[SCraig]

You could, of course, put some lower handlebars on it instead of selling it.

But, yes, I do notice the same thing. My VFR doesn't make my back hurt nearly as bad as my V-Strom does. Sitting straight up puts all of the weight on your lower back. Leaning forward any amount puts part of the weight on your arms and stomach muscles.

 

[honest bob]

I have 2 herniated discs in my back and I have no problems with the Strom Wee. I have 2" risers on OEM bars too. The only time I have back pain is when I try to move the bike around while sitting on it. I get the pain about 3 hrs later. I can't see how an upright position is worse than a leaned forward. Have you tried the master yoda seating theory. Master Yoda's Riding Position - BMWSportTouring Forums I know it sounds goofy, but look at it and if you can give it some time. It will give you the same posture that is happening on your leaned forward bikes. Don't over do it just do it like they say.:fineprint:

 

[ph0rk]

google the "yoda" riding position.

Basically, you perch on the seat and bend at the hip not the waist, balancing your upper body over your own center of gravity, with hands resting lightly on the bars.

Any other form of slouching/curved back will lead to pain.

 

[Psykledelic]

The Yoda position can work for most, but if your hamstrings are tight they aren't going to let you go "Yoda" for very long. So maybe if you stretch them out (one at a time is less daunting), cantering the pelvis forward won't feel weird.

Besides stretching the hams, try laying on your back with a couple pillows under the small of your back. Seems counterintuitive, but it'll help relax those back and hip muscles . . . if you give it long enough. But you've got to be patient because it may tense them up at first, before they start to relax.

You might want to look into Rolfing. Worked for me.:thumbup:

 

[ghostrider66]

Have you tried using a kidney belt?

 

[barryg]

google the "yoda" riding position.

Basically, you perch on the seat and bend at the hip not the waist, balancing your upper body over your own center of gravity, with hands resting lightly on the bars.

Any other form of slouching/curved back will lead to pain.

I'll try it. I already try and mimick the CBR's riding position by leaning a bit forward, balls of feet on pegs. But I never slouch.
I just feel like I can't enough lean regardless to have road imperfections absorbed by my arms/shoulders......just due to the inherent riding position of the Strom.

Not putting on any belts..no big work-arounds. It'll either work for me or it won't....I'll sell the bike before I have to wear one of those to ride the Wee. I already know there's another bike in the garage that gives me zero problems.

 

[coral_snake]

I have six screws and two rods in my lower back and I am in much less pain riding my Wee than I was on my Concours. All of my doctors have told me that sitting upright is better for the back than bending forward.

 

[LordSmoke]

The Master Yoda position really did the trick for the pain between my shoulders. I even removed my risers and did a 900 mile weekend with no major problems: http://www.stromtrooper.com/general...ain-thoroughly-disgusting-unreasonable-5.html

 

[barryg]

I have six screws and two rods in my lower back and I am in much less pain riding my Wee than I was on my Concours. All of my doctors have told me that sitting upright is better for the back than bending forward.

I agree but I don't feel like I'm bending forward on the Blackbird b/c my feet are further behind me and the pegs are higher. I feel that I'm leaned forward naturally as a result of that.

 

[John V Strom Jr.]

I was going to ask if you had the stock seat, but I saw you indicated you have a Sargent.

When I left in early June for a long trip, my lower back began to hurt fairly quickly. I thought it weird because on the few shorter rides I had done, I did not notice this. And with 14 days of planned riding still ahead, I was concerned. Not sure why, but my back got used to it and it seemed to go away.

For me at least, the stock seat does not support the front of my butt as another Stromtrooper put it in another thread. The slope of the seat tends to support the rear of my butt, but little else. So it feels like I am sitting on an edge or slope rather than a plank or bucket. With no equal support under the area where the legs meet the butt, the butt gets curled back and up, and I think that is why the spine gets sore; it's trying to counteract that force. After being off the bike for several days when the trip was over, I noticed the feeling come right back quickly again. So after my bike is fixed from a recent crash, the seat is going in for surgery.

So if your Sargent is doing what the stock seat is doing to me, you are actually not sitting upright; a bending force is being applied to your spine.

Also, in the example you give of your Blackbird's riding position (being leaned over with your feet further back and under you, thereby laying over but basically straight), my Sprint is the same and I've never had a sore back on it, even riding 400 mile days.

 

[AceRider]

+1 on a a kidney belt - no need for a fancy one just the cheapest fitting one will do - it doesnt look much, but u will be suprised with the result - anything over 1/2 hour, i always put one on. - almost eliminate any lower back pain for me on long rides - that's where i sit in saddle for 3-4 hours at a time between stops

check this site for MC seat comfort essential:
Comfort Basics

 

[vektra]

When I started first riding my wee daily to work I started having some back pain but I switched from my stock seat to the GEL which gave me a slight lean over the tank and have not had a problem again.

 

[barryg]

Anybody looking for a nice '06; it's officially for sale in San Diego. It's in the Marketplace section with a link to CL Ad with large pictures.

 

[AceRider]

Mate,
If that's the main reason u are selling, dont.

what u describe sounds like tailbone pain described here (essentially pressure on the coccyx):
Comfort Basics

what u can do is to reshape the seat like this:

Reduce Tailbone Pain

The idea is to reduce pressure on the tailbone, while at the same time still balancing support across the seat. One way to accomplish this is to remove some foam where the tailbone makes primary contact with the seat. Remove enough foam to reduce tailbone pressure, but not so much that you'll be sitting in a hole. The picture above shows an example on how you could do this.

Note that the top layer of foam has to be firm, high quality foam so that your weight doesn't completely bottom out the foam and put painful pressure on your tailbone.

The site link above talks about the issues u have and do a google on the subject - it effects a lot of riders who sits upright for the styles of bikes they ride.

 

[barryg]

Mate,
If that's the main reason u are selling, dont.

what u describe sounds like tailbone pain described here (essentially pressure on the coccyx):
Comfort Basics

what u can do is to reshape the seat like this:

Reduce Tailbone Pain

The idea is to reduce pressure on the tailbone, while at the same time still balancing support across the seat. One way to accomplish this is to remove some foam where the tailbone makes primary contact with the seat. Remove enough foam to reduce tailbone pressure, but not so much that you'll be sitting in a hole. The picture above shows an example on how you could do this.

Note that the top layer of foam has to be firm, high quality foam so that your weight doesn't completely bottom out the foam and put painful pressure on your tailbone.

The site link above talks about the issues u have and do a google on the subject - it effects a lot of riders who sits upright for the styles of bikes they ride.

I appreciate your intentions. But like I said....I'm not going to try ANYTHING. I've ridden the bike once this week. And once this week....I can barely move or stand up straight....just like pretty much every other time I've ridden it that past 60 days. Been riding the CBR all the rest of the time and ZERO problems...ever..... in 40K miles on a CBR1100XX.

Upright riding positions just do not work for my stingy lower back. I've tried in the past and failed. Thought I'd try again...wishful thinking.
I'm done. The next person that rides my WeeStrom will be the new owner. It'll be parked on the battery tender until then. I don't feel that bad about it. I still love my Blackbird and can ride it pain free.

Oh yeah...I have a new username since my orig account got banned from the site for posting my Wee for sale wrong twice. I'm sure I'm now in violation of yet another rule and will get banned again for using a new account.

 

[CollingsBob]

I solved my back pain problem ( slipped disc ) with a kidney belt from polo-motorrad.de ..did over 3500km in a weekend 2 weeks ago - not one back problem.

 

[Juan_Banjovy]

A few years ago I tried lower bars with less back sweep & it gave me the forward lean I wanted but I kept having to swap back every winter to accommodate my wider wind screen. Clearance problem. Got tired of swapping the bars & just left the stock ones on. I ride sort of slouched over, elbows almost at my sides. If I ever do a 600 mile day I'll put the lower bars back on first. Much lower & I'd want rearsets though. I felt just a tad folded over with the low bars.

 

[AceRider]

...I have a new username since my orig account got banned from the site for posting my Wee for sale wrong twice. I'm sure I'm now in violation of yet another rule and will get banned again for using a new account.

sorry to hear that... site police must be strong here.... good luck with the sale.

 

[GP1K]

OP, how do you have your handlebars positioned? When I first got my Wee, the bars were rolled way too far back (towards the rider). I adjusted my bars so they are comfortable to reach when standing, which had the pleasant side-effect of having me lean ever so slightly forward in a normal seated position. The pegs are located such that if I keep the balls of my feet on them, I get that 'yoda' position of sorts, like a sport bike where your legs/core help hold you up, and not your arms, and your back is not straight up and down.

I mention this as I find my Wee quite comfortable to ride because of this. Everyone is built different, and this may not work for you, but since you said your Dos Equis doesn't hurt your back, I figured a bit more sporty riding position on your Wee might help.