1150gsa Riding Position

[MR&MRS.P]

So, I seem to get terrible back pain across my shoulders (just below the shoulder blades) when riding the GS for more than about half an hour.

I seem to hunch/slouch a bit due to my size but wanted to see how everyone else sits...

I'm 6'3 but with relatively short legs and a lengthy torso. The bike has bar riser blocks and I have tried rotating the bars both backward and forward to get a comfier position.

the bike has tobinators and i'm sat in relatively still air so not worried about fighting the wind causing the problem.

I've only really ever riden clip-on sports bikes so havent really got a clue what my side profile should look like?

Anyone got any side on profile shots of them on their GS/GSA?

Thanks

 

[oblertone]

You'll need to do a bit of fiddling with the risers; what type are they, how tall, pics will help. I had a similar experience until I discovered Rox (adjustable) risers which sorted me out. Unfortunately there is no 'one size' answer but as you seem to be happy with the airflow remember to mark your tobinators so you can replicate the position, as a very small adjustment can really change things.

 

[MR&MRS.P]

The risers are what looks like factory extra ones, same material/shape as the top yoke bits... probably 50mm something like that. They are straight up rise, as in perpendicular to the yoke.

The screen setup is easy as its the extreme extents that work for me, as high as possible and angled as far forward as possible.

I will try and take some pics later.

Maybe I need some adjustable risers that bring the bars closer to me?

 

[David Morton]

Hi there

I had the same issue with me back and being 6.2 about the same height as you
i put bar raisers which lifted the handle bars up and back as well
plus fitted a set of lowering pegs this all helped a lot and i haven't had any pain in
the back since.
Along with this set up i also fitted Tobinaters and an MRA screen which did totaly change the bike

If you dont have an MRA screen fitted get one as its makes such a difference
especially with the added tobinators

cheers davey

ps the is some bar risers in the for sale section that may suite you.

 

[Flipfly]

I've got some bar risers which raise but also tilt back. These are brilliant because you can get the bars exactly where you want them and still get the bar angle so your wrists aren't in pain. Not sure of the make of them but they are like the rox risers.

 

[MikeO]

Pro-tapers, or similar bars are the gold answer. The standard BMW bars are not ergonomically friendly and a lot of people spend time and money on reach. This can help, but a comfortable set of bars properly mounted is the answer for day-long comfort and feeling like your bike has lost 50kg

I was lucky and managed to get a set of Ricky Bars (no longer made), but you can do the same with Rox Risers (I think) and Touratech do a conversion...

 

[mspenz]

Pro-tapers, or similar bars are the gold answer. The standard BMW bars are not ergonomically friendly and a lot of people spend time and money on reach. This can help, but a comfortable set of bars properly mounted is the answer for day-long comfort and feeling like your bike has lost 50kg

I was lucky and managed to get a set of Ricky Bars (no longer made), but you can do the same with Rox Risers (I think) and Touratech do a conversion...

Mike O is Mr Gadget I think

And only 15k miles as well

 

[MR&MRS.P]

Well I have absolutely no pain in my arms it wrists so no problems there.

I did spend more time moving around and trying to work out what was going on on the way home today and I think it all stems from my hips... They seem to rotate backwards causing the curving of my spine. Might this be that I require the pegs lowering? No matter how hard I try I just can't keep my back straight!

 

[Fanum]

Well I have absolutely no pain in my arms it wrists so no problems there.

I did spend more time moving around and trying to work out what was going on on the way home today and I think it all stems from my hips... They seem to rotate backwards causing the curving of my spine. Might this be that I require the pegs lowering? No matter how hard I try I just can't keep my back straight!

Ergonomics on a bike are bloody tricky, and the answers are as individual as the number or people who ride.

I'm six four and I use bar risers, but instead of putting the bars UP and BACK, I use them UP and FORWARDS (IE away from me)

I also find my pivot pegs help a lot....they lower the position of my feet (and hence, my pelvic tilt, shoulder position and spine angles) , but as above, it all has to work together to suit your own body and riding style.

It can take a long while fiddling around with pegs, bar riser positions and the angle of the bars themselves in the risers (there's actually an immense amount of adjustment possible.....if you imagine a standard bike with the ends of the bars as the centre of a disc from a side view, you can probably draw a 1 foot diameter circle around that pivot point and all of the places you COULD get the bar ends to finish up will be in that diameter or on the circumference......then add in pegs (again, lower, forwards or backwards) and then even without adding in the complication of seat height, thigh width spread depending on width at the front of the seat and so on, there are too many options and positions to suggest.

Before spending lashings of money on a fancy 400 quid seat which may or may not help (you'll hear many people swear by them, which is fine, that worked for THEM), I'd suggest getting a 30 quid set of bar risers that will go forwards AND/OR backwards, and maybe a pair of peg lowering thingies......try them out in as many positions as you can, and adjust the bar tilt in the clamps as much as possible as well.......it's a whole system, but the one HUGE advantage that the GS platform provides is that you can adjust it in an almost infinite number of ways

Good luck

 

[Fanum]

Mike O is Mr Gadget I think

And only 15k miles as well

He even has a lovely magnetic pointer that shows him which direction his alternator is in at any angle of riding

 

[MR&MRS.P]

Thanks fanum, it does all make sense! I'd like to get some peg lowering kit, can anyone recommend anything? I'm getting married and buying a house so I don't want to have increase my mortgage if you know what I mean...

Cheers

 

[Fanum]

Thanks fanum, it does all make sense! I'd like to get some peg lowering kit, can anyone recommend anything? I'm getting married and buying a house so I don't want to have increase my mortgage if you know what I mean...

Cheers

Ask in your local section (or the B&B) if anyone has a bike with a set fitted first.......most tossers will be very happy to let you sit on their bike (or even try it on the road) and that would save trial and error in purchasing kit

JB also has some comfy seats and he's oop north.......I'm pretty sure he'd let you squidge his comfy parts (and probably sit on his bikes too )

 

[Timolgra]

I'd like to get some peg lowering kit, can anyone recommend anything? I'm getting married and buying a house so I don't want to have increase my mortgage if you know what I mean...

Cheers

Get a pair of 2nd hand Pan European pegs, you'll need to file a bit off the fitting but they'll drop the pegs about an inch.

Check how you're sitting on the bike, try dropping your elbows, it, relieves tension from the shoulders over long distance.

 

[mspenz]

Get a pair of 2nd hand Pan European pegs, you'll need to file a bit off the fitting but they'll drop the pegs about an inch.

Check how you're sitting on the bike, try dropping your elbows, it, relieves tension from the shoulders over long distance.

Damn, I spent way too much on lower and forward Touratwat jobbies last year, comfy though...

 

[Slipperyeel]

Pro-tapers, or similar bars are the gold answer. The standard BMW bars are not ergonomically friendly and a lot of people spend time and money on reach. This can help, but a comfortable set of bars properly mounted is the answer for day-long comfort and feeling like your bike has lost 50kg

I was lucky and managed to get a set of Ricky Bars (no longer made), but you can do the same with Rox Risers (I think) and Touratech do a conversion...

Mike, since these bars don't have the cross brace spanning the bars (you know, the one that silly, BMW branded foam roll goes onto), do the bars have any noticeable 'spring' in them? Or is it completely unnoticeable? I ask because i would have expected there to be some without that cross brace? I suppose i always thought that was the idea of that cross brace, to make the bars more rigid . Interested in your feedback.

Cheers

 

[MarkShelley]

These are probably the cheapest up and back risers available. I have them on my bike and they made a big difference to me.
http://www.jaws-motorcycles.co.uk/bmwgs.htm

 

[MikeO]

Mike, since these bars don't have the cross brace spanning the bars (you know, the one that silly, BMW branded foam roll goes onto), do the bars have any noticeable 'spring' in them? Or is it completely unnoticeable? I ask because i would have expected there to be some without that cross brace? I suppose i always thought that was the idea of that cross brace, to make the bars more rigid . Interested in your feedback.

Cheers

They are designed to flex - but you never feel it...

 

[monkeyboy]

You say you're body is only really used to a more sporty riding position so I reckon regardless of screen/tobinators/pegs/risers/whatever you're probably just aching as you're using muscles that you've not used that much before IMO. All the aforementioned do make a difference of course, some probably more than others, but your body will also need to get used to the more upright position as well I reckon. I'm 6'3 and i just have risers so I can ride standing up, they don't seem to make much difference to me for general riding though. I do a lot of miles on the bike and ride it all the time though so I think your body adapts and builds strength where it needs it. Lots of companies specialise in making solutions to problems that don't exist

Hope you find a position that suits anyway.

 

[columbus]

Have you tried putting the bike on the centre stand and just sit on the seat. Put your feet and hands where they are comfy to see their position compared to your bars and pegs.

 

[Slipperyeel]

They are designed to flex - but you never feel it...

Thanks Mike. Interesting. But when you're pulling wheelies surely you can feel it then?

ps. That cockpit looks great. Especially that trim panel, which really looks like the part BMW missed/forgot! Mine's been fettled, hoping to get it on before the summer trip.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk