Riding position for back relief

2414 Views 57 Replies 18 Participants Last post by stjan, 8 h ago

Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Just starting to get some decent riding time on my new to me Bobber. It seems as though the riding position might be causing some slight lower back pain. I am used to cruiser type bikes with a completely different riding style. I am about 5’ 11” with shorter torso and longer legs. I assume that moving the seat forward might help, but has anyone had any experience with this?

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Roy

· #2 · 2 mo ago

I totally hear you on that mate,

My back issue from accidents in my youth have come back to haunt me. My (unique) solution was to get the best riding position I could by fitting foot-boards, custom bars and custom sprung seat. At 6" it works for me really well.

Best of luck mate...

Cheerio,
Roy

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BOBBYP

· #3 · 2 mo ago

Forward Controls and Especially the Mini Apes really helped me!

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atomsplitter

· #4 · 2 mo ago

Is your back pain because you are to bent too far over to reach the bars, or because you are too wadded up seat to pegs? Are you taking to many hard jolts up the spine from limited suspension travel? Without more specific data the help will be of limited value. Give us a little more information to work with, like what you are experiencing when you ride and where the pain is actually located. With enough information we can get you sorted.

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Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #5 · 2 mo ago

Hard to say what's causing it, but it might be from reaching forward. Perhaps some risers or mini apes would cure it. At this point I've only ridden twice and noticed some lower back pain after getting off the bike. Nothing while riding, not anything noticeable anyway. I have a trip to the dealer coming up in a couple of weeks that will be 1+ hours so that will tell the story.

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atomsplitter

· #6 · 2 mo ago

If the seat to pegs is OK on your hips then move the seat all the way forward to shorten the seat to bar distance. This will put you more upright in the saddle and move the center of gravity a bit. To move the seat just loosen the two nuts under the saddle and slide forward (removal isn't necessary or hard either so start there). You don't say how much highway time you ride, but another thing to try is a small screen to get the wind pressure off your chest. It's amazing how much that little change can make on ride comfort.

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MoxyDave

· #7 · 2 mo ago

Move the seat all the way forward - it will nearly touch the tank at its maximum setting.

Try Motone "Up and Over" bar risers. 1" up and 1" back - they make a surprising amount of difference.

I've had back trouble for a long time. Daily stretching & exercise keeps it at bay for the most part. If I get lazy, I get pain. Simple as.

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Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #8 · 2 mo ago

Thanks. And I strongly agree about stretching and exercise. I just turned 60 but work out six days a week and always stretch every day. Very important!

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Traveller

· #9 · 2 mo ago

Mini Apes / High bars. When your arms are hanging low the weight of your arms puts stress on your entire spine. Combined with a forward lean you will get more back pain. I am 6ft and the high bars are just below shoulder level so not to high. Floorboards may help a bit too since you would be able to put more weight on the entire foot.

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Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #10 · 2 mo ago

Thanks. Mini apes might be in my future. I had a set of 13" apes on my street glide and liked them very much.

Bobber-Bomb

· #11 · 2 mo ago

My 2cents - Sitting still in any one position for hours at a time is going to hurt. You need to try and choose routes that allow you to move more while riding. This is obviously easier in Europe than it is in parts of America but if you can avoid highways and seek out the curves and backroads with stop start junction, where you’re constantly moving you weight, it’s so much better for back.

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CDL

· #12 · 2 mo ago

Motone makes the "up and over" bar risers but I added a 1" Motone extension so I get 1" up and 2" back. I'm only 5'8", well maybe when I was younger, so legs are good just needed to mod the reach to the stock bars. Not a fan of the apes/mini apes look, just not for me.

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Caro

· #13 · 2 mo ago

I fitted mini apes to my Bobber and have just done a trip of 2700 kms. Yes it hurts but its a fun bike just have a couple of paracetamol pills each morning you'll be right.

vidrineg1

· #14 · 2 mo ago

Shakeydeal said:
Just starting to get some decent riding time on my new to me Bobber. It seems as though the riding position might be causing some slight lower back pain. I am used to cruiser type bikes with a completely different riding style. I am about 5’ 11” with shorter torso and longer legs. I assume that moving the seat forward might help, but has anyone had any experience with this?

Shakeydeal said:
Just starting to get some decent riding time on my new to me Bobber. It seems as though the riding position might be causing some slight lower back pain. I am used to cruiser type bikes with a completely different riding style. I am about 5’ 11” with shorter torso and longer legs. I assume that moving the seat forward might help, but has anyone had any experience with this?

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4” adjustment is the most your stock break hose and cables will allow. 4” pivot risers will allow you infinite up and down to and fro.If you want more than 4” you will have buy and install longer brake hose longer clutch cable and throttle wire extender.

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Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #15 · 2 mo ago

I removed the seat and it was already as far forward as it goes. It was in a neutral height position so I raised it all the way up. But in hindsight it seems that maybe I should lower it all the way so the reach isn’t as downward. Any opinions?

DevilDog

· #16 · 2 mo ago

Triumph floorboards and a Fox shock squared my back problem away.

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Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #17 · 2 mo ago

@vidrineg1

Do you have a link for those risers?

vidrineg1

· #18 · 2 mo ago

Bobber-Bomb said:
My 2cents - Sitting still in any one position for hours at a time is going to hurt. You need to try and choose routes that allow you to move more while riding. This is obviously easier in Europe than it is in parts of America but if you can avoid highways and seek out the curves and backroads with stop start junction, where you’re constantly moving you weight, it’s so much better for back.

Bobbert

· #19 · 2 mo ago

+1 on the Motone up and over risers

Shakeydeal

Discussion Starter · #20 · 2 mo ago

@vidrineg1

Are these the risers you were referring to?

ROX Speed FX Black 4 in. Patriot Series Pivoting Riser - 4R-P4RX-01 Harley Motorcycle - Dennis Kirk

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