Diagnosing + fixing some small comfort issues...
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, IN
Diagnosing + fixing some small comfort issues...
So I'm extremely happy with my '12 Heritage - I just occasionally have some small comfort issues on medium to longer rides.
The odd thing is it's not every time, so perhaps it's slight positional problems, or maybe not.
Anyway - sometimes, after about 20 miles or so, I'll start to get some lower back pain, right about where the back bends to allow you to bend over. It's more on the left side, sometimes on the extreme left side of the back. Sometimes the center, but more often than not, the left side. Sometimes it's 30-40 miles before it starts. Sometimes I go 50 miles or even 100 without any at all. But, usually it does creep in.
I realize it could be the seat, the bars/bar position, or both.
Also - more rarely - I do get some wrist/hand pain, but I realize that's more likely that I'm gripping too tightly.
The bike is all stock. I'm about 5'8", and can put my feet flat no problem.
I just want to do all I can to make riding as close too 100% comfortable as possible.
The odd thing is it's not every time, so perhaps it's slight positional problems, or maybe not.
Anyway - sometimes, after about 20 miles or so, I'll start to get some lower back pain, right about where the back bends to allow you to bend over. It's more on the left side, sometimes on the extreme left side of the back. Sometimes the center, but more often than not, the left side. Sometimes it's 30-40 miles before it starts. Sometimes I go 50 miles or even 100 without any at all. But, usually it does creep in.
I realize it could be the seat, the bars/bar position, or both.
Also - more rarely - I do get some wrist/hand pain, but I realize that's more likely that I'm gripping too tightly.
The bike is all stock. I'm about 5'8", and can put my feet flat no problem.
I just want to do all I can to make riding as close too 100% comfortable as possible.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
Doesn't it suck getting old Dude? I don't know for sure but with the pains you are complaining about, those usually don't come from a younger rider. I have tried a lot of things to make riding as painless as possible. I am in the process of having apes put on, 14" Gangsters and we shall see if that helps or not. My next attempt will be at getting my seat re-worked and gel inserts. In the end I have used and abused my body over the years so I am always going to have to deal with some shape or form of pain though. I just don't think there is a lot you can do about getting old. It is what it is.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Are you reaching for the bars or sitting upright? If you haven't already done so, the first thing I would try is rotating your bars back more. Helped a bit for me on my 08 but it wasn't near the solution I needed.
New seat with backrest didn't help at all and in fact made the low back issue worse.
Long story short, it turned out I needed both a backrest and new bars with a lot more pb. I'm good to go now. No back or shoulder issues.
New seat with backrest didn't help at all and in fact made the low back issue worse.
Long story short, it turned out I needed both a backrest and new bars with a lot more pb. I'm good to go now. No back or shoulder issues.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
Back rest and get your bars to where your shoulders are not reaching. Keep them in natural position not letting the ball of the shoulder roll forward as you reach for the bars. Prolly a taller bar so you can bring it back to you more.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I feel your pain, pulling the trigger today on the Shot Gun Shock cause of my back, seems like the thing to do. Best of luck.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Carol Stream, IL
No silver bullet
1) Change your stock seat, you have several options. Go for third party seats like Mustang, Corbin, saddleman seat. That will help with the lower back pain.
2) Also judge for yourself if the bars are a bit too wide or further, I had pain in between my shoulder blades due to fatboy stock bars, changed to Wild 1 WO517 bars which were close enough to stop the pain in my shoulder blades but the wrist angle was too much 68 degree's for a long comfortable ride. I started to have pain in my wrists. Eventually I moved on to santee mini apes which are not wide (34inch wide - so my arms are not suspended wide all the time) and angle is almost straight so no pain in my wrist as well. I also installed fat 4 inch curved pull back risers from HD which made a world of difference for me.
3) if you are gripping too tightly you need to start relaxing your grip on the throttle grip. Something that has helped me is "crampbuster" google it and find one for yourself.
4) for longer rides I use "OmniCruise" which is similar to "Go-Cruise throttle control" but built better and not plastic, It is also adjustable so you can use it on almost any other bikes you have or rent.
There is no silver bullet. I have had many seats (stock, fatboy lo modified with mean city, saddleman explorer, saddleman renegade) I ended up keeping fatboy lo seat which I modified for myself with meancity & saddleman explorer for two up touring. Good luck on your quest.
2) Also judge for yourself if the bars are a bit too wide or further, I had pain in between my shoulder blades due to fatboy stock bars, changed to Wild 1 WO517 bars which were close enough to stop the pain in my shoulder blades but the wrist angle was too much 68 degree's for a long comfortable ride. I started to have pain in my wrists. Eventually I moved on to santee mini apes which are not wide (34inch wide - so my arms are not suspended wide all the time) and angle is almost straight so no pain in my wrist as well. I also installed fat 4 inch curved pull back risers from HD which made a world of difference for me.
3) if you are gripping too tightly you need to start relaxing your grip on the throttle grip. Something that has helped me is "crampbuster" google it and find one for yourself.
4) for longer rides I use "OmniCruise" which is similar to "Go-Cruise throttle control" but built better and not plastic, It is also adjustable so you can use it on almost any other bikes you have or rent.
There is no silver bullet. I have had many seats (stock, fatboy lo modified with mean city, saddleman explorer, saddleman renegade) I ended up keeping fatboy lo seat which I modified for myself with meancity & saddleman explorer for two up touring. Good luck on your quest.
So I'm extremely happy with my '12 Heritage - I just occasionally have some small comfort issues on medium to longer rides.
The odd thing is it's not every time, so perhaps it's slight positional problems, or maybe not.
Anyway - sometimes, after about 20 miles or so, I'll start to get some lower back pain, right about where the back bends to allow you to bend over. It's more on the left side, sometimes on the extreme left side of the back. Sometimes the center, but more often than not, the left side. Sometimes it's 30-40 miles before it starts. Sometimes I go 50 miles or even 100 without any at all. But, usually it does creep in.
I realize it could be the seat, the bars/bar position, or both.
Also - more rarely - I do get some wrist/hand pain, but I realize that's more likely that I'm gripping too tightly.
The bike is all stock. I'm about 5'8", and can put my feet flat no problem.
I just want to do all I can to make riding as close too 100% comfortable as possible.
The odd thing is it's not every time, so perhaps it's slight positional problems, or maybe not.
Anyway - sometimes, after about 20 miles or so, I'll start to get some lower back pain, right about where the back bends to allow you to bend over. It's more on the left side, sometimes on the extreme left side of the back. Sometimes the center, but more often than not, the left side. Sometimes it's 30-40 miles before it starts. Sometimes I go 50 miles or even 100 without any at all. But, usually it does creep in.
I realize it could be the seat, the bars/bar position, or both.
Also - more rarely - I do get some wrist/hand pain, but I realize that's more likely that I'm gripping too tightly.
The bike is all stock. I'm about 5'8", and can put my feet flat no problem.
I just want to do all I can to make riding as close too 100% comfortable as possible.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,618
Likes: 5,211
From: Green Country
Sounds like you may be reaching a bit; as mentioned try rolling the bars back just a tad. You might also try getting a set of the pullback risers from a Deluxe; they'll move your bars up and back some.
Something I had to admit was that I had to get in better shape to ride, as in strengthening your core and back. Sitting upright in the wind does take a toll on you...
Something I had to admit was that I had to get in better shape to ride, as in strengthening your core and back. Sitting upright in the wind does take a toll on you...
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Kansas
My .002... AirHawk2 seat pad for your butt, drivers back rest for the back. You can get a nice one on ebay from an outfit in Cali about $135. I will look the company up for ya if interested and extra strength acetaminophen before riding and bring water along always.
Besides that getting the bars pulled back right and your hiway pegs set right you do have a crash bar (yes?) and that is one of the smoothest most versatile bikes you can be sitting on imho. hth
edit: you sound like me after not being on my bike very much over the winter. haha
Besides that getting the bars pulled back right and your hiway pegs set right you do have a crash bar (yes?) and that is one of the smoothest most versatile bikes you can be sitting on imho. hth
edit: you sound like me after not being on my bike very much over the winter. haha
Last edited by Car Doc; May 3, 2013 at 08:56 AM.