My shoulders kill
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
Make sure you are happy with your seat BEFORE you go and start changing bars! A seat is 5 minutes to change, bars not so much. Also like a bunch have already chimed in, a backrest will make a world of difference in comfort! I've also done extended shift levers and highway pegs/boards. The ability to stretch and move around a bit goes a long way!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 172
From: Clarksville, TN
To answer your question YES. I had the exact same thing going on you are talking about. I rented a SG for a weekend before I bought mine and rode 500 miles so I knew going in the bars would need to be swapped. Even riding mine before I got the bars in was starting to get to me.
Now all is good.
Now all is good.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Admittedly my bike is older and the bars may be a different shape, but I had the same problem and cured it, without either changing bars or using a backrest.
The cause of your problem is that you are tensing up across the top of the shoulders. Several things can do that, not least noise. If you rode a thousand miles without ear plugs you deserve to be stiff! In other words, use them while on long trips. High and sustained noise levels make us grip the bars, with the results you have suffered.
In addition, your current bars are adjustable. I have found over the years that most Harleys I test ride have the bars set too high for my liking. That makes my wrists tip down and also lifts my shoulders from their most comfortable position. It is well worth rotating your bars, a little at a time, when all being well you will find a better riding position. Doing that on my bike I found a position where we both 'clicked' together and life has been great ever since!
So there you are - two solutions that will cost you just a few cents and a little time, nothing more!
The cause of your problem is that you are tensing up across the top of the shoulders. Several things can do that, not least noise. If you rode a thousand miles without ear plugs you deserve to be stiff! In other words, use them while on long trips. High and sustained noise levels make us grip the bars, with the results you have suffered.
In addition, your current bars are adjustable. I have found over the years that most Harleys I test ride have the bars set too high for my liking. That makes my wrists tip down and also lifts my shoulders from their most comfortable position. It is well worth rotating your bars, a little at a time, when all being well you will find a better riding position. Doing that on my bike I found a position where we both 'clicked' together and life has been great ever since!
So there you are - two solutions that will cost you just a few cents and a little time, nothing more!
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I've mentioned my shoulder aches and I found out that relaxing my arms, my pain stopped. I guess I was leaning on my arms, like doing a push up, putting stress on my shoulders. I still take some Ibeprophan before I ride, just in case.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
If you adjust your bars find a spare pair of hands as the bars, once loosened, are darned heavy and can move quickly and suddenly, which means you may not be sure where they were when you started!
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 4
Yes, bars will help your problem. Once you get to your destination call a taxi and head to the bar. 
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 529
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
The stock bars on my RK killed my shoulders. A pain right across the back after an hour in the seat even with the backrest. I switched out the stock bars for Heritage style bars and no more shoulder pain.
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