passenger armrests wanted by wife..
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492 Posts
I'm in the same boat. After quite a bit of research on the Z-technik and Muddiman armrests, I have decided on Muddiman. I like how they fold up and not out, and have heard great things about them. Its just a matter of choice, both good products.
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737 Posts
I have had Don Muddiman's armrests (http://www.eagle-i.us/) for several and my wife loves them. When folded up, you hardly notice them. Easy to install with great instructions. Very competitive price too!
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512 Posts
Another nod for Don's armrests!!
Installed them in Jan 2009 and with over 30,000 miles on them, the wife loves them on long trips.
Well worth the investment, and easy to install with quality instructions.
One of my first farkles!!
Good luck!!
Bowdon
Installed them in Jan 2009 and with over 30,000 miles on them, the wife loves them on long trips.
Well worth the investment, and easy to install with quality instructions.
One of my first farkles!!
Good luck!!
Bowdon
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1,279 Posts
I have Muddimans and my wife won't travel with out them she likes them very much.
I altered the installation due to a wire flexing and breaking issue since you have to reroute
the case light wiring and switch. I used a mercury switch and it works excellent. It also
allows you to install them without cutting up the plastic and remounting the upper case
switch.
If anyone is interested I can take pictures of how this is done.
By altering the installation and can take them off and return the bike to stock condition with
out hardly being able to tell they were ever on the bike - for whatever that is worth!!
I altered the installation due to a wire flexing and breaking issue since you have to reroute
the case light wiring and switch. I used a mercury switch and it works excellent. It also
allows you to install them without cutting up the plastic and remounting the upper case
switch.
If anyone is interested I can take pictures of how this is done.
By altering the installation and can take them off and return the bike to stock condition with
out hardly being able to tell they were ever on the bike - for whatever that is worth!!
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23 Posts
Mine came with a set of Z-Tech style rests. Sweet wife sat on the back prior to purchase and gave her approval on both feel and appearance, but she hasn't been on a ride...yet.
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334 Posts
I would like to see your modified installation, Dan. I bought a new set of Muddimans before Christmas and have plans to install them in a couple of weeks. I probably will never want to take them off but who knows; this may not be my last LT after all.dfinazzo said:
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3,302 Posts
I think once you install Don's arm-rests, they are there for life. You do have to modify the trunk slightly, so you wouldn't want to have to try to swap them to another bike.
But once on, you don't even notice them there... I'm 1-up 99.9% of the time and they just stay folded up out of the way.
Well engineered and beautifully made.
But once on, you don't even notice them there... I'm 1-up 99.9% of the time and they just stay folded up out of the way.
Well engineered and beautifully made.
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1,478 Posts
Another very satisfied customer for Don Muddiman's arm rests. My wife loved the arm rests, but found them a little uncomfortable because they were too high. Don machined two more attachment pieces that lowered them about an inch. Perfect. Great customer service.
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4,850 Posts
Another rousing vote in favor of the Muddimans!
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6 Posts
Well, here are my two cents. I looked at both the Muddimans and Z-tech armrests. Without knowing how the Muddimans were installed at the time, I went with the Z-tech. The installation was fairly simple, just watch where you place the paper drilling patterns.
The main reason I chose the Z-tech was the way they folded out and up. The biggest concern here was in the event of a low speed drop, My wife would have half a chance of getting away from the bike with out being trapped. The Muddimans scared me in that you could not get off sideways without incurring major hurt.
In all fairness to Muddimans rests, they do appear to function easier and are adjustable in height where the Z-Tech is just one setting.
One other thing is installation. I am a machinist by choice and the Muddiman is a fine piece of work. I did look at the installation PDF just now and that is a lot of work and modification to get those arm rests installed.
My advice is to check out both the Z-Tech and Muddimans websites concerning the install process, then make your decision.
The main reason I chose the Z-tech was the way they folded out and up. The biggest concern here was in the event of a low speed drop, My wife would have half a chance of getting away from the bike with out being trapped. The Muddimans scared me in that you could not get off sideways without incurring major hurt.
In all fairness to Muddimans rests, they do appear to function easier and are adjustable in height where the Z-Tech is just one setting.
One other thing is installation. I am a machinist by choice and the Muddiman is a fine piece of work. I did look at the installation PDF just now and that is a lot of work and modification to get those arm rests installed.
My advice is to check out both the Z-Tech and Muddimans websites concerning the install process, then make your decision.
I've installed both Z-Tech on a 2001 and Muddiman's on a 2005. The Z-tech are the easier of the two with the drilling into the top case make you measure, and adjust the template several times to ensure its right. The only thing with the Muddimans (which is really not a concern) the bolts that run thru the bottom of the arms rest will rust over time.
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1,279 Posts
Here are some photos of my Muddiman Armrests install - click on first link!
I have only included pictures of the Mercury Switch install - this allows you to forget much of
the information on Pages 7 - 8 - 9 of Don's posted installation instructions.
The first three photos just show how clean the install is without relocating the trunk lite switch.
http://www.use.com/e08bd9705c22b04579ff
You can buy the switch on eBay for about $6.
It just so happens that there is a hole on the right side of the top case under the speaker
cover that perfectly fits the switch and it is at the right angle and only required me to push
the switch in. I did not use any adhesive or cement. Here is a link to an active Buy It Now
auction on eBay if it is not there just search for Mercury Switch and look for that appears in
one on my pictures - all you need to grind or cut off the metal tab
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAR-BIKE-BO...ultDomain_0&hash=item20c48f6c59#ht_500wt_1180
I also placed an adhesive block on the back wall to add tie wires to - to make sure the wires
and connector did not smash up against the speaker.
This is a much more simple and very reversible install than in the instructions!!
I have only included pictures of the Mercury Switch install - this allows you to forget much of
the information on Pages 7 - 8 - 9 of Don's posted installation instructions.
The first three photos just show how clean the install is without relocating the trunk lite switch.
http://www.use.com/e08bd9705c22b04579ff
You can buy the switch on eBay for about $6.
It just so happens that there is a hole on the right side of the top case under the speaker
cover that perfectly fits the switch and it is at the right angle and only required me to push
the switch in. I did not use any adhesive or cement. Here is a link to an active Buy It Now
auction on eBay if it is not there just search for Mercury Switch and look for that appears in
one on my pictures - all you need to grind or cut off the metal tab
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAR-BIKE-BO...ultDomain_0&hash=item20c48f6c59#ht_500wt_1180
I also placed an adhesive block on the back wall to add tie wires to - to make sure the wires
and connector did not smash up against the speaker.
This is a much more simple and very reversible install than in the instructions!!
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4,850 Posts
Anyone ever try to do a group buy from Don, as I know there are a number of us wanting to purchase?
We used to group buys fairly regularly, but have not seen on in a L-O-N-G time. If there is interest, I will be happy to try to work it out with Don.
If interested, see the Muddiman Arm Rest - Potential Group Buy (CLICK) thread and add your name to the list.
We used to group buys fairly regularly, but have not seen on in a L-O-N-G time. If there is interest, I will be happy to try to work it out with Don.
If interested, see the Muddiman Arm Rest - Potential Group Buy (CLICK) thread and add your name to the list.
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