Topic: Help with FXSTSSE3 Backrest and Seat (Read 9273 times)

JCarr1 · « **on:** February 07, 2011, 09:12:17 PM »

Hi Everyone! I am the lucky owner of a Blue '09 CVO Springer. Unfortunately, my wife is very unhappy with the passenger seat and lack of backrest. I am about to order $700 worth of parts to keep her happy. My questions are - Has anybody installed these and do you have pics? Is the turn signal relocation kit necessary? Do I have to use the detachable side plates? It appears as if my options are very limited and I will be buying the following:

       52271-09      FXSTSSE3 SEAT...    Price: $337.68

       52540-09      UPRIGHT KIT, CHROME FXSTS...    Price: $110.82

       51641-06      BACKREST PAD, TOP STITCH,...    Price: $49.54

       53810-00B DETACHABLE SIDEPLATES, CH...    Price: $119.35

       53821-00      DOCKING HARDWARE KIT, WIT...    Price: $29.80

       53959-06      KIT, DIRECTIONAL RELOCATI...    Price: $33.90

These are the part numbers and prices from Surdyke.com. I purchased all my parts for my '06 CVO Fat Boy and had great service and the lowest prices!

Thanks Guys! -Jared

harlee79 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2011, 11:59:04 PM »

I've got all those things installed with the exception of the new seat. The wife won't ride without the sissy bar so I'd say its an improvement. I'll have to see if i can get it uncovered and a pic or two of the setup, 12" of snow on the ground so she's in hibernation mode.

Thatguycvo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2011, 06:58:17 AM »

Sent you a PM.

JCarr1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2011, 10:01:50 AM »

Thanks Guys, I sent a few pm's. I really do want this bike to maintain its beautifully designed lines, but do need to squeeze some more comfort out of it to make my overall riding experience a little more enjoyable (you know, stop the screaming from behind me).

dite · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:41:06 PM »

Don't waste your money on a relocation kit.....you can grind the ends down and then it will fit.....that is how I did mine.

Jock · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:29:35 PM »

Quote from: JCarr1 on February 08, 2011, 10:01:50 AM

(you know, stop the screaming from behind me).

Good Luck There!

Emerald Ice · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:55:04 AM »

Hi Jared,

I have the backrest, medium sissy with pad and tapered luggage rack if you're interested. Send a pm with your email and I'll send you a couple pictures. Thanks, Greg

Quote from: JCarr1 on February 07, 2011, 09:12:17 PM

Hi Everyone! I am the lucky owner of a Blue '09 CVO Springer. Unfortunately, my wife is very unhappy with the passenger seat and lack of backrest. I am about to order $700 worth of parts to keep her happy. My questions are - Has anybody installed these and do you have pics? Is the turn signal relocation kit necessary? Do I have to use the detachable side plates? It appears as if my options are very limited and I will be buying the following:

       52271-09      FXSTSSE3 SEAT...    Price: $337.68

       52540-09      UPRIGHT KIT, CHROME FXSTS...    Price: $110.82

       51641-06      BACKREST PAD, TOP STITCH,...    Price: $49.54

       53810-00B DETACHABLE SIDEPLATES, CH...    Price: $119.35

       53821-00      DOCKING HARDWARE KIT, WIT...    Price: $29.80

       53959-06      KIT, DIRECTIONAL RELOCATI...    Price: $33.90

These are the part numbers and prices from Surdyke.com. I purchased all my parts for my '06 CVO Fat Boy and had great service and the lowest prices!

Thanks Guys! -Jared

dite · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:49:38 AM »

Save some money and don't buy the tail light relocation kit....you can grind it down like I did on mine...

Wild Card · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2011, 10:34:12 AM »

Quote from: dite on February 23, 2011, 08:49:38 AM

Save some money and don't buy the tail light relocation kit....you can grind it down like I did on mine...

You have a picture of how that turned out? I did the relocation kit, and it's not the most flattering thing when the backrest isn't on. Now that the wife bought her own Harley, I only need the backrest on long trips now.

dite · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:26:34 PM »

I have some photos....let me have your email....

chief48 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2011, 07:50:51 AM »

Would someone please post or email me a pic of the Indicator Relocation settup on the bike.
My email is in my profile..
Thanks

dite · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:53:35 PM »

chief48, your email failed when I tried to send you photos....

08CVOSPRNGER · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:54:02 PM »

Im glad I saw this post. I ground and reshaped the back of the side plates. Looks alot better.

dite · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:55:52 PM »

If anyone can post the photos I have send them it may help others.....I just wasn't able to figure out how to do it or maybe they were too large a file...

chief48 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:47:08 PM »

Quote from: dite on March 03, 2011, 02:53:35 PM

chief48, your email failed when I tried to send you photos....

Hmm.. sorry about that dite.
I've had that email for some time and never had a problem with it so not sure why it didn't work...

The idea of modifying the detachable sideplates makes good sense to me and I've been looking at doing that.
The only hassle being that they'll need re-chroming if you use the chrome ones.

It's a shame Harley couldn't make sideplates that just fit ?.

dite · « **Reply #15 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:52:02 PM »

The grinding didn't damage the chrome on mine.....so just grind away!!

08CVOSPRNGER · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2011, 12:01:54 AM »

Didn't hurt the chrome on mine. Of course its gone where you grind, but some silver touch up paint fixxes that

metalgrind · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2011, 12:50:14 PM »

DITE,

I would appreciate it if you could email me the information you have about grinding down the detachable sissy plates. My email is in my profile. Thanks!

Metalgrind

dite · « **Reply #18 on:** March 06, 2011, 01:48:40 PM »

@metalgrind.....your email is hidden....

metalgrind · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2011, 11:26:56 AM »

Dite,

Corrected email, please try to resend again. Thanks! Metalgrind

JCarr1 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2011, 08:39:16 PM »

I ended up grinding mine. I ordered a chrome paint pen from Amazon to touch it up. It cost $9 delivered!

metalgrind · « **Reply #21 on:** March 08, 2011, 03:35:45 PM »

Dite,

Thanks for the files. Metalgrind

cloudmist1 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 08, 2011, 04:32:29 PM »

Dite, Thanks for the pics. Cloudmist1

Brian22601 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2011, 01:12:33 PM »

I have the FXSTSSE/2 (2008) and about to put a detachable passenger backrest on it. Like others in the thread I am not pleased with the light relocation kit -- looks cheesy!

Does the "grind" mod work for the 08 as well?

Do any of Harley's side bags fit without relocating the lights?

Anyone have pics to share of the grind mod?

Thanks!

chuckbutcher · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2011, 07:34:24 PM »

I have Cobalt Blue FXSTSSE3 and all I had to do was order the seat back and package tray with quick disconnect mounts which replace the side plate mount cap screws. It was easer to have HD install the QD mounts since they are pretty tight on tire. All are model specific.

gaqgefixer · « **Reply #25 on:** June 21, 2011, 11:02:47 AM »

selling your old seat ?

Brian22601 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:24:31 PM »

So this past Friday I bought the HD parts to put a detachable passenger backrest and luggage rack on my FXSTSSE2 and did the "grind mod" to avoid relocating the rear turn signals.

It took less than 30 minutes with the following steps;

1. I removed the original hardware (one-by-one) and installed the detach hardware in it's place.
2. Eye balled the side plate where it was going to come in contact with the turn signal and marked the material on the side plate that needed to be removed for clearance with a black sharpie marker.
3. Grind a little, check it, grind a little more, and repeated until I got the first plate to clear the turn signal mount.
4. Repeated the grind process and fit on the second side plate.
5 Assembled the side plate to the sissy bar, added the luggage rack and the backrest pad.

It fit perfectly as an assembled unit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have pictures to share

.

Thanks to everyone that provided me with the insight to complete this installation.

Brian22601 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:25:57 PM »

Not much needed ground off.....

Brian22601 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:27:06 PM »

Final fit after I was done.....very clean look!

Brian22601 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:33:51 PM »

One last note folks.

This worked well for me as I do NOT plan to attach saddle bags. I will simply place my travel bag on the luggage rack.

If you plan to attach saddle bags you should think through the process carefully as the bags may need the turn signal relocation kit for certain saddle bags to to be installed correctly.

dite · « **Reply #30 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:34:36 PM »

Looks great!!!

Brian22601 · « **Reply #31 on:** July 29, 2011, 06:44:37 PM »

Thanks Dite, it was your sharing of knowledge that made it possible.

I ground it slow, and let it cool down between fitting checks as to not "blue" the chrome.

Worked so sweet....exactly the look I wanted to keep!

skippy · « **Reply #32 on:** July 29, 2011, 07:30:00 PM »

Might want to seal the bare metal with some clear nail polish

ibjack · « **Reply #33 on:** August 18, 2011, 07:18:24 PM »

Purchased a sissy bar- backrest combo from HD for $400 when I bought my bike in Aug 08 and is great with easy snap on-off. You have to relocate the lights but it's easy and the kit is complete w/all hardware. Also bought a super seat from HD also for $400 and is plush and real comfy on long rides. ( the only time I use it). Can take pics and post them or e-mail them to you since the pic will only show the lights with the mounting spot for the backrest

Author Topic: Help with FXSTSSE3 Backrest and Seat (Read 9273 times)