Utopia backrest...

[hubcapsc]

Utopia is on the ball  ... I'm imagining how this would work with
a Russell seat ... I'll try the OEM with the Utopia for a while...



-Mike "gotta pick up the bike first"

[Dave Ritsema]

Glad to see the aftermarket is already starting to churn out parts for the new bikes. I bet 6 months from now you are going to see bunches of new options. 

[Warlock]

Just ordered one for my Goldwing. Risers helped, but needed a little more comfort.
David

[Bagger]

I've had Utopias on maybe 6 or so bikes.  Love 'em.

Ordered one for my new Valk today.  Looking forward to having it on the bike.   

[hubcapsc]

Just ordered one for my Goldwing. Risers helped, but needed a little more comfort.
David

Are there any different risers that work on the new Valkyrie?

-Mike

[Warlock]

I was looking at the new Valkyrie and I can see someone making some risers for it. Maybe some block style. Got my Utopia on today and very comfortable. Will see if it cures the hurting in my shoulder blades. also been going to a joint adjuster.
David

[Bagger]

I was looking at the new Valkyrie and I can see someone making some risers for it. Maybe some block style. Got my Utopia on today and very comfortable. Will see if it cures the hurting in my shoulder blades. also been going to a joint adjuster.
David

I always need some help with 'comfort'.  I've done more 'stuff' to my bikes to find comfort than anyone I know.

Now ... that said, I don't have my Valkyrie in hand as I type this, but motorcycles are motorcycles. 

You can change the pitch of the OEM bar by loosing the bracket bolts and rotating the bars up or down.  This may help.  Other than this, you can check out other handle bars.  There are tons of aftermarket bars available in chrome/stainless/black powder coat, etc.  These can bring the bars back and up to you.  Maybe check out MotorcycleSuperStore.com.  I found some bars that fit my ZX1400 that changed the position a great deal.  Also, my mtn bike needed help, too.  Got some AM bars and made all the difference in the world.

Also, move the backrest around some.  Position yourself more forward, to take the slouch out of the equation.

I have short arms for a taller dude, and need all of these.  I'll check out how I feel when I get my bike and do a hundred miles at one time.  That should tell me something, too.

Good luck.

[Bagger]

I was looking at the new Valkyrie and I can see someone making some risers for it. Maybe some block style. Got my Utopia on today and very comfortable. Will see if it cures the hurting in my shoulder blades. also been going to a joint adjuster.
David

Hey, David ... Utopia backrest arrived today.  I was looking at the directions and was somewhat confused.

Did you have to cut the seat, or remove the cover to install this puppy?  I tho't Utopia said that for the Valkyrie, we did not need to do either?

What did you have to do?

[hubcapsc]

On the new Valkyrie you do have to remove the cover and the foam, put a slit in both of
them, and put it all back together. Mine's apart, we'll see about getting it back together  ...

I saw a youtube of a guy putting a Utopia backrest on a Goldwing... it was very different...

-Mike

[Bagger]

Thanx, Mike ... I did the install on my Goldwing back in 2002. 

I was VERY nervous about cutting the saddle.  I remember sitting on the kitchen floor with a large serrated knife cutting it up.  Sweating all the time.  Crikey !

I'm not all that crazy about taking off the cover and cutting the dang thing up, tho.

How do you propose putting the cover back on the seat base?  I would guess a high powered electric stapler?

Any information will be helpful to my mechanically challenged self.   

[hubcapsc]

The staples seem "normal", short actually, I hope I have some that short.

I saw somewhere that a regular staple gun was good enough, we'll see...

I took pictures before I took it apart...

-Mike

[Bagger]

The staples seem "normal", short actually, I hope I have some that short.

I saw somewhere that a regular staple gun was good enough, we'll see...

I took pictures before I took it apart...

-Mike

Heh, heh ... that's a good idea, Mike.  I've made drawings before, but photos are less of a problem.

Lemme know how this works out, m'friend.  Someone always has to stick his toe in the pool, eh?

[hubcapsc]

I saw somewhere that a regular staple gun was good enough, we'll see...

Foo... me and my arrow t50 staple gun can't drive the staples all the way in,
even in the easy places... There's a $22 harbor freight air stapler that
uses these same staples, it will supposedly do the job.

-Mike

[Bagger]

I saw somewhere that a regular staple gun was good enough, we'll see...

Foo... me and my arrow t50 staple gun can't drive the staples all the way in,
even in the easy places... There's a $22 harbor freight air stapler that
uses these same staples, it will supposedly do the job.

-Mike

You are correct.  Regular stapler will not cut it. 

I have an electric heavy duty deal ... can't remember where I purchased it, maybe Home Depot / Loews ... that worked on some heavy stuff I needed done.  I'm sure it'd work on the saddle.

It was not all that expensive as I recall.  Less than $40 with staples.

You could always go to a local upholsterer and have them tack it up.  Would be maybe 10-15 bucks?

[hubcapsc]

I left the house at 7:00am and went and got this for $23 at Harbor Freight... it works great, and
stapled the cover back on no trouble...



Got the rest of it installed, it seems solid...



Like some other Utopia backrests I've seen, it flops down... I don't want it to
flop down...



I put these pegs on too... the windshield is here, but still in the box...



-Mike

[Bagger]

Hey, Mike ... thanx for the excellent photos. 

I did not realize that the Utopia went thru the passenger pad.  I'm glad you showed me.  I have the Utopia in the garage and was going to install it today, but they sent the incorrect bolts.  The correct ones arrived today.

Any installation things we should know before undertaking this surgery?

[Bagger]

BTW, I think if you tighten the bolt connecting the backrest upright to the seat post, you can make the backrest more rigid.

I like it flopping forward, tho.  Makes it EZr to mount the bike.  At least on my Wing. 

If tightening does not work, maybe add a stainless steel lock washer to the mix.  That should allow for some friction. 

[Bagger]

Well, yesterday morning I took off the rear part of the saddle in preparation to install the Utiopia.  The 1st part of removing the seat part, destapling and removing the foam took all of 30 minutes.

Then the drilling and widening the holes in the seat pan took more than I tho't since I had the Utopia bar off center by a couple mm.  Finally got that right, then marked and cut the foam after mounting the bar.
I'm a bit mechanically challenged.

Got ready to staple the skin back on (did not reglue the foam) and didn't have the correct staples.  So, off to the hardware store.

I have an electric Stanley 550 stapler I got for another project that only worked OK ... I had to restaple several areas after removing the previous staples.  The finished project looks fine, but I may take the saddle to an upholsterer to tack it properly in the future.

I spoke with Bob at Utopia.  I could have sent the piece to them to install.  He said it takes them less than 15 minutes to do the job.  Took me all morning.   

I've used Utopias on many bikes with good results.  This application is no different.  Took the bike out for 45 minutes and made looking over the windscreen EZr and much more comfy sitting as well.  While folks may not like the interruption the Utopia gives the bike, I'm more into comfort these days than style.   

The only problem I've encountered is I can't get the tail bag back on the bike as I had it.   

[hubcapsc]

I never took mine off, but I did see the strap and the velcro... I guess they
can be taken off, and then we have a little purse? 



The Harbor Freight pneumatic stapler was the best $23 I ever spent...

-Mike