Riding with a bad back.

[Griffin]

Hi Irontusk and welcome to KB. You will get a lot of suggestions from folk on here and most will be well meaning and maybe even based on experience... which is all good. But at the end of the day like oldrider says - you have to find a bike that suits 'you'. Just cos a certain bike has been right for someone else doesnt mean its going to be right for your condition.

Get your learners - go and test ride as many 250's as you can - for a decent ride to see how they affect your back (the salesman should understand if you make him aware of your condition).

If none of the 250's help with your back problem then by all means apply for an exemption based on your medical problem and that should allow you to try a few different styles/sizes.

The VL250 is a good learner cruiser - but with any 250 cruiser, they are no where near as comfy as the larger cruisers and you will probably find yourself getting quite uncomfortable after a short period of riding.

All the best

[Nasty]

Heya

Be prepared to change bikes regularly until you have the right one.

I have a back injury have had since I was 16 .... I started on a

FXR150 - Sports bike style - had no issues when riding - but did not ride for extended times on this bike

Virago 500 - Cruiser - could ride for an hour then into cronic pain for the next period ...

CBR600 - Sports - fine for an hour then shoulders and back in chronic pain

GPZ500 - Sports Tourer - lovely - could ride for a couple of hours before any discomfort ... problem was it was a 500 (not enough grunt in the end)

Now

GSX750F - Sports Tourer - I can ride for hours without pain or discomfort ...


This is in the past three years - everyones back pain affects them differently as you can see from the thread. So really until you are able to ride - (when you get your L) be prepared either to not buy a bike - or to buy one and put up with it until you are through the initial license period then try out a range to find the right one.

[sinfull]

Welcome dude, Good luck with finding the right riding position !
See heaps saying here about belts etc and why ? You have a perfectly good one that goes from one side of yr spine round ya gut to the other side of ya spine ! Ya cant tell me ya aint done the rehab after the op ya had ! Back to basics bro, get ya core in shape and ya won't need a belt !
As for riding position, I have no idea if your pain is anything like mine ! But I have trouble with flexing mainly, so standing for more than 5 min has me crumble ! Which had me look at sports bike positioning rather than cruisers, but still need the core muscles to hold the back or i'm screwed after an hours ride !
Two min core work before i even get out of bed a day and she's all good, other than sciatica, but hey shit happens !

[Skyryder]

I'll take my hat off to all that ride with bad backs. At over 60 mine still in good shape so I don't know the problems. But this came up on another biker forum I use to frequent and one of the guys used one of those things that weightlifters use. Some kind of belt brace for the lumbar region. This guy rode a Harley so I don't think it's a cruiser problem. The spine is meant to be relitvely upright.

But on the down side if your back is causing too much agro when rideing it's trying to tell you something.


Skyyrder

[Pwalo]

Unfortunately you may not be able to find the perfect bike. Due to their nature bikes aren't a logical choice if you're after comfort.

As has already been suggested you really need to try out a few different bikes with different riding positions. It's surprising how the most obvious choice isn't always the best.

After injuring my hands, wrists, and bashing my back and neck up I assumed that a more upright stance would be best, but after getting a bit of time on the SV, I find the more forward leaning position is fine. Just need to work on the stomach muscles a bit.

We can all give you our best advice, but that's all it is. A lot of people on here (myself included) have been riding for a long time, and we do forget how intimidating, and uncomfortable learning can be. Good luck with the VL.

[Irontusk]

Ok this is alot to reply to.. so I'll try to remember everything I thought as I read through.

I'm not sure if an exemption would be good for me, I'm only 65kg so a heavy bike would be hard for learning.

Nasty, what did your injury involve??

And no.. my recovery didn't involve any rehab other than drugging up, layin' around and waiting no back braces or anything. Yeah I was thinking maybe there's some exercises I could do to strengthen it up, wouldn't have a clue what they are though

The pressure suit that I'm looking at has a good back protector and kidney belt aswell as everything else for my top half, so that is looking good, and my parents will get it for me as a present for something

I've driven for about 8 hours (in a car, only stopped for petrol) and my back felt pretty normal by the end of it, I don't really lean back too much, I slump back but learn forward so I'm pretty much vertical and off the back rest.

Some of the bigger cruisers have a small backrest kind of bit before it goes up to the pillion seat don't they? That really would be all the seat I could need

[HenryDorsetCase]

And no.. my recovery didn't involve any rehab other than drugging up, layin' around and waiting no back braces or anything. Yeah I was thinking maybe there's some exercises I could do to strengthen it up, wouldn't have a clue what they are though

Just be a bit careful about jumping into exercise. Get advice (Doctor and physio) and follow their regimen. I live with someone who has a back pain issue, and thats what she does. Its a mitigation/management measure, not a magic bullet.

Good luck with it (the riding I mean) Hopefully the fun you're having will mitigate some of the pain you feel

[Irontusk]

Just be a bit careful about jumping into exercise. Get advice (Doctor and physio) and follow their regimen. I live with someone who has a back pain issue, and thats what she does. Its a mitigation/management measure, not a magic bullet.

Good luck with it (the riding I mean) Hopefully the fun you're having will mitigate some of the pain you feel

Yup, I want to ride, simple as that!

My specialist/surgeon said I can do whatever I want pretty much, said full contact sports like rugby would be fine in a month or two after the surgery.. I don't think I'd stand up too well against getting tackled from any direction other than the front, and that's now, not then!

The Thor impact rig (http://www.ridershq.co.nz/product/94...Protector.boss for the biggest pics I could find) looks like it's more solid all over and has more of a kidney belt than the 661, but there's a bit of a drive to the nearest shop that I know has them.. so more difficult to try on. I work in the same building block as a bike accessory shop so I can go look at the 661 there. I know they're another 'personal fit' sort of item, but does anyone have preference between the brands?

[sels1]

One of the things that got me back into biking after many years away was the back pain I used to suffer from doing a lot of driving in cramped company vehicles. Once the initai damage was done, every time I drove l aggravated it. So I bought a street legal trailbike to commute to work (and a bit of fun on the weekends) Every bike I have owned since has been of that style, with an upright (or slightly forward leaning) riding position with wide bars. It means not only my riding position is comfortable, I have the option of sliding back to the pillion seat or standing up on the pegs for a stretch while riding along.

[alanzs]

I've had back issues for many years, due to some serious crashes, accidents, gravity and age. Had a discectomy to relieve severe sciatica pain on my S4/5 disc a couple years ago and an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (with plate) at my C5/6 vertebrae as well. Back pain and I go way back. My daughter had scoliosis and was in a back brace for many years. Thankfully, she never required surgery.

The number one thing that I have found over the years which has dramatically improved my life are exercises that increase your core strength and your back. I have some outstanding ones, all written out that I have used for years, and they have made a HUGE difference in the quality of my life. If you want them, pm me and I can email them to you. They are in a word document. If you don't have word, I can post them here.

Another thing I do on a regular basis (5-6 times a week) and have for years, which I highly recommend, is attend Bikram Yoga classes (www.bikramyoga.net.nz as well as www.bikramyoga.com). Seeing you are from Auckland, there are classes in Ponsonby and Newmarket. I attend the Newmarket location. I'm the guy in the back or middle with the full back tattoo. It is a beginning yoga class, done in a heated room (38 degrees). There are 26 postures and it takes 90 minutes to do. You will sweat like you have probably never sweat before. It is the most incredible, life changing series of excersises that I have ever done. Some of the warriors rugby players attend there as well, and they all are amazed at how intense, and excellent it is. Your strength, flexibility and concentration will improve dramatically. You'll probably lose some weight, which is extremely important when you have back issues. Lightening the load on your back makes it work more efficiently. I am obviously very passionate about Bikram yoga classes because they have given me sustained, long term relief like nothing else ever has. I am in the best shape of my life due to it as well. My doctor attends the classes and has said that he wishes more of his patients with back problems would go there. The classes have people in their teens to probably 70's. You do the best you can do, that day. Its not competitive in any way. I can't say enough about how wonderful it is.

Sitting or laying around is the worse thing you can do. I understand if you are in pain its hard to do anything, but if you can move, then do something, even just walking. I used to only be able to take a few steps at times without almost bursting into tears, the pain was so intense. Again, building that core strength is the key, once you are able to be mobile.

As to bikes, I have been riding a long time, so I currently ride a Bandit 1200. It is a "standard" bike, not sport riding position or cruiser. I have raised the bars even more, so I am sitting up very straight. I can ride as long as I want without any problem. On especially long rides (5-6+ hours) I may wear a motocross style kidney belt, but I don't that a lot. Again, its that core strength I need to keep me upright. It does help though. I have found that stretching every hour or so is also a good thing. That or every gas stop, get off, do a few yoga stretches and I am ready to rip away.

Take control of your health by action. Learn about pain control (prevent it from getting worse) so that you will be more comfortable and able to function more fully. This doesn't have to be something that keeps you from leading a great life or riding motorcycles!
Good luck to you and if you need anything, let me know.

[Irontusk]

I found myself sliding back and standing up a bit on the keeway I did my test on, had never ridden before so that felt pretty dodgy

I think my fusion is from T11 to L4, I could be pulling that out of nowhere though.. but it sounds familiar enough, it's in my lower back. I never noticed how way off centre my body was until I was 17, so it was too late for a brace unfortunately.

I'm not in good shape (at all?) but I don't really have any weight to lose.. I lost weight from sitting around doing nothing while recovering, I've managed to work it back up a little since. Will send a PM about the exercises another time, I'm in a rush.

Yoga probably isn't for me, I don't have so many spare hours each week either, 90 min + travel would be heaps.

Like always I feel like I've left something out, but I really have to get going. Thanks again for all the advice everyone has given

[sels1]

Another thing I do on a regular basis (5-6 times a week) and have for years, which I highly recommend, is attend Bikram Yoga classes .

If Bikram Yoga is not available in your town then try other yoga classes. I have done a bit of Hatha yoga off and on over the years and it has certainly improved my back and helped with flexibility.

[alanzs]

If Bikram Yoga is not available in your town then try other yoga classes. I have done a bit of Hatha yoga off and on over the years and it has certainly improved my back and helped with flexibility.

I agree. What I have liked about Bikram, and I have done Hatha yoga for many years , is that the heated room really intensifies the experience, on many levels.

Any yoga is better than none, IMHO.

[Irontusk]

Just thought I'd update the situation.
After a week of commuting + riding around after work for extra riding, my back has been fine, I'm really comfortable I have had a bit of pain (only a couple of times) but I don't think it's much to do with the bike, just happens sometimes! I think the longest I've gone in one sitting is 50kms.
What a relief!

I've done a few exercises but not alot (I'd rather be out riding )

[slimjim]

dude , i have my lumbar fused via a three ter fusion operation, wheel chair was what i got told, fuck them what'do they know.... well like the mass belived i would ride better with a crusier... longer...comfort... bullshit each their own, had plenty of different cruiser's til i rode my mates honda ..yup.. sports bike ..for myself i won't look at another crusier