I ride two up almost all the time. The bike I had before my k1600, a Harley Ultra Classic had better passenger accommodations and a more comfortable leaned back passenger position and no arm rest. with that being said I much prefer the K1600 to the Ultra

On the k1600 my girlfriend prefers to sit up straight to stay tight against me as the wind coming over the stock windshield is more comfortable for her that way. To be honest if we are going to do a short day ride (say 200 miles or so) we leave the top box at home because its easier for her to get on without it. We use it for long rides for storage and sometimes she will lean back to change her position.

I don't think this bike lends itself very well to the reclined passenger touring position you see on a harley or a wing. Its more of an upright sport touring position. I believe arm rest are unnecessary, but thats me.

 

I ride 2UP 99% of the time and we decided against the arm rests for aesthetic reasons. They are just plain ugly. The wife gets beat up by the wind pretty badly, even with the largest Cee Bailey available installed, but she doesn't want the arm rests.

While I haven't ridden a Wing, I can tell you that the Ultra Classic is tops in my mind (and hers) for rider and passenger comfort. It's literally a flying couch as far as we're concerned. The problem is now I'm addicted to the power and handling of the GTL and can't go back.

 

My wife said she didn't want the arm rests. She seemed to hesitate because of the money. Well, I spent a bundle on a GTL, so the arm rest cost was minimal in comparison. I bought them, and she loves them.

Regarding looks, they actually look quite good in person. Only drawback is that without modification, they don't come off, so riding a naked GTL is history.


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Sorry, one more thing. You'll find plenty of people willing to post why you should, or should not, buy arm rests, or any other specific accessory. There is no absolute right or wrong answer that applies to all. In the end, its got to be a personal decision.


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Amen to that. My CFO also cringed on the price, but I thought about getting them anyway. I didn't know that you couldn't remove them easily once installed. Thanks for that bit of info!

 

My wife really likes her armrests. I have also installed some Kuryakin Harley passenger floorboards (w/ minor modifications), so she is almost in a goldwing riding position with feet forward, on the backrest and arms on the armrests. I put the 2013 version grab handles on my 2012. I also have a RDL seat on the way, which should be the final piece in the barcalounger equation.

 

My wife really likes her armrests... I put the 2013 version grab handles on my 2012. I also have a RDL seat on the way, which should be the final piece in the barcalounger equation.

+1

We do a lots of 2-up riding (23,000 miles so far this year), a combination of road and GS-style. Our experience this year before and after the arm rests applies to us and may not apply to all:

We rode our 21012 GTL from Virginia on a southern route to the West coast this past March, and up the PCH to Whidbey Island, where we left the bike in our son's garage. It had RDL seats with a backrest for me, no arm rests, and my wife had complained that the grab handles were inaccessible.

From Whidbey we flew to Africa and rode for six weeks on two-up GS bikes (GSA for about 1,200 miles, that broke, then rode a F700GS for over 5,000 miles). The African roads through 8 countries were epic bad, but my wife is game for anything and we had the trip of our lives with Ayers Adventures. I say this to let you know she's not a 'Wing-style' pillion - she's up for anything. Anyway, from there we flew back to the west coast and I spent a day adding the arm rests and wider pillion grab handles from the 2013 model. These items had arrived from Max BMW while we were in Africa. We then left Whidbey and rode the Cascades, Lolo pass, Going-to-Sun road, Beartooth pass, Yellowstone, Tetons, Flaming Gorge, Kebler pass to Crested Butte, then through Denver and high-speed slab (I-70) directly back last week.

My wife describes the 'new' GTL with arm rests and usable grab handles as infinitely better for her. She's 5'1" and petite. She's now willing to ride 750-mile days, when 500 used to be the happy spot for stopping. Total cost was about $950 with the handles, but well worth it considering the benefit for long trips - especially welcome on long interstate slab days, when the kindle or books-on-tape come out...

The arm rests look fine, albeit kind of large, and it is amazing how different the grab handles are, but they bolt right on with existing hardware. Lee will continue to do GS rides with me (already scheduled for South America/Antarctica next year), but on the GTL and on smooth roads, this upgrade completes the bike for her. Money? Worth it? How much did we spend on these bikes? The quality is BMW-level, with full integration on the bike. Definitely worth it if you'll get more two-up time. Show her you care...

 

I'm 2-up 90% of the time. I would get the armrests in a heartbeat if my wife wanted them, but she is perfectly comfortable without them.

 

My wife keeps asking me if arm rests are available yet and I keep saying no. I know, bad on me.

She's never had them on our bikes (we've been riding for 44 years) and has only ridden this one for one weekend in the past 15 months. I'm a make versus buy kind of a guy and haven't quite figured out how to make a set that is easily removable yet. I guess a set bolted to the trunk would work.

I've got a Valkyrie that we use to ride 2 up a lot so I'm thinking about putting some on it for the infrequent times we ride together.

 

We had Armrest on the LT & Sammie got very use to having them. When we got the GTL 2 years ago she kept asking about the armrest. To keep Mama happy I made a set from a 1500 Goldwing work & she is very happy again.

I'm a make versus buy kind of a guy and haven't quite figured out how to make a set that is easily removable yet. I guess a set bolted to the trunk would work.

Remove 1 bolt on the pivot point & the arms come off.

here are a few pics

 

My wife had me design a mount to add to a modified Kuryakyn floorboard (which I also was "encouraged" to do for my RT) and when she saw the arm rests pics suggested I order them as soon as they were available. She enjoys both, therefore I am happy.

 

Removable Armrest Modification

Attached photo is of modificaiton made to make the armrests quickly removable(2 minutes), after welding and sandblasting prior to painting. The result when removed is a small black plate just under the passenger grab rails. I very much disliked the look of the armrests when riding solo but my wife loves them when she's along

 

Attached photo is of modificaiton made to make the armrests quickly removable(2 minutes), after welding and sandblasting prior to painting. The result when removed is a small black plate just under the passenger grab rails. I very much disliked the look of the armrests when riding solo but my wife loves them when she's along

That is great!
Did you just cut the tubing and weld in the two plates?
What kind of bolts did you use for the quick release?

 

My wife would not have wanted to spend that much on the armrests so soon after spending so much on the bike itself. Thankfully, I was able to roll the total cost of the armrests (installed) into the purchase, even though we had to wait for a couple weeks for the parts to come in.

Before they were installed, my wife kept saying she didn't think we needed them, and wished I hadn't rolled them into the total purchase. After they were installed, she has thanked me many times for providing her this added bit of comfort. She loves them! :gm

 

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. As has been pointed out, to have, or not have armrests, will be whatever the pillion rider prefers.

I am thinking that once my wife tries them, she will like them. So I think I will purchase them next Spring since we do not have any long rides planed before it is time to store the bike for the upcoming winter.

 

I had the BMW armrests installed before taking delivery of my bike. They are rather expensive but are worth every penny to me because my wife loves them. I think they look great and find them to be made of high quality materials. I'm glad I got em!

 

Armrest mod

I made a jig to hold all pieces in alignment and then just cut out 1/2 inch while jigged. Then welded in the 2- 1/4" plates on each side. Tapped threads on the inner plate and used stainless allen head bolts. The result is very rigid and I use a 5" long socket mounted allen wrench to remove or re-install. I like to ride with no cases at times and if you have mounted the armrests conventionally you know there is no taking them off without being a major process.

 

I made a jig to hold all pieces in alignment and then just cut out 1/2 inch while jigged. Then welded in the 2- 1/4" plates on each side. Tapped threads on the inner plate and used stainless allen head bolts. The result is very rigid and I use a 5" long socket mounted allen wrench to remove or re-install. I like to ride with no cases at times and if you have mounted the armrests conventionally you know there is no taking them off without being a major process.

Very well done, and the only way I would consider adding armrests. Do you have any other photos?

 

A must have. My passenger loves the armrests especially when she falls asleep. Which are most times she is on the bike.


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Ditto


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Can I put the GTL armrests on a GT?

 

Yes, they are the same part.

 

do they mount on the frame or on the box? The GT box sits different on the bike (not sure if it's closer or farther away from the rider.)

 

The system mounts on the frame, not the box.

 

The BMW armrests are great looking and comfortable. The problem is that they are rather flimsy. I broke one as my wife's handbag strap got caught up on one and she fell taking the armrest with her.

BMW does not sell a replacement part and they force you to buy the whole kit. That'a abusive.

 

That is surprising as I find the armrests to be rather well made and solid. However, I do seem to remember seeing a thread where one of them broke off somehow in a non-crash incident.

 

I'll be getting the arm rests for the wife in the spring. The back rest on the '12 road glide ultra had a curved section that came out far enough for her to rest an elbow on it which she liked as it gave her a different position. (Kinda like us riders that enjoy an extra set of pegs on the crash bars) I really don't care that the armrests are not removable, I probably won't ever take the top case off the bike anyways. I spent a bunch of extra cash on my 07 RG to put on a quick detach tour pack as I thought I would remove it.... In the 5 years I had that bike I never took it off.

 

We had a K1200 LT rider at one of our rallies fall over at a near standstill and his wife broke 2 ribs due to the armrests. I think anything that keeps you from escaping a 800 Lb falling over motorcycle is dangerous low speed or especially high speed. Maybe a good thing they break off easy?

 

Saturday my wife and I went to the local BMW dealer so that she could sit on a GTL Exclusive. I wanted her to see what she thought of the arm rests. She thought that they were too wide. That is, she had to move her arms too far away from the side of her body to be comfortable. She is 5'6'', average build.

Has anyone else's passenger said the same thing about the arm rests?

 

Saturday my wife and I went to the local BMW dealer so that she could sit on a GTL Exclusive. I wanted her to see what she thought of the arm rests. She thought that they were too wide. That is, she had to move her arms too far away from the side of her body to be comfortable. She is 5'6'', average build.

Has anyone else's passenger said the same thing about the arm rests?

My wife likes them and their positioning.......but she doesn't use them all the time either.
She folds them back for a while then when she wants to use them moves them forward.......when she is feeling tired/sleepy, she likes them as it makes her feel more secure.

Nothing is going to suit all body sizes and preferences, unless somehow they made them adjustable side to side.

 

My 2012 GTL is the first touring bike that I have owned. I want my wife to have a comfortable ride, and because many touring bikes that I have seen have passenger armrests, I suggested to her that I put a pair on my bike.

My called my local BMW dealer to get a price estimate. It was much higher than I expected -- $719! Plus $339 to install them.

My wife said that for that much money, she will ride without them. However, even though we both think they are expensive, I think it would be worth it since I think it would greatly improve her riding comfort.

So for those who you who ride two-up, what does your pillion rider say about having, or not having, armrests? Are they worth the price?

My wife doesn't like to ride without them. She feels safer while she sleeps.

 

I have a 2014 GTL-E and my wife loves the armrests. The BMW has so much snoot, it helps her feel like she isn't going to fly off the bike when I get a bit to "throttle happy". As far as looks go, my GTL-E is the sexiest thing on two wheels.

 

I agree with the no armrest. I had them on my Ultra Glide and she loved the bike... I dont think they are so necessary on the GTL. Even if they were 1/2 price, I would still have to consider their worthiness...

 

Randy, if she likes the just get them. A & S recently had 15% off for BMW parts. Get them and put them on yourself. Also post in the forums classified that you want to buy them. Many members ride one up and don't need them. My WIFE loves them as she did on the LT. Your girl will feel more secure & fall asleep!

 

My SO does not want the armrests either.

We may trade up to the Exclusive but, it won't be because of the armrests.