Do I need new handlebars
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Bossier City, LA
Do I need new handlebars
Hello,
I need some help/advice. When I ride for any length of time I start to get a little pain in the middle of my back/shoulders. Could this be from the bars not being in the proper position? I've done some searches on handle bars but haven't really found anything that says why anyone decides to get new bars except that they are more comfortable or are just better. So, do you guys think I need new bars? Are there any articles out there that discuss where the bars should be relative to the rider for the best comfort.
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
I need some help/advice. When I ride for any length of time I start to get a little pain in the middle of my back/shoulders. Could this be from the bars not being in the proper position? I've done some searches on handle bars but haven't really found anything that says why anyone decides to get new bars except that they are more comfortable or are just better. So, do you guys think I need new bars? Are there any articles out there that discuss where the bars should be relative to the rider for the best comfort.
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Could be the bars; how tall are you? Something that lowers your hands and even brings them back a little might help. I switched to some bars that raised my hands just a couple of inches and had to go back to the stock bars because of the pain.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
sounds like we share the same type of build ( long torso). I can say that when I started riding an Ultra the pain in my back was right where you describe, and made me wonder if I'd made a mistake moving "up" from the Heritage.
I switched my bars to a set that gave me a wider grip and moved my hands up and back towards me and that cured the back pain.
The Khromewerks +2 sweepers worked, but i prefer the wrist postion of the WO575.
I switched my bars to a set that gave me a wider grip and moved my hands up and back towards me and that cured the back pain.
The Khromewerks +2 sweepers worked, but i prefer the wrist postion of the WO575.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: I'm usually in the dog house
Before you spend a bunch of money on bars, try stretching a little before you ride. Make sure to stretch your neck by turning your head from side to side occasionally as you ride also. I find that helps me a lot, especially on a long ride. I changed bars too (16" apes), but it may be worth a shot to try stretching first.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of So Cal
I'm 5'8" at 190 lbs. The stock bars on the RK had me feeling like I was leaning forward and kinda pushing down, giving me the same symptoms you had. 16" apes really made the difference for me.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 6
From: Oregon City, OR
I'm 6'0, but I have a 30" inseam, so I have a little longer torso. I just didn't want to buy a new set of bars if that wasn't the problem.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I couldn't get comfortable on my Glide when I first bought it. Like RKKY I made a few adjustments, a little at a time, to the original bars and haven't looked back! I measured from the original position of the bars to a fixed part of the bike, so I could move them back to stock position if I needed to. My guess is you should roll the bars towards you a little. That will lower them, bring them closer, also alter the angle of your wrists. Doesn't sound much, but it has served me for almost 20 years!
