Grab strap

Blueraven

90+ Posts
Nov 29, 2019
99
118
Omaha NE
I’ve got a grab strap on my Heritage and the Wife misses it on the Freewheeler.

Anyone know if one can be mounted and if so where to get it from?

I can always just get some leather and figure something out but I’d prefer something that is pre-made for this application.

And no the grab handles are not an option.

Been there and done that.
 
I’ve got a grab strap on my Heritage and the Wife misses it on the Freewheeler.

Anyone know if one can be mounted and if so where to get it from?

I can always just get some leather and figure something out but I’d prefer something that is pre-made for this application.

And no the grab handles are not an option.

Been there and done that.

Amazon… Shop…Grab straps for motorcycles…
 
I know what you mean about the Heritage passenger strap.

A sturdy leather bolted under the seat where a rider backrest would mount should work.
 
I've been looking into this myself. After taking the seat off the base looks thick enough to use a couple of screws and attach a grab strap of some sort. Can't bolt it to the frame you wouldn't be able to get the seat on or off. Harley doesn't appear to have made any provisions for a strap under the seat so it would be solely an improvised deal. I like the idea though. I don't ride anybody and have no need of a passenger back rest or the side hand holds. The strap would work in a pinch if necessary and clean the back end of the trike up. If I come up with anything I'll post back.
 
I did see that Harley does make a couple of seats that fit the Freewheeler and come with the strap. Don't know if it's worth spending $400 for seat to get a strap, but somebody may have a dealers parts book that may list it as a repair/replace item.

Screenshot at 2022-03-14 19-18-08.png
 
I did see that Harley does make a couple of seats that fit the Freewheeler and come with the strap. Don't know if it's worth spending $400 for seat to get a strap, but somebody may have a dealers parts book that may list it as a repair/replace item.

View attachment 106886

Yeah JT, I dunno about that, what I know is bagger seats will fit a Freewheeler, BUT the bagger seats that use a passenger grab strap attach to the side plates on the fender of a bagger via a docking set up. I have a Roadking seat on my Freewheeler, there is no provision for a grab strap, nothing on the seat pan to attach it to See # 20 here, you will not see it in your picture in your post, it is covered up by the saddle bag lid

HD17FLHR045.gif
 
Bummer. Hard to tell if the strap would be long enough to wrap under the frame of the factory Freewheeler seat. If it were long enough a couple of rivets and one large flat headed screw (I happen to have both) would secure it to the seat frame. That's how the strap on the P-Pad of my Triumph Storm was attached. If I could just get some strap that looked like the factory one I'd buy it just to try it. I know the strap would need to be at least 28" long to have enough to work with.

Screenshot at 2022-03-14 21-46-22.jpg
 
Bummer. Hard to tell if the strap would be long enough to wrap under the frame of the factory Freewheeler seat. If it were long enough a couple of rivets and one large flat headed screw (I happen to have both) would secure it to the seat frame. That's how the strap on the P-Pad of my Triumph Storm was attached. If I could just get some strap that looked like the factory one I'd buy it just to try it. I know the strap would need to be at least 28" long to have enough to work with.

View attachment 106890

How bout a thick black mens belt..AKA; Garrison belt..?
 
Bummer. Hard to tell if the strap would be long enough to wrap under the frame of the factory Freewheeler seat. If it were long enough a couple of rivets and one large flat headed screw (I happen to have both) would secure it to the seat frame. That's how the strap on the P-Pad of my Triumph Storm was attached. If I could just get some strap that looked like the factory one I'd buy it just to try it. I know the strap would need to be at least 28" long to have enough to work with.

View attachment 106890

I may have one (if I didn't throw it out) will look in a couple hrs. If I still have it,yours for ship. Removed from one of my 2 wheelers. I believe it screwed on underside of seat.
 
Still too cold to ride so I went out in the garage and grabbed an old belt.

With the stock seat, you'll need a least 24 inches of strap (start long, trim to fit later). Use the mounting points under the seat (yellow circles where Grasshopper backrest receiver is mounted).

IMG-20220315-115224.jpg


It should position the grab strap like this, just behind the slot for the rider backrest.

IMG-20220315-115139.jpg


That is a 1.5" leather belt in my example. One inch would be perfect. You could probably find a good leather, sacrificial belt in a thrift store for just a few bucks.
 
Still too cold to ride so I went out in the garage and grabbed an old belt. With the stock seat, you'll need a least 24 inches of strap (start long, trim to fit later). Use the mounting points under the seat (yellow circles where Grasshopper backrest receiver is mounted).

IMG-20220315-115224.jpg

How would you take the seat on and off?
 
Apparently the FXE Breakout had a strap just like my Triumph Speedmaster. Looks like it attaches underneath the seat pan, or could. They don't give any specs on it for length, but if the black leather strap I ordered doesn't look right I might try that next. I can return it if it's a no go.

Screenshot at 2022-03-17 12-48-02.jpg Screenshot at 2022-03-17 12-47-35.png
 
Apparently the FXE Breakout had a strap just like my Triumph Speedmaster. Looks like it attaches underneath the seat pan, or could. They don't give any specs on it for length, but if the black leather strap I ordered doesn't look right I might try that next. I can return it if it's a no go.

View attachment 106928 View attachment 106929

You might try these type nuts on the seat pan, cut a slot slide it in and drill a hole

00309181.jpg
 
Found this on eBay for $11 and $4 shipping. It's 29 1/4" long, plenty to work with. It's apparently for an '82 an up XL according to the HD instruction sheet that came with it. I positioned it and taped it to seat bottom for planning. There's plenty of thick plastic in that area and should have no problem getting a solid mounting. This is doable, but I'm in no rush to do anything right now.

IMG_20220324_162127350.jpg
 

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Finally had some weather where I wasn't freezing my hands off in my garage and screwed the Sportster strap I got to the seat pan. All good. Looks like the pics I posted previously so no sense in posting again. The idea being to remove the grab handles. Took off the right side grab handle first and was dissapointed to find the back part of the handle had imprinted itself into the paint and no amount of polishing was going to remove it. Not going to repaint the bike for this project so I put it back on. Oh well. Not that big a deal. Left the strap on for the time being. Doesn't look out of place so no need to do anything about it right now. It was still fun wrenching on the bike even if it wasn't productive. :)
 

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