Lower back pain

Do you have any non-pharmaceutical tips for long days on the VFR? I just moved up from a UJM, so I'm not used to the "monkey mounting a football" position...

 

Bar risers will help, otherwise its just something you get used to after a while. Stretching before & during rides will help as well, my back isn't so much of a concern but I've developed chronic pain in my right knee which is very pronouced when riding longer than an hour. But I also notice it when driving my car & resting my knee against the center console. Then again my right leg was run over by a loaded semi years ago, could be early on set of arthritis

 

Have found a Daianese back protector with built in Kidney belts helps support ABS muscles also use your thighs to support your back on a long distance. Oddly over time sitting bolt upright on a bike is worse for me than the mild lean forward of the VFR.

 

I have 2 pieces of advise:

1) Exercises that increase abdominal strength will help support your back.

2) Make sure you have good posture when riding. Think about keeping you back straight, shoulders relaxed and head in line with your spine. This made a big difference for me when I switched from a cruiser to my VFR.

 

exercises

Here's a link to the Cox lower back exercises: http://walpolespineclinic.com

I try to do these exercises 4 times a day to control degenerative disc disease and have gone from being barely albe to walk to riding whenever I want without drugs or surgery. Losing that Michelob tumor around the middle also helps. Will sometimes stop and do the first three exercises on a rest stop picnic table if I feel any stiffness or discomfort while rding.

 

One other thing copied experienced Sportsbike riders when doing long highway distance's. From time to time place your left hand on your left thigh just behind your knee as support and combine with slight posture shifts, not ideal perhaps but have found it helps somewhat, better still only ride roads with twisties so you have to move around. :smile:

 

I am one of the older crusier converts to the VFR. I am happy to say I have no previous back problems before changing from a crusier to a VFR. I had taken a few long rides on my VFR and found I get a slight pain in my lower back. I am 6 ft tall and about 195lbs, the VFR is a perfect size for my arm length and legs. If you find that you are reaching for the bars, then risers may be a good idea - you will may end up bent over all the time if the bars are too low. Another thing that helped me a little seemed to be the Zero Gravity Double Windscreen. I find that the additional wind protection allows me to sit a little upright without all the wind buffering. I also try not to stay in the same position or sit too upright while on a long ride and sometimes I will sit up and lean on the tank. Staying in decent shape helps. I do some light jogging (1 - 2 mi) once or twice a week and do a lot of stretching - when I can I do some swimming also. As strange as this may sound, make sure you are sleeping comfortably as the bike could be exacerbating back pain from an uncomfortable mattress.

 

My experiences with windshields are quite different. The bigger they are the less wind there is to help keep me up, and the more back pain I have. This applies to my Valk as well - I installed cafe style bars, and no shield is much more comfortable than even a small shield, and a big shield gives me terrible back pain on anything over a 20 min ride.
On the VFR when cruising on the highway for long periods, try to keep on the balls of your feet, legs slightly loaded, back straight, head slightly down with eyes looking up. This will minimize neck and back pain. Use your stomach muscles to keep weight off your hands, this is the kiss of death on a long ride. Along with stretching and back belt, you may try some Genmar risers and a better seat like the Sargent. I know you don't want medicinal advice, but you can't beat a couple Alieve prior to a long ride.

 

Agree, have found the positive air pressure with the standard screen above 60mph helps unload the wrists, a SHOEI XR1000 in 2004 got rid of the bufferting issue suffered with my previous Helmet.

 

ya gotta drink a lot of water!!! it's your kidneys that are hurting most of the time.it's a pain in the a-- to stop but hey...it's worth it...drink more fluids...no booze...just water or sports drink......wadayathink?? works for me.

 

Water is a good call, I cramp at the top of my left leg. Water fixes cramps.

 

After owning a vfr700, cbr929, zx11 , cbr3, cbrxx1100 and a BMWk1200rs, I just bought a '99 vfr and remembered the lean angle, but at speed the wind lifts me right off the bars and I have gel pads in my gloves and have raised the stock clip ons to the top of fork. Just remove the steel clip and slide the clip on up and titen bolts. Also throttle meister will give your hands a brake.