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.
ok...hope i'm not getting ahead of myself here. going to neurosurgeon later this week to find out if i am going to have to have spinal surgery done on my neck. have a disk that is pressing against my spinal cord and causing my right arm and hand to go numb at times. originally thought this was from riding as to the fact there have been numerous discussions on this forum about handlebars and numbness, etc. went to my doctor, then therapy, the chiropractor. mri's have found the cause. anyway, yet to be seen what neuros recommend.. anyway, the reason for this post is what will i need to do to my 09 rg if i have to "put it up" for a while. i am in texas so no hard winter issues. biggest issue would be warmer weather as spring comes. imagine i would be off til at least june (wild a$$ guess only) so just wondering if i drain fuel? change fluids? spray some type oil in comb. chambers? etc.? thanks for the help!!!
I would just fill the tank and add some fuel stabilizer. Plug in the tender and when you fire it up for the first time, ride it for at least an hour and change the fluids.
Surgery should be your last resort. Had spinal surgery on my back, took a full year to recover. Think very carefully about this. Good luck and a speedy recovery
I had a cop buddy go through spinal surgery 3 years ago and he's still not back to work yet ..But he was rideing his springer in a year ( figure that 1 out ) ???
They should be trying physical therapy before they consider surgery. I would definitely get a few more opinions before I let them do surgery.
Good luck,
Tom
Regarding the storage, fuel stabilizer and battery tender and a cover over it should take care of you nicely.
Regarding the spinal surgery, as others have said, think long and hard about it. I know so many people that have had it done with bad results, it has to be the absolute last resort. I'm gonna give you a link to an alternative that you may want to check out and discuss with your doctor. My wife has had leg numbness and lower back pain for 20+ years. Had an MRI done last year and it showed that she had a herniated disk that was causing the problem. Trust me, she had tried EVERYTHING over the years to no avail and was finally considering traditional back surgery until a physical therapist told her about this procedure. Luckily, a friend of hers had it done last summer with great results but we still did as much checking around as we could before finally deciding to go ahead. She had the procedure done on 12/31.....and although it has just been a week and the jury for long term relief is still out, she has been pain free now for the first time in years. She went back to work on Friday on a limited basis, and although a little tender in walking, she is doing fine. This may not be for you, but if it were me, I would sure check into it before letting them touch me with a knife. I wish you all the best!
Goofy weather changes being what they are in this neck of the woods my main concern would be humidity and the effect it would have when you store the bike. Trust me, it will wreak havoc on a "sitting" bike. I would put in fresh fuel with a stabilizer, get the bike up on a lift and store it in a dehumidified environment of some sort. Good luck (with everything).
I had it done, back in 2002. I think it was C3,4 and 5. DR. put in a titanium plate with 6 screws and 2 bones from a cadaver. I have never had any problems at all. She also rides and she told me not to be superman when recovering. My younger brother had the same thing done by the same DR. He has headaches, because he went back to work to soon and tried to be superman. He will tell you that himself. If I was going to have it done, now is when I'd do it. For me, my left arm would cramp up to the point, like it was a chicken wing. Now at 60, I run and play with 10 grandkids, ride all day and still work a 14 hr day if need be. I feel better now than I did when I was 40. Go figure..........
Thanks for all the info and kind words of support. I will find out what the dr thinks and definitely check all of my options. Had lower back surgery 20+ years ago so am familiar with most issues. Will try to avoid surgery if at all possible but if it is really the only option , well, we'll see...thanks again and ya'll ride safe...
I had the two lower vertebrae fused 15 years ago (herniated discs) and took 6 months to "fully" recover. "Fully" is a relative term....I have eight pins and two bands holding together abour two inches of my lower back now. I ALWAYS have some discomfort. The worst is first thing in the morning. Try sleeping on a bunch of Metal!!
You cannot sleep on your stomach and if I sleep for more than 1/2 hour on either side, my legs tingle and go numb...and wake me up. Every night is sleep, wake up, sleep , wake up. Yet, compared to the pain I had before the operation I am better off.
Trouble is that I wish I had tried other alternatives like those mentioned in this forum. I only thought about pain management and drugs and I just don't get along together.
15 years later I'm now 57 years old and nursing the back every day. I have no trouble at all riding the UG with the back rest....without the back rest, forget long trips at all.
My advice is to try EVERY OTHER remedy that is not outright stupid, before going under the knife for a fusion.
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.