Hello all. Can you please clarify something for me. I'm quite a tall person, 6'6" which means that I've always been at a higher risk of back problems than someone shorter, but I think I may have found a problem with being tall and riding a motorbike. I've passed my CBT on a 125, I spend half a day on Saturday on a 125 and hopefully on Tuesday I'll upgrade from a 125 to a 500cc when I have another half day course. (I don't have a bike yet) Will a 500cc bike be "better on the back" than a 125, in general? I just feel really hunched up on a 125 but have never got on to anything bigger. Thanks for your help, --Nick.
Nick fumbled, fiddled and fingered: Try a few trail bikes they tend to be less hunched up in the riding position dept. -- Steve Parry K100RS SE & F650 and a 520i SE Touring for comfort (not forgetting the SK90PY) http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk
Bear fumbled, fiddled and fingered: I find the semi sports position of my KRS very comfy, but the thing that really makes a difference is the narrow bars. I used to get a real sharp pain between the shoulder blades in the GPz I had 'cos the bars seemed too widely spaced (paging Champ & Sweller do you find that with the Turbo?) -- Steve Parry K100RS SE & F650 and a 520i SE Touring for comfort (not forgetting the SK90PY) http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk
I found this out when I first encountered a windy day on my Bandit. I fitted flat bars to it, which helped with motorway runs, but made town work harder on the wrists. A good compromise bike is my FZR, low enough to be ok on a run, and high enough to be ok on the wrists in traffic. It's also small enough for me to rest my elbows on my knees if I get tired.
Bear emerged from their own little world to say I know of a few people who have found the 1150GS unsuitable as they suffer from lower back problems. Peg lowering kits can ameliorate the problem as they allow you to lean slightly forward and support more weight through your feet rather than your arse.
Sometime around Sat, 05 Feb 2005 21:46:59 +0000, wessie babbled on about: The only problem I find is the gearchange position on the GS as wearing rigid boots means you need to point your toe down, and this does cause unusual aches and pains, the good news is a hacksaw easily resolves the issue.
Sometime around Sat, 05 Feb 2005 22:29:20 +0000, Spike babbled on about: Yup, back in person, a new keyboard arived today and took 3 mins to fit, sadly it is a Yank one but at 18 Bucks who cares, the only bloody issue is I now have 3 different language keyboards on 3 laptops. Hows the 'Old lady'
Getting there... have new shocks, and am looking out for new carbs...once ive got more than ten minutes free time, Ill fit them! But she runs, if lumpily..
Sometime around Sat, 05 Feb 2005 22:51:14 +0000, Spike babbled on about: A bit like Christel then, she is the latest item in the house to get broken by the dog from hell.
They're in the M&P catalogue as something along the lines of 'multi adjustable Jota bars' Oft contemplated getting a set for the rat as the Renthals are superb for town work but hell on a motorway.
For me, short, intense rides and it's fine. Sitting on the motorway not moving around/long day = inability to stand up straight. Making sure I do stretches and things helps - but overall I'm finding the GSX-R riding position more and more painful - and it's not even that hardcore.
Have you tried using a tankbag? The MV's riding position is about as extreme as they get, but I still managed an 850+ mile day last year without being crippled, thanks to the tankbag. I rested my chest & chin on it, completely removing the strain from my back, shoulders & arms. It also helped when taking my feet off the pegs & dangling my legs. Normally that seems to put even more strain on your upper body & arms, but with the tankbag to lay on it wasn't a problem.
I dont' get on with big tank bags - I find (for me) they get in the way of steering the bike. I just need a nice BMW or somthing
Well I don't understand how it could possibly interfere with steering the bike since the bars barely move more than a few degrees unless you're performing a 3 point turn under leg power and going lock to lock. And "just not liking tank bags" isn't going to change that.
IMO, it's posture - not necessarily the bike. The sports bike crouch tends to force you into the s-shape - but at the expense of the upper back taking the strain (for me, back pain from riding starts in mid-back then goes to lower back) If you also have your knees up around your ears that doesn't help. Sitting on something like a GS or a VStrom allows you to sit upright, but you have to focus on creating the s-shape spine (as opposed to C-shape).
