Sissy Bar Sportster 96-03 - Chrome

Backrests for motorcycles were born from a reaction by early chopper builders to emerging safety laws in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. In those days, new vehicle codes required motorcycles to feature a safety bar behind the rider and passenger to support their bodies under acceleration. Disgruntled chopper freaks installed clownishly tall safety bars on their bikes to raise a metaphorical middle finger to what they considered legislative overreach. When these hand-fabricated contraptions proved helpful for hauling girlfriends and gear without losing either off the back of the motorcycle, the so-called “sissy bar” became an enduring fixture in timeless chopper design and style.