Utopia backrest

[kniterider]

I wish I could post on the OTHER site without getting busted again with my last couple mof names. A member over there has a 2012 wing with a dealer installed utopia that had his mounting bolts shear off. .. I think this is a very rare problem I have had 4 utopias now Last 3 wings and now my CTX1300 and NEVER had a problem with any of them and I use them hard especially on my IRON BUTT rides.. I am pretty sure that I have more miles and stress on the utopias than he does I had almost 40,000 on my 2012 before it was totaled and the utopia was in perfect shape after the bike was totaled also. It sounds like maybe the "dealer" who installed it may have used power tools to spin the the mounting brackets together... supposed to be hand tightened.. BOB from Utopia will do whatever is needed to make him happy I believe and restore his confidence in his backrest

[530ktm]

I read that too and I just installed this backrest on my bike. Sounds like over tightened bolts to me since they both failed but he also said the T bracket does not fit 100% on the cross member. Not sure how that would impact the situation but this is something I will check out after I get some miles on the seat. It did take me a few stops to adjust the backrest but it sure in nice to lean back and have the support.

[kniterider]

On some of my longer rides,,Last years 50 CC,, I actually got a cramp that I needed to raise up and push back so all me weight was supported by the backrest several times until I could get to a rest stop and put some aspercreme on the sore area.. That's 200 pounds on that hinge amd NEVER EVER had a problem on any of the seats that had the utopia attached !

[Pizza Man]

That probably cause the hinge to break. I have thought about getting a backrest but think I would feel to confined and not be able to move around.
I have knee problems and have to switch between drivers foot pegs and my Kury pegs on the crash bars.

[530ktm]

That probably cause the hinge to break. I have thought about getting a backrest but think I would feel to confined and not be able to move around.
I have knee problems and have to switch between drivers foot pegs and my Kury pegs on the crash bars.

I felt confined a bit at first but after making a few adjustments and putting it back a little farther it now seems just right. When I want to hit the twistys a bit I do as always and sit up with feet on pegs and all is good and not confined feeling. My big problem is I tend to slunch when riding, always have been a sluncher. This helps with that.

[hparsons]

I saw the post too, and have to say, I had the same thing happen to me; However, I don't really see it as a "safety issue". I sometimes lean against mine pretty hard, but never so hard that I feel I'd fall backwards if the backrest were to give way.

It's also worth noting that I bought mine "not new". A dealer had installed it, and the purchaser didn't like it after one trip. The dealer took it back, got a new hardware kit from Utopia, and sold it as used (the hardware kit was still in the packaging when I got it). I don't think I overtightened it when I installed it. I was afraid I had busted through the plastic on the seat, but after removing the seat, I found the heads had sheared (it also reaffirmed for me, it would be pretty difficult to break through the plastic).

Personally, I don't think they broke from leaning back into the backrest. When I do a long ride, I'll frequently "stretch in place", and in the process I twist side to side. I suspect my rather ample frame is putting some leveraged stress on the bolts when I do that.

I simply went down and bought a couple new grade 8 bolts. If that's the most expensive "break" I have to pay for on this bike, I'll be happy. If this bike were to have to be replaced, I'd buy another Utopia without a second thought.

[530ktm]

I am afraid to lean back too hard on mine, seems like it flexes quite a bit. I thought that thick piece of steel would be a bit stronger so I am not sure what is flexing down there.

[hparsons]

I think it's safe to lean back into it.

[orangecrate]

I read that too and I just installed this backrest on my bike. Sounds like over tightened bolts to me since they both failed but he also said the T bracket does not fit 100% on the cross member. Not sure how that would impact the situation but this is something I will check out after I get some miles on the seat. It did take me a few stops to adjust the backrest but it sure in nice to lean back and have the support.

I do believe that is the source of the problem. That bracket must sit fully on the cross piece or it would have to rock. I suspect an upgrade is in the works. If not, it should be. Personally, I hardly believe it is a "safety" issue, but it would surely get one's attention and be a substantial inconvenience.

[530ktm]

I decided I was going to have a look under the seat to see what is going on. What I did notice when I raised the seat up is that the T bar bracket with the velcro does indeed sit perfectly centered on my frame rail as it is supposed to do. I think it is safe to say that all the brackets are made from the same mold as well as the frames themselves so I do not see how this one instance could have the pieces not lined up unless the part was not installed properly on the seat bucket to begin with which is very possible.

[hparsons]

Didn't they change the bracket on the 2012? I didn't pull mine off, but I thinkI remember the older Utopias having two bolts on top of each other like this

:

and the newer ones having the bolts side by side:

. .

If so, wouldn't the side by side method allow more torque on the heads?

[530ktm]

Didn't they change the bracket on the 2012? I didn't pull mine off, but I thinkI remember the older Utopias having two bolts on top of each other like this

:

and the newer ones having the bolts side by side:

. .

If so, wouldn't the side by side method allow more torque on the heads?

Good point. The bracket that I got came with four holes and the instructions pointed which two holes to use for the 2012 and up. I believe this is to accommodate the slightly thicker seat because it raises the bar up a little bit as I recall reading. Now that I think of it, this also would apply more leverage to the bolts as well.

[hparsons]

When my bolt head broke off, they looked to me as if they failed due to metal fatigue. Exactly as if they were being leveraged back and forth very slightly for a long time. It's my (current) theory that this alignment is what's allowing them be slightly flexed and they fail.

[530ktm]

Hence the being leery of leaning back too hard on the back rest. Makes me think perhaps I should replace those bolts with some reliable ones from my local hardware store.