Suspension Adjustable Headrest Position?

[devonian]

I just bought a suspension adjustable headrest for my V20, to smooth out some of the harsher roads where I live. Imagine my surprise when I mount it as the website shows and take it for a test ride, and it feels like I'm getting punched in the back of the head over potholes! Even with the height, distance, etc set correctly for me, it felt like it had zero suspension and instead was just a sharper, smaller pillow than the standard one.
Every photo and story I could find of it on this forum was the same mounting - clamp side facing downwards, with the "suspension" metal bar thus tilted at a close to 90 degree angle to the road. Despite this being the way it was photographed on the official shop page, I wondered about what exactly the suspension was supposed to be doing at that angle. It's compressing the bar nearly straight down the length, instead of bending it, and thus not actually giving any suspension - if you want suspension, you need something to be bending up and down above the road, not just bending backwards and forwards to protect against... acceleration and deceleration, I guess?
I decided to swap the mounting position to be on the very top of the headrest bar, so that the suspension bar is actually horizontal to the road. It's been even finickier to adjust, and required moving my headrest tube... worryingly far out, but it seems to actually work now! It cushions my head against the constant vibrations of the road that you normally get on a V20, and even offers pretty substantial protection against potholes.
So I'm wondering - is this really not the intended mounting for the headrest? It's the only mounting position I can think of that allows the "suspension" metal bar to actually work as a suspension spring, instead of just a fixed support post, which leaves me wondering what other intent could have been behind the design. It's obviously not as pleasant to work with (not nearly as much space to adjust on the top of the headrest post, for one), and looks extremely wonky, but it works leagues better.
Has anyone tried this before? And why are all the images of the suspension headrest of it in a position where the suspension will never actually be able to work?
If anyone wants, I would be glad to post a picture of what my setup looks like as well.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I just bought a suspension adjustable headrest for my V20, to smooth out some of the harsher roads where I live. Imagine my surprise when I mount it as the website shows and take it for a test ride, and it feels like I'm getting punched in the back of the head over potholes! Even with the height, distance, etc set correctly for me, it felt like it had zero suspension and instead was just a sharper, smaller pillow than the standard one.
Every photo and story I could find of it on this forum was the same mounting - clamp side facing downwards, with the "suspension" metal bar thus tilted at a close to 90 degree angle to the road. Despite this being the way it was photographed on the official shop page, I wondered about what exactly the suspension was supposed to be doing at that angle. It's compressing the bar nearly straight down the length, instead of bending it, and thus not actually giving any suspension - if you want suspension, you need something to be bending up and down above the road, not just bending backwards and forwards to protect against... acceleration and deceleration, I guess?
I decided to swap the mounting position to be on the very top of the headrest bar, so that the suspension bar is actually horizontal to the road. It's been even finickier to adjust, and required moving my headrest tube... worryingly far out, but it seems to actually work now! It cushions my head against the constant vibrations of the road that you normally get on a V20, and even offers pretty substantial protection against potholes.
So I'm wondering - is this really not the intended mounting for the headrest? It's the only mounting position I can think of that allows the "suspension" metal bar to actually work as a suspension spring, instead of just a fixed support post, which leaves me wondering what other intent could have been behind the design. It's obviously not as pleasant to work with (not nearly as much space to adjust on the top of the headrest post, for one), and looks extremely wonky, but it works leagues better.
Has anyone tried this before? And why are all the images of the suspension headrest of it in a position where the suspension will never actually be able to work?
If anyone wants, I would be glad to post a picture of what my setup looks like as well.

A pic of your setup would be nice Devonian. I am using the performance adjustable headrest bars, but I made my own pad and attached it with some DIYing. It works for my rides, but they are smooth and virtually no potholes.
Edit: I slipped foam handles over the vertical bars, and then wrapped velcro tape over those. After that I went to Japan's version of the Dollar store and bought a small plastic trash can and cut a small piece that was slightly wider than the gap between the bars, and put velcro on the back. On the neck side I put a 1cm piece of foam padding with adhesive backing, and then cut the bottom off a neoprene koozie (also bought at the "Dollar Store") and with a bit of scissor magic on the back of the neckrest, I trimmed off the excess to let the velcro do its thing. Cheap, no moving parts to break, no tools needed, adjustable on the fly, easy to remove the pad and clean. All in, probably about $10 worth of material. I can access the tailbag's small zippered pocket right behind my head while riding, as well as get anything out of the tailbag that is in the front part of the bag. I shortened the tailbag support bars, and both of the bar end tail lights can be pressed while moving. The tailbag is very secure, but can easily be removed by pinching the sides of the buttons on the small plastic quick release on the bottom. Speaking of the bag, it is a 14L-16L expandable seat bag bought at a motorcycle shop so it durable, water resistant, and the zippers are heavy duty.

 

[devonian]

A pic of your setup would be nice Devonian. I am using the performance adjustable headrest bars, but I made my own pad and attached it with some DIYing. It works for my rides, but they are smooth and virtually no potholes.

I've seen your setup around, it looks awesome! I do wish the performance adjustable headrest bars were still sold, they look extremely nice. Here are some photos of my headrest and setup though:

 

[Frito Bandito]

That looks nice! I love that floating fender too haha. I bought a fender, but I just quit riding in the rain lol. You might be able to fashion your own performance adjustable headrest. Lemme go measure the main connecting bar and try to get a better pic of everything.

 

[devonian]

Haha, thank you for the fender compliments! I like how streamlined it makes it look, at least! (No idea how it affects aerodynamics though :] ) And yeah, I would definitely love measurements of the bars! Making a version of the adjustable headrest bars would be a very neat project, and probably quite a doable one. I imagine the extra material and joint involved in pivoting upwards adds a tiny bit of suspension effect too, which would be cool! I love your rack as well, by the way - I've always thought it a shame that there are no official rack mounts or designs for the V20, because especially with the aerodynamic profile in the back of the bike they would be just perfect. Getting a good rack setup and then using the V20 to go bikecamping on has been a dream of mine for a while now.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thanks braddah, it took a few goes, but I am finally happy with what I have. It would be great if you could just get the whole system from CB as well because it would make it a quick and easy setup to possibly carry enough gear for camping and still be fast as hell.

Okay, first up is the center bar. Looks like it is 30mm diameter, and 12cm long. But to be sure just see what diameter handlebars are to accept bolt on TT bars. IIRC they may be 32mm, but you gotta check. My clamps are just slightly hanging off the main bar edges by 1/16th of an inch, so 13 or even 14cm long wouldn't hurt so you can have a bit of wiggle room just in case.
It is hard to see from the pic, but where those two bars come out from the frame and through the main bar, there is a lengthwise split in the main bar that changes the OD of the bar depending on how tight the clamps are.


Here is the seat bag expanded to 16L


And here it is at 14L

With the seat bag installed there really isn't a need for a fender because the rear wheel can't fling water on my head, but it would help keep the bottom of the bag from getting wet. Or, I could just put everything you need in a plastic shopping bag first before putting it in the tailbag.

 

[devonian]

Thank you for the measurements, and the (quite cool) bike pics! As it happens, I was actually just now able to buy the last Performance Adjustable Headrest directly from Cruzbike! I sent an email asking if they had any left, and apparently they had one used one left over in the warehouse. To anyone reading this post in search of one in the future, sorry!! Hopefully the measurements can help :] It'll arrive in a week or so, and until then I very much look forward to making a setup as nice as yours, FritoBandito! The suspension headrest and the performance adjustable headrest together should be the best of all worlds, I hope.

 

[Frito Bandito]

You're welcome, and thanks too. That's awesome you got one from CB. For the seat bag base bars any ol' TT bars will work. I found some that were angled a little so you can twist them to be wide where you need 'em or narrow depending on the width of your seat bag, as well as elevate or drop the ride height.

 

[LarryOz]

Has anyone tried this before? And why are all the images of the suspension headrest of it in a position where the suspension will never actually be able to work?
If anyone wants, I would be glad to post a picture of what my setup looks like as well.

There is really no right or wrong way to mount it - it obviously has multiple ways it can be mounted - all valid- what you have looks to the best option, especially for you.

 

[Beano]

I find the best place is where at the back of the head where the skull just starts to protrude is where you want the head rest to sit. It maybe different for other people though.

You may have to play around the stock headrest frame bringing that out or in to find the perfect fit. Put the bike on a trainer or in a stand to have stationary and find the best fit.

 

[Gregory Carlsen]

What ever works for you is the way you should go. The normal position (web site) works great for me.