Are you talking about both Rider and passenger back rest or just passenger ?

Have you thought of adding the rear grab bar ? She can grip that hand support herself .

 

Just the passenger is what I'm thinking. I can deal with discomfort by my own accord as I have been riding long enough and done some long days. However, with someone on the back and all up on me it just makes for an all around uncomfortable trip.

I've got one. It's Givi V46 top case. I have a E55 too, but it makes the S3 look like an AWACS.

So the Givi cases work alright on a S3? I never looked into it due to I assumed they wouldn't make them for this bike.

Get a TriboSeat cover - that will stop her sliding forward (or backwards) with the momentum shift of braking & accelerating.
They REALLY work and will make huge difference to your resepctive comfort.

Adding a grab bar is also good idea

http://www.triboseat.com/

I pulled up the link and saw they are really cheap. It just fits over the current seat I assume? Does it work with aftermarkets? I got a Sargent. For the price it seems worth checking out thanks.

Are you wanting to ride 2up for 200-300 miles, possibly more? On a regular basis? If so, then that's going into the realm of sport touring and you probably should consider a different bike for that sort of riding. S3 is a great all-arounder, but no bike is perfect for ever style of riding. You can certainly make it more comfortable for the pillion, and you wife might be perfectly fine with it.

That is... until she gets on a nice ST and sees just exactly how good a purposely-built machine can be.

I would love to ride 2-300 miles every weekend if given the chance. I'm used to taking nice long half-day or all day rides. I have been checking around on Craigslist for bikes. The Sprint is cheap used there and seems really nice. Would that be too similar to the Speedy? That is my concern. That has led me to look into a used Multistrada or V-Strom, though I really prefer Euro bikes so the Strom is likely not a possibility. On that note, would you recommed for Sprint or Tiger? I plan on making a thread about this on one of the other pages eventually but since you somewhat brought it up...

 

I've got one. It's Givi V46 top case. I have a E55 too, but it makes the S3 look like an AWACS.

 

.... that way we aren't bashing helmets and being uncomfortable. ...

Get a TriboSeat cover - that will stop her sliding forward (or backwards) with the momentum shift of braking & accelerating.
They REALLY work and will make huge difference to your resepctive comfort.

Adding a grab bar is also good idea

http://www.triboseat.com/

 

Are you wanting to ride 2up for 200-300 miles, possibly more? On a regular basis? If so, then that's going into the realm of sport touring and you probably should consider a different bike for that sort of riding. S3 is a great all-arounder, but no bike is perfect for ever style of riding. You can certainly make it more comfortable for the pillion, and you wife might be perfectly fine with it.

That is... until she gets on a nice ST and sees just exactly how good a purposely-built machine can be.

 

This is what you need to solve your problem..

 

I've looked into the V-Strom because I think they are really nice looking and I hear great things about their touring abilities, though I have not looked into the SV at all. How does it feel going from your 1050 to a much smaller 650 like that? That's another concern of mine. Plus I'm pretty much stuck on non-Japanese bikes. My issue is everone seems to ride a Harley or a Japanese bike. Silly reasoning, I know. But I am not at all writing the Suzukis off. I hear so many great things it would be a waste of me not to consider them. Plus the V-Strom is $11k MSRP that's a crazy good deal. BRB checking out SV.

I mounted a SW Motech Alu Rack as soon as I got the S3. I've gotten too used to having a top case for my street bikes. Can't live without one. Just about all top case can double as a pillion back rest.

The Sprint ST might have the same basic engine, but it is very different in character. The longer wheelbase and taller handlebars, as well as the full fairing makes for a proper sport tourer, probably one of the sportiest STs. I had an '09 Sprint ST and, while it was a great handling ST, the overall packaging left a bit to be desired. I probably would've kept it if it were the Sprint GT. Triumph fixed most of the Sprint ST problems on the GT.

Sprint or Tiger is a personal choice - sport tourer or adv tourer. If you need to sit up right, or ride over rough roads, or need a soft roader occasionally, or just like the styling of a DS bike, the Tiger is it. Sprint is for those who loved riding sportbikes but need something a bit more comfortable to carve canyons farther away from home.

I'm gonna look into this SW Motech right now. How did you feel the overall packaging of the Sprint ST left a bit to be desired? I ask because as it is right now the Sprint ST seems like a top runner for a second bike if I go that route. I see a fair-ish number of them on Craigslist and they are all decently priced. I have not seen a Sprint GT on there yet, but I also have not been looking long. Oh and do you happen to have a pic of your S3 with the rack? I'd love to see it.

 

I mounted a SW Motech Alu Rack as soon as I got the S3. I've gotten too used to having a top case for my street bikes. Can't live without one. Just about all top case can double as a pillion back rest.

The Sprint ST might have the same basic engine, but it is very different in character. The longer wheelbase and taller handlebars, as well as the full fairing makes for a proper sport tourer, probably one of the sportiest STs. I had an '09 Sprint ST and, while it was a great handling ST, the overall packaging left a bit to be desired. I probably would've kept it if it were the Sprint GT. Triumph fixed most of the Sprint ST problems on the GT.

Sprint or Tiger is a personal choice - sport tourer or adv tourer. If you need to sit up right, or ride over rough roads, or need a soft roader occasionally, or just like the styling of a DS bike, the Tiger is it. Sprint is for those who loved riding sportbikes but need something a bit more comfortable to carve canyons farther away from home.

 

I was thinking along the lines of a bike for your pillon

Keep the Speed shift the Pillon to the SV ... no more helmet bumping and whatnot.

 

Ahh, gotcha gotcha. That would be great I kinda wish she would. She has at least shown interest in getting a dirtbike with me in the next couple years. Man, we are still somewhat newlyweds. Been married about two years but the military keeps us apart a lot (like now) so imagine being newlyweds who spend a lot of time apart. She would definitely rather be on the same bike as me. Besides, who doesn't think those old couples on Goldwings are adorable up into their 80s? But hey, maybe someday.

For me, most of the problems with the Sprint ST relates to the underseat exhaust. It roasted my nuts and the "up-pipe" rotisseried my legs. The muffler packaging also made the seat taller than necessary and oddly shaped so as to compress my nuts no matter how I shifted on the saddle. If my nuts ain't happy, I ain't happy. Maybe a rider with a different height and inseam would sit differently on it, I dunno. Obviously there are plenty of happy ST riders around. Also, the included panniers are oddly shaped inside and neither side fits my XL Shoei.

I think Triumph only brought the GT over for '11 and '12, so there aren't too many of them around. Still, a couple of local dealers here have 3 GT's with low miles, but they can't seen to move them. So I would imagine you could get pretty good deals if you find one.

I will try to snap some pics of the S3R this weekend. I usually leave before dawn and get home after dusk.

BTW, I can vouch for the SV being a great platform. I have an '07 SV1K that I like a lot. Too bad Suzuki let the line languish when they could very well have cultivated the loyal following and grow it like Triumph did with the Street/Speed.

I happened to see a single GT listing on Craigslist today when I searched like 10 cities nearby. This listing was fortunate enough to have stated all the changes made to the GT in comparison to the ST and honestly the GT sounds like what I am really going to want. Unless I can find a good price on the ST of course. It did mention how the exhaust placement was changed and provides much more comfort now. You ever see a Speedy with a hard case on the back? Did you say that's what you have? So in my searches I stumbled across this bike and honestly I'm not sure if I will be able to settle for anything less right now: http://greenville.craigslist.org/mcy/4107682715.html Too bad I'm deployed for another 2-5 months or I would be all over this!

 

For me, most of the problems with the Sprint ST relates to the underseat exhaust. It roasted my nuts and the "up-pipe" rotisseried my legs. The muffler packaging also made the seat taller than necessary and oddly shaped so as to compress my nuts no matter how I shifted on the saddle. If my nuts ain't happy, I ain't happy. Maybe a rider with a different height and inseam would sit differently on it, I dunno. Obviously there are plenty of happy ST riders around. Also, the included panniers are oddly shaped inside and neither side fits my XL Shoei.

I think Triumph only brought the GT over for '11 and '12, so there aren't too many of them around. Still, a couple of local dealers here have 3 GT's with low miles, but they can't seen to move them. So I would imagine you could get pretty good deals if you find one.

I will try to snap some pics of the S3R this weekend. I usually leave before dawn and get home after dusk.

BTW, I can vouch for the SV being a great platform. I have an '07 SV1K that I like a lot. Too bad Suzuki let the line languish when they could very well have cultivated the loyal following and grow it like Triumph did with the Street/Speed.

 

Pics of V46 on SW Motech Alu Rack. The adapter plate can be quickly removed and the remaining rack doesn't look half bad by itself.

 

That rack and UFO on the back balance out the bridge girder that is the factory tail

 

Hehe... these days I'm not too fashion conscious. Utility is king. I actually like having the fender, why would I want to pay extra to eliminate it? I must be getting old, because I dont get these kids that tuck their license plate wayyy under the seat. Why give LEO an extra excuse to pull me over?

In fact, I added a carbon fender extender to the front. Keeping road debris from pelting the radiator is far more important than looking cool... or whatever having a short front fender is supposed to say about the rider.

 

I don't know what meaning the kids are attaching to the fender extender on the front ...
But if you extend the rear fender and add a dingle bell to the foot peg , I hear it means you secretly want a HD bagger ( say that fast and it sounds like t-bagger )

Seriously though , I can imagine it works well . And really any speedy done up to tour looks a little strange . And taking shots from a guy who rides a stretched 06 covered in Line-X with lights that have eyebrows has to be taken with a grain of salt :kettlepot

 

Volfy, does the top case feel secure enough to have someone leaning back against two up?

 

I would say, not in a cruiser "lean back on the sissybar like a sofa" kinda way. Unlike cruisers or Goldwings, the passenger on a bike like the S3 doesn't really lean back much, since the rider is typically leaned forward some. It's similar to a sportbike, just less forward lean angle. Your passenger will feel very weird if she leans back too far.

But rather, it gives the pillion assurance that there is something there to keep her from falling over the back end of the bike. And as a reference anchor point to steady herself.

I almost never ride 2up. When I do, it is to give my 3 munchkins rides around the neighborhood. They like having the top box there a lot. I think it is more psychological than anything. In fact, they like it even better when I have hard saddelbags on the bike (not the S3 of course). I also feel more secure about having something to "box them in".

 

DG, no worries, I know what you mean.

A while back, I was riding with a few friends with jazzed up HD baggers, and when we got to the hotel and parked out front, some guy (obviously not a rider) came up and instantly recognized the Harleys. After admiring them for a while, he turned to me, pointed at my VFR1200 (with the same V46 top case on) and, with a puzzled look, asked if that was a scooter.

I laughed and answer: "oh yeah... a really fast scooter".


BTW, I like your stretched S3. It's basically a naked Sprint ST. I actually thought about stripping the Sprint when I had it. I searched online and found somebody else who'd done it. Let just say it looked like a Scottman without his kilt... uh, no. Gave up on the idea. It is a lot better to do it the other way around - starts with a naked bike that is supposed to look naked.

 

I'm coming from an SV650 to the S3. You would be disappointed riding 2 up on it. While it handles well (with proper suspension mods), you would definitely feel like it is underpowered. Have you considered an SV 1000? Similar ergos to the 650, but closer in power to the S3.

FWIW my wife really finds the sv to be WAY more comfortable to ride than the s3 and she's only 4'11".


Sent from Motorcycle.com App

 

I considered the DL1000. I've been reading a huge thread on Stromguard comparing the two models and what I'm taking from it is the DL650 is enough for 95% of people and the DL1000 is mostly superior for highway speeds. I don't plan on highway speeds. The only reason I am attracted to these bikes is they are so cheap brand new. But I really don't think I could ride a Japanese bike after riding a Triumph. I could go European all day and take the dive into American with a Victory (no HD), but I'm just not into the massive popularity of Japanese bikes.


While it sounds like a top case for the S3 is not going to make it into the two up bike I would like, it does seem like the rack and case are going to be very beneficial on longer weekend+ trips where I'll be one up. I'm still young (23) and my body can take riding the Speedy all day so the case would be good. That way I don't have to hog up all my Dad's space in his Victory Cross Country Tour. Which makes me realize another bike is in order for two up. What do you think - Sprint (probably ST for used cost purposes), Tiger (used 1050), or Multistrada? I also like the Moto Guzzi Norge.

 

Found pic of a Streetie withe the same top case:

 

After putting more thought into everything, I am back on wanting to get a top case for my Speedy. My biggest concerns are:

Is the SW Motech Alurack secure enough to hold a ~50liter case loaded with goodies? Looks like any case is going to be ~10-12lbs and I'm guessing the Alurack has a max capacity of about 15 I believe? Seems like you can't hardly put anything in the case before it is over capacity. Especially the advertised 2 full face helmets it will fit. By loaded with goodies I mean maybe 6 changes of clothes and some snacks for a couple day trip. I seen a thread here where someone welded on additional support pieces on their rack. I would likely do that but that's after a 800 mile ride to visit parents who happen to have a welder.

Also, the biggest reason for the rack is so my wife can ride pillion. I took what someone else here said to heart about the seating position being where she won't be leaning back on the top case much. Surely some light leaning to change position will happen, and in that case it seems that the rack will definitely be pushed to the limits.

Is there a better option for a top case rack? I'm looking for a rack to support a decent size lighted (running and brake) case that could hold a reasonable amount of things for a 2up ride.

Reason why I am trying to go this route instead of a proper touring bike is that I would like my wife to be comfortable and I would like the peace (or is it piece?) of mind that there is something behind her to support her if she leans back too far. While I would love another bike, and I had been planning on it for well over a month now, we will be starting a family ASAP when I return from deployment and a 2up touring machine will likely not get much love during pregnancy or for a little bit of time after. Save a few thousand for the kid, right?

 

I've ridden mine for some 2 months now with the ALu Rack. On occasions, I've packed my GIVI V46 up to the gills with stuff. Just recently, it held my commuter backpack (no laptop, but usually an 8" tablet and camera), my lunch box, my overpants, and a pair of gloves. The rack doesn't feel stressed at all.

SW Motech changed to a different mounting system with the '11+ S3. The rails attach to the underside of the subframe, where as before, they had attachment points both over and above. It appeared to be the above attachment points that caused the failure. Since yours is an '07, I don't have first hand experience to offer.

 

Looks like it may use the the same mounting points as the rear pegs. I've removed my rear pegs, would that be an issue or would I just need to throw in an extra spacer?

 

I wouldn't worry about the spacers. The "arms" are long enough that a little bit of height difference at the ends won't matter much. You will probably just reuse the stock bolts, instead of using the SW-Motech supplied longer bolts, that's all.

 

what about one of these?

http://www.renntec.co.uk/product1125.html

 

Problem with the ST for passengers is the position of their foot rests when it comes to them getting on the bike.
The pegs are to close too the bags for the passenger to stand on one & swing their leg over.

 

The s3 is not much better I always tell my passengers to stand on my foot rest when first getting on .

 

I still think the S3 is like a 2+2 Coupe... yeah you could carry passenger in the back, if you have to for short hops, but it really isn't the best bike for 2up grand touring.

 

too true