A Backrest For Ohio

I know a lot of you aren't motorcycle riders, but hopefully my occasional motorcycle post doesn't bore you too much.

I just enjoy it so much, and it's a part of my life, so it's hard not to share.

By the way, I named the bike Ohio. Because we drove there to get her, so that's her name. It's not as pretty as the other names I was kicking around, but the girl suggested it and it just fits.


Maybe you don't name your vehicles in your household, but I think it just makes life more fun. For example, my Jeep's name is Lucy. I once named my friend's house, Steve. Because the girl and I drove by it daily when I picked her up after work from daycare, so we'd wave at Steve on the way by.

I do realize that I'm not normal.

But, what's the fun of being normal?

So, the above picture is Ohio before her backrest....obviously.

Another view.

She said she likes her left side the best.

We had to take off the hardbags first, because the mounting bracket attaches to the frame through the holes that the bags are attached through. It makes it more secure to use the same mounting point.

By the way, aren't these like the coolest, bestest bags, like ever? Huge. Love. Them.

They're one of the reasons I bought this bike. It has hard bags that are leather covered, so they don't look as automotive as those painted hard bags, not as bulky.

Bags off. Watch out, kids, she's nude.

This one is just for all the ladies. I had the fireman loosen some of the bolts for me. They were attached at the factory and super tight. At least that's what I told him..... Check out those guns!

Struggling to pop the bolt loose, "you're taking pictures of me now???"

Oh, yes dear. hehehe

The boy just goes back to his anime drawing... that's Sunshine on the right, the fireman's bike. He needs new bags, like baaaad. He doesn't have hard bags like me, so they saaag after a while.

Yes, I do realize that my planters have dead plants in them. There are weeds, too dontcha know.

I'm not ashamed.

The fireman also helped me make sure that I got the bolts tight enough. That's the new mounting bracket. It's pretty and chrome....shiny.

The fireman hates chrome. It's toooo shiny. He took all of the chrome off of his bike. He powder coated it flat black and even wrapped his mufflers in black to black-out the bike.

Weirdo...

The bag brackets go back on after the mounting bracket.

Then the backrest bracket is mounted on the mounting bracket, through those side bolts.

Is that clear?

And lastly, the backrest pad. Three pieces, but with the removal of the bags, not too difficult.

Then the bags back on and good to go! It took us less than an hour to do it and now the girl can go on longer rides with me.

Also, I may get some backrest bag that I can snap on and off when I get to work. Maybe something that I can use as a purse-like bag to just take in stores and such with me.

Oddly enough, they don't make any bags that double as a purse. Who'da thought?

I took the girl for a nice little ride the day after I got this on, she really loved it. she leans back on it, holds on to me and just relaxes. She's totally at ease on the bike. I don't take her on the highway, but some of the old country roads nearby are perfect for puttering around.

And the floorboards instead of pegs? Super comfy. I just plant my feet down on them and my legs are relaxed. Very cool.