PASSENGER HELP

[FPG52]

Have a question for all passengers... Would like any input. 

My lady friend is new to riding and for the past several weeks we have been practicing... She is becoming more comfortable and over the initial apprehension of riding.  When we have been out for few hours she is getting back pains (upper back).  I have suggested she move a bit forward or all way back to try different positions? It is possible that she is just still to tense about being on the bike and not relaxed? 

SOME FACTS: my Valkyrie is '97 Tourer with stock seat and National -Paladin sissy bar... This pad is not real high.  She is pretty tall... Just under 6'. Not sure what else to suggest to alleviate the back pains.

I know I am opening myself up for anything saying this... But ANY COMMENTS ARE WELCOME
Thanks
Frank

[Jack]

A hot bath and oil massage should work wonders. 

[old2soon]

Borrow a Valkyrie I/S. You will be changing rides. My 2nd ex wife and all my daughters were riding like experts as passengers first time out. Have her sit on the bike and find out exactly where that pad is on her. Maybe some after market arm rests?? My I/S has the arm rests built into the trunk. As drivers we have the handle bars to hang onto. Is she TRULY comfortable as a passenger?? Is she comfortable where her butt meets the seat?? Does she have a prior back injury?? Let us know what you find out. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

Most tourer and stock passenger backrests I think are not as high up as on the I/S.  Try to find a passenger backrest that goes up higher since she is taller.  A pair of passenger armrests which they make may also help alleviate some of the back strain she is having?

[Chrisj CMA]

my wife loves her armrests.  they are handy helmet hanging devises too

[hubcapsc]

my wife loves her armrests.  they are handy helmet hanging devises too

+1 on the arm rests from Ultimate. I don't know anything about your sissy bar, but we have
the OEM one, and instead of getting the Ultimate sissybar pad, we took advice from Detn8er
and got a Mustang one, he said his wife liked its wedge shape better... Carolyn says she likes
the setup pretty well, but she acts like she really likes the looks of goldwing back seats and
Interstate back seats...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I assume by upper back, you are not talking neck (top 7 segments of the back are cervical spine vertebrae), if so it may be a helmet issue.  

Otherwise, pick one of these, it will help.
http://www.footsmart.com/c-back-care-braces-supports-86.aspx

The other place to look is her footrests; if she has to reach for them, it could cause back pain.  A passenger should be able to sit a little bent kneed, so they can take some of the weight off their back/butt with their feet.  

[BF]

SOME FACTS: my Valkyrie is '97 Tourer with stock seat and National -Paladin sissy bar... This pad is not real high.  She is pretty tall... Just under 6'.

I think you're on the right track.  I don't know anything about the Paladin sissy bar, but open yourself up to thinking about getting an oem sissy bar and put an Ultimate "Passenger Backrest Pad" on it.  It can be mounted in two different positions (normal and a higher postion for the taller rider).  It's wide and slightly curved for support. 

http://www.ultimateseats.ca/stand_tourer.html

[Hef]

My wife had a bad back and could not ride over about 50 miles round trip. A friend loaned me his Gold Wing and we went on a 500 mile ride and she was fine. So I bought a Gold Wing and she began to ride with me long distance. Several week long trips over 2K miles round trip. I missed the Valkyrie and after she died from ovarian cancer in 2006, I bought another Valkryie and sold the Wing. I know some will disagree but I have never rode anything smoother than the Gold Wing. Don't want to steer anyone away from the Valkyrie, but that might be your answer. Just my .02 cents worth.

[FPG52]

Thanks to all for your responses... just what i was hoping for... i will offer the suggestion about the back support...yes it is upper back and not her neck.  I do agree about the Goldwing...no smoother ride but I sold a GL1500 to buy the Valkyrie.  also I had the seats and sissy pad upholstered in a brown leather to match a look I wanted... so I hope not have to change seats either...but several suggested armrests and actually I do have them for this bike... they were on as an option when i bought it.  Not sure if it is because she feels confined but Denise has not wanted to use them... looks like we will have to give them a try!

THANKS AGAIN TO YOU ALL... THIS SITE... THE PEOPLE ON IT... ARE THE BEST!!
Frank 

[FloridaValkRyder]

Borrow a Valkyrie I/S. You will be changing rides. My 2nd ex wife and all my daughters were riding like experts as passengers first time out. Have her sit on the bike and find out exactly where that pad is on her. Maybe some after market arm rests?? My I/S has the arm rests built into the trunk. As drivers we have the handle bars to hang onto. Is she TRULY comfortable as a passenger?? Is she comfortable where her butt meets the seat?? Does she have a prior back injury?? Let us know what you find out. RIDE SAFE.

Have to second what he says here. Wife and I have ridden several bikes together but she says nothing compares to the I/S with the full back rest and arm rests. On longer rides she almost falls asleep sometimes.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Stock seat just anit much to talk about. My 5' 10"  wife couldn't hardly ride 200 miles on the stock vynl cover brick, as she called it. Ultimate seat now 200 miles is when we stop for food and fuel.  I also moved her foot pegs forward and down to give her some more leg room.

[Bigwolf]

My 98 standard had the stock sissybar and pad when I bought it.  My ladyfriend complained of back pain after rides of less than 100 miles.  For her benefit, I bought a Mustang back pad that mounts 3 inches higher on the sissy bar and is twice as wide as stock.  It also has a little bit of wedge built in so it sits straighter up.  She loves it and I benefit because she does not squirm around so much trying to get comfortable.

This is what I now have on my Valk:  http://www.mustangseats.com/Product/75990/Studded-Contoured-135-x-95-Sissy-Bar-Pads-Honda-Valkyrie

Bigwolf

[R J]

My daughter was always my passenger from about 6 or 7 till her 38th birthday.

She used to gripe after about 200 miles.     I bought several seats for the different bikes I owned then and with her riding Shotgun.

The Valk, she really complained.     So one day I came across Ultimate seats from Canada.      He had a display set up, set on one, fit my fat A** just fine.

Told him my passenger was the one bitching.    He showed me a seat and I pawed all over it, finally he said bring your bike over, we will put it on and you got for a ride with her.    Put on the seat and took a 100 mile ride, came back and she told him she hurt in the middle of her back.     He brought out this humongous backrest, it had 2 setting for mounting.   We put it on, parked the bike for the night and we left bright and early, like 10:30 or 11, for a ride.  Ended up going about 250 miles, we pulled back in, asked Des if he had a way of shipping my old seat home.    He said I'll buy it from you and knock it off of the new seat and backrest.

I have not heard her or her mother bitch about pain since then.   In fact, I got the fat butted one on it a few years ago and we went to Denver for an overnight, then came back through Kansas City, MO, so she could stop and see her sister.  She was still riding when I had to stop hauling someone around.   Got to the point I couldn't hold up the extra weight, I was afraid of going over and knowing her, she would just grab my back rest and ride it out.  She got some road rash a couple of time cause she didn't get her butt up and off the bike.   She always said it was safer to ride it out.  Told her yeah for the driver, but not for the passenger.

PS:   I'm still riding that combination to this day.    Son & bride is riding it more than I am now and Amber has never complained about pain, but she is 5' 2", and almost 98# fully clothed and dripping wet.

[Duffy]

Get a Goldwing, the best back seat in the business! 

[tagalong]

I am a passenger that rides very comfortably behind my husband 10-12,000 miles a year.  My one suggestion for you two might be to come up to Albion this weekend and catch one of the rides at the Powwow.  We will be there and she's more than welcome to try out my seat. 

Even though it's an Interstate, it will let you both see what else is available.  There should be 20+ bikes there and you'll be able to see a lot of different options available, pick more brains and get a nice ride in.

Just a thought!
Alane