So I picked up a new to me 2011 heritage and am getting familiar with the bike. I'm planning on taking my wife out on it soon.

I noticed the passenger seat has some play to it up and down and left and right. I checked under and all seemed properly installed minus the passenger grab belt which isn't on the bike, previous owner must've ditched it.

Is this normal and acceptable on these bikes? I'm coming from super sports and don't know some of these basics. I tried to post a quick video but didn't work.

 

Just did some checking on my '14 and not really any play to it. As long as the front slots on the pillion are in the grooves of the riders seat rear hold down bolts and rear pillion hold down bolt is tight you should be good to go

 

thank you for checking! It's my impression that if the grab rope was installed that would be at the bottom of the mounting nuts, then the rear pillion hooks go in the center of those nuts as there is a wide space there. Everything looks secure. I do wonder that if a passenger would hold the front their seat and maybe with some hard take offs etc from driver kind of caused the play? If that makes sense.

 

I'd double check all the connection points, pillion to front seat, pillion to fender, make sure they're snug. I ditched the pass strap, it wont be an issue. If you're passenger has riding experience they won't hold onto anything, my GF sits back there, I have to check now and then to make sure she's still with me. Once a passenger gets comfortable and use to riding, they won't hold on at all. My GF last year taking road pics with her cell. She never holds on.

 

Grab strap attaches to the forward bolt on the rear fender struts. I don't like them and don't attatch them. I switch back and forth from solo to 2-up often

 

On my 2014, the stock grab strap attaches to the same two bolts that the front seat is secured with as well as the pillion. On the "heritage" style HD optional pillion (with studs, and which doesn't jam into your back like the stock pillion), the grab strap that comes with it attaches as you describe.