I did almost 2000 miles in my trip to Sturgis. I did not have a ounce of pain the entire trip. I was ready to head back out as soon as I got home (if I had more time off work, I would have). I have a police air ride seat that I installed on my rk custom. I had to tweak a few things to get it to work, but absolutely no butt pain. I also used a travel bag as a back rest. I figure that with that bag, and my choice of bars, that is what saved me from having any pain. BTW, I have 18" apes. Even before I added the seat, the bars made all the difference... to me...

 

Have you tried a rider backrest?

What I found, was that when I was no longer slouching, and no longer holding myself up by the handlebars, I had a LOT less tension/pain in the shoulders and neck.

 

Yep, seat, adjustable backrest, bars and the occasional Lortab for the two ruptured disc in lower back and I'm ridin with a smile.

 

I had the same problem. I installed a back rest on my ultra and vola!! no more pain.

 

14" to 16" apes and the backrest in just the right place.

 

I've got a great set of bars but my next buy is going to be a new seat with a drivers backrest. I'm feeling pretty certain this will take care of my problems (lower back pain from slouching).

Ride safe...and stay healthy.

 

I'm 6'2" and I've got chubby 575s, a mustang one piece touring seat with mustang backrest, and footboard extenders. I still get the pain on occasion. I was wondering if bagger apes might do the trick...


I'm still not sure about the look though and it's always better to look good than to feel good, right?

 

Stop riding 2 up. lol j/k
I agree its probably posture not letting you relax enough. Risers and backrest to start with and see where it goes from there. Only you know for sure, but working out a little on the upper body may help, at least it increases the circulation.

 

A cortisone shot does AMAZING things. Just have to get one every 4 months or so.

 

Without having an ergonomic specialist to watch you ride you may be shooting in the dark as to the cause. As one or two responders said, you may be tensing up your shoulders without knowing it. Do that for several hours and you're bound to have pain. ONe thing I've noticed is that since I have carpel tunnel damage in my right hand, a lot of throttle manipulation, such as riding all day in the twisties or stuck in stop and go traffic, can cause pain to run up my arm, into my shoulder and base of the right side of my neck. I've found no cure except when on straight roads I turn on the cruise control and it allows my hand to relax. It put the easy pull clutch kit in and it definitely helped the left hand cramps I was getting.

Ah, when I was 21, I could ride my old Triumph with its 20-pound pull clutch, no windshield and sticky carb slide all day with no problems. Maybe that's why I have them now?