Want to escape back pain by buying FJR

[stevet]

Hello All, new guy here...

When I singed up for the FJRForum group recently, I touched a bit on back pain and how I'm thinking, hoping, the FJR can help me.

My current ride is a 2004 Moto Guzzi California EV, here's what it looked like before luggage, etc:

Big ol' Italian v-twin, with the jugs poking out the sides, the way they would if HD knew how to make a motorcycle. But I digress...

Note that the ergonomics of this "floorboard bike" put my body into a "sitting in a kitchen chair" position- upper legs horizontal, lower legs vertical and perpendicular to upper legs, arms more/less horizontal. This positioning ends up putting all the weight of my 225# body on my lower back and tailbone area, no weight distribution to my legs or arms. 200-250 miles and I'm heading for home, 300 miles and not home yet, I'm pretty miserable, both because my back is done for and my wanderlust was not satisfied. :angry2: Yes, that is with periodic rest stops, and a seat rebuild, and kidney/weightlifter belt, and AirHawk pad... See the passenger footpegs? I've hung my feet from them before, ala sportbike fashion. This foot position did increase comfort for my back, but my feet are nowhere near the foot controls, so this position isn't a safe riding configuration on this bike.

While test sitting the FJR in the showroom, I've noted that my legs are relocated so my feet are more/less straight below my butt, and the handlebars force a slight lean forward position. These combine to shift body weight off the lower back/tailbone to the front of the hips and upper leg areas onto the MC seat, with some weight transfer to the legs/feet and some to the arms and handlebars. (Read that again, slowly, until it makes sense.) Am I correct in saying that the FJR ergonomics are going to help alleviate the tailbone pain I'm getting now on my Guzzi?

I've read enough old posts to observe many have made some kind of modification to their FJR's, messing with handlebar locations, seat re-work, footpegs, etc. And maybe I'd need to do one or more of these things myself if/when I bought an FJR. But is my thinking proper here, that the ergo's of the FJR are going to help (there's the all important qualifier- "help") lessen or eliminate my low back pain?

(Oh, 4 years ago I had a nip & tuck job on the spinal disc right at the top of my tailbone for sciatic nerve problems, all is well again after that surgery, but I can't help but wonder about this and my current bike...)

I've looked high and low for previous posts about this but found none of substance. I'm asking, pleading, begging of you, if you have insight, thoughts, ideas, or experiences about this, please let me know. How does your FJR treat your lower back? I've already spent over 10 grand once resulting in a less than desirable outcome, I don't want to do it again. I LOVE my Guzzi, but it won't let my back do what my heart and sense of adventure want to experience.

All replies are very much appreciated.

Steve.

p.s. Anyone want to buy a gorgeous Moto Guzzi? Low miles and built for the long, long haul.

 

[v65]

1) I used to have v65 (imagine that heh?) which has a similar seating position as your Guzzi. 400 miles on the Magna was a huge day, with the sore back to go with it. IMO you are correct in that the upright position of the FJR will alleviate the back problems, although I have not had the back problems you mentioned. I could ride the FJR all day everyday with no sign of back pain, now monkey butt is another story .

2) When the gen II bikes were first introduced there was no way to modify the ergos, for those of us with the early '06's you lived with what you got. I have said it 1000 times, that is the most fortunate thing that could have happened to me. After 1500 miles I was adjusted to the position and wouldn't change a thing now. Live with the ergos for a while (a long while) before you start spending bucks on changing them.

 

[painman]

Ah Stevet grasshopper son, you have come to the knowledge of the secret relm of how one must sit upon the seat while one rides his trusty steed. Many years of the cruiser feet forward pounds the tailbone with merciless abandon. Now you have come to know that the legs will support the abused backbone and your body will now be at peace with your ride and your journey on the new bike can begin. (And get some bar risers and read This. PM. <>< h34r:

 

[Slow Ride]

Steve, I traded from this Intruder riding position, that is close to your bike now.

To the FJR and noticed that my back had less strain on it. I also noticed that

I developed some shoulder and neck pain that lessend as I adjusted the handlebars,

and put a larger wind screen on. With a little more time on the bike the pain is almost gone.

I am now around 2200 miles and the shoulder and neck pain are almost gone.

I believe most of the pain I still have is me not sitting up like I should.

My wife and I rode 1200 miles in 5 days last week. On the old bike 150 miles a

day is all we could do and be ready to ride day after day.

I hope you can find smeone to let you test ride one of these bikes as I think you

will like it very much.

Chuck

 

[stevet]

Ah Stevet grasshopper son, you have come to the knowledge of the secret relm of how one must sit upon the seat while one rides his trusty steed. Many years of the cruiser feet forward pounds the tailbone with merciless abandon. Now you have come to know that the legs will support the abused backbone and your body will now be at peace with your ride and your journey on the new bike can begin. (And get some bar risers and read THIS PM. <>< h34r:

Thanks, painman. Link to the PM didn't work (probably my setting), e-mail me directly at [email protected]

Steve.

 

[stevet]

Steve, I traded from this Intruder riding position, that is close to your bike now.
(snip photo)

To the FJR and noticed that my back had less strain on it. I also noticed that

I developed some shoulder and neck pain that lessend as I adjusted the handlebars,

and put a larger wind screen on. With a little more time on the bike the pain is almost gone.

I am now around 2200 miles and the shoulder and neck pain are almost gone.

I believe most of the pain I still have is me not sitting up like I should.

My wife and I rode 1200 miles in 5 days last week. On the old bike 150 miles a

day is all we could do and be ready to ride day after day.

I hope you can find smeone to let you test ride one of these bikes as I think you

will like it very much.

Chuck

Thanks, Chuck. I just recently bought the kidney belt that Aerostich sells, and it does a nice job of keeping me from slouching, and I could see continuing to use it for long rides on the FJR. My bad habit of slouching only adds to my current ergo problem, fixing the slouch didn't fix the main problem, though. I think it would be like your change from old bike to new that fixes my problem. If I can't find an FJR test ride, I work with a guy who has a Kawi Concours I can take out for a lunch hour.

Steve.

 

[painman]

Ah Stevet grasshopper son, you have come to the knowledge of the secret relm of how one must sit upon the seat while one rides his trusty steed. Many years of the cruiser feet forward pounds the tailbone with merciless abandon. Now you have come to know that the legs will support the abused backbone and your body will now be at peace with your ride and your journey on the new bike can begin. (And get some bar risers and read THIS PM. <>< h34r:

Thanks, painman. Link to the PM didn't work (probably my setting), e-mail me directly at [email protected]

Steve.

Sorry bout that, I'm really tired. Link should now work in my original post but not here...PM. <><

 

[stevet]

1) I used to have v65 (imagine that heh?) which has a similar seating position as your Guzzi. (snip)

Thanks for your insight, v65, much appreciated.

Steve.

 

[stevet]

From over at the Guzzi board, a regular over there contributed this graphic that seems to drive home the point of what we are talking about here:

Left image, bad. Right image, good.

Thoughts?

Steve.

 

[DucatiSSsp]

So Steve,

Is the Guzzi for Sale? Where are You located?

Inquiring minds want to know....

Bryce

 

[stevet]

So Steve,Is the Guzzi for Sale? Where are You located?

Inquiring minds want to know....

Bryce

Bryce,

The Guzzi is likely for sale, I'm only allowed one motorcycle payment at a time.

I'm just barely outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota (border is down the block!)

Ya near me? Want to come see sometime?

Steve.

 

[RsvlFeej]

SteveT,

Back to your original query. I too had a nip job on my back done: L5/S1 laminectomy in December '05. I also weigh in the neighborhood of 225 (230#), 6 feet tall, 33" inseam. Although I've never sat in the cruiser position for longer than a 40-minute test ride, it forced me to sit too upright, with all the weight on my tailbone and no way to relieve that pressure by standing on the foot pegs (because my feet were too far forward).

Bought my '05 FJR new Aug. 31, 2004, had always had some back problems, still had some problems, which the bike neither improved nor exacerbated. Improved the bike's ergos - for me - with Heli bars. Next year I bought a Rick Mayer seat :yahoo: . Shortly afterwards I blew a disc (not from the seat, was moving a neighbor) - and even with Vicodin prescriptions in the hundreds of pills plus untold milligrams of ibuprofen, was unable to sit in a car, pickup, or desk chair for any period of time - bike was about as comfortable as I could get while sitting, but let's just say there was no riding for the joy of riding until after my surgery and recovery.

Short answer is - FJR is not a chiropractor, nor physical therapy, nor even acupuncture, BUT the riding position (for me) did not make my original back problems any worse and was a lot easier on me than a fairly plush pickup (Dodge 2500) or Honda Civic seat when I was really hurting.

I've done 7- and 800-mile days on the FJR post-surgery and have had no back issues as a result - I've always felt that some of the reason the bike hurt less than the cages was because there were more positions available on the bike, including standing on the pegs when the back got tight/stiff/stove-up.

Good luck,

RsvlFeej

 

[Lake Powell]

SteveT,

I think one of the great things about the FJR is that you buy as a "one size fits all" application and can find virtually all the items you need to "nip and tuck" your way to having the perfect bike.

And not that this post is earth shattering information but the bulk of information available here can easily put you in the right direction!

I think you will be happy if you decide to go FJR!

 

[black mamba]

I, too, am a long time sufferer of protracted back pain.....including surgery at the 4th lumbar. My crusier bikes all had, or induced, a riding position that tended to agrivate the problem. One, of the many, reasons I switched to the FJR was the hope that the mandated riding position would be a lot more comfortable for me. It has proven to be so. My legs now help support my body frame much more than before....thereby relieving a lot of strain on the back.

The riding position of the FJR did, however, bring certain muscles into play that had not been used previously and I went through a brief period wherein I experienced soreness in those muscles. I no longer have soreness of any kind relative to my upper body.

One of the greatest revelations for me personally, and probably the single most contributing factor to a long day of comfortable riding, was the discovery and implementation of the " yoga " riding position.

 

[stevet]

Fantastic information! Thanks to each of you for your thoughts.

Steve.

 

[DocDanDC]

As a Chiropractor, I say that personalizing the FJR is the best thing for attaining good riding posture. The common reason for lower back pain during riding is a slouching posture. The spines ability to absorb road shock is reduced and even concentrated on the lower back region if we round out the lower back. SIT UP WHEN YOU RIDE! You will never see a professional motocross rider in a cruiser position, slouching down nor a equestrian rider. If you slouch the spine cant distribute shock evenly by the use of its protective curvature, ie; Lumbar Lordosis. SIT UP AND RIDE!

 

[fossilrider]

Before changing all of the bike's ergonomics, read about Master Yoda Riding Position from the BMW site.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...st&p=160349

Then after some miles, adjust the bike to suit your new riding style.

john

 

[Kevin Daly]

Steve,

I have had chronic lower back and neck problems incuding ruptured discs. Switching from the suzuki intruder to the FJR like slow ride did has made a world of difference. whereas i could make 60-80 miles on the intruder I have no trouble with several hundred miles on the FJR. however, it is very true that you need to learn prober posture on the bike. i recall some really nice posts either here or on FJRowners about this.

-best

 

[Graham Downunder]

I think you may want to rent a bike for a day and try it first,you will have a better idea of how it fitts you. You can get risers, peg lowers ,better screen,and most important a custom seat to make slight improvements .

I would do the cheapest thing first ,get yourself in the best shape you can.Try massages , back strenthening excercises,ride an excercise bike,yoga ,anything that will help your back . If you can get to a heated pool swimming can really help do it 3 times a week and in a month you should have improved.You do no just want to get stronger you want more flexability, so spend some time and money on yourself .I bet you will feel better and enjoy life and riding more.

Best of luck from downunder.