Is this a Farkle?

[robtdonna]

I'll be upfront and say it, my lovely wife is a big woman. When riding two up it is cramped and I, more than her, get uncomfortable as I am shoved forward even closer to the bars and controls.

Am aware that there are aftermarket backrests that give the passenger (and thus me) more room, but being the DIY guy I am, decided to take on redoing the backrest.

Now, fearing I was traipsing into unknown territory and perhaps creating a Frankenstein's Monster ( AKA failed experiment) ; I acquired at a reasonable price, a gently used backrest from a member here. ( Thank you, Bob Denman), and bonus it's from a Limited .

So I proceeded to tear apart the backrest. For those who have wondered, here is a pic of what the foam and the backrest without foam looks like. Foam is not glued so it was my intention to shave it down a bit at a time until we were both comfortable. However, wife said let me try it without foam, backrest is smooth so...we did. The cover actually provided some padding, it moves her back and gives me room! So...that's what we are going with....for now.

The second picture is the backrest sans foam with the cover back on, looks OK methinks.

Future plan is to take back rest and seat with us to Florida this winter, there is a shop that has done work for me before on two wheelers and have the seat replaced with memory foam and have a thin piece of memory foam put on the backrest just...because. Oh and probably some custom stitching on the covers.

:yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

DIYers definitely know how to "git 'er done"! :2thumbs:

 

[Chupaca]

Gotta say...

Methinks too. Nicely done..congrats...:2thumbs: and yes it is a farkle so enjoy it....hyea:

 

[ARtraveler]

Yes, it's a farkle. :yes::yes:

 

[jerpinoy]

Anything you add to your:spyder2: it 's considered farkle, especilly DIY. jmho

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

DIY MODIFIED BACKREST

What backrest did you start with ??? and How thick was it ???? and how thick is it now ??? ......Thanks ....Mike :thumbup:

 

[robtdonna]

Mike, started with the stock backrest that my 2014 RT came with. Thickness varied from oh say an inch to two inches. It was especially thick on the sides and that was preventing her from sliding back.

As I posted there is NO foam now, she tried it with just the bare backrest and its fine so.....

Pic may be a bit deceiving as I didn't 'redo', the cover, it will compress as she she sits against it to the back of the backrest.

What backrest did you start with ??? and How thick was it ???? and how thick is it now ??? ......Thanks ....Mike :thumbup:

 

[robtdonna]

I agree PMK, the 'trim' shop I've used before deals almost exclusively with motorcycle seats. They lowered my ride height on my Kawasaki Vulcan, and added memory foam and a custom cover and I was very pleased.

Thinking a web design might be nice...

Mod of that backrest is really a nice method to gain room. I beleive your trim shop should be able to add a thin layer of black high density foam onto the plastic. If they fill the holes and depressions in the plastic first, then smooth them, followed by the high density foam it should look really nice.

If you get serious about refoaming an oem seat, consider layering the seat with different densities of foams with the memory foam on top. Better still may be seeing if they have DAX foam, I think they call it that, and give that a look.

I also would consider a different cover material, somehow the oem Vinyl or whatever it is always was un comfortable.

I was always in awe at how the seat shop guys delivered pure magic of comfort with elegance when we did interiors on corporate aircraft. They used that DAX foam, and other foams to find a great balance of comfort.