upper back pain when I ride
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach, Florida
upper back pain when I ride
I am new to the family and bought an '06 Heritage about 2 months ago. Live in south florida and just made a trip and back to Key West this weekend. Great ride, Only gripe I have is my upper back gets really tight and feels like an Ice pick is being driven into my spine after i ride for a little while. I raised the handle bars up a bit but this did nothing, a friend I rode with has a V-rod and he told me he gets the same thing. the other guy who has a road king and has been riding for 6 years now said he doesnt. Just want to know if anyone else has the same problem after riding or am I just crazy? and if you do, does anyone have an old biker remedy besides Tequila, I dont drink, I am in recovery? thanks.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia
you might have to do something more than just raise the bars...if they aren't positioned correctly for your frame then raising the bars won't stop the pain. There is the raise and the pull back and the width of the bars that have to be taken into account.
you may have to try several different types of bars before you find the ones that are comfortable for you.
you may have to try several different types of bars before you find the ones that are comfortable for you.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Yeah, it's pretty common. Most of the guys I would take on Baja tours would complain of the same thing and yes it happened to me to. Mechanical fix=adjust handlebars up or down and see how that does. Physical fix=rowing exercise will work wonders for that between the shoulders ice pick feeling but it'll take a month or so of regular exercise to start noticing a big difference, just keep at it. Same thing goes for hip joint pain when riding=leg exercises that move the leg at the joint. Good luck and happier riding.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 168
Likes: 4
From: Oklahoma
heritageguy76 I had the same issue when i got my '99 fatboy. The pain stopped after i got a new seat with a backrest. My original seat was so hard my *** would go numb after about 50 miles and my lower and upper back would start hurting pretty bad. After getting the seat with a backrest it all went away.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
I have a life long problem with upper back Pain. Don't make any deference what I set on, a bench seat, sofa, floor, my bike, no backrest I'm in Pain. This year I decided to spend the $ and got a Mustang seat with drivers backrest... LOVE IT...For the first time in my life I can now ride my bike pain free. I wish I had done this years ago. Just got back from a 2 day 450 mile ride with no back pain. When I get off I fold it down and you cant hardly tell I have a backrest on my bike. I can adjust it up, and down, and back, and forth, and if I want to I can pop it off my bike. One more time...LOVE IT...
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: Rio Rancho, NM
I get the same thing on long trips. Luckily, I always have my wife on the back so I tell her to pound her fists on my back right between the shoulder blades. Ahhhhhh feels good.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,929
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From: Grayland, WA.
Pull back bars and a back rest. No more pain.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: Halton Hills
I also have back pain but of the lower kind. My RKCustom has the beach bars, Back rest and a removable windshield. When I ride with all 3 in place no problem what so ever. If I remove the windshield for the cool factor 
my friggin' back aches for days after. Not sure if you have a 'sheild or not but it might also be worth a look at.
Chop.
my friggin' back aches for days after. Not sure if you have a 'sheild or not but it might also be worth a look at.Chop.