Grab Rails for the missus

[duckman]

So as you'all know I've got a TL1000R and it doesn't have grab rails. When I took the bike for a test ride (prior to purchase) the GF said it was very comfy and she liked it ..... welllllllll now it's a problem. Sarah still loves the bike but finds it bloody hard to hang on without grab rails.

Soooooo, Does anyone know if you can install aftermarket grab rails or suchlike for sportbikes ???

I could "jimmy" something up but it would be ugly .... :whistle:

[Motoracer]

So as you'all know I've got a TL1000R and it doesn't have grab rails. When I took the bike for a test ride (prior to purchase) the GF said it was very comfy and she liked it ..... welllllllll now it's a problem. Sarah still loves the bike but finds it bloody hard to hang on without grab rails.

Soooooo, Does anyone know if you can install aftermarket grab rails or suchlike for sportbikes ???

I could "jimmy" something up but it would be ugly .... :whistle:

Tell her to hold on to you tightly! :hug:

[duckman]

Tell her to hold on to you tightly! :hug:
Nice - Thanks MR, I knew you'd have the answer!! :laugh:

[rodgerd]

Soooooo, Does anyone know if you can install aftermarket grab rails or suchlike for sportbikes ???


I'm fairly sure one of the Ventura options is to have a grab rail instead of a pack rack.

[Deano]

Mrs Deano loved my old 900SS for comfort and the grab rail at the back.

When I upgraded (notice the terminology) to the SP-1 she was gutted and won't come out on the back unless its a very short trip. (no grab rail and rear seat like a 1 foot plank of 6 x 1)

Personally I don't see the problem. Leave the handbrake at home.

p.s. Im glad you were talking about grab rails for the bike and not the missus..... :innocent:

[duckman]

I'm fairly sure one of the Ventura options is to have a grab rail instead of a pack rack.

I'm not sure it's a good idea to have the full braking weight of the passenger on the packrack system. - Well, not the flimsy way I've attached it :eek:

[Motoracer]

p.s. Im glad you were talking about grab rails for the bike and not the missus..... :innocent:

.....:lol:

[Zed]

So as you'all know I've got a TL1000R and it doesn't have grab rails. When I took the bike for a test ride (prior to purchase) the GF said it was very comfy and she liked it ..... welllllllll now it's a problem. Sarah still loves the bike but finds it bloody hard to hang on without grab rails.

Soooooo, Does anyone know if you can install aftermarket grab rails or suchlike for sportbikes ???

I could "jimmy" something up but it would be ugly .... :whistle:
Check out this crowd: http://www.renntec.co.uk/products/grab.htm (http://www.renntec.co.uk/products/grab.htm)

Click on the Suzuki link, they have a listing for the TL1000R in black or white finish, but I'm not sure what year model they fit?

Funny, you're the 2nd person who has said they want grab rails for their bike lately, and I've gone and taken mine off!

[Dodgyiti]

Yep, a common thing, mine hates the Guzzler for the same reason. :argh:
No grab rail and a bit of vinyl stuck to some unyeilding fiberglass, neeto.
A general sheetmetal fabrication shop will make one to your design fairly cheaply, and get them to knock it up out of stainless while they are at it, then you are assured you get what you want, as opposed to what some aftermarket whizzer thinks you need, and its keeping a kiwi in a job.

And why am I not putting a grab rail on my bike?
Answer; She is too sexy to tamper with, some things are too perfect to change, stuff it, I will buy another bike for touring with 'er indoors before I degregate such beauty :bleh:

[Posh Tourer :P]

Tell her to hold on to you tightly! :hug:

Seriously, I think he's onto something....

It is the best way. You are always in communication with said pillion, its fun and it makes sure pillion leans when you do....

Note to TS-- dont do that next time you get on the beemer though :buggerd: :lol:.....

[jrandom]

When I took the bike for a test ride (prior to purchase) the GF said it was very comfy and she liked it ..... welllllllll now it's a problem. Sarah still loves the bike but finds it bloody hard to hang on without grab rails.

Getting a little more... confident... in our riding, are we?

[jrandom]

Note to TS-- dont do that next time you get on the beemer though :buggerd: :lol:.....

Protesting too much, methinks... you know what they say about BMW riders. A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat!

G'wan TS, you know he wants it.

[gav]

The other thing you could get is an item you wear like a belt that has looped grab handles on each side, had some fancy name, think its made out of tie down type material. Called Andy Straps or something????

[Coldkiwi]

my missus likes me to have a backpack on that she can hold on to. Also, because I'm not too portly yet (all that good home cooking will take its toll soon), there's a big gap between the back of by butt and the start of the pillion seat that she falls down when trying to hold on directly to me with no bag in the middle.
The bag also helps keep a gap between helmets so we don't headbutt each other under braking.
I've asked her about grab rails and she's said she wouldn't use them even if they were there!

[vifferman]

Having done many miles in my yoof as a pillion, I reckon most grab rails are crap. The problem is, you only really need them when the bike is accelerating hard or braking. The ones behind the seat are not too good for bracing you against acceleration. I found the best thing was to hold on under the seat, and slide my hands back and forth as required. Problem was, one of the bikes I frequented the back of was a BSA with a break in the insulation so I got a small shock every time the brakes were applied.:buggerd:

I liked the system on the VFRs - a sturdy pair of handles that could stow away under the seat when not required, or be easily slid out and bolted into place for a pillion. Nice. Good looking too, better than those on my VF500.

Problem with the Ventura grab rail is apart from putting stress on the rack (which is only supposed to be OK for 15kg weight - yeah, riiiight!), it's quite small diameter and not particularly ergonomic.

I'm not sure what Mrs FS does to stop herself falling off - she holds on to me when accelerating, and I guess she holds onto the back rack when decelerating. She finds the presence of the pack rack quite reassuring, so she's obviously forgotten the sticker on it isn't the usual Ventura one: "Not to be used as a backrest". Instead it says" Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Perch Here!" :wacko:

[Drunken Monkey]

So as you'all know I've got a TL1000R and it doesn't have grab rails. When I took the bike for a test ride (prior to purchase) the GF said it was very comfy and she liked it ..... welllllllll now it's a problem. Sarah still loves the bike but finds it bloody hard to hang on without grab rails.

Soooooo, Does anyone know if you can install aftermarket grab rails or suchlike for sportbikes ???

I could "jimmy" something up but it would be ugly .... :whistle:

Easy!

Drink more beer.
Do less exercise.

In a few months you'll have a ready set of handy 'grab rails' always at your sides.

[vifferman]

Easy!

Drink more beer.
Do less exercise.

In a few months you'll have a ready set of handy 'grab rails' always at your sides.Oh - are silly suggestions OK?
Right then - duct tape her to the seat.:msn-wink:

[jrandom]

Oh - are silly suggestions OK?

I thought DM's suggestion was perfectly sensible.

[FROSTY]

serious suggestion here. Fit the mounting brackets for a ventura top box.
Whilst ya at it buy a 40l topbox --The aerodynamics are stuffed up anyways so why not have a place to put the lids when ya park up.
The good news with the venture stuff is that ist can swap from bike to bike and The box basicly just unclips when you dont have a passenger
The big boxes have a backrest on em too.
Silly suggestion-But seen actually being used -get a weightlifters belt and have two handles sewn to the belt. you wear the belt and she grabs the handles.

[vifferman]

Silly suggestion-But seen actually being used -get a weightlifters belt and have two handles sewn to the belt. you wear the belt and she grabs the handles.There's actually a commercial version of this for sale somewhere; that's what Gav was talking about. But if one of the partners is to wear handles, surely it'd be better for Duckman's missus to wear them...?:msn-wink:

As for the "topbox with built-in backrest" suggestion - I seriously considered buying a Moto Guzzi Nevada or California just for the backrest, as Mrs FS was quite taken with the idea of having one.

[svs]

The other thing you could get is an item you wear like a belt that has looped grab handles on each side, had some fancy name, think its made out of tie down type material. Called Andy Straps or something????

like this (buddybelt.com)

[jrandom]

like this (buddybelt.com)

I'm sorry, but that product photograph sends me into *all* sorts of giggles.

[vifferman]

I'm sorry, but that product photograph sends me into *all* sorts of giggles.Probably a Merkn version of the velcro glubs favoured by Aussies?

[aff-man]

i got a ventura grab rail on the 400. Person i bought it off found it handy enough and stuff

[svs]

I'm sorry, but that product photograph sends me into *all* sorts of giggles.

wish i hadn't posted it now :no:

[FROSTY]

Alex has one on his xv750 and I must say his lady reckons its the ducks nuts.
Ya do realise the easy way is a stilletto taped to the tailpiece at a 30 degree angle -she would never lean back again so problem solved . :devil2: :devil2:

[F5 Dave]

One thing to consider is tell her to press her legs closed during braking (like on a horse I'm told), this stops the slide forward to some extent, but modern stepped seats are a pain for pillions.

On my touring bike (sportbike is a single-seater to avoid any discussion of taking her on it) I lowered the pegs with some simple brackets made from ally plate. This stops pillion being so perched (like a Jap taking a squat dump on a European toilet) so they have more balance & legs don’t get cramped. This sometimes means rotating the muffler down a tickle, but as long as it doesn’t scrape then the side benefit is your panniers are less likely to get burnt.

Another option is get the seat refurbished with a pillion step to stop them sliding forward so much & maybe some gripper seat material like on dirtbikes. See Charmens or that other crowd some guy on the site keeps on about.

[gav]

OK how about something like this?
http://www.corbin.com/suzuki/su14.jpg
This is for a RF900 , maybe contact www.corbin.com and see if they can do something similiar for a tiller? Think you could get something where the back rest was removable. :yeah:

[vifferman]

OK how about something like this?
This is for a RF900 , maybe contact www.corbin.com (http://www.corbin.com/) and see if they can do something similiar for a tiller? Think you could get something where the back rest was removable. :yeah:Trouble is, Corbin are mondo expensive, and I've read lots of comments saying their service and workmanship leave a lot to be desired. If you were going for US stuff, Sargent are better. Either way, you're looking at $$$ and a long delay.

But I'm sure Cajun's (?) uncle in Tauranga (McDonald Motortrimmers or summat) could do the same thing, only more betterer and cheaper.

[F5 Dave]

Well my touring barge is an RF & it is as ugly as sin but I still wouldn't be seen with something so repulsive. Blue piping & backrest! :puke: :puke: :puke: