Bad Backs and Riders Backrest
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14,438
Likes: 2,421
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
I noticed that as I ride, I bunch my lower back muscles a little. I noticed once in a while when riding a long time, that my lower back hurts a little. Would a backrest fix that for me? Sorry and I didn't mean to high jack the thread either.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Dan: You won't know until you try it, but I'd bet $10 to your $1 that it clears up the problem if your pad is placed where you most need the support.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,089
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Maybe use all three, a kidney belt, backrest and good shocks. Personally a backrest helps on the long rides and provides support for me. The kidney belt will provide support on the back, as well as prevent chaffing against the backrest.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Train: Printed....that's good. Is that all you do on a daily basis?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 4
I never liked the back rest. Having several back injuries of my own doing. The best medicine for your back? Loose weight and excercise back muscles. I think riding is some of the best medicine their is. But that back rest just made things worse for me...I regularly ride 300-400 a day. Weekdays 75-150. I sure as heck would not want a backrest on a bike in a wreck...
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 554
Likes: 23
From: Crawford Co, AR
On multi day..multi mile trips the backrest was the best investment I have made so far.
BUT..be careful of sharp dips/bumps, the backrest will hit you pretty hard and could cause injury. Be sure when you see a bad bump or dip move up off the backrest a little!
Enjoy
BUT..be careful of sharp dips/bumps, the backrest will hit you pretty hard and could cause injury. Be sure when you see a bad bump or dip move up off the backrest a little!
Enjoy
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Joe Kucinski
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,747
Likes: 419
From: Vermont
I use a back rest. I did take it into a machine shop and had it cut and welded so that it's lower and supporting me right at the lowest part of my back. It bugged me until having done that, and I really like it now.
Being told to lose weight is a little presumptuous. I am not over weight, but injured my back in my teens, and still have to deal with the result of that. If you are over weight, losing weight will help, most certainly. In the short term though, try taking the back rest to a machine shop to have it lowered so that it really supports your lower back....if you think it might make it more comfortable. Worked for me.
Being told to lose weight is a little presumptuous. I am not over weight, but injured my back in my teens, and still have to deal with the result of that. If you are over weight, losing weight will help, most certainly. In the short term though, try taking the back rest to a machine shop to have it lowered so that it really supports your lower back....if you think it might make it more comfortable. Worked for me.
5 lbs makes a BFD! Yep bulged discs broken back crushed very. Lol. Young and stupid. But shock travel is more important than back rests