Pain between Shoulders
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 18,303
Likes: 26,530
From: Northwest of Los Angeles
Your issue is very common, but it's also easily solved. Many prefer apes; personally, they weren't the look I was going for. Plus, I ride long distances and can't imagine eight hours with my hands up at shoulder height. But it does work for many.
My solution was WildOne Chubby 518 bars. They work with the stock cables, though I switched mine out to chrome and ran the wires internally when I changed out the bars -- but you needn't go that far. And if cost is a factor, wait till you can get some "blemished" bars from WildOne (see them here). What they call blemished most people would call perfect, and you can save a few bucks. I also added a Mustang seat with backrest. Problem solved.
My solution was WildOne Chubby 518 bars. They work with the stock cables, though I switched mine out to chrome and ran the wires internally when I changed out the bars -- but you needn't go that far. And if cost is a factor, wait till you can get some "blemished" bars from WildOne (see them here). What they call blemished most people would call perfect, and you can save a few bucks. I also added a Mustang seat with backrest. Problem solved.
Last edited by OldBoldPilot; Jul 6, 2010 at 08:29 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Amen to that. My neck sucks and a two inch turn down made a big difference for me. It doesn't always need to be a lot of change.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Western Kentucky
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I have already rotated my bars down and back and that helped a little, but didn't solve the problem completely.
I had the same problem with a yamaha I had before the HD, and installed PB risers and beach bars. May do the same with these.
Glad to hear I can go up to 4" without changing the cables, that is probably what I will try first.
Already been on the links for the bars and I will watch for some blemished bars. I really liked the beach bars on the Yammy, might go that direction.
Once again thanks for all the help!!
I had the same problem with a yamaha I had before the HD, and installed PB risers and beach bars. May do the same with these.
Glad to hear I can go up to 4" without changing the cables, that is probably what I will try first.
Already been on the links for the bars and I will watch for some blemished bars. I really liked the beach bars on the Yammy, might go that direction.
Once again thanks for all the help!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Yeah I know that feeling too. It is definitely the posture that does it. The trick I think is to find a set up for your handlebars, where you are sitting on the bike in such a way that you are not hanging on to the handlebars. I noticed that I always got the pain when i was hanging on the handlebars. Meaning that instead of sitting on the bike and staying sitting up with out needing to hold on to the handlebars, I was relying on my grip on the handlebars to keep me upright. Those tensing my muscle between the shoulder pains which would cause the pain.
changing the setup worked for me on my old bike. Currently have a 09 FLSTC and put road king bars from wild one on. Getting the pain again a little at the end of longer rides. will need to tweat by position and such again to get rid of it.
changing the setup worked for me on my old bike. Currently have a 09 FLSTC and put road king bars from wild one on. Getting the pain again a little at the end of longer rides. will need to tweat by position and such again to get rid of it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 6
From: Boston
interesting.....I always..always get lower right neck pain. Feels like its burning or something. Only good thing is when I have the gf on the back to rub it for me. I might try small apes and see if things change, cuz when you love to ride the last thing anyone wants is to be in pain while trying to enjoy the outdoors and the ride
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas
Try sitting on the bike with it upright. Get comfortable in the seat. Drop your arms at your side. Raise your forearms up so they are parallel to the floor (ground). Move your hands forward while keeping your forearms parallel. Try to keep your elbows in.
For a nice riding position, your elbows should not be straight, but have a comfortable bend. Remember this position and where your hands are. Think "comfort". Now move your arms up, down, out in, etc. Try to find that position that starts to make your back feel bad.
This is the only comparison I can think of to do without actually putting on new handle bars and experimenting that way.
p.s. Well, this worked for me anyway. I put on 4 inch pull back risers and rotated the handle bars down. More comfy now.
For a nice riding position, your elbows should not be straight, but have a comfortable bend. Remember this position and where your hands are. Think "comfort". Now move your arms up, down, out in, etc. Try to find that position that starts to make your back feel bad.
This is the only comparison I can think of to do without actually putting on new handle bars and experimenting that way.
p.s. Well, this worked for me anyway. I put on 4 inch pull back risers and rotated the handle bars down. More comfy now.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 18,303
Likes: 26,530
From: Northwest of Los Angeles