StromTrooper banner
Cancel

Back pain with upright riding postion

15587 Views 36 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  thatmonk, 
barryg
My lower back has been going out sporadically the last few weeks for day or so and then feeling a bit better. But on the days it's bad, I can barely stand up straight. First time in years this has happened.


Only things that's really changed is that I've been riding the Wee almost every day to work the last month (38 miles/day). I'm starting to think the upright riding position is slowly aggravating my lower back. Even with a good ohlins rear shock and a good ride, the upright position still makes me feel the bumps in the road right up my lower back even if they're not that jarring. Just the nature of the position.

Used to commute solely on my CBR1100XX that is slightly leaned over. I have bar risers on it so it's not a huge stretch to the bars....it's more of sport-touring position with a slight lean forward with legs bent and behind me. I've never had any back pain of any sort in the 3yrs I've had the Blackbird. Bumps in the road are absorbed mainly through the arms and shoulders b/c I'm leaned over some.

The Wee is more "comfortable" to me especially for longer rides. But I'm starting to wonder if my stubborn lower back will tolerate sitting almost bolt upright.

As a test I'm going to Blackbird it for 2 weeks and see if my back gets aggravated. It's been 3 days so far and nothing.

Then 2 weeks on the WeeStrom and see if things change.

If it turns out to be the Wee, I'm not going to play around with anything..already have a Sargent seat, Ohlins rear shock, and upgraded front springs. I'll probably get rid of it and just ride the Blackbird.

Hope it doesn't come to that b/c I really like the Wee but my lower back may not.

Update

Rode the Wee for the first time in about 4 days. Back has been feeling great since I stopped riding it. Been only on CBR1100XX.


Back is hurting bad again after one commute. This is reminiscent of my '06 Bonneville. Similar riding position to the Wee. Wee has better suspension though. Back was always killing as my sensitive lower back absorbing the bumps in the road. Tried a kidney belt back then and it did nothing. It's not support I need...it's just where I'm absorbing the impact.

Sold it. Kept my Blackbird. Back pain was non-existent.

I'm just going to have accept that a SPORT-touring riding position is what works for me as it has for the last several years. If anything I may go to a Concours 14 down the road if riding position is sporty enough. Otherwise I'll just keep Blackbirding it.

Like I said I've been down this road of never ending back pain with standard riding position bike once before. I don't want to go through it again.

Will be putting Wee up for sale. Sad but necessary.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
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.
Reply
Save
Like
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:
Reply
Save
Like
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.
Reply
Save
Like
P
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:
Reply
Save
Like
G
Have you tried using a kidney belt?
Reply
Save
Like
barryg
ph0rk said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Reply
Save
Like
C
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.
Reply
Save
Like
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
Reply
Save
Like
barryg
coral_snake said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Reply
Save
Like
J
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.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
A
+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
Reply
Save
Like
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.
Reply
Save
Like
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.
Reply
Save
Like
A
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.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
barryg
AceRider said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Reply
Save
Like
C
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.
Reply
Save
Like
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.
Reply
Save
Like
A
IwasBanned said:
...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.
Click to expand...
sorry to hear that... site police must be strong here.... good luck with the sale.
Reply
Save
Like
G
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.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
StromTrooper
A forum community dedicated to all Suzuki Strom owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, troubleshooting, purchasing, reviews, accessories, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General V-Strom Discussion DL650 and DL650A - 2004 to 2011 DL1000 from 2002-2012 DL650A - 2012-2016 Australia-New Zealand
Top