upper back pain
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
Had the exact same problem when I switched out my stock seat for the Mustang seat. Stock bars were barely passable with the stock seat but the change in position from the Mustang seat pushed me over the edge.
I was at Laconia and looked at the Helibars booth. Liked the idea that the bars are adjustable, so if your position isnt just right you can change it without changing bars. Ended up buying them at the show so they installed them free. Best $$ I ever spent...and yes I know they are expensive but the upside is you will never end up with the wrong riding position, and if you change seats at some point you can re-adjust the bars.
I was at Laconia and looked at the Helibars booth. Liked the idea that the bars are adjustable, so if your position isnt just right you can change it without changing bars. Ended up buying them at the show so they installed them free. Best $$ I ever spent...and yes I know they are expensive but the upside is you will never end up with the wrong riding position, and if you change seats at some point you can re-adjust the bars.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
I guess I'm the minority here: I road a bike with high bars; just about shoulder height and my arms were killing me within a half hour; I just don't find holding my arms up that high comfortable at all. The bars on the Ultra allow your arms to naturally rest. Since I have a shorter reach than many of you (33") I had the Reach Bars installed to help me recline a bit. Now I can ride all day every day... and I would if I could!
Last edited by vistavette; Mar 1, 2012 at 12:50 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,727
Likes: 6
I guess I'm the minority here: I road a bike with high bars; just about shoulder height and my arms were killing me within a half hour; I just don't find holding my arms up that high a comfortable at all. The bars on the Ultra allow your arms to naturally rest. Since I have a shorter reach than many of you (33") I had the Reach Bars installed to help me recline a bit. Now I can ride all day every day... and I would if I could!
I agree with you. I don't think up is the answer, I think back toward you so you don't have to reach is more important. Up might help, but back is better. I've been looking for bars that come back closer to me for quite awhile now, unless you have them custom made by BR or someplace like that they are extremely hard to find.
Had the same problem on my Ultra after switching to the Tallboy seat. Put on the Klock Werks Back bars and worked great. Still went up, but also back. What I did to determined which bar was have my gf take a pic of me holding a broom at my "ideal" position, then used the size of the grip as reference to determined up and back. Would have gone an inch or so higher, but didn't want to fool with new cables and couldn't find higher bars w flatter grip angle.
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