Two Separate Issues...Saddlebags and Back pain
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Novice
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise, AL
Two Separate Issues...Saddlebags and Back pain
I've had my '08 FXDF for about 3 months now, got 1500 miles since I bought her. I've got two separate issues which I need help with.
First, I've been getting some pretty significant lower back pain after about an hour in the saddle. Enough that I have to pull over and walk around for a while. Every bump after an hour or so causes a "hot poker to the spine" feeling. I don't have the problem with shorter rides, just the longer ones, and that's keeping me from really riding it long distances. I test drove it before, and only started noticing it on longer rides.
Second, I've been looking for bags/racks that are most convenient for weekend trips. I'm assuming that my back thing will be fixable with this bike. I'm not opposed to different models, but I do love my FXDF. I just want the back pain to go away, and I would like to have a convenient way to pack some clothes/essentials.
Thanks in advance. I appreciate everyone's time and expertise.
Matt
First, I've been getting some pretty significant lower back pain after about an hour in the saddle. Enough that I have to pull over and walk around for a while. Every bump after an hour or so causes a "hot poker to the spine" feeling. I don't have the problem with shorter rides, just the longer ones, and that's keeping me from really riding it long distances. I test drove it before, and only started noticing it on longer rides.
Second, I've been looking for bags/racks that are most convenient for weekend trips. I'm assuming that my back thing will be fixable with this bike. I'm not opposed to different models, but I do love my FXDF. I just want the back pain to go away, and I would like to have a convenient way to pack some clothes/essentials.
Thanks in advance. I appreciate everyone's time and expertise.
Matt
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
Bags well,that's up to you to find the size-price-style you like. Back pain , you may just gt used to it. With the stock fxdf seat I get a stiffness in the lower neck area,but only after 4 to 6 hours. Try a different seat ya never know Njoy that ride and B safe!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 449
Likes: 1
From: The Mohawk Trail
You didn't say what seat peg combo you were using. Personally I solved all my longer ride comfort issues with a better seat (HD Sundowner) and forward controls (Kuryakyn). As far as bags go I'm a US Saddlebag fan.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
For bags, check out http://leatherneckjims.com the synthetic bags last and always look new with some kind of quick removal like easy brackets.
For back pain, a good seat like a Mustang wide vintage should take care of that, they are not cheap, but they are damn comfortable. Try, doing some stretching before you ride, at my age with many years in the saddle it helps.
For back pain, a good seat like a Mustang wide vintage should take care of that, they are not cheap, but they are damn comfortable. Try, doing some stretching before you ride, at my age with many years in the saddle it helps.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 1
From: Hot Springs Village AR
I would have the same problem with my back after about 50 miles I need to stop, I got a used Corbin seat with a back rest and I can go 300 miles easy with no back pain at all. I had a Mustang seat on my softail with a back rest and it was just a comfortable. Good luck
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: San Angelo, Tx
Matt, there are many different things that you can do/try to help with you back pain.
1. You can get a riders back rest (as stated above), the style is on you. You can buy a new seat that has one built in, you can get the one that fits your stock seat, or I have even seen them made really cheap.
2. You can get the heal pegs and/or the forward controls (also as stated above)
3. You can try some ape hangers or other bar that has more pullback than what you have, to get you to sit up straighter.
The main thing to fix your back problem is to experiment with different riding positions until you find one that fixes your problem. I put highway bars, apes, and the back rest on mine and change positions constantly. it seems to me that the more positions that you have available to you the farther you can go before you start to hurt. I just need a bigger gas tank now.
As far as bags go I am going to agree with everyone else, it all depends on what you are going to be doing. example: if you are going to spend the weekend at the girlfriends house then a small barrel bag would be fine. Now if you were going camping for the weekend then you may need very large bags to fit all the beer and then the small barrel for your cloths, if you plan on changing or wearing any at all (its just the weekend).
Me...I don’t like the bag look on my bike, if I wanted a bagger then that is what I would have bought LOL. (no bags, no windshield, no backrest, until I need them) So I just got a cheapo set of bags that I throw under the seat when I need them, and a rack bag for bigger trips.
One thing about it is you can never have too many bags or too much space. 9 times out of 10 you will be looking for more places to stick things. Bungee cords come in real handy and can be stored almost anywhere.
So just search around the net and see what you find, what you like, and there are several pics here and all over the net that would give you an idea of what would look good on yours.
1. You can get a riders back rest (as stated above), the style is on you. You can buy a new seat that has one built in, you can get the one that fits your stock seat, or I have even seen them made really cheap.
2. You can get the heal pegs and/or the forward controls (also as stated above)
3. You can try some ape hangers or other bar that has more pullback than what you have, to get you to sit up straighter.
The main thing to fix your back problem is to experiment with different riding positions until you find one that fixes your problem. I put highway bars, apes, and the back rest on mine and change positions constantly. it seems to me that the more positions that you have available to you the farther you can go before you start to hurt. I just need a bigger gas tank now.
As far as bags go I am going to agree with everyone else, it all depends on what you are going to be doing. example: if you are going to spend the weekend at the girlfriends house then a small barrel bag would be fine. Now if you were going camping for the weekend then you may need very large bags to fit all the beer and then the small barrel for your cloths, if you plan on changing or wearing any at all (its just the weekend).
Me...I don’t like the bag look on my bike, if I wanted a bagger then that is what I would have bought LOL. (no bags, no windshield, no backrest, until I need them) So I just got a cheapo set of bags that I throw under the seat when I need them, and a rack bag for bigger trips.
One thing about it is you can never have too many bags or too much space. 9 times out of 10 you will be looking for more places to stick things. Bungee cords come in real handy and can be stored almost anywhere.
So just search around the net and see what you find, what you like, and there are several pics here and all over the net that would give you an idea of what would look good on yours.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 2
From: Denver, Colorado
I've had my '08 FXDF for about 3 months now, got 1500 miles since I bought her. I've got two separate issues which I need help with.
First, I've been getting some pretty significant lower back pain after about an hour in the saddle. Enough that I have to pull over and walk around for a while. Every bump after an hour or so causes a "hot poker to the spine" feeling. I don't have the problem with shorter rides, just the longer ones, and that's keeping me from really riding it long distances. I test drove it before, and only started noticing it on longer rides.
Second, I've been looking for bags/racks that are most convenient for weekend trips. I'm assuming that my back thing will be fixable with this bike. I'm not opposed to different models, but I do love my FXDF. I just want the back pain to go away, and I would like to have a convenient way to pack some clothes/essentials.
Thanks in advance. I appreciate everyone's time and expertise.
Matt
First, I've been getting some pretty significant lower back pain after about an hour in the saddle. Enough that I have to pull over and walk around for a while. Every bump after an hour or so causes a "hot poker to the spine" feeling. I don't have the problem with shorter rides, just the longer ones, and that's keeping me from really riding it long distances. I test drove it before, and only started noticing it on longer rides.
Second, I've been looking for bags/racks that are most convenient for weekend trips. I'm assuming that my back thing will be fixable with this bike. I'm not opposed to different models, but I do love my FXDF. I just want the back pain to go away, and I would like to have a convenient way to pack some clothes/essentials.
Thanks in advance. I appreciate everyone's time and expertise.
Matt
Back pain - I used to have the same problem and suggest two things:
1. Adjust shocks for smoother ride.
2. Adjust handle bars, playing with the angle. Moving my bars up, as you see them in my sig pic, made a WORLD of difference for me.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
The seat backrest may be a help to you.
Have you considered a back support belt/brace? You've seen 'em. Lots of people who lift heavy objects wear them all the time. They're cheap so if it doesn't work, you just store it away. You could wear it between your T or A-Shirt and your regular shirt to hide it from open view. You might sweat a little bit.
I understand back pain. Nothing like it. It's there when you sit, when you stand, when you eat, when you sleep, when you dream -- It just simply sucks.
If it's really bad when you get home, ice it down, then apply heat, then ice. Start with ice, end with ice. About twenty minutes each. Maybe five times.
Good luck.
Have you considered a back support belt/brace? You've seen 'em. Lots of people who lift heavy objects wear them all the time. They're cheap so if it doesn't work, you just store it away. You could wear it between your T or A-Shirt and your regular shirt to hide it from open view. You might sweat a little bit.
I understand back pain. Nothing like it. It's there when you sit, when you stand, when you eat, when you sleep, when you dream -- It just simply sucks.
If it's really bad when you get home, ice it down, then apply heat, then ice. Start with ice, end with ice. About twenty minutes each. Maybe five times.
Good luck.