Laurie, I was skeptical when I built it looking at the pictures. Started with a 8 deg bent on the brackets, loosely assembled everything and I could feel the end of the brackets. Finally ended up with a 11 deg bend with the backrest 2 more notches forward and that works only because I don't sit up straight when I ride. Like to lay back and get comfortable and enjoy the ride. The bend on the brackets could be 15 deg I think but any more than that and the contour of your back wouldn't fit the contour of the backrest. Course if you were inventive, something could be done there also.