Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: jbrough7 on April 18, 2006, 09:57:13 PM
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gotten a sore back? Weird - had the bandit almost two weeks and had a sore back the whole time. Not sure if the bike has caused it or if it is one of a million other things concurrent with old age (46).
Anybody else wince when they throw a leg over their best girl?
Jim
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I notice the opposite. If I dont work out for awhile by back stiffens up. The fact I slouch in my desk chair all the time at work doesnt help either. The cure for me seems to be to ride the bandit more. I think it has to do with the fact that when riding it forces you to seat correctly, shoulders squared, back straight and not rounded. It is therapy for me. :lol:
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I notice the opposite. If I dont work out for awhile by back stiffens up. The fact I slouch in my desk chair all the time at work doesnt help either. The cure for me seems to be to ride the bandit more. I think it has to do with the fact that when riding it forces you to seat correctly, shoulders squared, back straight and not rounded. It is therapy for me. :lol:
I'm down with you on this one. I seem to sit more correct when on the bike. Which tends to be a relief. But I am almost always a little sore in my lower back after a really long day of riding. Probably just the stress of cornering, and holding on tight.
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Never been a cruiser owner, but i'll hazard a guess.
On the cruiser, your back might be more up and down.
On the Bandit, your back has a slight curve to it.
Perhaps you have great posture, and haven't spent anytime in a slightly bent over angle and you're "exercising" new muscles.
Maybe you don't put any weight on your wrists, and use your back to support you more?
Try using your feet and digging knees into the tank to help support you more.
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You may find that it goes away as you get used to the new position. It did for me. At first I was sure I was going to need a different set of bars - something a little taller with a touch more pullback. (I'd considered risers, too, but they tend to cost as much or more than a new set of bars and IMHO, a bar change looks much cleaner than risers.) After a month or so, I became used to it and have no complaints.
Many cruiser riders find riding a standard like the Bandit is actually easier on their back since many cruisers force you into a slouch or their riding position puts more pressure on the tail bone.
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My last bike was a 1985 Honda Shadow VT1100. That bike forced me into a slumped posture. It was hard on the back and tailbone especially. The Bandit is more comfy to me. My only pains are from my elbows (tendinitis) and upper back from holding my head up. But, I haven't spent that much time on it as of yet. If anybody wants to improve their physical stature, then I recommend reading a book called "Three Minutes to a Pain Free Life". The book explains all about physiology and how the muscles, tendons and joints work. Then, it gives you a series of stretches that you do everyday that takes approx. 3 minutes to do in order to maintain healty muscles and joints. I've been doing them for about three weeks now and I can tell you that my elbows are feeling better and I don't grunt as much when I get up from my desk anymore. I'm 46 also. Ok, that's it for the plug. Just trying to help. :bigok:
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'three minutes to a pain free life' - Divorce takes way longer than that! :wink:
I'll take a look - thanks for the tips.
There are so many variables, i never know what the problem is. I quit smoking for 6 weeks so put on weight and I know that pulls on your back and hurts you. also, i am wearing my motorcycle boots a lot more and they might be doing it.
I've had fewer escapades between the sheets, so maybe that's doing it!
Is that way too much info or what?
Jim
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Try working out your abs more. The stronger your abs the easier it is on your back. I'm a tile setter and natural stone mechanic. Plus working out when I can, my back is strong. But my knees kill me after working all day. And especially with the rear sets, I need all the leg room I can get. That is what keeps me from switching to a all out sport bike,I don't think my knees would take it for a long run.
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You'll get used to it... Just need to strengthen the abs and lower back...
One thing that will help, is do some stretching before riding, just some 5-10 count straight legged toe touches will loosen your hamstrings, hips and lower back..
I actually have to do those all the time from a sciatic nerve injury I had doing heavy dead lifts when was 19. The physical therapist said those toe touches really help not just your hamstrings, but hips and lower back as well-which is what I really needed with that pinched nerve in my lower back running down through my hips and ball joints in my leg/hip area. They really will help you work the kinks out.
btw, I rode a Harley Sportster as a trade with a riding friend one Sat afternoon for about 200 miles. I was used to the Bandit, and doing 300 was easy for me on the B12. Man, within 100 miles on the Harley my ass was asleep, legs going numb, and that night my tail bone felt sore. I had to take a walk to wake everything backup below my lower lumbar.
You just need to get used to the new position is all, it is actually better for yor body in the long term-establish good posture so everything is supported ergonomically. Bad posture does eventually lead to injury prone stuff, you're just used to the bad slouch cruiser position, you probably had to go through growing pains with that bike too when you first started.
Try the toe touch stretches, they do help loosen ya up before, and pull the stiffness out afterwards.
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Thanks, Mike. That's interesting about the cruiser position vs. on a standard and i've heard the same thing. I'll give the toe touches a try...I had the sciatica thing too 25 years ago and had part of a lower disc removed to take the pressure off? Not too bad now but still it's usually sore...especially if i sit around and read or watch tv or just basically do nothing.
I always think I'm like a beaver with his teeth growing out if he gets lazy!
Thanks again.
Jim
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Try working out your abs more. The stronger your abs the easier it is on your back. I'm a tile setter and natural stone mechanic. Plus working out when I can, my back is strong. But my knees kill me after working all day. And especially with the rear sets, I need all the leg room I can get. That is what keeps me from switching to a all out sport bike,I don't think my knees would take it for a long run.
The abdominal muscles are the foundation of your body. If your back is suddenly sore I am willing to bet my Bandit that your abs aren't as strong as they could be.
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Exactly my impression after the first B12 ride today, taller and more pullback. It isnt my back it bothers though, its my neck. I find I'm looking more upward that I'm used to. The B12 puts more weight on my wrists than my GSX. Going to give it a month and see if I get used to it.
Blue
You may find that it goes away as you get used to the new position. It did for me. At first I was sure I was going to need a different set of bars - something a little taller with a touch more pullback. After a month or so, I became used to it and have no complaints.
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The bandit was the first bike I could ride all day and not be in agony. I'm with the ab muscle advice too. Start doing some sit ups, it won't take much but it will really improve things for you. Depending on what kind of shape you're in, start with 10-15 every other night and progress from there. It will really strengthen your core.
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I'm 6'1" (boots on) and 210 lbs and ride a stock 03 B12. The first thing I noticed on this machine is that my back actually feels great while riding. If you sit back towards the break in the seat then there's no pressure on the tailbone at all and bumps are soaked up more by your pelvis than your back.
This was not the case with my last machine - an XJ1100 Maxim "lowrider" where I'd have to hike my butt up on top of the passenger seat to take the pressure off of my back on longer rides. The Bandit bars are fine on my wrists as-is (again the XJ was brutal because of the extreme pullback and was finally the primary reason why I sold this bike).
I find that my neck is the muscle area that takes a bit of getting used to after the winter doldrums. I've ran through a tank of gas or more on many rides and feel great when I step off for the day.
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I've become a crusader of sorts.
The stock tires and handlebars on a 2nd Gen Bandit are majorly horrible.
I've ranted in many other posts here about both.... but the bottom line is that the handlebars need to be an inch higher and have an inch less pullback... and the tires need to be replaced with Pirelli Stradas, Metzeler Roadtecs, Shinko Advance's, or Avon Azaros.
When you do those 2 things - you have a bike that is 200% improved.
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I'm 6'1" (boots on) and 210 lbs and ride a stock 03 B12. The first thing I noticed on this machine is that my back actually feels great while riding. If you sit back towards the break in the seat then there's no pressure on the tailbone at all and bumps are soaked up more by your pelvis than your back.
I'm 5'9" 165 lbs. I sit back towards the break in the seat as you do. As I said, my back is fine. Everything is inline and very comfortable on that score. I think my problem is having shorter arms than you, results in my being in a more lean forward position, which puts more weight on my wrists and requires more of a looking up head position. If found today that if I cruise around 80-85 mph, the wind blast is enough to pretty much zero the weight on my wrists, but it does nothing for my head position and neck.
Blue
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... and the tires need to be replaced with Pirelli Stradas, Metzeler Roadtecs, Shinko Advance's, or Avon Azaros.
So, what's wrong with Michelin Pilot Roads :?: :motorsmile:
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'three minutes to a pain free life' - Divorce takes way longer than that! :wink:
I'll take a look - thanks for the tips.
There are so many variables, i never know what the problem is. I quit smoking for 6 weeks so put on weight and I know that pulls on your back and hurts you. also, i am wearing my motorcycle boots a lot more and they might be doing it.
I've had fewer escapades between the sheets, so maybe that's doing it!
Is that way too much info or what?
Jim
Riding the Bandit gives that euphoric, stimulated, excited, enhanced, super charged feeling! Maybe the *banned* stash is being used up more often!! That can put a strain on the old joints etc!!! :banana: :banana: :banana: :beers:
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I went from a 2001 Honda shadow ACE 750 to the 2000 bandit 1200S.
I had a nice comfy mustang seat on my cruiser, and the bandit is more comfortable. I guess with the cruiser you are stuck in 1 position all the time. On the Bandit you can lean forward / back, slide up or back on the seat and reposition yourself.
It might just take some time to get used too, took about 2 weeks for me to realise what the best body position on the bandit is. Always adjusting since its so different from a cruiser. You may want to adjust the rear shock to make it more spongy for long cruises since it'll help with making the bike/seat more cushy. I have mine maxed, but I like to fly around corners so I need the extra suspension tightness.
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Sorry to bring back an old post but my back is way better lately! It wasn't the Bandit at all. I have been out exercising more lately with the nicer weather but the big thing is my boots!
Bought some boots off ebay at the end of last year's riding season and have been wearing them to work this year and just leaving them on...the back was making me groan by the end of each day. Wore runners a couple of days in a row and the back is absolutely fine!
So maybe that extra heel height is the culprit?
Thank my lucky stars it ain't the bandit doing it!! :banana:
Jim
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gotten a sore back? Weird - had the bandit almost two weeks and had a sore back the whole time. Not sure if the bike has caused it or if it is one of a million other things concurrent with old age (46).
Anybody else wince when they throw a leg over their best girl?
Jim
Jim,........Jim here,.........
I have switched back and forth from crotch rockets to cruisers several times actually. From Yamaha R1 to VTX1800,......and from VTX1800 to CBR954RR, and from CBR954RR to Bandit 12,..........and several other bikes that were different from each other.
My own observation is that all motorcycles are uncomfortable eventiually, in their own way. On the cruisers, my tail bone and my lower back would hurt so badly that I could hardly stand it sometimes. On the crotch rockets my wrists, my back, my knees, and the back of my neck paid the price.
All seem to be compromises in one way or another.
The trick? Is to ride what makes the most sense for your style of riding,......and stop for Iced tea and french fries often!!
:banana:
Specifically the Bandit,...? It is one of THE most comfortable bikes I've riden,...and I've had 13 of them. [grinning]