When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I use to have shoulder problems riding for a couple of hours but not anymore. Got a seat with some back support , highway foot pegs and a set KST spearheads that have a lot of adjustment. The change in the riding position for me was a combination of the seat pushed my forward a bit and the bars adjusted inward gave me more pull back so I am now sitting more upright - not slouching and reaching for the bars
Took more than a few rides to get everything adjusted but its all good now. BTW I am 6'0" - 32 inseam
Last edited by Crossbone Canuck; Feb 3, 2022 at 06:34 PM.
Get a drivers backrest. Its like going from sitting on a bar stool to sitting in an office chair. That back support will change everything about your riding posture. You can find cheap kits on ebay for about 100 bucks, its a great place to start (bars are going to cost you several hundreds)
Here's what I needed to get comfortable on any bike, in order of importance:
1. Driver backrest
2. Windshield that gets rid of helmet buffeting
3. Foot Pegs on the crashbars so you can stretch out
4. Comfortable seat that gets rid of hip bone pain
5. Correct height and ANGLE Handlebars that allow you to grip the bars in a neutral position. This is the last item on the list for a reason. You can have the handlebars right from the get-go but if you aren't shielding yourself from wind, if you don't have back support from a backrest, or pegs for stretching, or good seat, changing handlebars won't do a darn thing to prevent pain from a combination of all the other parts that didn't get corrected FIRST.
With aging I’ve found it’s about your physical condition. After doing any activity, you don’t do regularly, you’re going to feel some level of discomfort. As stated before adjust your riding position to be most comfortable by changing bars, seat, backrest, etc and then most important work out the area of your body that needs to be toned up, hands, forearms, shoulders, neck and back. It works for me.
Ergonomics are tricky, but yes with the right combination of seat, handlebars and footboards you should be able to reduce or eliminate shoulder pain. The hard part is finding the right combination, swapping parts out is expensive, especially handlebars on a fairing bike. For me the magic combination was H-D extended footboards (also Softbrake +2), Hammock touring seat (no backrest, they don't work for me) and Klockwerks Ergo bars (taller, wider and very little pull-back). With the stock set-up I had a fair amount of shoulder and wrist pain which is pretty much completely gone now.
Also, nobody ever wants to hear this but core strengthening really helps keep you from slouching which can put extra strain on the shoulders.
I use to have shoulder problems riding for a couple of hours but not anymore. Got a seat with some back support , highway foot pegs and a set KST spearheads that have a lot of adjustment. The change in the riding position for me was a combination of the seat pushed my forward a bit and the bars adjusted inward gave me more pull back so I am now sitting more upright - not slouching and reaching for the bars
Took more than a few rides to get everything adjusted but its all good now. BTW I am 6'0" - 32 inseam
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
