Grab Rails for the missus

[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 ....

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.

[jrandom]

Oh - are silly suggestions OK?

I thought DM's suggestion was perfectly sensible.

[FROSTY:Me]

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...?

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

[FROSTY:Me]

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 .

[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.

[vifferman]

OK how about something like this?
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.

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!