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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | Well just ordered my Backrest. I hope it is as easy to install as they say. I will have to have a brew or two before I cut my seat though...:-( I have read nothing but good about them and there products. My brother who rides a Harley got one from them and can't say enough good about it. Should ship on the 5th. It should make this years trip a breeze! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
| I put one on my 08, no problem. the hardest part is cutting the seat!, Have your brother cut the seat, he might enjoy it, never mind, do it yourself without the brews, save them for later. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Absolutely love mine!!! toss a couple 7/16th open ends in the side pouch so you can adjust it foreward and recline and remove it if need be. With a bit of creativity, you can mount a PTT button in it for a passenger and with a two part plug, the backrest will still be removable. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Measure 8 times before you cut is my only advice. |
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Tourer
Posts: 554
2 mi from Jim Beam n KY | I love my Utopia rest!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 152
Litchfield Park, AZ | Measuring is as simple as it gets....and I had no fears about dropping the knife into the seat.
One piece of advice on the cut: Angle the blade slightly towards the back so that when you "bottom out" the cut you are clean against the back of the pan. If you have any foam between your blade and the back of the pan you will not get the bolts into the plate. When you cut it you will understand what I am trying to say here. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | I just used mine to ride 960 miles, in 2 days ill be using it again for another 900 miles. I couldn't do the ride without it! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Guys if you think you were nervous cutting the seat....look at this idiot...he even video taped it!!!
He was so nervous that he babbled on about about Cutco knives.
BTW, I love my Utopia backrest!
It is odd that Utopia thanks the Andy on the thevog.net for the video instead of the idiot that made it.
As Rodney Dangerfield used to say,"I get no respect!"
http://www.utpr.com/vision.html
Ride Safe!
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | Thanks for the link radioteacher, I have watched it several times before and it is one of the reasons I ordered the Utopia. You make it look simple! Wish we lived closer, I would stop by and get some help from the Teacher!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 196
| This will be an AWESOME addition to your ride! |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | I installed mine on the 08, 2 years ago, with ease, thanks to the great video and measuring many times & only cutting once !
However, I am not crazy about the backrest.
This like most items, is a matter of opinion.
I feel that the backrest comes up too high on my back. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | wjoel - 2011-06-03 6:32 AM
I installed mine on the 08, 2 years ago, with ease, thanks to the great video and measuring many times & only cutting once !
However, I am not crazy about the backrest.
This like most items, is a matter of opinion.
I feel that the backrest comes up too high on my back.
With the deep dish of the seat, I wondered if this was a problem. Just curious, how tall are you and what is your inseam? I am 6' with a 34" inseam. I sat on my brothers Harley and the backrest felt good. But his seat is not as deep as the Vision. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | That's why you should carry the 7/16ths wrenches. Crank the backrest rearward until you find a zone that works for you, the backrest isn't supposed to keep you sitting bolt upright so you feel 'trapped' or 'pinned in' it's supposed to give you someplace to relax back into once you're on the road and 'trimmed out' for cruising, you shouldn't feel like you're being audited by the IRS. Would you rather sit all evening on a stiff kitchen chair or a nice relaxed living room armchair?
Before you commit to cutting the seat covering and pan, sit on the bike for a few minutes and have your wife or a buddy place and hold the backrest on the seat and then you lean back (gently holding the bars) to find the 'sweet spot' some blue tape and a SHARPIE will let your friend mark where the backrest will work for you. The post for mine comes right out of the top of the bolster to backseat apron stitching and then I adjusted it from there after installation. |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | I've had mine for 2+ years and never leave home without it. Its easy to adjust while riding, just lean forward a tad, reach around and turn the screw. Mine does not need an allen...and everytime I change, its like being on a different seat. Seems to change pressure points......
mike |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | With the deep dish of the seat, I wondered if this was a problem. Just curious, how tall are you and what is your inseam? I am 6' with a 34" inseam. I sat on my brothers Harley and the backrest felt good. But his seat is not as deep as the Vision.
I'm 6' with a 34" inseam as well.
That is probably why, for some, that the backrest feels like it is too high on the back. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | About the same dimensions, the only qualifier is I had my seat custom crafted to fit my fanny and added a gel pad so my butt doesn't take a nap after 2 or so hours.
My old VENTURE ROYALE had a small low back rest that was 'OK' and I put up with it for the 13 years I owned it but it only had 3 fore/aft mounting points in the seat frame so I just went with the one that was the least uncomfortable. The Utopia really needs careful attention to where you originally mount it, that's why I suggested the trial fitting using a friend or significant other assisting and getting into the 'trimmed out for the highway' position which might take a few minutes to get to so you're sure of it's location and to be sure before you commit to carving on the seat, or make note of where and how you sit/slouch on the road. I'd recommend making up a sort of four flap doubler that will fit in and around the hole and glue top and bottom so the seat covering won't start ripping. The nice part is you an really lay the rest back and darned near wind up reclining so that gets into 'how long are your arms?'. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | I love my backrest and it also does not interfere with the passenger who is mounting the bike either. I would rate this as the second most needed upgrade with the lower air deflectors being number 1. |
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Just ordered my Utopia Backrest! :-)
