Sore Neck/Shoulder muscles after longer FJR rides

[Okie]

I've had my 04 for almost 6 years now and is my primary mode of transportation to work and play. I've got it setup perfectly for me in every way except one which is where I hope somebody here has both suffered and resolved.

Anytime I take a ride longer than about 300 miles in one day, the top of my trapezius (bottom of neck / top of shoulders) muscles get real tight and painful. By 500 miles, I'm squirming around searching for relief. It sucks the joy out of the ride. I've got 1" risers, a Russell day long saddle and have attempted to adjust my seating posture in many different ways. None of it has helped. Anyone with a tactic for resolving this problem?

 

[Intech]

I've had my 04 for almost 6 years now and is my primary mode of transportation to work and play. I've got it setup perfectly for me in every way except one which is where I hope somebody here has both suffered and resolved.
Anytime I take a ride longer than about 300 miles in one day, the top of my trapezius (bottom of neck / top of shoulders) muscles get real tight and painful. By 500 miles, I'm squirming around searching for relief. It sucks the joy out of the ride. I've got 1" risers, a Russell day long saddle and have attempted to adjust my seating posture in many different ways. None of it has helped. Anyone with a tactic for resolving this problem?

if your discomfort is just in your shoulders I would have to guess that it is just a matter of relaxation. If you can ride 500 miles and nothing else (like your ass) is bothering you, I would bet it has something to do with your riding position or the pressure you are putting on the handle bars. What type of riding produces the discomfort the most?

 

[Abercrombie FJR]

You could try placing your purse in the saddle bags rather than hanging over your shoulder while you ride.

Just kidding! Good luck finding a solution, sounds like you might be a little tense in the shoulders while riding.

 

[madmike2]

I used to put too much weight on my hands and arms. That caused the same symptoms you are reporting. Since my injuries 2 years ago I have to be extra careful or I have the same issues.

Read the following threads: master yoda site:fjrforum.com.

Seriously, I still remind myself to squeeze the tank with my knees and take the pressure off my arms. The other thing I remind myself to do is to arch my back. I sometimes get lazy and allow myself to slip into the "cruiser slouch" which exacerbates the problem because I then grip the bars too tight.

The Master Yoda Riding Position works for me.

 

[Harvey]

I've had my 04 for almost 6 years now and is my primary mode of transportation to work and play. I've got it setup perfectly for me in every way except one which is where I hope somebody here has both suffered and resolved.
Anytime I take a ride longer than about 300 miles in one day, the top of my trapezius (bottom of neck / top of shoulders) muscles get real tight and painful. By 500 miles, I'm squirming around searching for relief. It sucks the joy out of the ride. I've got 1" risers, a Russell day long saddle and have attempted to adjust my seating posture in many different ways. None of it has helped. Anyone with a tactic for resolving this problem?

Okie,

I agree with Intech. It's usually your riding position that causes this. If you're leaning too heavily on your arms you will have to compensate to hold your head up using those muscles that are hurting you. Try different things like using other muscles in your body for support or gripping the tank with your knees.

Lots of people find that their body will automatically adjust to this as you ride more and the pain will eventually not be an issue.

Another thing can be how the wind is hitting your head when you ride. If you think this is a problem you can change your windshield.

 

[RadioHowie]

The other thing I remind myself to do is to arch my back. I sometimes get lazy and allow myself to slip into the "cruiser slouch" which exacerbates the problem because I then grip the bars too tight.

+1

The exact same thing happens to me after several hours of riding AND sitting in front of a computer, which I do about 8-10 hours a day. NO NOT I-net porn....I'm an I.T. professional and sitting in front of computers is my job. And in both cases, motorcycling and computering, if I forget and get lazy, slumping into that "cruiser crouch" MM alluded to, the shoulders and neck start burning and hurting.

Regularly excercising your neck muscles by doing figure-eights with your head helps tremendously for me.

'Howie

 

[Patriot]

The other thing I remind myself to do is to arch my back. I sometimes get lazy and allow myself to slip into the "cruiser slouch" which exacerbates the problem because I then grip the bars too tight.

+1

The exact same thing happens to me after several hours of riding AND sitting in front of a computer, which I do about 8-10 hours a day. NO NOT I-net porn....I'm an I.T. professional and sitting in front of computers is my job. And in both cases, motorcycling and computering, if I forget and get lazy, slumping into that "cruiser crouch" MM alluded to, the shoulders and neck start burning and hurting.

Regularly excercising your neck muscles by doing figure-eights with your head helps tremendously for me.

'Howie

Howie uses the word "professional" very, very loosely...

 

[RadioHowie]

The other thing I remind myself to do is to arch my back. I sometimes get lazy and allow myself to slip into the "cruiser slouch" which exacerbates the problem because I then grip the bars too tight.

+1

The exact same thing happens to me after several hours of riding AND sitting in front of a computer, which I do about 8-10 hours a day. NO NOT I-net porn....I'm an I.T. professional and sitting in front of computers is my job. And in both cases, motorcycling and computering, if I forget and get lazy, slumping into that "cruiser crouch" MM alluded to, the shoulders and neck start burning and hurting.

Regularly excercising your neck muscles by doing figure-eights with your head helps tremendously for me.

'Howie

Howie uses the word "professional" very, very loosely...

No different than a garbage collector referring to himself as a "Waste Management Professional."

:finger:

 

[Texan]

When I was on a 100 mile hike in California years ago, I met some seasoned hikers who asked me if I had brought my vitamin I. They said that vitamin I was critical on a long hike as it really helped sore muscles. Now I take vitamin I whenever I am leaving for a long ride. It really helps. I take some every 4 hours. At the end of the day I drink a beer or 5 to really enforce the relaxation of the vitamin I.

Ibuprofen.

 

[RadioHowie]

When I was on a 100 mile hike in California years ago, I met some seasoned hikers who asked me if I had brought my vitamin I. They said that vitamin I was critical on a long hike as it really helped sore muscles. Now I take vitamin I whenever I am leaving for a long ride. It really helps. I take some every 4 hours. At the end of the day I drink a beer or 5 to really enforce the relaxation of the vitamin I.
Ibuprofen.

And as a "Professional" post whore, may I add another +1.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Plenty of good advice here... but....

An old dirt bike thing we'd do, is take an aspirin just before we took off across the desert just to help nip it in the bud. Of course, more aspirin upon return from a day out, and beer is really good too... even if it doesn't always help; however, enough of them and it will relieve the pain.

Please take all medication per mfgrs instructions. Drink responsibly. And don't mix meds with suds.

For the lawyers.

 

[Steve G.]

I've had my 04 for almost 6 years now and is my primary mode of transportation to work and play. I've got it setup perfectly for me in every way except one which is where I hope somebody here has both suffered and resolved.
Anytime I take a ride longer than about 300 miles in one day, the top of my trapezius (bottom of neck / top of shoulders) muscles get real tight and painful. By 500 miles, I'm squirming around searching for relief. It sucks the joy out of the ride. I've got 1" risers, a Russell day long saddle and have attempted to adjust my seating posture in many different ways. None of it has helped. Anyone with a tactic for resolving this problem?

If I go on a big tour, or a lonmg day, I bring along Tylenol, on any of my bikes.

Steve

 

[rfespinosa]

Okie,

Do you have a throttle lock or cruise control? I find being able to hold onto the grips very loosely is a great help, plus occasionally letting go of the grips. I have the MC Cruise Control, it's a fully electronic cruise control, which allows me to do this and it is a great help for the arms and shoulders.

Ron

 

[rwinston]

It's a little expensive but I have found that getting the lightest helmet that you can find takes a lot of weight of your shoulder ares.

 

[Wanderer]

It could be fatigue from wind buffeting. Something similar happened to me about 2 years ago with a bad combination of a new bigger screen and different helmet. Something about the airflow hitting my helmet in JUST the wrong spot put alot of strain on my neck. I was uncounsciously tensing just about every muscle above my shoulders, including my face trying to hold my helmet still.

Try some 'Skyway' spacers, or the equivalent, as well as all the stuff mentioned above should help.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I'm interested to hear the responses to this question, since I have a similar problem. My bike is fitted with a custom seat and bar risers. I believe the stiffness of the throttle return plays a part, since my right shoulder hurts more than the left. Until this weekend, I had one of those little rubber doo-hickies on the bar, where you can rest your hand. That worked wonderfully, but it departed company from the bike on the freeway. Where traffic allowed, I used the cruise control which helped a lot.

I also found that sitting well back on the seat, in a more upright position helped but that meant that only the tips of my longest fingers reached the bars. (Ever tried adding FOUR sets of risers?)

I always take my naprosyn, part way into a longer ride. Don't need it for the first couple of hundred miles, so I take it with lunch so it lasts for the rest of the ride.

After riding 1500 miles this weekend, I've concluded that the ergonomics of the FJR aren't quite right for me to ride long distances in comfort. This is NOT a problem with the FJR. OK guys - it's not Friday here. There is nothing wrong with the bike. I will continue to deal with the owies in return for the privilege of riding a rocket ship. :clapping:

 

[Okie]

What type of riding produces the discomfort the most?

Definitely the straight line droning. Being a resident of Oklahoma, I do that a lot. Once I've found the hills and twisties, I don't notice it. I assume it's because I've got a little adrenaline pumping acting as a natural "Vitamin I" or ibuprofen as Texan calls it. I think you may be on to something though. I probably need to change my positions around more and as MM2 suggests, use my legs more for support. The problem is that my saddle tends to push me forward so I use my arms to keep my jewels from getting smashed on the tank. I've got a track bike with some stuff called "Stomp-Grip" on the tank for added friction between the tank and my leathers. I think I'll try some to see if it helps.

Okie,
Do you have a throttle lock or cruise control? I find being able to hold onto the grips very loosely is a great help, plus occasionally letting go of the grips. I have the MC Cruise Control, it's a fully electronic cruise control, which allows me to do this and it is a great help for the arms and shoulders.

Ron

I have the "Brakeaway" throttle lock and believe me, it gets used regularly during my longer days in the saddle while I attempt to fidget my way back to neck/shoulder happiness.

Good stuff folks. Much appreciated

 

[saltywheels]

What type of riding produces the discomfort the most?

Definitely the straight line droning. Being a resident of Oklahoma, I do that a lot. Once I've found the hills and twisties, I don't notice it. I assume it's because I've got a little adrenaline pumping acting as a natural "Vitamin I" or ibuprofen as Texan calls it. I think you may be on to something though. I probably need to change my positions around more and as MM2 suggests, use my legs more for support. The problem is that my saddle tends to push me forward so I use my arms to keep my jewels from getting smashed on the tank. I've got a track bike with some stuff called "Stomp-Grip" on the tank for added friction between the tank and my leathers. I think I'll try some to see if it helps.

Okie,
Do you have a throttle lock or cruise control? I find being able to hold onto the grips very loosely is a great help, plus occasionally letting go of the grips. I have the MC Cruise Control, it's a fully electronic cruise control, which allows me to do this and it is a great help for the arms and shoulders.

Ron

I have the "Brakeaway" throttle lock and believe me, it gets used regularly during my longer days in the saddle while I attempt to fidget my way back to neck/shoulder happiness.

Good stuff folks. Much appreciated

Okie, I've had some serious back & neck problems / surgeries. So completely understand where you're coming from. Two things have helped me make comfortable 6-700 mile days. One is to keep those arms limp...track instructor used to say like a chicken. And second..this could get a !@#$ load of snide remarks..is a yoga relaxation move: simply shake yr head side-to side, ever so slightly, as if you had the tremors or Parkinsons. Do this for about 2-3 mins.It works on relaxing the big muscles in the neck & it does not effect yr riding. Just sounds weirder than it is. B)

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

It could be fatigue from wind buffeting.

With the wind screen all the way down, the muscles in the front of my neck have to work a little more. With my wind screen all the way up, the back pressure makes the muscles in my shoulders and the back of my neck work a little harder.

Alternating the height of the windscreen solves a lot of the sore neck syndrome. I still have a pain in my neck, but it has nothing to do with riding.