Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Tall or short sissy bar

For those of you who have the TBA sissy bar, what's your feeling about tall versus short? In an archive posting, the same questioned was asked but there weren't many replies. Why would anyone choose one over the other?

Siggy

If you ever carry a passenger over a long distance, you'll learn the answer to that question....Angelis

I bought the short one to go with the gunfighter seat. Then the wife said she wants to ride too. Now I have the touring seat and wish I had the tall bar

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Then the wife said she wants to ride too.... and wish I had the tall bar


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That's the reason I have the tall sissybar

Robin wishes my tall bar was taller. Just like a women, heh...

I bought the tall one without the rack, then bought a short one off ebay to get the rack and sold the bar onto a friend, so I've had the chance to play with both. Personally I think the short one LOOKS better but if you're buying it coz you'll regularly have someone on the back the tall one's more useful. For the occasional short run I doubt it makes much difference tho. The tall one's also got more leverage if you decide to put a large sissybar bag on.

Matt

Thanks for the input folks. Although for style reasons I would probably choose the short, it sounds like if I want to keep my 14-year-old daughter safe and happy on the back of the bike, the tall is the way to go. Might as well get the luggage rack at the same time, eh?

Siggy

Another good point about the tall sissy bar is that if you had to do a sudden acceleration, it probably would save your passenger from flipping over the back end. Not that passengers don't always pay attention like we do, eh?

I have found the rack to be a huge help running errands to running long trips....

Get the rack while you're at it. Mind you, the only thing I've used mine for's picking up pizza from the shop, but it's still much cheaper than buying it seperatley later on.

Matt

Get the tall one, size does matter.

Is that why your nickname is 'shorty'?

(like shooting fish in a barrel!)

Well Fill, you obviously haven't read the "Pingle" thread, eh? See, I just can't stop saying it, can I? eh?

alabama_al, do you still have the gunfighter seat. I'm looking for oneor even the stock speedy seat. I prefer a trade, I have a stock America seat and pillon, a beauitful black America front fender an some other little stuff. Interested ia a swap?
Sincerely, Jim Dunn (Old 52)

Hey Siggy...
You've received some good advice on this website thus far. I have the gunfighter on my 04 Speedmaster. Initially, I took my lady for a ride without the sissy bar. Her complaint was that she was afraid that she might fall/slip off. ...and I'm 5'9" 180lbs, she's 5'4" 110lbs., so we both fit just fine. I've given her friends (who are built much like her) a ride and they were worried about falling/slipping off, too.

So... I bought the tall sissy bar as well as the luggage rack. Personally, I don't use the luggage rack, but my lady does.... and I'll give ya a guess what she puts on it! Her purse--bungeed and cargo netted to the bike.

Also, something really important... when riding alone and carrying a few things, the tall sissy bar comes in VERY handy because you can cargo net whatever you have, to the tall sissy bar. Fill up a duffle bag full of whatever and strap it on. Personally, I use the Rev Pac that's specially designed to ride against the sissy bar and on the seat. You should check Rev Pack out.

Oh yeah... kind of off the subject... but it you decide to use easy brackets for saddlebags, make sure that you tell the guys at EZ Brackets that you have the tall sissy bar. Although, if you have EZ Brackets and want to remove the the sissy bar, contact the guy at EZ Brackets and request the standard bolt and fixture(only $20). You're going to need them and believe me, it makes a huge difference.

But you're right, bottom line is that the tall sissy bar takes away from the streamline look of the bike. That's why I keep a hex bolt and a socket handy, so I can take them all off when I arrive to my destination.

It's all trial and error my friend... find what fits your lifestyle.

Happy riding...
Jason

I've got the short one more for looks and they are also harder to find a sack to fit. As far as the X wife falling off the back is concerned....mmmmmmmmm.....may even take the short one off.

I thought she was riding with George?

Very good Moe (I was just fantisizing) By the way....where did you get the little dancing fellow....he's cool

My girlfriend who is 5'1" get the tall one

Hey Jason,

I'm going to be purchasing the easy brackets. I don't have the sissy bar now, but might get one in the future. Could you go into a little more detail about your setup. Is it just a longer bolt that's used for the sissy bar with the same bracket? As I don't really like the look of the sissy bar I would like to remove when not needed.

Jovi