back's killing me
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
try adjusting your shocks stiffer...i know it sounds nuts but my dad and brother did it to their sportys last year and it made them ride better with them set up stiffer. dad's is an 08 1200c and bro had a 1200n, there is a huge difference in the way the 1200c rides over the 1200n or in your case the 883 iron. you got that thin seat and the short shocks as well as mid controls. i would start buy getting forward controls and maybe some mini apes to get you sitting straight and stretched, then if that dont work go with the seat and then if all else fails get new shocks...hope that helps
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 3
From: utah
Man, I can't even believe I'm about to say this on a Harley forum but if you want to help your back out aside from the mods on your bike, yoga (ouch!) has done wonders for me. I work in the healthcare industry where I'm picking up patients and moving them regularly so I have developed back problems over the years. I actually ended up in the ER once for back issues. Since I've been doing yoga regularly (I'd call it extreme stretching with some core excercise), no problemo with the back.
I did notice that my back was getting a little tight on long rides. I have the mini apes on mine, and all I did was bring my bars forward a little so I was sitting more upright instead of kinda slouched. Since then I haven't had any tightness on the bike and I was in the saddle for 8 hours on Monday. And yes, I'm planning on coming under fire for the yoga thing.
I did notice that my back was getting a little tight on long rides. I have the mini apes on mine, and all I did was bring my bars forward a little so I was sitting more upright instead of kinda slouched. Since then I haven't had any tightness on the bike and I was in the saddle for 8 hours on Monday. And yes, I'm planning on coming under fire for the yoga thing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,937
Likes: 1
From: SE Wisconsin
It's a Sportster ... no pain no gain. Sort of makes you wonder why people convert their Sporty's into rigids don't it.
I can make 350 miles easily in one day with a custom seat and stock shocks. If I did take longer trips, I would probably look into a better suspension system.
These guys really know what their talking about. 
I can make 350 miles easily in one day with a custom seat and stock shocks. If I did take longer trips, I would probably look into a better suspension system.
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Fruita CO.
My 2 cents,
You can ride forever on a sporty. My last big ride was 714 miles straight stopping for fuel. Spent 4 nights there and did the return trip non stop I felt good enough the next day to do it again. So its all about what you want to ride, hell it was with the stock seat even. Now I have the C&C low and its a way better seat.
As for the forward controls I see that as a bad thing on long rides. Myself, I have mids and a crash bar with highway pegs. I change my feet around allot while out on the highway. Have some apes on it witch helps with my bad shoulder. But the number one thing as some have said, is posture. If you are not sitting up straight then you wont last long.
And ill take my nightster/sprorty over a geezer-glided any day.
You can ride forever on a sporty. My last big ride was 714 miles straight stopping for fuel. Spent 4 nights there and did the return trip non stop I felt good enough the next day to do it again. So its all about what you want to ride, hell it was with the stock seat even. Now I have the C&C low and its a way better seat.
As for the forward controls I see that as a bad thing on long rides. Myself, I have mids and a crash bar with highway pegs. I change my feet around allot while out on the highway. Have some apes on it witch helps with my bad shoulder. But the number one thing as some have said, is posture. If you are not sitting up straight then you wont last long.
And ill take my nightster/sprorty over a geezer-glided any day.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 3
From: Toms River, New Jersey
I'd say it's my *** that hurts more than anything after a hundred or so miles on my Iron. I still have the mids and stock bars, I'm comfortable with them, it's just that seat kicks my ***.
Anyone know of a good seat maker in NJ (shore area preferrably)?
Anyone know of a good seat maker in NJ (shore area preferrably)?
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Des Moines, IA
I had an 07 883, and then bought an 09 883L. Big difference in ride quality, all on the bad side.
First thing I did was swap the stock seat for the two-up HD Sundowner that was on my old scoot. Helped a little, but not enough. My 883L ride is nowhere near as comfortable as my old one, especially with my gal on the back (combined, we are under 320 pounds). We got beat to death yesterday on one stretch of rough road.
Most likely, what I will do is go with a slightly longer Progressive shock on the rear, and switch to a longer Progressive spring in the front. I'm hoping that by extending the travel a little, that I'll gain ride quality.
First thing I did was swap the stock seat for the two-up HD Sundowner that was on my old scoot. Helped a little, but not enough. My 883L ride is nowhere near as comfortable as my old one, especially with my gal on the back (combined, we are under 320 pounds). We got beat to death yesterday on one stretch of rough road.
Most likely, what I will do is go with a slightly longer Progressive shock on the rear, and switch to a longer Progressive spring in the front. I'm hoping that by extending the travel a little, that I'll gain ride quality.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44
Likes: 44
From: MS Gulf Coast
All of the mentioned ways to improve ride comfort are good, have tried several (seat, bars, riding position) and noticed improvement. There is one factor limiting a comfortable long distance ride on our Sportsters that has not been mentioned and that is wheelbase. All BT models have at least 3 or more inches longer wheelbase which tends to make for a gentler ride. It is a matter of design and geometry that is not easily modified. It is generally true, for instance, that a stock long wheelbase pickup has a more comfortable ride than a short wheelbase model. We can definitely improve our bikes with all the great suggestions offered here, but in the end it is still a Sportster. That is not a bad thing as though we cannot easily gain the comfort of a Tourer we can approach it at the same time that we retain the outstanding handling and manueverability of the Sportster. All that being said with the ride improvements I have made rides of 200-300 miles are no problem with occasional breaks.