Backache

[Dinger]

This is my first GS, having changed from a Blackbird. I seem to get lower back pain when riding, but didn't get it with my previous bike. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[johnnybravo]

Just a thought, if you've only just got it and spend a lot of time hunched over a computer screen, the pain in your back may well be your back straightening itself out. Back's get used to being in a bad posture and complain when they go into a good one - stick with it and you'll soon be in orthapaedic heaven. I had the same problem when I first rode the demo bike. It may be worth you playing around with the height adjusters on your seat to change the angle you're sitting at too.

 

[Geordietraveller]

Dinger, I came from a Blackbird and have found that I get some pain at the base of my back which seems to caused by me slouching in the more upright position of the GS. I recently bought a kidney belt which forces me to adopt a better posture and that seems to have helped a lot. Might be worth a try.

Si

 

[Dinger]

Dinger, I came from a Blackbird and have found that I get some pain at the base of my back which seems to caused by me slouching in the more upright position of the GS. I recently bought a kidney belt which forces me to adopt a better posture and that seems to have helped a lot. Might be worth a try.

Si

Thanks for that I'll give it a go, I was actually considering this but you've confirmed it. I've done 3000 miles on the bike so I should be used to it by now. I need to try something, I'm going on a >4000 mile trip at the end of next week.

 

[motozen]

Here's your solution:

http://www.backaline.com

 

[Rod]

I had the same problem. Last week I bought an Alpinestars kidney belt/lower back protector from Hein Gericke and that seems to help.

 

[Fanum]

Bar risers might make a small difference but it feels like a huge improvement.....and they're relatively cheap too.

Ricardo Khun recommended their use so it must be right

 

[Dinger]

I had the same problem. Last week I bought an Alpinestars kidney belt/lower back protector from Hein Gericke and that seems to help.

That sounds like just the fellow for me. How much wonga?

 

[JayGee]

My previous bike was also a bird (actually I've still got it) and I recognise this problem. The more upright position encourages me to slouch whilst the bird encourages me to arch my back. I've solved the problem by using a kidney belt, the seat in the highest position and conciously trying to lean forward and keep my back straight. It's certainly seems strange to find the GS less comfortable on the back but at least the knees take less of a battering and the occaissional stand up to stretch is much more do-able on the GS.
I think bar raisers would make it worse, what I would like is lower bars. I do intrend to try rotating the bars forward but haven't got round to this yet.
More annoying than the back ache is the utterly crap switchgear, but I'm even getting used to that!
Overall the GS is fantastic so I'll just put up with the odd ache in the back.

 

[Fanum]

More annoying than the back ache is the utterly crap switchgear, but I'm even getting used to that!

And in a year or so, you'll call all that japcrap switchgear rubbish.

It's a BWM thing..it grows on you.

like a mould

or a fungus.

 

[Dinger]

I had the same problem. Last week I bought an Alpinestars kidney belt/lower back protector from Hein Gericke and that seems to help.

Went to HG today and got the same belt. Raised the seat and.... well it's a bit early to say but I didn't get backache today.

 

[wilddog]

switch gear

nearly done 6000 mls, the switch gear is still rubbish. particularly the horn button. The person who decided it's location should still be shot. (someone else's quote from a thread a while back) Not moaning, love the bike otherwise.

 

[JayGee]

Re: switch gear

nearly done 6000 mls, the switch gear is still rubbish. particularly the horn button. The person who decided it's location should still be shot. (someone else's quote from a thread a while back) Not moaning, love the bike otherwise.

Same here, it really is time BM offered "standard switchgear" as an option (even at extra cost) to the Bavarian joke paddles that can make a half decent rider look like right plonker in the flashing dept! I would have thought one of the Eurocrats would have forced them to standardise by now (they have with car indicators etc).

 

[The Machine Cat]

Went to HG today and got the same belt. Raised the seat and.... well it's a bit early to say but I didn't get backache today.

Any update ?
I am having lower back pain issues on the bike lately if I stay on the bike for more than half an hour... I don't have the same issue on my old r90/6, I guess that it is riding position that is causing the pain.

 

[cookie]

try weighting both foot pegs slightly while riding. feels odd at first, but works for me.

 

[JayGee]

Conciously straighten or even arch your back and avoid the typical BMW slouch that is the cause iof this back ache (well, it worked for me). I think it's also a consequence of all my weight being through the base of my back and none on the wrists/legs which you tend to get on a more sports orientated bike (especially a blackbird with such a long reach to the bars).

For me it's a choice of back ache on the GS or knee and wrist ache on the blackbird

 

[st247]

Had a lot of pain in the coxyx(?) area if i did more than a couple of hundred miles in one go. Decided to have a play with the seat and found that with the front on the high setting and the back on the low it's stopped completely. Might be worth trying the seat in a different position.

 

[GSmonkey]

I think you always end up with pain somewhere on a bike. I thought that I was immune to it on the GS, but then found out I got some shoulder / neck pain from the position. Just come back of a 1000miles on the gixxer in a couple of days and have lower back pain and no shoulder pain!!

As for back pain, certainly loading up the pegs as to lift your arse off the saddle works.