I know this has been covered before and I've seen some different methods in the past but is there anyone that has a good semi easy solution for an xr buggy backrest? I've seen some wood ideas and some PVC ideas but wanted to know how they hold up or if someone has made a decent one that they have been using for awhile. I made a simple one today that worked but I think there is probably some better ideas. I'll post a picture of what I have so far.

This is what I did for the Vmax. Cost very little and has held up perfectly for several years. I'd be surprised if you couldn't modify a little for the XR.

Backrest for Vmax

BeamerBob has a great backrest plan for the XR. I think it's all iron pipe fitting & whatnot... If you can afford it though, I REALLY recommend the VTT rail kit. It turns the XR into an all new buggy.

Thanks John, that's a great idea. I didn't think of using fence end rail clamps to join the bar to the buggy.

Spencer: yes, the rail kit or other drastic buggy upgrade is on the horizon but I wanted something I could tinker with for awhile and be inexpensive.

This was BB's mod circa 2010 for a PL bigfoot buggy... looks simple and I think it just clamps onto the rails.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=8698#pid652...

This is the thread that describes how I built my backrest. The pic links were broken so I fixed those. They show cad drawings of the dimensions for a backrest for an XR+ and an original Flexi buggy.

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=8698#pid652...

This is the thread that describes how I built my backrest. The pic links were broken so I fixed those. They show cad drawings of the dimensions for a backrest for an XR+ and an original Flexi buggy.

IMG_9617 by Musekiter, on Flickr

Thank you very much Bob. I made a second version today that looks better than the first but isn't very comfortable. I will make your version.

Here is take 2 on backrest. Hopefully 3 will be charm. My second version works and is solid but the bar hits me in the lower back. I think I'm getting closer to the right idea at least.

i think you need to try dropping the seat down..my xr has an awoc backrest that sits like that but my ass is dropped down much more...im in there nice and deep and much harder to get pulled out...my bar is across shoulder blades...

Funny you say that. I literally just raised the seat only because my arse was dragging on patches of tall weeds. Normally I have my seat a bit lower. Do you have the hump part as well or just the bar?

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Funny you say that. I literally just raised the seat only because my arse was dragging on patches of tall weeds. Normally I have my seat a bit lower. Do you have the hump part as well or just the bar?

you'd be amaze at what you can get out of bigger tires to raise your ride height too... I went and got lightly used golf cart tires free for my back wheels (18x8.5-8's) and a new front midi (16x6.5-8) and only spent $27 overall for the one new tire,... the midi on the from is a truer 16" diameter, so with the additional height in the back I gained about 1.5" of ride height.

How many teeth did you knock out with your knees in your face like that lol. Gotta love a real buggy when you have leg room

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=8698#pid652... This is the thread that describes how I built my backrest. The pic links were broken so I fixed those. They show cad drawings of the dimensions for a backrest for an XR+ and an original Flexi buggy. IMG_9617 by Musekiter, on Flickr

Being in my xr buggy is the one time I'm glad I'm short.

Man, when I got those tires on, I was king of the beach! It rode smoothly and would roll right over sand you could barely walk on. If I stretched it out any further, I lost steering control, so had to just deal with the bent knees. Dino, if you remember, this was my ride when I moved to CA. Rode this setup several times at the sodfarm.

I remember you one day on a standard pl and you burned your elbows on the rear tires lol

Yep, that was my gateway buggy till the Ivanpah was delivered! Next time out, I burned the scabs off my elbows! I just don't fit.:D

I hit my bows on the big foots on my libre. But I have the same issue Bobby has. Long arms! I need to make up some extensions.

I have the original " Spring Back " back rest built with the same idea as the woody you show. It is Plexiglas.

What I find is a HOOJ advantage with this style back rest is the lateral support it gives me . Frankin'buggy is so old it pre-dates articulated side rails. If I didn't have the straps from the Spring Back holding me in I would be screwed. They don't just hold me in but are comfortable. My straps are brought farther forward than you have them in the picture.

I have the " Rub Elbow " issue with my little buggy BIG time !

out of the 2 I have made so far, the plywood spring back is more comfortable.

Bladerunner, does your spring back fit in a pocket on the seat and how thick is the plexiglass?

No pocket. It is a solid piece with long thin holes for the straps and it is now U-clamped to the axle. I would guess it is just a bit less than 1/4' thick. Not the original axle mount but it works great. The blocks you have on yours make sense for the XR. I sit too far back ( by design ) in my buggy but have no choice. Keeping your body / back forward is important. Too far back and you kick out the back wheels too easy.

I'm curious, ...I can't see how Ssayre's backrest is attached to his seat. Need another pic from front or perhaps side view..
Will it fold down flat for packing?

The' springbacS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- plexi works great and can attach right to axle on the PL comp ST as the seat's back end is quite close to the axle. You can fold it down nice and flat for packing with practically no bulk added.

... but the XR+ has too much of a gap between the seats back end and the axle. You either have to attach it to the seat like Ssayre did( and also' hold it out' with straps back to axle) or use a block/spacer that attaches to axle to get the backrest just behind your seat.


Don't know how easy Ssayer's set up folds down ...but for me, I'm fitting my buggy in the trunk of a Honda Civic coupe! My springback on my old ST folds completely flat and easy. "Rail kit' backrest would not work for me... would have to be removed each time .

Side straps in both cases are similar operation and adjustable(for back angle or completely loosened for folding/packing) .

skim, my first back rest was bolted right through the webbing of the top of the seat which is not ideal. I took it apart. I'm going to make another springback that bolts to the axle and is blocked at the bottom like you said. I'm also going to try the beamerbob backrest as well. So far I've had almost everything I need in my garage so I've only spent $20 so far. That makes experimenting easy.

Dirtslide has some real good detailed pics of old school springbacks on some of his vintage buggys. Didn't know if you saw those or not in the forum search. Can't for the life of me find them, but they are in here..

There are some pics and links related to springbacks towards the end of this thread:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=27173#pid26...

Thanks IMK, but I'm currently trying very hard to reinvent the wheel. It will be kind of a hybrid between a couple of established ideas.

There is a seat made for canoes and stadiums. It's simply a padded 2 piece hinged seat. It has snap straps to keep it in place. Sold at Cabelas, Gander Mtn, DicS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s, etc. Less than $20.

Backrest "Take 3"

This time I used a 1" piece of PEX clamped to the buggy with 1 3/8" fence clamp. I plugged the ends of the pex and wrapped the siderails and the ends of the pex with EPDM rubber membrane to hold better and to dampen any sound. It's very supportive, has a slight flex for comfort and safety. My original idea was to support the top of the pex with webbing tied back to the frame like a spring back but I'm not sure I need to as strong as it feels. I will need to test to see if the tubing will try and kink. Either way, this is very comfortable and I think is my final design with the exception of spring back webbing if I need it and maybe some padding. I forgot to mention that 1" PEX is very rigid so I used a heat gun to ease assembly. Not sure that would be needed though. And this is extremely cheap. Less than 20.

Update: I supported it with webbing from the top of the back wrapped around side rails and tied to downtube. That made it perfect. Super comfortable. I'm sitting in it now

Thanks jamkiter, I had considered that as well but never made it to gander mountain to try them out.

Turned out good bro!!