Just bought a Street Glide and the wife feels a little cramped, as her backrest sits straight up and down. Has anyone successfully bent those back a bit to give a little bit of a natural lean back, and give her some room.

 

Look for an adjustment screw on the backside..where the post goes into the backrest..

 

If it's the rider backrest you can put some washers under the mounting base to change the angle a bit, also some have bent them to get the angle "right".

 

If you bend it I feel certain you would crack the chrome and begin showing rust.

The only thing I can think of would be to change out the foam in the backrest to something thinner.

You got me on this one???? And you are talking about the "passenger" backrest, aren't you.

 

Is it the tall or short B/rest frame?

 

Yes this is the passenger backrest. And it is the standard height one. i believe there is a shorter and a taller model available. My Road Star had an angle to it, which the Mrs really liked. This one is straight up and down. It is also the quick release version.

 

Yes, you can ,and without any damage. Did this to mine 2 years ago with no problems yet. If you know anyone with a press. If you carfully cover the chrome with tape and then a shop rag you can press them to any angle you wish. Dont go more than a inch though cause the chrome plate will only give so much.

 

several years ago i bent the backrest by covering where i wanted the bend with a shop rag and used an 18" pipe wrench as a lever to bend each side to the desired angle. has worked fine since with no corrosion or pealing problem.

 

If it's a detachable there is a post on here somewhere on how to drill and relocate the mounting bracket. Basically you drill a hole down a bit further on the bracket, angling the backrest back. The hole only moves about 3/8", but the angle difference was perfect. If I get time to find the post I'll link it here.

 

I've done it. Before I bent mine, I relocated the rear mount. The front mount stayed where it was, but I drilled new holes which rotated the backrest back and down an inch and a half. My wife didn't like the feel of the backrest after though, so I put the mounts back. I then bent the bar and moved the backrest pad three quarters of an inch or so back. Don't try bending it on the bike, you might damage the mounts. I clamped mine down to a bench and used a 2x4 to get the leverage.Made a lot of difference to her. We are by no means heavy people, but find Harley touring bikes cramped riding 2 up.