Does raised bars help with back and shoulder pain

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Jun 13, 2023 | 06:57 AM

#31

DrunkUncles

6th Gear

Joined: Dec 2018

Posts: 11

Likes: 1

From: Edgewater MD

12" Bars

I love my 12" bars.. But...

If you like to ride early in the year or late in the year, thin about the height of your bars in relation to the fairing. 12'" bars will move your hands above the fairing.

That can make a big difference in ride comfort in cooler temps.

And before you start with the whole heated grips and leather gloves thing... There aint a set of grips or leather gloves that can warm your hands when the temp is 45 degrees and you are moving 60 miles an hour.

I'm sure there will internet tough-ies that dispute my claim. But I'm an admitted fair weather biker. I want to enjoy it and I'm too old to state otherwise.

Chris

Jun 13, 2023 | 08:31 AM

#32

BelchFire

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 4,052

Likes: 5,159

From: Below the Gnat Line

My 12" KSTs put my hands flush with the top of the fairing. Air arcs over the top of my knuckles; I ride year-round.

Jun 13, 2023 | 10:47 AM

#33

svarnster

Road Warrior

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,936

Likes: 310

From: coastal sc

I got the wo 575"s and they keep my hands behind the batwing. I find them very comfortable. I never think of my hands or elbows or back. so they must work for me.

Jun 15, 2023 | 12:26 PM

#34

Badbagger

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 4,505

Likes: 380

From: Florida

I had same issues 14” did it

https://factory47.com/shop-by-part/handle-bars/

Jun 15, 2023 | 01:26 PM

#35

LonestarXL

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 622

Likes: 287

From: Texas

The stock bars on my SGS sucked so bad. Shoulder pain, neck pain, back pain. Oh I could ride short distances no problem. But try doing 500 mile days with them, and hell no they were horrible. And this was with a Saddlemen seat, backrest, and Revo A’s. Really it was the shoulder and neck pain that was the worst.

I put 12” Factory 47 Assault bars on, and what a world of difference. No more back neck or shoulder pain. I can go 500-700 miles day after day and no problem.

At least for me, yes raising the bars up is definitely the key.

Jun 15, 2023 | 05:44 PM

#36

HDJIM1158

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 1,615

Likes: 27

From: Toms River, NJ

I have a doctor that rides, he told me to put higher bars on. First I have 5 bad disks in my lower back, 3 in my neck... I am 6 feet tall, 32 inseam and 36 inch arms... your milage will not be the same.... Anyway for me, 14 inch KST Spearfish adjustable bars was the best for me... they are set at the same angle as the forks.. grips set back about 20 degrees... I have a Russel all day long saddle with a Harley back rest. my floorboards have 1 inch extenders. When I sit on the bike, I sit straight up, legs out as if I was sitting on a chair... my arms have a slight bend and my hands/ wrists are at a rest position.... I have carpal and tendinitis... with this set up I ride 500 to 700 miles a day without a problem... Bike is a Road Glide.... Neck and lower back pain comes from leaning forward because the bars are to low.... like pushing a wheel barrel....

Be Safe. JIM

Jun 15, 2023 | 10:30 PM

#37

07UltraGuy

Banned

Joined: Aug 2021

Posts: 4,027

Likes: 6,287

From: SoCal

I'm tall with long arms, so for me taller bars (13"-14") helped tremendously. Adding a backrest, options to change foot position, and a windscreen that I really like also eliminated my back & neck issues.
I was recently in the saddle for 22+ hrs straight and had zero discomfort after.

I felt as though I was sitting on a cement mixer for another full day though.

Jun 16, 2023 | 07:39 AM

#38

tas_todd

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 2,884

Likes: 912

From: South La.

I used to get bad pain in my right thoracic area (it hurt to turn my head left). Bar size didn't matter. I went to a PT and they worked on my thoracic area and my neck muscles. She said they were all knotted up. Dry needling with stim got those muscles loosened up. I do thoracic stretching daily when I travel on the bike... No more pain. So, just a bar swap might not be your only issue.