Riding with bad back
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 255
Likes: 24
Riding with bad back
The wife and I got our 2010 FLSTC (first Harley) in July. It is still stock except for a couple of things like a Shamrock Shield and American Custom exhausts that I put on. Still putting money away for all of the other "upgrades" we want for it.
It is a fantastic ride but now my back has decided that it wants to haunt me again. 25 years ago I was in a car accident and broke my back among other things. The worst part of the back injury was that the lumber muscles were torn at their ligament connections to the spine. A couple of weeks ago a simple bend over to shut something caused the muscles to spasm. This went on for several days and I ended up in the hospital on heavy meds to get them to stop. But during this time, the doctors said it appears that the muscles had torn themselves some more at the ligament connections.
So I am looking for any advice on what would be some good investments for helping make the bike more friendly to my back. I am sure a better seat would help but I was wondering if new bars like ape hangers could help with the seating position. I think that maybe having my arms more upright it would help with keeping my back straight while riding. I really like the look and I have tested a bike with some but felt that they were too high, maybe too forward.
Also, I am have not found anything yet but can the stock Harley shocks be adjusted? Or is there something available that would be easy to adjust, maybe even on the fly while out riding? Not while the bike is moving but something that might be power assisted to keep from having to bend over into positions that might cause the back to go out again.
I cannot wait till the doctor gives the ok to ride again, hopefully this weekend! And I will be starting physical therapy, so that should help with this too.
Thanks for any help on this.
It is a fantastic ride but now my back has decided that it wants to haunt me again. 25 years ago I was in a car accident and broke my back among other things. The worst part of the back injury was that the lumber muscles were torn at their ligament connections to the spine. A couple of weeks ago a simple bend over to shut something caused the muscles to spasm. This went on for several days and I ended up in the hospital on heavy meds to get them to stop. But during this time, the doctors said it appears that the muscles had torn themselves some more at the ligament connections.
So I am looking for any advice on what would be some good investments for helping make the bike more friendly to my back. I am sure a better seat would help but I was wondering if new bars like ape hangers could help with the seating position. I think that maybe having my arms more upright it would help with keeping my back straight while riding. I really like the look and I have tested a bike with some but felt that they were too high, maybe too forward.
Also, I am have not found anything yet but can the stock Harley shocks be adjusted? Or is there something available that would be easy to adjust, maybe even on the fly while out riding? Not while the bike is moving but something that might be power assisted to keep from having to bend over into positions that might cause the back to go out again.
I cannot wait till the doctor gives the ok to ride again, hopefully this weekend! And I will be starting physical therapy, so that should help with this too.
Thanks for any help on this.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: King of Prussia, PA
I agree with the Doc, I hurt my back in Iraq in 06 and have been fighting it since. This last spring I had the bad Idea to pick up my 4 year old and out went the back. So, now I have a mustang touring solo with backrest that has saved my ability to ride. I have it on a Xbones, so it looks kinda like dookie, but the mini apes help with seating position. I took out the stock adjusting screw on the seat back, and replaced it with a longer screw so I can sit more upright. I think a seat w backrest will really make a difference for you. Good luck!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 4
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
3 back surgeries after scaffold broke in 1988. Still in pain. For me what helped the most was the Mustang wide solo with rider backrest.
Progressive 422's helped a lot also
Progressive 422's helped a lot also
Last edited by keno; Oct 5, 2010 at 01:31 PM. Reason: Added Progressive info
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Taller bars will help and an air ride that is adjustable on the fly will help too. The Shotgun shock is what you need. The stock shocks will never perform like an air ride. Pm me for pricing on this fabulous unit. I jsut put one on and rode to Vegas and back in extreme comfort.
Drew
Drew
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From:
You might also try to adjust/tilt the bars on your bike forwards or backwards a little and try it. This will change how you back 'rests' on your pelvis and seat. A plus, it does not cost anything except some time. Mark you bars, say with a permanent type marker, and another on the riser/clamp. So you know where you started. Move it forward some and try it out. Move it back some and try it out. Same with the rotation of the hand controls. Sounds lame, but, think carpal tunnel syndrome. Moving the bars and controls can switch muscles just enough.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Stockton Ca.
+1 !!!
Last edited by the dutchman; Oct 5, 2010 at 11:30 AM. Reason: adding picture
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 3
From: Mebane, NC
WOW...we are some broke down old war horses aren't we?
Sorry..couldn't resist. I too have many ailments from accidents.
At the ripe old age of 39 I have had 3 back surgeries (two fusions), 1 left shoulder surgery, 3 right shoulder surgeries (now missing part of my right shoulder blade), and five left knee surgeries with number six coming due to a motorcycle accident back in May (hit from behind). I also have a spinal cord stimulator due to nerve damage in my back. So I too know a thing or two about pain and the quest to be comfortable.
The three most signifigant things I've done for comfort are:
1-Shotgun Shock Air
2- Saddleman Explorer Seat with Backrest
3-Carlini 12" Flyin Apes
The air ride smooths out the bumps and gives me great adjustabilty. The seat is wide, stable, and very supportive...not to mention a backrest is invaluable to lean on. The apes was the biggest surprise. I never really liked them as I was a drag bar guy. After taking off one set and putting on some Wild 1's with 8" rise and 11.5" pullback it still wasn't the position I was looking for. The next size up had really long risers and just didn't look right to me. I had been in the accident so I had some time to do some research. I settled on the 12" Flyin Apes because I'm 5'6" and I wanted something about equal with my shoulders. These had good pullback(12") and at about 13" actual height they landed just perfect. Because of my right shoulder issues my right arm and hand would often numb in a very short amount of time. So far there have been no issues and the bars are extremely comfortable and the kicker is...I think they look awesome! If I had known what a difference these bars would make I would have done this a long time ago.
Everyone always says, "Horsepower isn't cheap"...well I guess "Comfort isn't cheap" either, but if we wanted cheap we would have Harleys would we?
Sorry..couldn't resist. I too have many ailments from accidents.
At the ripe old age of 39 I have had 3 back surgeries (two fusions), 1 left shoulder surgery, 3 right shoulder surgeries (now missing part of my right shoulder blade), and five left knee surgeries with number six coming due to a motorcycle accident back in May (hit from behind). I also have a spinal cord stimulator due to nerve damage in my back. So I too know a thing or two about pain and the quest to be comfortable.
The three most signifigant things I've done for comfort are:
1-Shotgun Shock Air
2- Saddleman Explorer Seat with Backrest
3-Carlini 12" Flyin Apes
The air ride smooths out the bumps and gives me great adjustabilty. The seat is wide, stable, and very supportive...not to mention a backrest is invaluable to lean on. The apes was the biggest surprise. I never really liked them as I was a drag bar guy. After taking off one set and putting on some Wild 1's with 8" rise and 11.5" pullback it still wasn't the position I was looking for. The next size up had really long risers and just didn't look right to me. I had been in the accident so I had some time to do some research. I settled on the 12" Flyin Apes because I'm 5'6" and I wanted something about equal with my shoulders. These had good pullback(12") and at about 13" actual height they landed just perfect. Because of my right shoulder issues my right arm and hand would often numb in a very short amount of time. So far there have been no issues and the bars are extremely comfortable and the kicker is...I think they look awesome! If I had known what a difference these bars would make I would have done this a long time ago.
Everyone always says, "Horsepower isn't cheap"...well I guess "Comfort isn't cheap" either, but if we wanted cheap we would have Harleys would we?