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Backrests - Which one?

Dat Guy

Dat Guy

New member
Hi folks!

Can anyone share experiences with or recommend a good backrest? I've seen a couple so far. The Utopia Backrest and Smart Mount Backrest both look pretty good and have comparable pricing. Doesit help the ride? Or is it a waste of money?

Smart Mount

Utopia

Thanks!
 
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Most of my Spyder miles have been without a backrest but I had a Utopia on my 2013 and I didn't think I liked it much until I started riding the 2011 without one. I didn't feel like I could adjust the Utopia the way I wanted it but I am finding my back getting tired riding without it now.
 
I like the Utopia it can be adjusted forward and back. It makes me ride more upward I tend to lean forward. I have shorter arms. I wish I could adjust it down just a hair more for my lower back but I can live with it. I suggest you use a piece of 3M double sided tape on it when you get the height adjusted between the 2 pieces it tends to wobble side to side ( unless you like that) mine is solid now adjusted to the lowest height and forward to my liking. It also lets me lean less in the turns I lean back unless it is sharp with no issues. I also ordered the leather post cover for more comfort for the wife. It matches the stitching of the seat too and looks to be a bit larger than the other one.:thumbup:

One additional thing is drill the holes one size bigger it makes for an easier install. Finding the bolt holes and getting the bolts started was the hardest part.
 
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Tough one..!!

Don't use one. Have the BRP back rest/rack on our RS and lean on the wife. But being sporty and leaning forward I have no use for one. You really have to find a group with rests and try them out. Good luck..!! :thumbup:
 
Very interesting. Seems like a mixed bag of preferences.

Chupaca said:
Don't use one. Have the BRP back rest/rack on our RS and lean on the wife...
Click to expand...

That Smart Mount one looks smaller than the Utopia one. Do you think that would keep you from leaning on the lady? I don't want to do that to my wife either!
 
I have the Utopia BackRest on our RT and it really works for me. We have done up to 700 mile days before and don't feel "beat up". :2thumbs:
 

I have the Corbin backrest. It is a "must" for me. I chose the Corbin not only because I have the Corbin seat, armrests, passenger backrest, but also because the "rider backrest" has a hole in it. That helps a lot for those that might sweat a lot. (especially here in Flarda).

Chris
 
First rule of thumb: do NOTHING until you've know exactly what the story is! :shocked:
Have you logged enough miles yet to decide that a backrest is an absolute "Must-Have"?
Are you happy with the OEM seat?
After all; another option might be an Ultimate or Corbion seat with their own propietary backrests...
You've got some research and shopping to do...Have fun! :thumbup:
 
Dat Guy said:
Hi folks!

Can anyone share experiences with or recommend a good backrest? I've seen a couple so far. The Utopia Backrest and Smart Mount Backrest both look pretty good and have comparable pricing. Doesit help the ride? Or is it a waste of money?
Utopia

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen the iRyde video before. I happen to be the Spyder owner that Bob, of Utopia, worked with to develop the driver's backrest for the RT. I shipped him my saddle and passenger backrest and asked him to make one that matched in both the upholstery and stitching. I think he did a great job. Because he didn't have a Spyder there, we exchanged about 40 emails with pictures, him asking me to take measurements on the Spyder in certain places. I also sent him plenty of photos and gave him various points of reference so he could see what part of the underside of the saddle matched with what parts on the Spyder. I used a display model at my dealer to make my measurements. I even used Playdough wrapped in plastic wrap to squish between certain places beneath the saddle to get Bob the clearances he needed to properly design the bracket. He was pleased with how I did that, as he had never thought of doing it that way since he'd begun building backrests in the 1970's. If you look on his website at the driver's backrest pictured with the passenger's backrest, you're looking at the first driver's backrest, which is now on my black RT, which is also pictured. The yellow GS pictured is my wife's, although I did not help with the design of that one. He already had that, just didn't have a photo of one installed.

Bob's a great guy & I enjoyed working with him.
 
I am ordering the Utopia because they are the only one that makes a backrest for the BRP comfort seat.

Bob
 
This thread makes me wish that BRP would get their website together. I went to check the price on the new comfort seat and backrest but the build a Spyder function still doesn't work and the other alternative just takes you to a dealer list.:banghead:
 
SpyderAnn01 said:
This thread makes me wish that BRP would get their website together. I went to check the price on the new comfort seat and backrest but the build a Spyder function still doesn't work and the other alternative just takes you to a dealer list.:banghead:
Click to expand...

I know the BRP 2014 plug in backrest is $450 and is not adjustable. That is for the standard RT S/LTD seat but I would assume a comfort seat for a 2014 would have the same mount system and be near the same price as current offerings. I also assume the base RT seat does not come with the pre supplied peg holes for the BRP back rest. I am trying to verify that.
 
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Magdave said:
I know the BRP 2014 plug in backrest is $450 and is not adjustable. That is for the standard RT S/LTD seat but I would assume a comfort seat for a 2014 would have the same mount system and be near the same price as current offerings. I also assume the base RT seat does not come with the pre supplied peg holes for the BRP back rest. I am trying to verify that.
Click to expand...
I think the base seat does come with the holes. So if the backrest is $450 and the Comfort Seat is probably $550 + I may go a different direction. I really like the BRP Comfort Seat but doesn't have much lumbar support - even less than the stock seat.

What to do, what to do..................
 
SpyderAnn01 said:
I think the base seat does come with the holes. So if the backrest is $450 and the Comfort Seat is probably $550 + I may go a different direction. I really like the BRP Comfort Seat but doesn't have much lumbar support - even less than the stock seat.

What to do, what to do..................
Click to expand...

Really? My comfort seat has a higher and more forward pointing lumbar than my 2011 stock seat had. I did buy the comfort seat new from a spyderlover that did not use it so I do not know what year it was made. Possible some changes to that over the years?

Needless to say I love my comfort seat and I did sit on a spyder with a corbin.

Bob
 
SpyderAnn01 said:
I think the base seat does come with the holes. So if the backrest is $450 and the Comfort Seat is probably $550 + I may go a different direction. I really like the BRP Comfort Seat but doesn't have much lumbar support - even less than the stock seat.

What to do, what to do..................
Click to expand...

All the seats except for the base RT are 2 tone which is why I think it may not have the mounting system. I am not sure if the BR is 2 tone or not. Just a guess:dontknow:

Base http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/spyder/spyder-rt/spyder-rt/features.html#feature1705583352

expected release date for the backrest is Nov14 BTW
 
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I have wondered if the hardware associated with the 2014 saddle might be a problem for Utopia to develop one for their backrest. It might require a different setup for them that could cause them to rethink if they want to offer one. I'm sure Bob would like to see the saddle to decide if he can build one.
 
Hmm...

Has anyone here had a chance at a show or something to sit on a seat with the Utopia one and a seat with the Show Chrome Smart Mount that could share the differences of each?
 
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