Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Made my own sissybar.. would like feedback

See it on my T-Rat page
Since I had relocated my turnsignals, I am unable to use the Triumph mounting backets for the factory sissybar, so....I made my own, and would like your thoughts. I need to find some type of emblem about 2.5" wide that I can mount on the back and can't come up with anything.

It took quite a bit of heating and bending to get the curves right since I started with a flat sheet of cold-rolled steel, but eventually I got the contour I was looking for. Neither of these pics show it well, but from the side, the curve at the bottom complements the fender perfectly. No part of the bar touches the fender & I made no irreversible mods to the stock pillion & did not modify the fender. The bar attaches to the pillion only, so it comes off as one piece.

I still have some grinding work so smooth the edges before I send it off to the chrome shop, but for now, it's functional. I also have to make two tabs to stablize the side screws on the back. These will work like the clips you hang bathroom mirrors with and will be chrome also.

The backrest is from a Kawasaki somethin-or-other, but it works. Finally, both the pillion and the backrest will be recovered to match the Ostrich saddle.

I like it. It is very clean. How sturdy is it?

For an emblem, how about the Triumph triangle that says "Made in England" on it?

Soren

So the only thing holding it is that one itty-bitty 8mm bolt?

It looks cool,but how strong is it? If you can get hold of a roller that can put a crease/ridge down the middle, it would be stronger.

Well he said it attaches to the pillion itself, so it's held on by the front bolt too.

It is real strong the steel is 3/16" and was a b!@tch to work with unless red hot. It does have a small amount of flex if you push straight back on it. If a passenger pushes on it hard enough to bend it, I am pretty sure that will mean we've been rear-ended.

Actually, it attaches to the pillion & never touches the fender. I'll have to take a picture of the bottom of the pillion. It is a single piece of steel that runs the all the way under the pillion.


It has a good 400 miles of use on it now & there is no sign of anything giving out or breaking so far.

3/16" is good and thick. Don't think you'll be breaking that soon! Please do take a pic of the mount, I'd like to see it.

I also like the idea of rolling a bead down the center. Would make it very strong....

Can you roll a bead after bending? Not sure I could bend 3/16 steel, but I have a bead roller for smaller stuff. Wondering if there would be a creative way to make something similar out of thinner stock, but with some gussetting or something, yet no welding....

I'm sure the 3/16th steel is plenty strong. I'd be concerned whith the fender cracking where it bolts up. Seems to me it wouldn't hold up with someone leaning back. I suppose a reinforcing plate under the fender my eliminate that issue.

It is pushing on the same 4 places the stock pillion seat is pushing...

But the forces exerted are not the same.
A plate under the fender would distribute the load.
Also, if it was heated red hot, I would re-heat it
to restore the original temper.