We ride two up, 98% of the time. My wife and I are not small people. I upgraded to Progressive brand Fork Springs and sealed shocks within a month of getting the Voyager -- never tried using the OEM suspension system with fresh oils. Get
Heavy Duty Springs only: tried
Regular Springs, blew out the shocks within one month, had to buy new shocks and
Heavy Duty Springs! Have not had an issue since the second set was installed, back in 2010, and we have ridden them for 20,000+ miles, so far.
We trade positions on the bike, every two hours: the rear position is cramped, even with trunk extenders, and passenger highway pegs to allow us to move our legs around just a bit! We both need a change after 2-3 hours on the rear seat. The
Trunk Extenders are a
requirement, for us: we are both 5' 11", with long legs.
We take as many long weekend rides as possible, typically 4-8 hours on the bike each day we ride. We tour, nearly every year. Most tours are 3-7 days riding on the bike. We recently began trailering our bike to our destination home base, riding the bike from there, doing cloverleaf rides. Love it: we're not tired of riding when we arrive; we ride if the weather is tolerable, drive if it is not; we ride home in our Jeep Cherokee, relaxed and comfortable. We have no problem being "Trailer Trash"!
We have tried various seat covers: sheepskin, wooden beads (#2), Airhawk, and a
Gypsy Quilter Sit Upon (#1), which is really the best, so far. The Airhawk was about worthless for us -- your mileage may vary.
Our Voyager is top-heavy, without any seat cover in place. The Gypsy Quilter raises us both up, around one inch -- this makes the bike even more top-heavy. Be aware that any seat cover will raise you up higher, and that
will affect the balance of the bike...
A custom seat, built to your body measurements can be a wonderful thing, if they are done properly. They are a lot of money, and there are no refunds. They are also cut to each person's measurements: they will not be comfortable if you switch positions on the bike. Do your homework before investing in any custom seat, to make an informed decision.
I highly recommend a backrest for the driver, if you can find one! One of the best touring accessories possible. The trunk extenders are a must, IMO. The passenger highway pegs are nice, and they extend the tolerance period on the back by 30-60 minutes, for us.
If you tour, load your heaviest gear in the saddlebags, put your lightest gear in the trunk (too much will make the bike too top-heavy...). If you get the Trunk Extenders, pushing the Trunk all the way back will create a pocket, between the passenger's seat, and the Trunk: it is a great place to store soft stuff, like a bike cover, or rain gear!
Experimentation is King, Baby! Try short rides, to see how it goes for both of you. Gradually increase your time in the saddle, allowing yourselves to gain comfort and proficiency. It is worth the investment. Our rides are when we are the happiest: no work/family distractions, just the two of us, breathing in the scents of the life around us, drinking in the gorgeous beauty, enjoying the freedom of the ride. We live to ride, and we ride to live. Cheers!
) and there were no settings for two up riding. She rode said her ass hurt. I spent $400 on a new saddle she rode again said her ass hurt and never got back on the bike. Fast forward 21yrs and a touring bike purchase and now I need info. I know I will need to adjust for stopping and starting and I need to tell her to lean with the bike but what else do I need to worry about? I see there are shock adjustments that can be made for two up riding. Do you guys utilize those dial setting? Is there a chart for weight vs which number to set to? etc., etc., etc. or anything else you can think of.
