First long ride on the GS a few days ago. Unscheduled, as my wife needed one car and the other was in the shop. Of course, it rained all the way to Springfield (MA) (and half the way back in the afternoon) which reminded me why I used to hate biking in the winter in the UK 20 years ago. I swear the raindrops are sharper here in the US than what I remember. I regretted not getting a fullface helmet, thinking that those faceshields get microscratched so quickly and then night riding and rain equals zero vision... but heavy rain gets real old real fast in the 3/4 helmet that I have.
Anyway the bike was fine, and I did ok. That's not why I'm posting, but waking up the next morning, and for days since then my back has been aching something awful. Is this an occupational hazard of riding bikes while being within sight of the magic 5o? Is it the vile rough unmaintained city roadways? Or is the Katana shock that the previous owner installed just set too hard??? How can I tell?
Anyone else had back problems and what did you try that worked? Seat? Shock? Riding position? At this point, I might even try magic amulets if you have any to spare... After passing the MSF and all, I'd like to keep going if I can.
Jonathan
Just out of curiousity, would it happen to be your very lower back?
My back's been acting kinda strange lately, and I'm not sure if it's the bike or those kama-sutra positions I've been trying (j/k :nana: )..
And I'm only 22 :o
Riding position is not a problem. I went on a few 300 mile rides and never felt back pains. Maybe you were just tense because it was raining. Try relaxing on your grip. With the 3/4 helmet, water flows down inside the face shield. I take electrical tape and tape over the top. It keeps the water out. It cuts down on the wind also. I have a black helmet so it does not show much.
QuoteOr is the Katana shock that the previous owner installed just set too hard??? How can I tell?
Set too hard? The adjustment doesn't go from
soft to
hard. It goes from
low to
high. Or, vice-versa. The ideal setting with rider aboard would let the rear sag 1-to-1 1/2'' from the shock's extended measure.
Bear in mind, the Kat shock
could be too stiff given that it's springing and damping rates were chosen for a bike weighing 75 lbs heavier that the GS500. It could also be raising the ride height to a more extreme the riding position. How can you tell? Is it cushy enough over bumps[?] or does it bottom to easily[?].
Try scooting back in the seat a little more. It will lean you forward more, aleviating some of the weight off your back.
If its lower back pain... you need lower bars... set at the right angle.. so your body weight counters the wind... not your back countering wind... if its upper back pain you need higher bars set at the right angle so your weight is more on your ass and less on your wrists...
Cool.
Srinath.
Just to paraphrase or quote you (this post helped me the most, and helped me decide to stay with the stock bars, even though now I have Bikemaster Daytona bars; 29" wide (cut to 28" because the stock throttle and clutch cables were too short), 4" rise, 6 1/2" pullback or sweep, $15):
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4505&highlight=lower
Stock is 27 1/2" wide, 3 1/2" rise, 7 1/2" pullback.
The Daytona gives me a real sit-up-and-beg, upright feeling and position.
I used $10 Lockhart barends.
Quote from: seshadri_srinathIf its lower back pain... you need lower bars... set at the right angle.. so your body weight counters the wind... not your back countering wind... if its upper back pain you need higher bars set at the right angle so your weight is more on your ass and less on your wrists...
Cool.
Srinath.
Srinath, I rarely think that you are wrong. But, in this case, you are. As a veteran of three lower back operations I know that lower bars make back problems worse by encouraging a forward curve in the lower back - exactly the wrong thing. Several things that might help however - -
A large tank bag that you can rest your chest on - taking the wieght off both the back and the wrists. This does not resolve the huched posture that is putting the strain on your spine but it does help relax the muscles
A windshield to take the wind pressure off
Rotating your the top of your hips forward to put the correct curve back in your spine
Higher bars with more pullback
I would throw my .02 in about back problems and riding but Ed may think I'm whining...so, suck it up as the General would say. If you can go more than 5 miles or so you're doing great. Still love the little bike, forum's pretty cool too...usually.
C.......
Get a backrub :)
cerunos - before back problems, Green Bay WI south to New Orleans and back on a cafe'd RD350 (clip-ons below the triple clamp, rearsets, race seat & 3/4 fairing) with no problems (well, OK, the stupidity that tells you something like that is a good idea might be a problem) After I blew out the back in the early 90's, I had to stop riding for about 9 years - could not even swing my leg over. Much sucking it up involved - and a good surgeon. But a more upright position is easier on the back than low bars.
The GS was my first choice for a re-entry bike because I had owned four other suzukis- two of them very similar to the GS (a GS 450 and a GS1000G) so I knew it was easy to work on, reliable, light, and would survive a few drops as I re-learned how to ride. So, like you, I love that little GS.
Meighan - about 30 years ago that comment would have been reason enough for a road trip. Oh, sorry, that alien must have briefly left Srinath and taken over my fingers on the keyboard.
Quote from: mjmMeighan - about 30 years ago that comment would have been reason enough for a road trip. Oh, sorry, that alien must have briefly left Srinath and taken over my fingers on the keyboard.
Well, I wasn't offering... but, I am actually a certified massage therapist. Not in practice anymore though, decided I didn't like touching people all day long and went back to working with computers.
QuoteI am actually a certified massage therapist. Not in practice anymore though, decided I didn't like touching people all day long and went back to working with computers.
Oh man, this should get interesting. :lol:
Laura
Quote from: MeighanQuote from: mjmMeighan - about 30 years ago that comment would have been reason enough for a road trip. Oh, sorry, that alien must have briefly left Srinath and taken over my fingers on the keyboard.
Well, I wasn't offering... but, I am actually a certified massage therapist. Not in practice anymore though, decided I didn't like touching people all day long and went back to working with computers.
So long as the problem is muscular I do believe massage would be effective - and I was not intending to imply that you had offered - it was intended more as the self-depreciating comment on my mis-spent youth than the back-rub comment that you made
Quote from: mjm
Srinath, I rarely think that you are wrong. But, in this case, you are. As a veteran of three lower back operations I know that lower bars make back problems worse by encouraging a forward curve in the lower back - exactly the wrong thing. Several things that might help however - -
I would have to agree with Srinath here :? . I have a friend who owns a bandit 1200 and a new gixxer 1000. he is late 40's or early 50's. He has lower back pain. He has limited range he can ride due to back problems. he is MUCH more comfortable on the gixxer than on the bandit, due to the upright position.
I personally am more comfortable on my 600rr than I was on my gs with stock bars. After I installed the s-m bars I was more comfortable, including my back, from the forward position.
JAdam does say "first long ride" so it may be a bit early to start altering the configuration of the bike, I am a "born again" bike who came back after a lay-off of over 30 years and after my first full day riding my fingers, wrists and shoulders ached and stiffened up, gave me hell for about 3 days, never have that problem now it just went away. I do get a bit of back trouble and aches in the hips from time to time but I find that trying to relax, change position and move the muscles a bit by shrugging and bending helps a lot. Possibly on first long ride you were a bit tense and that won't help at all.
If it persists and you are going to do a lot of long rides a windscreen makes a heck of a difference even the small ones. Mess around with the bars, I do not think that there is a definitive right and wrong answer about higher or lower bars simply what suits you best, also shift a bit on the seat and even footrests, slip the old plates of meat back and try keeping the ball of the foot or toes on the pegs.
At my age, if I don't wake up with a few aches and pains I worry that I may not be alive, it does creep up on you.
> Just out of curiousity, would it happen to be your very lower back?
YES! I managed to wreck it years ago learning to sailboard, and it periodically resurfaces and reminds me to appreciate the ability to walk.
> JAdam does say "first long ride" so it may be a bit early to start altering the configuration of the bike
No, it's never too early! As soon as it stops raining for more than half an hour, I'm going to get out there and check out the range of shock and bar travel. Those pothole impacts were going straight up my spine.
> after my first full day riding my fingers, wrists and shoulders ached and stiffened up
Well, I kind of expected that, but back pain for a week seems a bit much.
> Possibly on first long ride you were a bit tense and that won't help at all.
I think that's true. But it's hard to relax when there aren't any seat belts (whine) !!
> At my age, if I don't wake up with a few aches and pains I worry that I may not be alive
LOL!
Anyone have a feel for how much stiffer the Katana shock is than the stock GS one? I might try swapping it out for the stock if it's much softer -- I definitely have very little shock travel on bumps. Anyone got a stock one they're not using?