03 vfr adjustable backrest project.

I wanted to share my latest project with VFRDisscussion.

My 8 year old son is starting to ride with now. �I really wanted to have a backrest for him. �Unfortunatley, there aren't a lot of aftermarket backrests for the VFR. I wanted it to be adjustable backwards and forwards as well. �Since my son doesn't take up much of the passenger seat, I wanted him to sit closer to me. �My wife rides with me as well, so the backrest should fit her also. �

I started with the stock Honda base for the tail bag. �Then I designed the adjustable backrest with a rack.

Here is the backrest adjusted forward. �It will move another 2 inches forward from this position.
Backrest 1

Here is a side view. �The pad will adjust up and down also.
Backrest 2

Here is a view with my soft tail bag mounted on the rack.Backrest 3

Here is the backrest at the rearmost positition.
Backrest 4

And finally, my son and I on the maiden voyage for my creation.Backrest trip

It works as intended and my son loves it. �Mission accomplished.

Shameless troll for comments.

beer.gif Great job I bet your wife and son love it. biggrin.gif

I want one
That is awesome......
I have a 4 year old that will be interested in rides soon
and that would give every one a little extra pc of mind.
Good job

I love it.  My wife has been begging me to build/buy one of these for my '04.  Can you give me the Honda part number of the base rack?  Did you fabricate all of the rest or cobble it up from other parts?

It looks good and would give me a place to bungie my briefcase on the way to work.

The Honda part number for the trunk mounting bracket is 08L42-MCW-100.

I designed everything that is bolted on to the trunk mounting bracket.  

It wasn't cheap.  The Honda bracket is $250 alone.

I haven't had it very long but there are a few people interested in it.  If there is more interest/demand, I might be convinced to make a run of them.

I don't really care about the backrest, but I've been very interested in finding a way to carry a little bit of stuff in the rear. Strapping something on the rear seat and trying to secure to the stock grab rails is hopeless. Am I to understand that the luggage rack you have there is a stock Honda part? I really like the one that comes on the V-Strom and was contemplating getting one of those and having a friend machine an adaptor to hook it to the receiver for the VFR grab rails. I have an '02 if that matters.

Sinecure,

If you want just a rack check this http://www.revsperformance.com/renntec/sports_racks.htm

Thanks. That's much better looking that what I'd seen before.  :bow:

c'mon   ???

mods like that are useless.

you and your family would be much better off with THIS.

trip.

tongue.gif

I looked at all the aftermarket racks available and I was never convinced that they would hold anything substantial and certainly they would not be a very good back rest.  Beside, they look pretty goofy to me.  That thin tubing just doesn't look right.  I have had my backrest/rack on for about a month straight and I find that I use my hard bags less now.  It offers less wind resistance than a hard bag would and is far more versitile.  It is especially nice for my comute.  

My son rides with me alot now and we finished a 210 mile ride in the hill country last weekend.  When we got back home he want to know how come we didn't ride for longer..... He was very comfotable the entire time and I felt good about him being back there too. The whole thing cost as much as a Corbin seat (a corbin without the backrest), so It was a good expendature for me.  

The finish has held up well, but the real test will be what  it looks like this time next year.  All in all I am very happy with my creation.

SilVFR, May 27 2004I looked at all the aftermarket racks available and I was never convinced that they would hold anything substantial and certainly they would not be a very good back rest. �Beside, they look pretty goofy to me. �That thin tubing just doesn't look right. �I have had my backrest/rack on for about a month straight and I find that I use my hard bags less now. �It offers less wind resistance than a hard bag would and is far more versitile. �It is especially nice for my comute. �

My son rides with me alot now and we finished a 210 mile ride in the hill country last weekend. �When we got back home he want to know how come we didn't ride for longer..... He was very comfotable the entire time and I felt good about him being back there too. The whole thing cost as much as a Corbin seat (a corbin without the backrest), so It was a good expendature for me. �

The finish has held up well, but the real test will be what �it looks like this time next year. �All in all I am very happy with my creation.

Very cool (that your son likes riding with you)!  Can't wait til my kids get a little older to enjoy mc'ing with me too!  And the rack/backrest is a cool thing too!!   biggrin.gif

H

Thanks.

It has definately added a new dimension to my relationship with my son.  It is a great feeling to share something that means so much to me with him and find that he likes it too.  I am looking forward to lots of trips to fun far away places.

My son is 13 now, and I remember when he first started riding with me and I would catch him dozing off, scared the you know what out of me.
Tell your son to enjoy it now, because at the height he is right now, is the only time his legs will be that relaxed when he's riding on the back seat of your bike. :laugh:

For what it's worth, I went down to a local welding shop and they built a nice sturdy rack for me for about $100.  If I can figure out how to post a picture, and if anyone wants to see it, I'll do that

OK. The Renntec from Rev's came today. It took me about 20 minutes to mount it, but only because I had to cut some foam padding. Taking it off or putting it back on can be done in about 5 minutes with a 6mm allen wrench. If you don't run the passenger grab handles, that is (I had the red plugs in the holes).

What I like: It looks pretty good and it is low profile. It will hold a helmet or a small bag. It gives a passenger something to add a little confidence.

What could be better: The shiny screws should be either anodized black or at least dark. Also, they could have little press-in caps like the ones Honda provides if you use the grab handles - those don't this set up, I tried. Ideally I'd have liked something like what comes on the back of a V-Strom (cast aluminum with a rubber deck), but haven't seen that anywhere.

Its a good compromise that I'll use when I want to carry some stuff. Probably better and more secure than a magnetic tank bag, and out of the way.

I tried posting pix with this, but it keeps telling me they are "too big". I resized it to about 40% of its original size - WTF. Does that mean too wide/tall or too big a file? Is there an easier way? I don't own a server to link them from.

I like what you have done and I would love to know what you used for a backrest? Did you just pick one up on Ebay or make your own or what.

Thanks for the info.

Ratpack, Jun 28 2005, 12:41 AMI like what you have done and I would love to know what you used for a backrest?  Did you just pick one up on Ebay or make your own or what.

Thanks for the info.

I had it made. I cut a piece of plywood out and took it to an aplostery shop. I think it cost me $30 or so.

SilVFR, Jul 9 2005, 12:12 PMI had it made.  I cut a piece of plywood out and took it to an aplostery shop.  I think it cost me $30 or so.

you know if it works for what you want, then it's a great mod smile.gif I checked that trunk mounting honda bracket part number u gave, at servicehonda.com it's 205. A little cheaper anyway. thnx for sharing the info / pics. H

That backrest is really neat. Did you make it or purchase it? My wife and I have been looking for a backrest so we can go on longer trips together. Plus having that rear tail pack mounting plate is a great idea! Thanks! Happy Riding! -Dave