Harley Rider Backrest: Critical Review

[@jfm562]

Excellent review. I just bought a quick detach passenger back rest tonight. I was contemplating the riders but didn't get it.

[@gregneely4318]

I just purchased this from my local dealer yesterday for my 2021 Street Glide. I paid $260 with tax for the mounting bracket and backrest. You are 100% correct, it is absolute garbage! I'm really disappointed in the way it fits. On mine the two bars that squeeze together seem to be slightly too large to fit into the slots. Because of this it won't allow the pins to fully seat in the adjustment holes. I am able to wrestle and pry it together but as soon as there is any side to side pressure (like a passenger might put on it) it pops out of the slots and becomes a wobbling mess. The back and forth movement is also unacceptable. You are also correct about the adjustment screw in the back. It's totally useless! The entire piece just feels cheap and sloppy. And yes, the bottom skirt looks like crap too. It was 90 degrees and very humid here yesterday when I installed it. I was soaking wet with sweat after wresting with the backrest and seat slot for almost an hour trying to make it work. I thought for sure I must be doing something wrong and that surely Harley wouldn't sell such absolute garbage! I feel better after finding your review knowing I'm not the only one.

[@rsrrock]

Funny enough, I came to this video, after searching through many videos, to try to find how to take off the seat that came with my used Harley. The seat felt like a flat piece of wood with a corner pointing at my lower back. Thanks man!

[@hrslick2125]

Glad I found this video, I definitely won’t be buying this style of backrest.

[@timothyandersen7678]

Just bought a 2006 Road King and first upgrade was a Sundowner seat. Agree that is a must have upgrade for this bike. Was looking for a backrest and saw this one on HD site. So glad I watched your video and avoided being disappointed. The fit and finish is atrocious. I also think my wife would hate it taking away her space on the bike.

[@BurntOnBothEnds]

Glad it helped. Congrats on the sweet new bike!

[@joebob7344]

Send it back with a letter of complaint and reference this great video .

[@madsparkie]

I’m not sure how much this Harley one costs complete with hardware, but it looks exactly the same as one I bought on AliExpress for £40 (approx 70USD) and you have exactly the same issues that I had, so much so I threw it in the trash as I wouldn’t want to have offloaded it onto another rider. Now I feel a little better knowing I only burned £40 and not Harley prices!! Now I’m looking at the adjustable one, as it seems to get decent reviews 👍

[@sbhjackson5931]

Wish I saw your video before I bought that backrest for my new sundowner seat this morning lol. Although after changing the holes/position (3 times) of the mounting bracket I will say it no longer feels like its pushing me forward as you mentioned. Another annoying aspect of this backrest is the fact you cant tell which of the 3 holes the backrest is in once it's inserted into the seat. I originally thought I could use my mustang seat backrest which is better than this but you can't oh well live and learn. Thanks for the video, at least I am not alone in my frustration with the design.

[@dummysgarage7734]

I left a bad review about Harley because they had my bike two months to rebuilt transmission. They said parts were unavailable. But they were still building bikes that used the parts I needed, they used 414,000 of those parts last year and wouldn’t give my dealer 2 of them do warranty work . I had to source them myself and give to the dealer

[@dynaholica4274]

I bought the Hogworks one. Love it!

[@perrykissam1364]

I had one of these on the stock seat on a 2007 Ultra Classic and I agree that it is the worst product I have ever purchased from Harley. I had exactly the same issues as the video. I complained to the local dealership where I bought it and they welcomed me to get in line with all the other customers with the same complaint. Of course, they are still selling them!! Harley doesn't care because there are some RUBs who wouldn't know comfort if they did see it, but as long as they look good, heh! That's all that counts!!!!

[@benjaminharriel6965]

I have the same year bike. Same issues. HD driver’s backrest came with bike. Very difficult. Looking to upgrade seat. Doing research on different styles. Need a wider passenger pillion. Really like that style. Thanks for sharing.

[@BurntOnBothEnds]

Nice, and thanks for your comment. The Sundowner is much wider and more comfortable for a passenger than the stock seat, but of course there are plenty of options.

[@bobnolen7611]

I have the same setup, it doesn’t move sideways. However I’m trying to figure out how to adjust it properly for lumbar support.

[@abrahamgalloway5163]

i had the exact opposite problem, mine was impossible to get out. if you want a good one, the harley adjustable drivers back rest is better, ultimate seats backrest is pretty good as well

[@BurntOnBothEnds]

Good info, thanks!

[@abrahamgalloway5163]

@@BurntOnBothEnds both of those are quick relase as well, the harley adjustable one has a little lever in it to realse it, it does have some lateral movement but not that much....ditched that one long ago....my rides are much better with my herniated disk and a backrest

[@ralph24888]

GREAT REVIEW thanks

[@robinleavitt7919]

Thank you for the vedio on the truth of the rider backrest. You saved me 260 dollars ty

[@BurntOnBothEnds]

You’re welcome.

[@AleksiJoensuu]

Yeah I have the same system as well and it is indeed terrible. On my 1994 Electra Glide Ultra, the backrest is so far back that it hardly supports me at all. I would need the - stock - handlebar like 5-10cm back to be able to comfortably reach it with any amount of bend in my elbows. I'm 5'11" so not even that short. The backrest dock is in it's most forward position already! And that adjustment screw at the back? In mine the hole isn't even drilled all the way through, so aside of drilling it out and retapping it, it literally can not do any sort of adjusting! Just sticks out the back. I will say that it does offer an awesome lazyboy experience if you just turn the cruise control on, let go of the handlebars and leeeeean back. I'm sure the accident investigators would have a hard time understanding why I didn't brake at all before the inevitable collision happened :D

[@DamnitDave]

i agree that the rider backrest from harley could be better... BUT... take it on a LONG ride and you will see how they make a huge difference in comfort

[@BurntOnBothEnds]

Didn’t make a difference for me but everyone is different.

[@stevec8836]

Totally agree. A complete piece of junk that cost me 400 bucks Cdn with install kit and all. AT 6'1'' the fact that it is not adjustable is completely unacceptable. pushes you way to far forward with zero give. Bulky and ugly to boot.

[@rezaarjmand7866]

I put one of these backrests on my 03 Road King classic with stock seat. first of all, it pushes me forward little more than I like to be sitting on the bike ( I am 6') , when insert it in, can't tell which one of the holes sitting in, worst of all, if it is sitting in the bottom hole, ( I am assuming) good luck being able to grab enough of the rods to push in order to either rise it up or completely pull out of the slot. I ended putting a house clamp around the 2 rods to push them together so can take the back rest out. bad design.

[@roysaucedo]

Thanks for making this! Has anyone checked out CMC Motorsports?

[@richardandrews8238]

I wish I’d seen this before I purchased the backrest for my road glide. What a piece of crap! No matter how far back I adjusted it pushes me forward too far and with it back as far as it goes it the forms the seat. absolutely the worst money I ever spent.

[@malai507]

You saved me...

[@anthonyresto8596]

😢