lake George I am sure vendors will be there will have one that you like. I am looking also...
Utopia or Show Chrome
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Originally Posted by spyderCodes
You're just gonna have to come to SpyderFest, and talk to the owners of both backrests... 
