Backrest/Luggage rack help needed.

[T in NC]

In my search for a more comfortable seat for my 02 Special Sport I'm trying a EV Touring seat that Curtis sent me to try. Good news is it fits. Bad news is no with my HB backrest/ luggage rack. Which leaves with several options/questions:

1) Eat the shipping, send it back and go back to my stock seat.

2) Cut the upper supports on the HB rack.

3) Modify the seat where it hits the upper bracket.

4) Is there a "universal" backrest that is not total junk?

5 Anybody have an EV rack they would let go cheep?

Any thoughts, suggestions, or help of any kind would be greatly appreciated.

[img][/img]

[spreadeagle]

please let us know how this one turns out and how you like the seat?   I have the same bike and sore ass!   I have the motoguzzi back rest.  You did not get this as well when you bought yours?

[guzzisteve]

I think Jardene made a rack/backrest for your bike, Bad Chad had one I think.

Look for late EV set up being parted out.

[ccoli]

I've got a EV rack I'll either let go really cheap ot trade for the one you've got.  The ev rack I have has the back rest portion cut off. 
Can send photos.

[Karl Von]

I installed a Cali-vintage seat on my 03 stone and it fit right on.  It might work on a Cali SS

[John Ulrich]

Sorry guys, EV racks don't go on Bassa's-Special Sports.  Different rear fenders. 

[bad Chad]

At some ponit around 2001 the Ev got the same rear fender as the Bassa/Cal sport.

[Kev m]

When you ask if you should cut the upper supports, do you mean the angled braces on either side of the rack that go from the long straight mounting tubes to the two vertical tubes for the backrest?

FWIW, I had an HB rack on my Jackal for man years and I modified it multiple times (powdercoated it, had the backrest cut off, reshaped and rewelded, cut that re-welded part off again etc).

Based on my experience with the similar HB rack for my Jackal I'd be wary about that.

FWIW some of the tubes on my rack (specifically the horizontal ones on the luggage rack portion that go side-to-side) cracked off on me one day running down the road when I hit a pothole (under the additional stress of one of their own HB topcase adapters).

So I'd be worried that if you took those braces off you'd compromise the integrity of the vertical pieces and it could fail suddenly under the weight of a passenger leaning on it.

I guess you could always have those pieces reinforced in some way to help prevent that possibility, but if you depend on that backrest for someone you love, I'd be wary.

[ccoli]

My EV is a 2003 and has the same fender and side covers as your Ss. Can send you the one ratguzzi cut the backrest off of for the price of shipping. If it works out and you decide to use it maybe I could try your rack out. I'm trying to fit a set of Jackal side racks for National Cycle bags on my EV.
If I find a luggage rack that works with the Jackal bits then I'll have an unmolested EV luggage rack available.

[T in NC]

Thanks for the offer but I need the back rest for when my wife rides with me. I need to find someone that has worn out EV one piece base and get it modified and recovered.