Sore Neck/Shoulder muscles after longer FJR rides

[Badcat]

I have found that I need to take a pain reliever before things start hurting and stretch and move around before shoulders, legs, etc start getting stiff and sore. If you try to work out the kinks after they develop it's too late.

Burk

 

[Frushlorton]

I think soaking your socks in tourpintine will help. It won't stop the pain, but, it will keep the ants from crawling up your legs and eating your candy ***.

Seriously, I have the same issue. After two shoulder surgerys the pain is unberable sometimes. I have found the loose grip and alternating the windscreen and in my case vit M (Motrin) 800mg every 6ix hours.

Take care,

Steve

 

[RaYzerman19]

The key seems to be, bend the elbows and have a relaxed grip. The larger diameter grips with Grip Puppies help this. Back off the throttle spring, use cruise control. On a Gen2, remove the inboard pin from the handlebar mount, and rotate the bars back 1/2" or so (at the grips). A good seat helps.

 

[Texan]

I think soaking your socks in turpentine will help. It won't stop the pain, but, it will keep the ants from crawling up your legs and eating your candy ***.

That there's funny, I don't care who you are.

 

[Stephen]

The only thing that worked for me was to find a lighter weight helmet. Ever since I stopped wearing the Nolan 102 (4.01 lbs.) and use the Bell Star (3 lbs. 7 oz.), the pain has virtually gone away.

Jus' sayin'......

 

[flyingz06]

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?

hit the weights!

 

[Gizmo]

The Master Yoda Riding Position works for me.

+1. Just rode 1300 miles in 3 days (I know, not IBA material) and felt great. Except for my arse... :blink:

 

[johndaub]

in my case vit M (Motrin) 800mg every 6ix hours.
Take care,

Steve

Vitamin M is the expensive version of the generic Vitamin I. Ibuprofen is dirt cheap (2 cents a pill?) at Costco. Motrin and Advil are at least 5x the price.

The dose (4 OTC pills is 800 mg) you recommend is off-label for OTC med so you need a lawyer disclaimer. However, my doctor says that the prescription dose for menstrual cramps is 800 mg so he says that I can take that dose if needed. I do not think I have ever had menstrual cramps (whatever they are) but do take 4 pills when I have severe muscle pain.

 

[Silver Penguin]

The dose (4 OTC pills is 800 mg) you recommend is off-label for OTC med so you need a lawyer disclaimer. However, my doctor says that the prescription dose for menstrual cramps is 800 mg so he says that I can take that dose if needed. I do not think I have ever had menstrual cramps (whatever they are) but do take 4 pills when I have severe muscle pain.

Trust me, you don't want menstrual cramps. 800mg barely takes the edge off.

Before swallowing four pills, do check the dosing on the package. Most pills are 200mg but you can get bigger ones. Do the math, and make sure that the TOTAL dose is the 800mg you want.

 

[Fred W]

Let me add one more "out of the box" suggestion:

Do you wear earplugs?

I found that before I started wearing the best, highest attenuating plugs I could find (Howard Leight Max's), in addition to the obvious hearing loss issues, I would tire much faster from the constant din of wind noise in my helmets. Relaxing all of your necka nd shoulder muscles requires a stress free environment.

 

[Frushlorton]

in my case vit M (Motrin) 800mg every 6ix hours.
Take care,

Steve

Vitamin M is the expensive version of the generic Vitamin I. Ibuprofen is dirt cheap (2 cents a pill?) at Costco. Motrin and Advil are at least 5x the price.

The dose (4 OTC pills is 800 mg) you recommend is off-label for OTC med so you need a lawyer disclaimer. However, my doctor says that the prescription dose for menstrual cramps is 800 mg so he says that I can take that dose if needed. I do not think I have ever had menstrual cramps (whatever they are) but do take 4 pills when I have severe muscle pain.

My fault, my disclaimer is I'm military and 800 mg vit M is issued (prescribed) by the Doc for the torn shoulder.

 

[mattster31]

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

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

 

[marauder]

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?

I too suffer from the same thing. I found that while riding, my head is looking "up" more than say when I am standing talking or relaxing watching TV. I occassionally let go of my left handlebar and reach back to the luggage rack for a stretch which seems to help somewhat. In the twisties there is no problem because I am changing my position frequently. Other than that I just tough it out...

Bill

 

[fjrrider]

hit the weights!

IMO this will work better than anything else you can do off the bike. You can also do exercises and stretches while your on the bike riding, it helps me alot!

 

[fossilrider]

Okie, I notices your ride is a 2004. In addition to practicing the Master Yoda Riding position, I also went with the LSL handlebar setup which is available for 2003-5. I've found this gives me a much more relaxed riding position.

 

[jride]

I have shoulder and elbow pain it started a couple of mo's ago when i went to Arkansas for two days and rode 1200mi + I have tried a lot of variations in my seating pos and i don't normally have weight on my hands but i think i tense up you know kind of lock my muscles I am not sure what i will do about it but i just keep trying to relax. I actually moved my bars to the most forward pos and i think it has helped some. It seems to me that the riding pos of the fjr is not forward enough and its not upright enough. So maybe risers would help as it would make it more upright, I am just not sure i want to be that upright but i can't make it more forward, if i could i would try it.

 

[happyPuppy]

Get a pair of fairly light dumbbells or milk jugs if you are cheap filled with water and do shoulder shrugs to exhaustion. After a few days your traps and deltoids will hurt a lot. Then ride , and any tension you have will be felt right away and since pain is not good you will relax them. I found this helped me a lot. Pain in may cases is caused by triggers you can relax them if you can find them.

... I did see a fellow with an ideal solution. A pillion rider rubbing his shoulders at a stops, maybe the best of all.

 

[Okie]

I appreciate all the responses. Sounds like I'm not alone in this affliction. The fact is, I rely on my arms and hands to do most of my support and it's a bad habit I know. It becomes rather self-critiquing during an aggressive run on the track or twisties as you're trying to negotiate a corner while braking. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I guess it may be the purse strap cutting the circulation off to my brain or the distracting ants biting my candy-***. Good stuff Maynard. Thanks

 

[SVTNate]

I put 16 inch apehangers and forward controls on my FJR, which helped a lot. LOL

 

[Barabus]

Get some hot betty to give you a rub down after a ride.