1st Distance Trip On Max - Concerned

[Slo'Poke]

Okay. I can't think of a better place to ask this question. Yesterday was the very first time I really took Max out for anything remotely resembling a serious trip; with one exception, my normal excursions on any motorcycle are typically limited to a total of 100 mi or so.

My friend needed some help assisting his sister out in Auburn, which is approx 140 mi trip, one way from my neighborhood. As both of our wives were using the cars, we opted to make a mini roadtrip using our cycles, me with my Classic (still fully stock) and him on his '07 HD V-Rod.

To make thing short, things started getting rather uncomfortable at about Fairfield, which is around the 65 mi mark. I pretty much attributed it to the stock seat, and made a mental note that it was time to make the move on that Corbin seat I've been eyeing. But by Davis (90 mi), it had gotten much worse; starting getting leg cramps, lower back pain, and a weird pain in my right arm, and no amount of shiifting around, including using the rear pegs, seeemed to alleviate the problem. By Sacramento, it had reached a point where I felt the discomfort was going to compormise safety, so I waved my friend down to stop at the next available exit. I gave myself 20-30 mins to rest before we pressed on (getting to his sister fast was a factor). Almost immediately, the pain started back up, so we had to stop again. This time, we switched mounts, and we made it the remaining 20 or so mi to Aurburn. On the return trip, he did the same and rode my Classic for the 1st half of the journey home, where we swapped out for the remainder of the trip.

Now I am really worried about all the discomfort I experienced on my Classic. I didn't experience it when I was riding the V-Rod, and the same could be said when I helped a friend move from the Bay Area to LA - I rode his '91 Honda Shadow VLX down a 200 mi stretch of I-5 then (admittedly, I was a touch younger back then - 26). On the other hand, I am a little older now, and this was the first time I pressed distance on my current ride. Perhaps going for long trips is something I have to get used to...

Thoughts and feedback? Is this a typical scenario and I shouldn't worry? Or have I discovered a problem and should I be looking for another cycle?


Thanks In Advance,

[relli]

its the seat- go corbin and maybe a set of risers

[jimboy61]

Its the seat

[suegip]

i've never riden any bike that had me miserable in 65 miles. i don't know, its popular to say its the seat, but maybe theres more to it than that, like say the riding position maybe doesn't suit you. I don't think vrods are known as comfortable bikes but it worked better for you, maybe you just don't fit your bike.

[bluestringer]

It's the seat. Risers will help too.

[bluestringer]

Originally Posted by suegip

i've never riden any bike that had me miserable in 65 miles. i don't know, its popular to say its the seat, but maybe theres more to it than that, like say the riding position maybe doesn't suit you. I don't think vrods are known as comfortable bikes but it worked better for you, maybe you just don't fit your bike.

I couldn't go 30 miles on the stock 800 seat before my whole body was in pain. It's crap.

[RichLockyer]

Seat, risers (or apes) and highway pegs.

[Slo'Poke]

Thanks for the input, all. I figure I'm going to go with the Corbin in the next few weeks, slap it on, then go for another longish journey and see what transpires. A set of risers is something I didn't consider, but I will look into it. Still undecided on the pegs, though.

I do hope this all works out and one of the above remedies the issue. I've gotten far too attached to my Classic to start considering alternates at this point. But, as Suegip mentioned, the discomfort was not evident while on another mount, and that's bothering me.

[SilverEagle]

It is a combination of the seat position, the handlebars and grips. Beleive me.......a nicer seat, risers/low monkeybars and Kuryakin ISO grips might be your medicine.

[davidcruiser]

Originally Posted by Slo'Poke

Thanks for the input, all. I figure I'm going to go with the Corbin in the next few weeks, slap it on, then go for another longish journey and see what transpires. A set of risers is something I didn't consider, but I will look into it. Still undecided on the pegs, though.

I do hope this all works out and one of the above remedies the issue. I've gotten far too attached to my Classic to start considering alternates at this point. But, as Suegip mentioned, the discomfort was not evident while on another mount, and that's bothering me.

It could be anything but you can diagnose it yourself. Probably the back is the first thing to get hurt, so driver backrest must be considered. If you're short, i.e. 5.5 to 5.8, a handlebar riser is a must, so you don't reach forward too much.
It's possible that your body has not adapted to long distance riding...it takes time to get used to it...something that you need to train yourself.

[G]

i suffered on my V2K , on long hauls . but since i fitted my Mustang seat , my butt is in riders bliss . the Mustang seat changed the whole riding exprience , best $$ i spent on the V2K ..

[relli]

yeah the corbin with backrest made my 900 a diff bike altogeher. the stock seat on my HD is "a$$alicious"

[Jake '53]

I checked out the 900 before I got the 1500. Fit was the reason I didn't get it. I'm 5-9 and I couldn't put my feet on the boards and my hands on the grips without bending my back. I've had lower back problems in the past and sit very upright when I ride. I couldn't get there on the 900.

[jukief]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Seat, risers (or apes) and highway pegs.

+1

[anrfknm]

getting used to long rides is a part of it and setting the bike up for you is an important part. having different foot rests is another factor that lets you move around on the bike. i take rides of 500 to 700 miles a day on my 1500 classic and i don't suffer anything like you discribed.

[Slo'Poke]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

I checked out the 900 before I got the 1500. Fit was the reason I didn't get it. I'm 5-9 and I couldn't put my feet on the boards and my hands on the grips without bending my back. I've had lower back problems in the past and sit very upright when I ride. I couldn't get there on the 900.

Eek. This is what I'm hoping won't apply!

[Deeppurple52]

There is probably more to this than you realize. My wife & I just completed a 1300 mile trip through Utah. Neither of us had any discomfort at all. We both have pretty much stock bikes. Conversely, a coworker complained that @ about 50 miles his butt gets sore on his 1500 Classic. Difference? We are both smaller sized. I am 175, wife 110. Coworker 260. The stock seats work perfectly for us and we would not consider changing. From what I have read here, if you are about 200 or more the stock seat doesn't work very well. This may not apply to you... it's just more info to evaluate. You might change the angle of your bars a tiny bit.... risers look goofy IMHO but might help you. Corbins and Mustangs are HARD and take some getting used to, so there is no miracle cure. When you hit the right combo you should be able to ride all day in total comfort.

[Black Hat]

I can go about 60 miles on my 500 seat before I start to feel it in my butt. On my Voyager, I can go about 175 before I even start to get a twinge, both stock seats. I can't go very far at all on the 500 without feeling it in my back, however. In the past I've actually taken the back rest off of the Voyager and rigged it on the 500 for long trips. In my opinion, a little back support makes a huge difference, as does an alternate position for feet and one of those little plastic things on the trottle so you don't have to go hundreds of miles gripping the handle.

[Easyrider32]

Vulcan 900 Seat Mod takes away 90% of lower back and tail bone pain. Cost $0.00. Time Less than 1 minute.

On the bottem of the seat you will find 8 rubber grommets. 4 for the rider and 4 for the passenger.

Remove 2 grommets from the back of the rider portion of the seat. They just twist off.

This will drop the seat 1/2" in the back causing some lumbar support which stock has none! You will find your butt slide back instead of being forces forward and sitting on your tail bone instead of your butt.

I did this and its amazing! I have done 1400Kms in one weekend without any major pain. In the past after 300K I needed to take Advil for the incredible tail bone pain.

[Lobocop]

When both of our 900's were new Lynn and I had some problems with the stock configuration. Sore lower back, shoulders aching, hands going to sleep, and severe butt burn after about 45 minutes of riding.

Our cure was Corbin Dual Tour with drivers backrest, Phat II risers, Kury riding pegs, and fatter F&S grips. Now, we both can run for hours without any problems.

Good luck!