Back Agony - how to deal with it?

[GPRIDER]

Unless you get your riding position upright or even back a little, I don't see a backrest helping. If you can get your position where you would be leaning back against it, the backrest would probably help.

GP

 

[copron]

I came from riding standards and cruisers for 40 someodd years. When I first got the FJR I had the same problem you are describing. First the FJR is not tolerant of bad posture if you slouch on it like a cruiser you will be hurting in short order, handlebar risers help a lot. Also I have found that if you have you windshield at its highest position the back pressure forces your head forward and downward putting a lot of stress on you neck and upper shoulders. With the combination of risers and running with the windshield lowered along with proper posture I can now ride all day long.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Unless you get your riding position upright or even back a little, I don't see a backrest helping. If you can get your position where you would be leaning back against it, the backrest would probably help.GP

Sounds like: (maybe?) a case of "wrong bike"...?

Sounds like: the OP is "trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"?

Sounds like: what he wants/needs is the traditional All-American motorcycle with a laid-back riding position -- big wide 'Western' H/Bars (that come back to meet you); feet up and forward; rider leaning way back and relaxed.

IOW: like a gentleman...

 

[Andyfjr]

There nothing wrong with the bike or the rider, just the fact its 4100kms in 5 days. By all means, modify to your heart's content, it will certainly make long trips more tolerable.

Andy

 

[Island_FJR]

Unless you get your riding position upright or even back a little, I don't see a backrest helping. If you can get your position where you would be leaning back against it, the backrest would probably help.GP

Sounds like: (maybe?) a case of "wrong bike"...?

Sounds like: the OP is "trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"?

Sounds like: what he wants/needs is the traditional All-American motorcycle with a laid-back riding position -- big wide 'Western' H/Bars (that come back to meet you); feet up and forward; rider leaning way back and relaxed.

IOW: like a gentleman...

It's interesting you mention this! I have thought about this a lot. I've spent a lot of time on sport bikes, standards and even dual sport so I thought it must be the bike. I almost bought a BMW last year instead of the FJR but felt I couldn't really justify the extra expense - especially because of the recession and economy. Spent lots of time here (lurking h34r: ) and other places reading up on the two bikes but felt the FJR was the right bike. It'd didn't help that the BMW dealership was really unhelpful! Anyway, long story short, I ended up with the FJR. Now, it looks like I will still spend the extra money to make the bike work for me. Risers, seat mods, highway pegs, cruise control or throttle control. I bet, at the end of it all, it will bring my FJR into the same price range as the BMW I was looking at. Maybe the BMW would have just fit better. Unfortunately, I can't tell from just sitting on a bike, or doing a 5 minute drive.

 

[Island_FJR]

I came from riding standards and cruisers for 40 someodd years. When I first got the FJR I had the same problem you are describing. First the FJR is not tolerant of bad posture if you slouch on it like a cruiser you will be hurting in short order, handlebar risers help a lot. Also I have found that if you have you windshield at its highest position the back pressure forces your head forward and downward putting a lot of stress on you neck and upper shoulders. With the combination of risers and running with the windshield lowered along with proper posture I can now ride all day long.

I found the windshield lowered from it's highest position was more comfortable too. An acquaintance and former colleague of mine sold me a brand new larger Cee Bailey (?) wind shield. I plan to put that on this spring too.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Here's a link to the throttle lock that I have should have put on instead of one of the bar end models that I did chose. https://www.2wheelrid...ttle_order.html

Thanks for that link. Got one on order. I've got a throttle rocker, use it everyday. But I was looking for something hands free...and cheap. Had tried the caterpillar drain plug O-ring, but that would start slipping pretty quickly. This looks like it will fill the bill for my trip to Memphis at the end of the month.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Unless you get your riding position upright or even back a little, I don't see a backrest helping. If you can get your position where you would be leaning back against it, the backrest would probably help.GP

Sounds like: (maybe?) a case of "wrong bike"...?

Sounds like: the OP is "trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"?

Sounds like: what he wants/needs is the traditional All-American motorcycle with a laid-back riding position -- big wide 'Western' H/Bars (that come back to meet you); feet up and forward; rider leaning way back and relaxed.

IOW: like a gentleman...

...I have thought about this a lot.

I almost bought a BMW last year instead of the FJR

...ended up with the FJR. Now, it looks like I will still spend the extra money to make the bike work for me. Risers, seat mods, highway pegs, cruise control or throttle control. I bet, at the end of it all, it will bring my FJR into the same price range as the BMW I was looking at.

Maybe the BMW would have just fit better.

Yep..., a traditional All-American motorcycle like a BMW... :blink:

 

[rfespinosa]

What BMW were you looking at? Did you plug it into the riding position link? How did it compare to the FJR?

Before the FJR, I had an '04 BMW K1200 RS, it had a more aggressive riding position than the FJR even with the bar backs I had installed. But due to other sports bike I have owned since, I have gotten used to the more aggressive riding position, and now, my FJR bars are in the forwards most position and I wish they were lower. Go figure!

I think you should keep working with the FJR, I think you will find something that will cure the pain.

 

[Island_FJR]

What BMW were you looking at? Did you plug it into the riding position link? How did it compare to the FJR?

Before the FJR, I had an '04 BMW K1200 RS, it had a more aggressive riding position than the FJR even with the bar backs I had installed. But due to other sports bike I have owned since, I have gotten used to the more aggressive riding position, and now, my FJR bars are in the forwards most position and I wish they were lower. Go figure!

I think you should keep working with the FJR, I think you will find something that will cure the pain.

Mostly the K1300GT. Looks like it is slightly more upright then my bike even when I plug in the risers and lowering the seat. Hmmmmmm.

 

[Wingjon]

Had all the same problems when I first bought my '06. A new windshield helped a lot, then I added the Heli bars and a Russell seat with backrest. The Master Yoda riding position helps a lot also. With all that, it is now the most comfortable bike (or any vehicle) I have ever owned including an 1800 Wing.

 

[networkguy]

I dunno how you do it with a backrest...you guys must not be sitting at a slight forward angle. I mean, to lean back against the back rest, you gotta be sittin' like on a cruiser...which seems tough to do on the FJR to me.

 

[palerider]

Unless you get your riding position upright or even back a little, I don't see a backrest helping. If you can get your position where you would be leaning back against it, the backrest would probably help.GP

Sounds like: (maybe?) a case of "wrong bike"...?

Sounds like: the OP is "trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"?

Sounds like: what he wants/needs is the traditional All-American motorcycle with a laid-back riding position -- big wide 'Western' H/Bars (that come back to meet you); feet up and forward; rider leaning way back and relaxed.

IOW: like a gentleman...

It's interesting you mention this! I have thought about this a lot. I've spent a lot of time on sport bikes, standards and even dual sport so I thought it must be the bike. I almost bought a BMW last year instead of the FJR but felt I couldn't really justify the extra expense - especially because of the recession and economy. Spent lots of time here (lurking h34r: ) and other places reading up on the two bikes but felt the FJR was the right bike. It'd didn't help that the BMW dealership was really unhelpful! Anyway, long story short, I ended up with the FJR. Now, it looks like I will still spend the extra money to make the bike work for me. Risers, seat mods, highway pegs, cruise control or throttle control. I bet, at the end of it all, it will bring my FJR into the same price range as the BMW I was looking at. Maybe the BMW would have just fit better. Unfortunately, I can't tell from just sitting on a bike, or doing a 5 minute drive.

I didn't go with the BMW because I found its riding position to be more forward-leaning than the FJRs. I was able to take a long ride on the BMW and developed back pain after just 20 minutes and would have had to spend the extra BMW hostage money AND then spend money on ergo tweaks. This is going to continue to be a problem for any older guy with back issues who wants to go with something sportier than a cruiser. I'm just happy I was able to get my issues worked out. I hope you get yours worked out too. I'm confident you will.

 

[Dr. Bones]

Wow, what alot of responses!

Doesn't anyone treat the underlying problem anymore? Farkling and everything else helps (got lots myself) but it's always a case of exposing the body to a stress level it's not used to, causing part failure (pain). Core strengthening increases your body's ability to handle physical load (stress) before part failure (pain). So the previous posters were correct, you probably have a structural issue not brought forth by previous bikes.

You need to see this guy.

www.drsmccormack.com

he's an ace!

 

[Island_FJR]

Wow, what alot of responses!

Doesn't anyone treat the underlying problem anymore? Farkling and everything else helps (got lots myself) but it's always a case of exposing the body to a stress level it's not used to, causing part failure (pain). Core strengthening increases your body's ability to handle physical load (stress) before part failure (pain). So the previous posters were correct, you probably have a structural issue not brought forth by previous bikes.

You need to see this guy.

www.drsmccormack.com

he's an ace!

It would just about kill me to ride out there to see that amazing and gifted chiropractor!

I understand strengthening the core and have been working out fairly regularly with a personal trainer. I fairly regularly see a really good chiropractor as well as acupuncture etc. I'm determined to not let this ruin my bike riding! After all the bike riding I've done, I believe it is just this particular bike configuration that is not right for me. However, with all the helpful tips here, I'm sure I'll get it worked out. I think it's interesting that lots of people seem to have had similar issues. Thanks for all the friendly and helpful advice everyone! I'll let you all know what I end up doing and how it helps, in case others are having similar challenges.

 

[Big-D]

Although I did not read every word from the beginning of this thread, I don't believe you mentioned whether you've injured your back in the past or not.

If you are short (blond or not), I would think you would have a more comfortable seating position on the FJR. I'm 6'4" and tend to lean over more than a shorter person. I also injured my back this past January and I feel more pain sitting in a regular chair than on my FJR.

My guess would be, if you have never hurt your back in the past, then you need some basic body conditioning. Your back is probably hurting from being out of shape. Not knowing your age, if you want to take those long rides and really get everything you can out of it, suffering from back pain has got to go. Just like MXer's, being in shape is important to having not only endurance, but getting the most out of that beautiful long ride. Try going to a gym three times a week for a couple months or do some basic calisthenics at home. You will improve. I am back-pain free while riding.

D

 

[Bustanut joker]

Although I did not read every word from the beginning of this thread, I don't believe you mentioned whether you've injured your back in the past or not.

If you are short (blond or not), I would think you would have a more comfortable seating position on the FJR. I'm 6'4" and tend to lean over more than a shorter person. I also injured my back this past January while jerking off to shaved sheep pictures and I feel more pain sitting in a regular chair than on my FJR.

TMI ya big ***..

 

[palerider]

Although I did not read every word from the beginning of this thread, I don't believe you mentioned whether you've injured your back in the past or not.

If you are short (blond or not), I would think you would have a more comfortable seating position on the FJR. I'm 6'4" and tend to lean over more than a shorter person. I also injured my back this past January and I feel more pain sitting in a regular chair than on my FJR.

My guess would be, if you have never hurt your back in the past, then you need some basic body conditioning. Your back is probably hurting from being out of shape. Not knowing your age, if you want to take those long rides and really get everything you can out of it, suffering from back pain has got to go. Just like MXer's, being in shape is important to having not only endurance, but getting the most out of that beautiful long ride. Try going to a gym three times a week for a couple months or do some basic calisthenics at home. You will improve. I am back-pain free while riding.

D

+1. Exercising and getting into long-ride shape are necessary with or without back pain.

But there is no one, general cure-all for this problem that will work for everyone. Different things or a combination of different things will solve this for most people, and for some--hopefully few--the solution will be a different bike.

This kind of pain can have many different causes--from old injury to bad posture to simple arthritis to bulging disks to pinched nerves to scoliosis to spinal deterioration--and the cure(s) will be specific to the cause. For some a chiropractor can help. For others a deep massage can help. Yoda can help. Swimming is a great exercise for endurance and upper body musculature. Farkels can help--risers, windshields, lighter helmets, grip puppies, cruise controls--keep working at it and adding things until the problem goes away or you get fed up and buy a cruiser.

Just don't give up on motorcycling. There's an answer somewhere.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

...Farkels can help--...--keep working at it and adding things until the problem goes away or you get fed up and buy a cruiser.

 

[Harald]

Yoda can help.

I thought he was just a fictional character? But you're saying he's real? Learn something new every day!