Suggestion to improve the ride?

[Gator John]

I added an oversized passenger backrest, flip-up passenger armrests, passenger floorboards, and a gel seat pad to try to make my '98 Tourer more comfortable for my wife, but she still complained about the hard ride and lack of comfort, so I added a Wing to the stable to keep her happy on the long rides.  However, I'd still like for her to go with me on the Valk on the shorter rides.  I've heard the IS rides better than the Std and Tourer.  Assuming that is true, are there changes I can make to make the Tourer ride better?  I've heard Progressive shocks can help, but when I looked at a site that carried them, there were so many different ones, I gave up trying to figure out which would be better.  Any suggestions on further changes I can make to improve the ride?

[fudgie]

You could change to I/S springs. Alot cheaper then progressives.

[Momz]

You could leave your wife at home too!

[czuch]

If you went through the expense of a wing to accomodate her, YOU DA MAN!!!!!!
Let her ride on the back of a hd hard tail once, complainen time will be over.

[PharmBoy]

For some of us, leaving the wife at home isn't a problem.  I have done everything that I know to do to my 99 I/S to make it more comfortable for the wife.  She will go for an hour or two if the weather is near perfect.  I think that she enjoys it, but only for a short time.  She is no whimp!  When we were young we both rode enduro bikes almost every weekend.  She also got her piltot's license back about 1977 or so.  I do enjoy her company and wish that she would go on longer trips, but have not yet convinced the little lady to do so...JTL

[Spirited-6]

John, I am sorry but, no chance in hell is it going to get better for your SO`s bottom. My SO has a 60 mile butt. No chance for me also.

[Dragonryder2]

The ladies could do what I did.  I moved to the front seat.  I love my 01 Standard and do alot of riding by myself even out to Calif sometimes to the parents house.  I turn 60 next month less anyone think I'm a young woman.  Just in my own mind

[Colin]

My wife doesn't like long trips either BUT now I have fitted the Progressive airshocks we are certainly going further. She finds them the most comfortable. Maybe worth seeing if a friend has them so that you can try them out rather than the $300+ to buy them first.

[Jabba]

You could go IS tourpak and seat. 

Just a thought.  My wife likes the IS a lot better than the std also, but I think (She SAYS) that it's because of the wider seat, and the backrest that sort of wraps around her, allowing her to feel more secure and relaxed.

Jabba

[NITRO]

My wife likes the IS a lot better than the std also, but I think (She SAYS) that it's because of the wider seat, and the backrest that sort of wraps around her, allowing her to feel more secure and relaxed.

Jabba

Same here.

[Gator John]

You could leave your wife at home too!

In fairness to my wife, I should point out she had been a great companion who has put up with a lot from me over our 39 years of marriage.  She broke 3 vertebrae in an auto accident about 10 years ago and is supposed to be somewhat careful with it.  It is the jarring from the hard bumps that gives her the trouble.  I'm just glad she wants to go under the circumstances.

[sugerbear]

my wife said the ride (I/S) improved greatly when i went to a car tire.
i also bought a sheep skin(real one), and lowered the foot pegs, to put more weight on her thighs.

it helped a lot. this past june we did 3500 miles to the keys and back(from Mo).

good luck

[KW]

I believe the IS and Tourer have the same shock. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure. I went to a IS/Tourer shock on my Standard, but really didn't notice a difference until I went to a 'Works' shock. They're expensive though.

You didn't mention what seat you had, so I assume it's the stock one? We changed over to a Ultimate right after we got the bike in 2001. Des was operating out of a beat up van and a littel tent canopy @ Daytona bike wekk back then. Great guy and solid company (who is a VRCC supporter.) He told me to pull my bike in and he put a new seat on it. He said 'go ride it for a while and try it out'. He didn't know me from Adam, but trusted me. My wife - who has had THREE spinal surgeries - loved the seat and said it made all the difference in the wrold for her. So, I got the Big Boy 4 piece set and have went on 2 iron butt rides with it since. . . . 

There's other seats out there and as is the case concerning everything, they're many different opinions on 'seats' here at the VRCC. That's mine   

[valkMJ]

i also bought a sheep skin(real one), and lowered the foot pegs, to put more weight on her thighs.

it helped a lot. this past june we did 3500 miles to the keys and back(from Mo).

good luck

Oh yes.  Get a sheep.  It helps more than you'd think.   

Plus it looks so cool!

[vanagon40]

I believe the IS and Tourer have the same shock. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong,. . . .  

Consider yourself corrected (and I mean that in the nicest possible way).     HDL shows the same shocks for Standard and Tourer, with different shocks for the Interstate.

[KW]

No. . . not yet. HDL isn't the final answer. I need to hear from one of the old tech heads.

[Chattanooga Mark]

My wife found the stock seat and backrest on my Interstate very uncomfortable. She said it leans back so far as to put too much weight on her tailbone. I found a used 5 piece Ultimate Big Boy set for the Interstate and it made all the difference in the world. We're going on a 1000 miles trip this weekend which would NEVER have been possible before.

All the best,

Mark

[hubcapsc]

No. . . not yet. HDL isn't the final answer. I need to hear from one of the old tech heads.

They're all asleep.  The Interstate's shocks are different.

-Mike

[KW]

They're all asleep.   The Interstate's shocks are different.

[Valkahuna]

You could go IS tourpak and seat. 

Just a thought.  My wife likes the IS a lot better than the std also, but I think (She SAYS) that it's because of the wider seat, and the backrest that sort of wraps around her, allowing her to feel more secure and relaxed.

Jabba

My wife likes the I/S better than my H-D. Problem is not the seat though. She was in a car accident and injured her knee when she was a teen. Now, unless she can straighten out her left leg she gets in such agony that she has to get off. So, we go for an hour and stop, then, the time to stops gets shorter. At the end of a 250 mile trip she is ready to get off, and I'm just getting ready to go. I've tried all kinds of passenger pegs, adjustable or not, footboards, etc. etc....

I think the problem is that my a$$ is too wide and she has to ride with her knees so far appart that her hips get unhinged!  But she loves me, so she blames it on her knee! 

[Gator John]

Assuming the I/S shocks give a little softer ride, anyone know if there is a down side to putting them on a Tourer?

[RoadKill]

The ladies could do what I did.  I moved to the front seat.  I love my 01 Standard and do alot of riding by myself even out to Calif sometimes to the parents house.  I turn 60 next month less anyone think I'm a young woman.  Just in my own mind

+1      Pilot is the best seat to be in ! 

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

The wife couldn't ride for more than 150 or so miles on the stock I/S or tourer seat. I picked-up an Ultimate seat for her and now we can at least double that a day. She also has some health issuse that limit her ride time but she is a trooper. And as a side note after she saw how much the ultimate helped her it was easier for me to get mine.

[Oss]

My wife is more comfortable with the Russell Day Long seat as am I.

What I do if I am going someplace far is to fly her to the biggest airport nearby so when going to Colorado I flew her to Denver and picked her up so we could ride for 6 days which was great then returned her to Denver (She saved over 3600 miles and 6 days of sitting on the back of the bike) and on the way to Inzane this year flew her to Detroit

We took 3 days to get to Johnson City from NY to get to the DOTS ride so I would say she can go 250 miles before her legs and back start to give out. Wish I had more days I could take off so we could do this kind of travelling.  We both loved reading of members trips that went a month and more.

Most long rides I go alone both ways but its nice having the wife along. She is the reason I bought this bike anyways as my 750 was WAY TOO SMALL for both of us

[Thunderbolt]

when my wife rides with me instead of riding her own bike, she says the car tire helped her ride on the back seat.

[Jess from VA]

Assuming the I/S shocks give a little softer ride, anyone know if there is a down side to putting them on a Tourer?

John, the IS shocks are not "softer" they are stiffer.... made to take a bit more weight than std/tourer shocks since the IS generally can and does get loaded with more weight.   Guys with std and tourers have gone to IS shocks because they are bottoming out because of their.... heavier bottoms (and because the std/tourer shocks are all getting old/used.

All Valk shocks are getting old.  Remember they are adjustable, have you tried changing the settings to the softest available... without bottoming out?

Your wife (with old fx vertebra) would probably have less back pain while riding if she wore a comfortable back belt.  I have worn these in the past.  Over a skinny Tshir/tank (for sweat), under other clothes.

http://www.docortho.com/basic-cincher.html

http://www.docortho.com/back-brace/?gclid=COyRvJ2e3KMCFQ8E5Qodi2KRkg

[Jabba]

Problem is not the seat though. She was in a car accident and injured her knee when she was a teen. Now, unless she can straighten out her left leg she gets in such agony that she has to get off.

We must gravitate to gimpy women too.  Mine was "wrecked" in 1997 and has foot, knee AND hip trouble.  She's done 500 mile days with me though, and really has a tougher ass then mine now that we have the IS.  I'm still working on dialing it in for ME though.  Need to try a sheep and a beaded cover.  I'd like a Russell, but I can't get off the $$.

Jabba

[X Ring]

Assuming the I/S shocks give a little softer ride, anyone know if there is a down side to putting them on a Tourer?

I replaced the shocks on my Tourer with I/S shocks.  The original shocks were usually set on 3 or 4 but the I/S shocks are set on 1.

Marty

[Jess from VA]

Marty (John), I suppose it is entirely possible that any given person/pair might be able to get a subjectively smoother ride with a properly adjusted set of IS shocks than their std/tourer shocks at any particular weight/ load (moreso with a heavier load)......(including consideration of other variables of tires, pressures, road conditions).   I.E., the ride may be better on #1 with IS shocks than #4 with std shocks ...(though smoother comfort may not be truly better for actual performance; but however you want to define your perfect ride)

All I was saying above was it is incorrect to call IS shocks "softer" than std/tourer shocks.  To my knowledge, the IS shocks are no better or different quality than std/tourer, they're just sprung tighter.... thus stiffer, not softer.

However, if John is not bottoming out his std shocks when riding two up and they are not worn out and are functioning and adjusted properly, I do not think he will be able to get a smoother/cushier ride with a comparable set of IS shocks..........  I could be wrong.  

My PS 440s are set to the low end of cushy for my 180lbs (always solo and slightly loaded  ), and the ride is very smooth but still tight... but if I hit any significant holes, manhole covers, whoop-de-doos, or get on really lousy roads, I get jolted pretty good.  (of course, I want a sport performance suspension, and have the PS fork springs too)

I have no experience with air shocks but the PS 416s(?) are supposed to be significantly more adjustable than 412 or 440s, and may be able to give the cushiest ride.

Finally, I suppose I sound like a broken record, but I would again say the Airhawk pillion seat for passenger  would also very likely aid a passenger with a bad back (lumbar spine).  I had a car with an air bag suspension and it was the smoothest ride I ever had by a long shot.  John, the right size Airhawk (along with a soft back belt as noted above) might also go a long way to help her back on rides.   It will put her a little taller in the rear seat .5-.75" and a bit more in the wind, but It will cushion low back jolts.

Best prices:

Large: - 11.0 in. wide x 14.0 long
http://www.rlmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?cart_id=1283010368.14466&pid=2281&product=AirHawk

Small: - 11.0 in. wide x 9.0 in. long   
http://www.rlmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?cart_id=1283010368.14466&pid=2282&product=AirHawk

[sheets]

ten years ago... within weeks to a few months of taking possession:
1. Corbin dual seat set up w/ Mustang backrest for passenger (vertical)
2. Cobra passenger floorboards
3. New rear adjustable shocks from "Works"
The Corbin seat provided a "little" additional comfort for her due to the width only. There is no cushion in the cushion. The backrest - floorboards - shocks made a measurable difference. Tried gel pads a few years ago. Gave up on that after a few rides. A year or so ago she was experiencing discomfort during a day ride. Pulled into one of the stores that sell all the medical supplies to folks who need special aids to get them through the day. I came out with a round seat cushion (3" thick dense foam with donut hole in center) that people sit on for extended periods of time (wheelchair?). The 50 mile ride home was pleasurable for her finally once and for all. She covers it with a piece of sheep skin to add an ounce more cush for the tush and to give it curbside appeal. She is now good to go tank to tank. Yrmv,      

[X Ring]

Marty (John), I suppose it is entirely possible that any given person/pair might be able to get a subjectively smoother ride with a properly adjusted set of IS shocks than their std/tourer shocks at any particular weight/ load (moreso with a heavier load)......(including consideration of other variables of tires, pressures, road conditions).   I.E., the ride may be better on #1 with IS shocks than #4 with std shocks ...(though smoother comfort may not be truly better for actual performance; but however you want to define your perfect ride)

All I was saying above was it is incorrect to call IS shocks "softer" than std/tourer shocks.  To my knowledge, the IS shocks are no better or different quality than std/tourer, they're just sprung tighter.... thus stiffer, not softer.


However, if John is not bottoming out his std shocks when riding two up and they are not worn out and are functioning and adjusted properly, I do not think he will be able to get a smoother/cushier ride with a comparable set of IS shocks..........  I could be wrong.  

My PS 440s are set to the low end of cushy for my 180lbs (always solo and slightly loaded  ), and the ride is very smooth but still tight... but if I hit any significant holes, manhole covers, whoop-de-doos, or get on really lousy roads, I get jolted pretty good.  (of course, I want a sport performance suspension, and have the PS fork springs too)

I have no experience with air shocks but the PS 416s(?) are supposed to be significantly more adjustable than 412 or 440s, and may be able to give the cushiest ride.

Finally, I suppose I sound like a broken record, but I would again say the Airhawk pillion seat for passenger  would also very likely aid a passenger with a bad back (lumbar spine).  I had a car with an air bag suspension and it was the smoothest ride I ever had by a long shot.  John, the right size Airhawk (along with a soft back belt as noted above) might also go a long way to help her back on rides.   It will put her a little taller in the rear seat .5-.75" and a bit more in the wind, but It will cushion low back jolts.

Best prices:

Large: - 11.0 in. wide x 14.0 long
http://www.rlmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?cart_id=1283010368.14466&pid=2281&product=AirHawk

Small: - 11.0 in. wide x 9.0 in. long  
http://www.rlmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?cart_id=1283010368.14466&pid=2282&product=AirHawk

I never claimed they were softer.  My experience is that I/S shocks on a Tourer would allow you to have heavier loads than the stock shocks as the I/S shocks have heavier springs.  This would minimize the possibility of the shocks being blown out by the load (rider/passenger/items in saddlebags & on the luggage rack) being carried.  Most of the women you see on the back seat of cruiser are, shall we say, on the healthy side and I presume the backseaters in the VRCC are no different.  At the time I swapped my shocks, I weighed about 270lbs.  That only left approximately 130lbs for a passenger without going over the max load limit.  By subtracting the max gross weight of a Standard or Tourer from the max gross weight of an Interstate should give the owner of the Standard/Tourer an idea of the increase weight carrying capabilty if they switched to I/S shocks.  Using the heavier duty shock at a lower setting will allow more give in the suspension than using the lighter duty at a higher setting that bottoms out sooner.

In addition, for those that have gone DarkSide the increased load capacity of a c/t will add to gross vehicle weight.  But with either mod, you have to make sure you can handle it and not load it down so much that you lose your ability to handle it.
Marty  

[Valkahuna]

  I'm still working on dialing it in for ME though.  Need to try a sheep and a beaded cover.  I'd like a Russell, but I can't get off the $$.

Jabba

+1. Don't know about the beads, but would like to try a sheep skin. Would be good for both the wife and me.

[X Ring]

  I'm still working on dialing it in for ME though.  Need to try a sheep and a beaded cover.  I'd like a Russell, but I can't get off the $$.

Jabba

+1. Don't know about the beads, but would like to try a sheep skin. Would be good for both the wife and me.

I've used both.  I prefer the sheepskin but if I had to use a bead cover, I wouldn't complain.

Marty

[Dougger]

diamondseats.com

[Quicksilver]

HD 440 progressive shocks and an Ultimate seat

[tank_post142]

"Most of the women you see on the back seat of cruiser are, shall we say, on the healthy side " my 114Lbs wife is going to kick your butt!!! of course i'm 290Lbs and afraid of her!

[X Ring]

"Most of the women you see on the back seat of cruiser are, shall we say, on the healthy side " my 114Lbs wife is going to kick your butt!!! of course i'm 290Lbs and afraid of her!

Your better half obviously does not fall into that category.   Of course, the petite ones are the most dangerous. 

Marty

[Gator John]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I've tried to analyze and catagorize the responses to decide which course of action will yield the best results.

First seats: While there were a variety of responses, I think the Ultimate brand seemed the most popular, so I've ordered the passenger seat that should be here Friday for a weekend ride to try out.  They have a money back guarantee (less shipping), so I figure it is worth a try. Next step may be the inflatable pad on top, if more is needed.

Second shocks: This one is a little tougher.  I heard a lot of suggestions, but no consensus on what is the best thing to do here, so I thought maybe I would start by seeing if I could improve the ones I have through adjustment first.  I bought the bike when it was 3 yrs. old with only 10K miles, so I assume it still has the original shocks. The label says SHOWA MZ0-003. They are set on position 3.  They seem to be performing correctly; they don't set off a harmonic when you push down on them and they don't bottom out on hard bumps; but the hard bumps are just that: hard.  I tried (although not very hard) several years ago to adjust them, but couldn't get them to turn. I'm assuming they are frozen from rust.  Is there some way I can get them to adjust?  Also, I'm assuming 1 is the softest position, so, if that is the case, I really don't have far to go anyway. I'm 225 and my wife is barely half that, so I'm definitely not carrying an excessive load, but I doubt they recommend going much below 3 when you have a passenger.  Any thoughts?

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I bought a set of strap wrenches at Lowe's for about 15 bucks that work very well for adjusting shocks. There should be a wrench in your tool kit to adjust the stock shocks also. They only go one direction and when you go from 5 to 1 it'll make a loud noise. The first time I did mine I lifted the rear of the bike off the ground to help make the task easier. Hope this helps you.

[fudgie]

You could go IS tourpak and seat. 

Just a thought.  My wife likes the IS a lot better than the std also, but I think (She SAYS) that it's because of the wider seat, and the backrest that sort of wraps around her, allowing her to feel more secure and relaxed.

Jabba

My wife likes the I/S better than my H-D. Problem is not the seat though. She was in a car accident and injured her knee when she was a teen. Now, unless she can straighten out her left leg she gets in such agony that she has to get off. So, we go for an hour and stop, then, the time to stops gets shorter. At the end of a 250 mile trip she is ready to get off, and I'm just getting ready to go. I've tried all kinds of passenger pegs, adjustable or not, footboards, etc. etc....

I think the problem is that my a$$ is too wide and she has to ride with her knees so far appart that her hips get unhinged!  But she loves me, so she blames it on her knee! 

Can she straighten out her legs by laying them on your knees? Kits knees hurt occasionaly but she will put both legs straight out on my knees. Works for about 20 miles. Plus I can massage her feet for her! Man I sound whipped.