High Sissy bar

[Leathel]

On my old shadow I had a high sissy bar, It was made for a trip where I needed extra gear taken, my wife was going to take it in the car and decides not to go... So I needed something to strap gear too. Once fitted the wife and daughter loved having it there.



 was good for strapping gear to for my mid winter Cold Kiwi camping trips too







 So after a couple of rides with the wife on the Valkyrie the wife was missing the high bar....and with the chance of a long run with her next weekend the request was for a higher than std bar...... So this is what I came up with (top pad will be longer when I get one made)










 Its just made from some scrap I had around, It will do for now, will do a better paint after the weekend. It will be handy for the Cold Kiwi run this year but I may make something to eliminate the sissy and remove the pillion seat and just fit them when 2 up?

[Harryc]

Looks good Leathel, I like it. Whatever makes the Mrs happy is never a bad thing.

[John Schmidt]

Looks good but have a suggestion. The bolts that hold that in place are pretty small, I would think a bit of extra support/bracing in that area would be in order. That's a lot of strain on those bolts, especially if you add something to the rack in back of it. The side brackets the bar is bolted to are quite strong, I've seen a couple cases where the bolt holes were enlarged to accommodate larger bolts. Just a thought.

I like the "old school" look the tall bar gives. I prefer to carry my luggage laying down, keeps the center of gravity much lower. 

[Jess from VA]

I would have put the sissy pad down near the back seat, and leave the sissy bare above it.

I realize that would require a wider mount for the existing pad,  but better a backrest than a head rest (depending on who sits back there). 

I'm just sayin'.

[Leathel]

Looks good but have a suggestion. The bolts that hold that in place are pretty small, I would think a bit of extra support/bracing in that area would be in order. That's a lot of strain on those bolts, especially if you add something to the rack in back of it. The side brackets the bar is bolted to are quite strong, I've seen a couple cases where the bolt holes were enlarged to accommodate larger bolts. Just a thought.

I like the "old school" look the tall bar gives. I prefer to carry my luggage laying down, keeps the center of gravity much lower. 

Yeah I looked at upping the bolt size and probably will, with this bike the hard bags are able to take more weight and are bigger than the old bike so not much will go high, and what is height has to be well tied town so it doesn't move...then its like a good pillion (one that doesn't move!)

that load in the pic for the old bike was easy to ride with.... although you could lift the front if you tried

 I might have to get some Ape bars and be real old school

[Leathel]

I would have put the sissy pad down near the back seat, and leave the sissy bare above it.

I realize that would require a wider mount for the existing pad,  but better a backrest than a head rest (depending on who sits back there). 

I'm just sayin'.

the pad position is wear I was asked to put it, between her shoulder blades. The pad will be longer going down to the small in her back when made, when I get the new bars fitted and will go to visit my mate who will redo the seats with firmer padding and make the longer pad for the bar.