Aftermarket handlebars and back pain

**Hitcher** · 28th January 2009, 20:39

Originally Posted by Headbanger

And there are still plenty of options with mid-mounted controls.

Other than the Street Rod (arguably not a cruiser) and the Moto Guzzi California, name a new cruiser that hasn't got forward controls.

**SilverGrin** · 28th January 2009, 20:56

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Other than the Street Rod (arguably not a cruiser) and the Moto Guzzi California, name a new cruiser that hasn't got forward controls.

Mine.

Highway pegs, but not forward controls.

**Headbanger** · 28th January 2009, 21:13

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Other than the Street Rod (arguably not a cruiser) and the Moto Guzzi California, name a new cruiser that hasn't got forward controls.

I'd assume the entire Lowrider range,They were the last time I looked, Though I don't look often,That aside, You never said new in your original post, You said "all"

Big difference.

**Headbanger** · 28th January 2009, 21:16

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

Ape hangers = Ass to ride with and you will get sore wrists with the extra effort. You need to keep you hands and wrists from having to reach up - keep your arms etc just inwards of a full stretch. You shouldnt be reaching on a bike.

With apes your arms still rest on the bars, Once you adjust to the extra flex they aren't any drama to ride with. Input through the bars is very minimal no matter what bars you have.

In all the time I had apes on my bike I never got sore wrists, But my wrists packed up big time on my GPX.

**McJim** · 28th January 2009, 21:22

This may sound very strange but reading through all this I am thinking Sports Bike or Sports-Tourer.

Have you considered this or do you absolutely have to have a cruiser style bike?

**piston broke** · 28th January 2009, 21:24

an age ago,i had an xv1100 virago.
the best thing i ever did was put a set of straight bars on it.

**xknuts** · 28th January 2009, 21:35

Originally Posted by Headbanger

You ridden with apes?

Don't do apes, try something like these, they give a little height but more importantly closer to the body and just lower than the shoulder.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLE...mZ120369773547

Add to that a better seat or backrest and you won't know yourself.

**The Lone Rider** · 28th January 2009, 22:19

Originally Posted by Headbanger

With apes your arms still rest on the bars, Once you adjust to the extra flex they aren't any drama to ride with. Input through the bars is very minimal no matter what bars you have.

In all the time I had apes on my bike I never got sore wrists, But my wrists packed up big time on my GPX.

It's not a question of what's not a problem. I could ride a hard tail no problem, with extreme apes and a lot of people do that. Doesn't make for a comfortable or healthy ride over time. I have done hard tail with mid apes. It's not something you want if you are riding for 3 hours and want to actually maintain 100K through the straights and the turns.

More to the point, it is simple ergonomics. Stretching limbs and then requiring them to flex back and forth and often over stretching is not the way to cure sore arms back legs or any of the usual sore spots.

I'd go with Chris's suggestion. Nicely swept T bars are some of the most comfortable and responsive bar sets around. Others I like are buffalo bars but not everyone likes them as they are quite wide.

Only thing I don't like about those T bars is that the risers aren't independent - so if you decide you need more pull or stretch you can't pull them off and try longer or shorter or different pulls.

**Headbanger** · 28th January 2009, 22:47

Without clouding the issue with the stupidity of a hard tail (something I doubt I could even sit on without getting a sore back) Riding at normal road speeds (and quite a lot faster) is perfectly fine with ape hangers.

No idea what this rubbish about "Stretching limbs and then requiring them to flex back and forth and often over stretching" is in relation to, sounds like yoga not like riding a bike. Certainly has no bearing on any road bike I have ever ridden. I doubt you've ridden anything with any sized apes as that's not how they roll.

For me the higher bars caused me to sit a little straighter, probably rolled my shoulders back a little, streched my back musclesa little,wind buffeting was the same as always. I got a sore neck if I tried to keep her at 200km/h for too long.

That aside, I'm not telling him how to cure his back, I'll leave that up to all the back/handlebar/hardtail/foward control experts, I was merely passing on what eased my sore back.

(psssst...There is probaly no cure, find a position that gives some relief, then try and live with the discomfort)

**The Lone Rider** · 29th January 2009, 13:10

Originally Posted by Headbanger

No idea what this rubbish about "Stretching limbs and then requiring them to flex back and forth and often over stretching" is in relation to, sounds like yoga not like riding a bike. Certainly has no bearing on any road bike I have ever ridden. I doubt you've ridden anything with any sized apes as that's not how they roll.

Do some research big shot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergonomics

Particularly the SAE, and automotive ergonomics.

Ape hangers were the invention of the "outlaw" biker, in which back in the 50s and 60s Garbage Heaps (stock harleys) were stripped down to make them leaner and faster. Then they were purposefully modified to be a bastard to control and ride and thus lending to the image of "You must be one hard ass to be riding a bike with bars up there and hardtail and..". Apes were made by welding bar stool legs together and cutting and bending stock harley crash bars. Apes were designed to be awkward on purpose, and the image of the outlaw passed over to harley davidson marketing.

Don't need to be an expert at a lot of things if you actually bother to look things up.

If monkeys can go into space...

**xwhatsit** · 29th January 2009, 14:05

Originally Posted by McJim

This may sound very strange but reading through all this I am thinking Sports Bike or Sports-Tourer.

Have you considered this or do you absolutely have to have a cruiser style bike?

Exactly. Went from high standard bars on my 250 to low clip-ons below the top yoke and now my spine when riding has a proper low-back curvature. If you're lazy and put weight on the bars, then you'll get sore wrists and shoulders but if you properly maintain posture by holding yourself up with stomach muscles then it's a far comfier bike to ride than, say, my father's V-Star 1100 or (new purchase, now has three bikes, Jesus) Yamaha Warrior, which allow you to slouch and jolt your lower back when going over bumps. Crusier position contributes to sore backs I reckon, it's not a good posture to be in.

**Headbanger** · 29th January 2009, 14:57

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

Do some research big shot

Don't need to be an expert at a lot of things if you actually bother to look things up.

If monkeys can go into space...

Yeah, I'll stick to personal experience, You can continue to pass along other peoples "knowledge".

**Headbanger** · 29th January 2009, 15:06

Originally Posted by McJim

This may sound very strange but reading through all this I am thinking Sports Bike or Sports-Tourer.

Have you considered this or do you absolutely have to have a cruiser style bike?

Ultimately he may have to change his style of bike, Though if he's a cruiser man then it makes sense to see if he can find a comfortable riding position on his preferred bike. sometimes a few inches makes all the difference in the world. Granted it sure as hell won't fix his back but it may make a few hours in the saddle a tolerable experience. even if the text books say otherwise.