Hey guys, I've been riding my '89 GS for a little over a month now, and when I spend more then an hour riding I get pretty bad pain in my shoulder area. It goes away about half an hour after I get off, but it makes long rides very uncomfortable. Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions?

Maybe you are tensing up while riding?  
When I first started riding I felt sore and it was partially due to it being new for my body but also because I was tensed up while riding.

Now I always have a few beers before I ride and everything's great!


All kidding aside, I consciously started relaxing my arms/shoulders/wrists while riding and it helped a lot.

Hunker down and flex your back, "hang" your shoulders. If you can't do the 'funky chicken' (flap your elbows), you have too much weight on the bars, and that's what's makin' your shoulders hurt.

Hold yourself up with your knees and thighs, not your arms and shoulders.  You should be able to hold the bars with just your fingertips.

It might be a simple case of gripping too hard, people often experience this with the throttle hand. Relax as much as you can, move your hands, head and definatly do the funky-chicken thing.

Thanks for the advice guys. Couple more notes; I've been trying not to grip too hard, my wrists deffinitly don't get sore like they did in the first week. The '89 came stock with clip-on handlebars, could that possibly be the reason? Anyway, I'll try to apply the advice that's been given and report back after my next ride.

Cheers,
Roman

Quote from: roma258Thanks for the advice guys. Couple more notes; I've been trying not to grip too hard, my wrists deffinitly don't get sore like they did in the first week. The '89 came stock with clip-on handlebars, could that possibly be the reason? Anyway, I'll try to apply the advice that's been given and report back after my next ride.

Cheers,
Roman

89 triples definetely have a more agressive position. most like it, some don't.  an 89 triple is worth much more than a 90+ triple.  you might see if someone wants to trade + cash for your bars

Hmm, maybe you can swap with vdb...

The White Owl is an '89 and she wears me out due to the hunched over riding position. Gotta find me a Sausage or somethin'. Love the Baby, Australia (headin' into Winter), and this forum.

C........

Hmm, Mr. c, maybe some of your angst would be ameliorated with a handlebar swap?

Ms R, a handlebar swap would possibly indeed ameliorate the exacerbated pain brought upon me by the exotic position of the current set-up. However, said change would result in the extirpation of the matchless pulchitrude of which the White Owl is well-endowed with. Love the Baby GS, Oregon (ride the Cascades), and this forum.

C.......

Quote from: cernunosMs R, a handlebar swap would possibly indeed ameliorate the exacerbated pain brought upon me by the exotic position of the current set-up. However, said change would result in the extirpation of the matchless pulchitrude of which the White Owl is well-endowed with. Love the Baby GS, Oregon (ride the Cascades), and this forum.

C.......

Pulchritude
Noun
1. Physical beauty (especially of a woman).

Quote from: cheesy

Quote from: roma258Thanks for the advice guys. Couple more notes; I've been trying not to grip too hard, my wrists deffinitly don't get sore like they did in the first week. The '89 came stock with clip-on handlebars, could that possibly be the reason? Anyway, I'll try to apply the advice that's been given and report back after my next ride.

Cheers,
Roman

89 triples definetely have a more agressive position. most like it, some don't.  an 89 triple is worth much more than a 90+ triple.  you might see if someone wants to trade + cash for your bars

Its really not that simple ... 90+ to 89 is easy, 89 to 90+ means swapping throttle, clutch and choke cables. You can use the 89's switches but wiring routing has to be different. The brake M/C is also different but you can use an 89 on a 90+. Having said that ... I got the bits you need ... lying loose from jetswings bike. I'd swap ya ... just send back your stuff (I do need cables and stuff when I decide to put that bike back together. I could also show/send you canadian higher rise clip on's ... but that also will mean swapping cables etc ... advantage of doing this ... I'll send you all of these ... you can try and see what you like and send me back the rest and your stock ones. You'd pay for all shipping.
Cool.
Srinath.