Pillion Knee Pain Question

[joyfulgirl]

Hello - if this topic has been posted before, I couldn't find it by searching...

Andrew (OrangevaleFJR) and I rode down to Ojai last weekend and got our new Bill Mayer Saddle. That went great! However, due to time constrictions, we had to ride all the way home yesterday afternoon (468 miles). I know that may not seem like a lot to most, and we have actually done a ride in one day that was over 800 miles, but I have been experiencing knee pain when being on the bike for long periods.

We have the '05 model and we have the pillion peg extenders (they drop the pegs down an inch or so). I am 5'4", and I have what I would consider short legs. Still, with my feet on the pegs, my knees extend out over my toes which I think is causing a lot of strain on my knees. The area of the knees that hurt is on the inside and bottom edge around the knee-caps.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of discomfort and if so, have you figured out a fix for it? I do not have a history of knee problems or injury.

I know this won't be our longest ride, so I have to figure out how to avoid this if I am going to enjoy it (and take pictures from the bike, which are oh so important )

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Sherri

 

[SkooterG]

Pillion knee pain?!?!!?

Oh Sherri! It's taking all my limited self control not to have A LOT of fun with that one.

Sorry, I can't help you with your problem. Not sure why you are getting that kind of pain. The only thing I can offer is that it is very important to move those joints around on a regular basis. Whether that be while riding on the bike, or by taking regular stops/breaks.

Good luck! Still waiting to see a two-up saddlesore from you two.

 

[joyfulgirl]

Pillion knee pain?!?!!?
Oh Sherri! It's taking all my limited self control not to have A LOT of fun with that one.

Sorry, I can't help you with your problem. Not sure why you are getting that kind of pain. The only thing I can offer is that it is very important to move those joints around on a regular basis. Whether that be while riding on the bike, or by taking regular stops/breaks.

Good luck! Still waiting to see a two-up saddlesore from you two.

Yikes! Since I don't post often, it hadn't crossed my mind that my wording could leave the door open for humorous remarks... I am certain others might not have the self control you did!

At this point, if we don't get the pain issues worked out, there will be no saddlesore from me!

 

[radman]

MUST.....RESIST....OBVIOUS......SEXUALLY EXPLICIT.......REFERENCES AND INUENDO..... :blink:

However, ahem, there are some IBA backseaters that survive the experience and that occupy the same or more space than your relatively diminutive frame requires. And you don't hear them bitchin, now do you?

 

[easyman05]

Sherri,

It could happen when you wear too tight protection gear on the knees.

Sometimes even too tight short socks could cause pain in the knees after 3 or 4 hours of riding.

And, of course, do some simple flex excersises at stops.

Good luck.

 

[ejworthen]

What kind of pants do you wear when you ride? Reason I ask is my wife experiences knee pain when riding. Her problem comes from the knee armor in her pants pushing against her knee caps. Also, I don't have an FJR yet so my bike is not as comfortable. She's about your height also.

Do you try taking Motrin or Advil before a long distance ride? I know that helps many people.

 

[radman]

Sherri,
It could happen when you wear too tight protection gear on the knees.

Sometimes even too tight short socks could cause pain in the knees after 3 or 4 hours of riding.

And, of course, do some simple flex excersises at stops.

Good luck.

PLZ GOD, MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chornbe]

Sherri,
It could happen when you wear too tight protection gear on the knees.

Sometimes even too tight short socks could cause pain in the knees after 3 or 4 hours of riding.

And, of course, do some simple flex excersises at stops.

Good luck.

+1

I'd go with this approach. Move your legs around when you can. When I wear my Ballistic pants on the sport bikes, all tucked in, my knees tend to ache. But when I just ride in jeans, it's much better.

 

[TheAxeman]

Sherri,

It seems like for the pillion there aren't a whole lot of options for leg movement short of the periodic straight leg stretch. I have notoriously bad knees and when they are acting up I wear ace knee braces(?)....you know the ones with stretchy material. It helps me tremendously to put on some more mileage as the driver so I'm sure they would help you as the pillion. Its worth the 12 bucks or so to give it a shot. My pillion (Michelle) only complains about the pain to the inside of her thighs after a long ride.....there you go, that sentence alone should get the heat off of your original post and put it onto me. <_< Your welcome.

 

[mdisher]

Sherri,

It could happen when you wear too tight protection gear on the knees.

Sometimes even too tight short socks could cause pain in the knees after 3 or 4 hours of riding.

And, of course, do some simple flex excersises at stops.

Good luck.

+1 Double check your pads around your knees.

Don't be afraid to move your legs (carefully) and stretch, just pick the right times to do it (cornering is obviously not the right time). Keep the blood flowing

Disclaimer: I'm not a Dr. but I play one on the Internet in select chat rooms.

 

[radman]

Lotta good sig material here, ya gotta admit.....

 

[Mike-H]

How about have Andrew massage your legs @ every stop for 5-10 minutes.....(oops....crap did I type that out loud? :blink: .....sorry Andrew )

 

[joyfulgirl]

MUST.....RESIST....OBVIOUS......SEXUALLY EXPLICIT.......REFERENCES AND INUENDO..... :blink:
However, ahem, there are some IBA backseaters that survive the experience and that occupy the same or more space than your relatively diminutive frame requires. And you don't hear them bitchin, now do you?

Now, Rad, I would hardly consider my question "bitchin". And I don't know any of the IBA backseaters. Perhaps one them will reply and we will see what they REALLY feel. Frankly, I don't think I'm IBA material... too whimpy and I would definitely fall asleep on the back OF THE MOTORCYCLE and Andrew wouldn't like that!

 

[radman]

Now, Rad, I would hardly consider my question "bitchin". And I don't know any of the IBA backseaters. Perhaps one them will reply and we will see what they REALLY feel. Frankly, I don't think I'm IBA material... too whimpy and I would definitely fall asleep on my back and Andrew wouldn't like that!

Fixed. And it's not like he isn't used to it.

Sorry. I'm countin' on the fact that it'll be a whole year before he can kick my ass.......

 

[SkooterG]

Oh, Rad!

You rascal you!

 

[joyfulgirl]

Now, Rad, I would hardly consider my question "bitchin". And I don't know any of the IBA backseaters. Perhaps one them will reply and we will see what they REALLY feel. Frankly, I don't think I'm IBA material... too whimpy and I would definitely fall asleep on my back and Andrew wouldn't like that!

Fixed. And it's not like he isn't used to it.

Sorry. I'm countin' on the fact that it'll be a whole year before he can kick my ass.......

Hey! You changed what I said - twisted it to make it sound worse than it really was! You are trouble! You know, everyone told me to watch out for you... heh

 

[donaldb]

Sherri, my wife has degenerative knee problems and has had those issues for as long as we've been married, oh 18 years now and counting. Due to that condition she can not ride long distances without experiencing knee pain (we have the extenders too). However, I have been thinking about maybe getting the Wildbill hwy pegs and under the right conditions, during long hwy/interstate conditions with good visibility, so as to not expect any sudden unexpected changes in riding, I would be able to put my feet on the Wildbill pegs and allow her to stretch her legs to the driver pegs, if only for a short while, that should give her some real needed relief. It's just a thought, someone else on the board may explain why that is not such a good idea, but I would like to think that so long as the hwy is clear, traffic is light, doing such would not pose a safety concern.

 

[joyfulgirl]

I do agree that moving my legs around while on the bike BEFORE I start feeling the pain would probably be the smart thing to do. And, really, I do know when not to do these things - I'm a fairly good passenger, Andrew says so.

Thanks for the input!

How about have Andrew massage your legs @ every stop for 5-10 minutes.....(oops....crap did I type that out loud? :blink: .....sorry Andrew )

Hey, that sounds like a good plan to me! I'll be sure that we work that into our stops. hehehehe lucky me!

Sherri, my wife has degenerative knee problems and has had those issues for as long as we've been married, oh 18 years now and counting. Due to that condition she can not ride long distances without experiencing knee pain (we have the extenders too). However, I have been thinking about maybe getting the Wildbill hwy pegs and under the right conditions, during long hwy/interstate conditions with good visibility, so as to not expect any sudden unexpected changes in riding, I would be able to put my feet on the Wildbill pegs and allow her to stretch her legs to the driver pegs, if only for a short while, that should give her some real needed relief. It's just a thought, someone else on the board may explain why that is not such a good idea, but I would like to think that so long as the hwy is clear, traffic is light, doing such would not pose a safety concern.

Mike-H also suggested that, as he has the Wildbill hwy pegs too, and Penny uses the driver pegs to stretch her legs... I spoke to Andrew about that, but he doesn't like the hwy peg idea... so... I guess I'm gonna have to figure something else out.

 

[SkooterG]

I spoke to Andrew about that, but he doesn't like the hwy peg idea... so... I guess I'm gonna have to figure something else out.

As in find a new rider to ride pillion with?

I have the Wild Bill highway pegs.

nudge-nudge-wink-wink!