Race Bike Back

jim o doom

Hello there fellow bikers - here's a fairly straight forward question for all those of you with a good bit of experience on race bikes. I recently just purchased an 07 zx10r, which I love to bits (also have a z1000 for everyday driving). Have had nothing but upright bikes right from day one, a marauder first, then 2 different gs500s, a 600 bandit, then the z1000 & a ktm superduke (sold the duke).
As you can imagine driving a sports bike is a VERY different seating position for me, and what I am asking is this; is there some magical way of sitting on a race bike that doesn't hurt your back? I haven't a great back (despite only being 27) and see a chiro from time to time which helps, driving it for a relatively short times ok, but anything over 30 mins, especially with a slightly heavy bag, then serious pain between shoulders.. thats pretty much it!... cheers

Pigeon Reaper

Try a tank bag to get the weight off your back. Normally back/wrist pain on sportsbikes is a sign of weak muscles in your stomach and body core. If you're suffering badly try to change the bike or get risers for the bars. I also find keeping my back straight and having a good back protector with kidney belt helps to support me a bit.

Hotblack Desiato

If you have a history of back trouble then avoid out and out sportsbikes.

Sport-touring bikes are a lot easier on the wrists and back and not any slower in the real world, unless you ride like a lunatic.

You could try bar risers, as suggested, maybe a different seat (lowered) and try varying your position on the seat. Just because there's a seat bump doesn't mean you have to sit that far back, going as far forward as possible often feels more secure and helps support you.

galwaytt

jim o doom wrote: »

... is there some magical way of sitting on a race bike that doesn't hurt your back?

unfortunately, no, not really ....if it's causing that much trouble, small changes won't help you enough. The downside is, at the speeds the bike is perfectly capable of, the riding position is probably perfect.......:cool:

macnab

I change my bike quite often, I have had all sorts, and every time i change there is a new ache, it usually goes away when i put a few hundred miles up over a week or two.

Steffano2002

I'm the same as yourself OP! Went from riding a Bandit for 2 years to riding a Fireblade and at first I have to admit it was a little uncomfortable... My wrists and back were in bits and on really long rides even my legs were at me!

But I've been riding the bike for over 3 months now and I guess my body got used to the position as I no longer suffer from any of these pains...

I say get the bike and get used to it! If you think your body probably won't get used to the new riding position, you're best forgetting about it altogether...

jim o doom

cheers for the help all I guess I'll just stick with driving as much as I can before the weather gets REALLY bad and continue my odd visit to the chiro

rccaulfield

It could be as simple as your arms are tensing up- To check this as your driving along see if you can flap your elbows easily! If you cant and your arms are straight then ur wrists and back will kill you forever! Relax your arms and start to get used to the notion of gripping the tank with your legs every now and then to mix it up a bit!
Sure by right when your cornering you should have little or no pressure on your back and arms cos your leaning over using your legs as pivot points! I was the same moving from bros to the cbrs! Im on an R1 now and no trouble at all! Iv a dodgy lower back from sport also! Sure didnt ur man drive around the world on an R1 a few years back- not a bother!