Link to all my Gen II mods
I originally designed this backrest for my Triumph Tiger but it was easily adapted to the FJR since the GEN II FJR has a very similarly proportioned 2-piece driver/passenger seat. It can be installed or removed in about 30 seconds without any tools. It can be flipped up or down with one hand while riding and it has a small amount of fore/aft adjustment. On the FJR, it works with either my OEM or Corbin seat (Corbin shown). To increase the functionality, I added some small bags to carry things such as rain gear.
Here is a picture of the backrest assembly by itself:
Here are some pictures of the backrest installed on the FJR:
Here are some pictures of the backrest installed on the Tiger:
WHY A FLIP-DOWN STYLE?
BMW originally installed these on the R1200C as an option, and it could be positioned to serve as either a small passenger seat or a driver backrest. On my bikes, the down position would never be used for a passenger seat since the assembly actually sits on top of the OEM passenger seat and is much too high. If I need to carry a passenger (maybe once a year – wife has own bikes) I just take the backrest assembly completely off. I chose this flipping style backrest for another reason, however. There are really two ways to hop on a bike, foot first over the driver seat, or swinging a bent leg over the passenger seat. I do the latter (the Tiger really is too tall to go foot first) and I wanted the backrest to be out of the way for swinging the leg over it.
IT NEEDED A LITTLE MODIFICATION TO FIT
From the factory, the base plate of this backrest is curved to match the rear fender. I cut this off to make it flat and added a 1/2” thick pad so it wouldn’t damage my passenger seat vinyl. I had to replace the heavy spring in the backrest release knob with a lighter one so I could pull the knob while seated. I’m sure BMW went extra heavy with this spring for safety reasons, but I haven’t had any problem with the lighter one installed.
I then added front and a rear quick-disconnect mounts to the backrest assembly and mating halves to the bike. This is the SS quick-release hinge that worked nicely as the mount https://www.reidsupply.com/Detail.aspx?itm=SC-6611). I think Southco is the hinge OEM. The rear receiving mount on the bikes is simply attached to the rear case or rack and stays there permanently since it doesn’t really get in the way when not in use. I had to get a little creative with the front mount since I wanted it to “disappear” when the backrest was not installed. On the FJR, the front mount attaches to the bottom of the passenger seat and hinges up between the seats when needed. On the Tiger, a hinged plate mounts to the driver seat (pictures were before a coat of paint).
Here are the FJR mounts:
Here are the Tiger mounts (before it's coat of paint):
AND A COUPLE OTHER FEATURES
As I mentioned earlier, I added some small soft bags to the base plate for quick access storage. I find them most useful for my rain suit since I can get it quickly without open up and getting rain in my hard bags when those sudden storms hit. With the backrest up, a nice little “cradle” is formed between these side bags to carry extra gear in a pinch - I lose the flip-down feature, of course, if anything is stowed there. I mounted them to the sides of the base plate with a quick-disconnect system designed for bicycle handlebar bags (made by Jandd), but found that I never really needed to take them off so that fab time was probably wasted.
I also added a small pad at the front of the base plate for tailbone protection when the backrest is flipped down. It slides up for access to the front mount.
IN CLOSING
A driver backrest is a real pleasure on those long rides. Combined with forward mounted footpegs and pull-back handlebars, they allow you click away those interstate miles effortlessly. I've been using this backrest now for about 5 years and I wouldn't give it up. I only hope it will adapt to my next new bike.
I originally designed this backrest for my Triumph Tiger but it was easily adapted to the FJR since the GEN II FJR has a very similarly proportioned 2-piece driver/passenger seat. It can be installed or removed in about 30 seconds without any tools. It can be flipped up or down with one hand while riding and it has a small amount of fore/aft adjustment. On the FJR, it works with either my OEM or Corbin seat (Corbin shown). To increase the functionality, I added some small bags to carry things such as rain gear.
Here is a picture of the backrest assembly by itself:
Here are some pictures of the backrest installed on the FJR:
Here are some pictures of the backrest installed on the Tiger:
WHY A FLIP-DOWN STYLE?
BMW originally installed these on the R1200C as an option, and it could be positioned to serve as either a small passenger seat or a driver backrest. On my bikes, the down position would never be used for a passenger seat since the assembly actually sits on top of the OEM passenger seat and is much too high. If I need to carry a passenger (maybe once a year – wife has own bikes) I just take the backrest assembly completely off. I chose this flipping style backrest for another reason, however. There are really two ways to hop on a bike, foot first over the driver seat, or swinging a bent leg over the passenger seat. I do the latter (the Tiger really is too tall to go foot first) and I wanted the backrest to be out of the way for swinging the leg over it.
IT NEEDED A LITTLE MODIFICATION TO FIT
From the factory, the base plate of this backrest is curved to match the rear fender. I cut this off to make it flat and added a 1/2” thick pad so it wouldn’t damage my passenger seat vinyl. I had to replace the heavy spring in the backrest release knob with a lighter one so I could pull the knob while seated. I’m sure BMW went extra heavy with this spring for safety reasons, but I haven’t had any problem with the lighter one installed.
I then added front and a rear quick-disconnect mounts to the backrest assembly and mating halves to the bike. This is the SS quick-release hinge that worked nicely as the mount https://www.reidsupply.com/Detail.aspx?itm=SC-6611). I think Southco is the hinge OEM. The rear receiving mount on the bikes is simply attached to the rear case or rack and stays there permanently since it doesn’t really get in the way when not in use. I had to get a little creative with the front mount since I wanted it to “disappear” when the backrest was not installed. On the FJR, the front mount attaches to the bottom of the passenger seat and hinges up between the seats when needed. On the Tiger, a hinged plate mounts to the driver seat (pictures were before a coat of paint).
Here are the FJR mounts:
Here are the Tiger mounts (before it's coat of paint):
AND A COUPLE OTHER FEATURES
As I mentioned earlier, I added some small soft bags to the base plate for quick access storage. I find them most useful for my rain suit since I can get it quickly without open up and getting rain in my hard bags when those sudden storms hit. With the backrest up, a nice little “cradle” is formed between these side bags to carry extra gear in a pinch - I lose the flip-down feature, of course, if anything is stowed there. I mounted them to the sides of the base plate with a quick-disconnect system designed for bicycle handlebar bags (made by Jandd), but found that I never really needed to take them off so that fab time was probably wasted.
I also added a small pad at the front of the base plate for tailbone protection when the backrest is flipped down. It slides up for access to the front mount.
IN CLOSING
A driver backrest is a real pleasure on those long rides. Combined with forward mounted footpegs and pull-back handlebars, they allow you click away those interstate miles effortlessly. I've been using this backrest now for about 5 years and I wouldn't give it up. I only hope it will adapt to my next new bike.
Last edited by a moderator:
