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A question for you tall folks...

  • Thread starter Thread starter leslo
  • Start date Start date
L

leslo

Guest
I'm somewhat long in the legs (6'4") and I love my GS but sometimes my back hurts on rides longer than 20 minutes. What have you guys done to make your ride more comfortable? I kind of feel scrunched up on the bike. I haven't really significantly adjusted my handlebars yet so maybe that will make a difference?
I'm just 22 and havne't had any back issues yet so I don't think it's an old age thing :wink:
Thanks guys
Les
 
Re: A question for you tall folks...

leslo said:
I'm somewhat long in the legs (6'4") and I love my GS but sometimes my back hurts on rides longer than 20 minutes. What have you guys done to make your ride more comfortable? I kind of feel scrunched up on the bike. I haven't really significantly adjusted my handlebars yet so maybe that will make a difference?
I'm just 22 and havne't had any back issues yet so I don't think it's an old age thing :wink:
Thanks guys
Les
Click to expand...

Les, when I was your age (close) and rode my GS1000 I had no issues unless I rode for hours and hours straight. I am like you, 6'4' and most of it in my legs. When I got older I noticed feeling like you describe. In 2003 my butt and back would get so sore I couldn't ride more than 20 minutes at a clip without needing to stop for a walk. It turned out to be the bike and not my age/health.

I had a twisted crank and unsynced carbs and between that and bad swingarm bearings it was vibrating bad enough that it was what was making me sore.

You should fit nicely on that 750 and mostly anything else today in this style bike is going to be even smaller.

Make sure your not suffering from mechanical issues that could be causing it but not bad enough to draw your attention to them otherwise.

Other things to check are your seat.

Hope you get it worked out because 20 minutes just isn?t long enough :)
 
First, Let me say this, I Feel Your Pain! I'm 6'5" and always have to buy XXL everything including motorcycles. One thing I do when I'm out of traffic is put the balls of my feet on the passenger peg mounts which is more comfortable for me. The best thing I did was purchase a "Gold Belt" kidney belt last spring and it worked wonders on my lower back. I'm 48 now and big mile days can be a real pain.
 
On long highway rides, I frequently use the passenger footpegs and slide back on the seat far enough that I'm leaning well forward with a straight back. I choose my placement on the seat so as to adjust for wind and take the weight off my wrists.

As already said, a not too good carb synch, or any degree of vibration will cause fatigue fairly quickly. If there is a noticably uncomfortable amount of vibration from anything, I usually see what I can do to lessen it.

Earl
 
Yeah I've still got the stock handlebars. I didn't know if there were any of y'all that have fabricated footpegs and shifters and whatnot to compensate. Building them wouldn't be a problem, but building them so they don't look stupid is something else :wink: I'll try rotating the handlebars for a more straightened back.
I am way overdue for a carb-sync so that's where I'll go first though - I hadden't thought of that.

Les
 
I use Superbike bars or as now, Clubman bars. Either of those two have less pullback than the stock bars and about half the rise, so you have to reach forward more. http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/ carries both those styles for about $25.

Earl


leslo said:
Yeah I've still got the stock handlebars. I didn't know if there were any of y'all that have fabricated footpegs and shifters and whatnot to compensate. Building them wouldn't be a problem, but building them so they don't look stupid is something else :wink: I'll try rotating the handlebars for a more straightened back.
I am way overdue for a carb-sync so that's where I'll go first though - I hadden't thought of that.

Les
Click to expand...
 
I'am also your height, and I didnt have much problems after 2 days straight of riding , except my thighs got sore near the end, as well as my lower back.

Putting your feet on the passenger pegs is a great tip, and it really helps. also, try switching the way you sit, and fiddle around with your position. There should be some way to make things fit comfortably. Sometimes, in windy weather, its hard to help from getting sore, just because you have to expend so much energy and strain to stay in proper position.
 
Conditions permitting, if my butt is getting tired from sitting and moving around on the seat doesnt do it, I stand up for a few miles and do some knee bends. I do get some odd looks when I go through turns standing up though. LOL

Earl

Poot said:
Sometimes, in windy weather, its hard to help from getting sore, just because you have to expend so much energy and strain to stay in proper position.
Click to expand...
 
I vote for the super bike bars. You lean a little bit into the wind which means your trunk muscles are not fighting to keep you upright against the breeze.

:wink:
 
cramp

cramp

I am 6'1" and have long legs I put highway pegs on my gs 1000's crash bars witch helped a bunch and also changed the bars but I still find the distance between the seat and pegs to be to close together and the pegs to far under ones thighs, my seca 750 witch I just picked up is very comfortable, and is now my bike of choice for long rides, my bsa is second and the suzy for blowing doors off of others, speaking of doors have any of you seen the new dodge commercal were the guy is blowing the doors off of every ones cars
 
[/quote]I still find the distance between the seat and pegs to be to close together and the pegs to far under ones thighs
I know exactly what you mean. I think it's mainly my leg position that has me all in a fuss. I was considering fabricating brackets that move the footpegs back a bit and shortening the shift linkage, and doing somthing similar on the right side. I think I'd be a whole lot more comfortable if my feet were about even with my butt. I dunno, maybe I'm just being a butt head but I really want to be out riding this thing for hours and not getting as tired as I do.
Click to expand...
 
I guess it would help if I figured out how that quote thingy worked too....Sorry!
 
relax

relax

I found for myself that I was riding too "tense" I was so concerned about looking out for hazards and trying to pay attention to every little detail that I would all of a sudden realize that I had a death grip on the handlebars and every muscle in my body was tensed up ready to spring to action. Since then I have trained myself to still be alert, but more relaxed. Having a decent windshield helps with this as well, fighting the wind can kill your stamina. I am 6'4" and have a 79 gs850, crash bars with pegs help a lot for changing position.

Luke
 
Re: relax

Re: relax

Yep, for going any distance, you have to ride loose, or you'll wear yourself out. I use the "plummeting flop" riding style. :-) Nothing is tensioned and I find a position on the seat that lets my forward lean balance with the airflow to take any load off my wrists.

Earl


lukehan said:
I found for myself that I was riding too "tense" I was so concerned about looking out for hazards and trying to pay attention to every little detail that I would all of a sudden realize that I had a death grip on the handlebars and every muscle in my body was tensed up ready to spring to action. Since then I have trained myself to still be alert, but more relaxed. Having a decent windshield helps with this as well, fighting the wind can kill your stamina. I am 6'4" and have a 79 gs850, crash bars with pegs help a lot for changing position.

Luke
Click to expand...
 
HiSPL said:
I vote for the super bike bars. You lean a little bit into the wind which means your trunk muscles are not fighting to keep you upright against the breeze.

:wink:
Click to expand...
I tried Superbike bars on my GS1100E and at 6'4" I noticed my wrist s were getting sore after riding short distances.
Being able to adjust the stock bars to a comfortable position really helps.And as was posted not being too tense will really make a difference. 8O 8)
 
Certainly handlebars are part of it. I am a fraction under 6-5 and have ridden an 850 for 115000 or so miles including many trips with all day riding. I have used different handlebars over the years. I should have ditched the stock ones earlier than I did. You want to set up the bike for the kind of riding you plan to do most. If you are going to do a lot of touring or commute regularly for any distance, you should get a windshield or fairing, highway pegs, and bars somewhere between stock and short. If most of your riding is for shorter jaunts and you won't have a windscreen, then go with the lower bars so you can lean into the wind as mentioned earlier.

The stock bars are not good for your long arms unless you mostly ride in a leaned back, cruiser-like position with your feet on the highway pegs. Yes, the rider's footpegs are too far forward. I have examined the possibiity of relocating them many times, but I could never come up with anything that appeared worth it. I decided it would just be easier to adapt my riding position and habits. With shorter, less pulled-back bars you will sit more forward on the seat which has the effect of putting the pegs a little more to the rear relative to your body.

Speaking as one who has back injuries and who has had back surgery I can tell you that the most effective pain relief you have at your disposal are your stomach muscles. Tightening them relieves pressure on your back. Try it the next time it starts to ache. Also, always tighten them before you jerk your bike onto the centerstand; it could keep you from injuring your back in the first place.

Otherwise, all of the suggestions above are good ones.
 
Don you took the words right out of my mouth.
Leslo how is your physical condition? I would suggest some sit ups and 12crunches, this will help tone your stomach muscles, and relieve pressure on your lower back. In fact I think all of the replies in this thread have merit, Run through the list, any of the sugestions here could help and all of them certainly will, Start doing sit ups etc, and give the bike a good twice over, cause it deserves it anyway.
Dink
 
I'm 6'3" and ride a gs650G

I have standard bars and found that aligning the drop in the bars with the forks cured most of my problems. Working out on my shoulder muscles in the gym helped too, as I had pain between my shoulders. A fairing is on the list for next year as highway speeds force you to hang on too much.
 
I had a similar problem. 45 minutes and my lower back hurt. I had the stock bars too far back. I moved them forward, so the riser is in line with the forks and it made a huge difference. This winter I will change to a lower bar as mentioned and anticipate further improvements.
 
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