my 96 rs rides to rough for my bad back

[worm]

ok iv put the long story post at the watering hole i wasnt sure were it needed to be but the thing is my 96 has 18000 miles it rides to rough .my back cant handle it the shock is good no leaks .iv adjusted it many different ways i need a shock that about worn out can anybody help

[Freebird]

I saw the post in the watering hole but was waiting to see if anybody else replies. I personally think that installing a worn out shock is dangerous. It is not a matter of it just compressing easier but it usually means that the rebound dampening is shot and that can cause a pogoing effect that can be a very dangerous handling situation. I understand what you are saying but I think you are going about it entirely wrong.

[worm]

i understand its touchy but the thing is i cant stand to ride now for more then say 30 to 40 minutes and i love to ride . i cant work now so i have alot of time and nothing to do lol im not wanting it to ride like a car with the shocks took off but one with the shocks worn .i know picky wright iv worked on my seat .cut a giant hole for my tailbone .my shadow rides just right but im 320lb 6 foot its like an elephant on a bicycle . i was an ase certified master technician on autos not that that means anything im just saying im a little mechanically inclined and i cant afford and i like my bike on every thing else im allso dyslexic so sorry for such a long post seams my mind cant git to the point lol

[MikeWa]

Can you add a sandbag or something to the back seat and see how that works out ?

 

Mike

[worm]

well the bikes a little heavy now but i get the point i have rode my daughter see,s about 120lb makes some difference when i double its hard to just get up from kick stand with my back .its realy bad but i dont want to give up riding.

[spike13]

have you tried a rider backrest for some extra support?

[djh3]

Maybe try a back brace or kidney belt to help you sit straighter and some back support. Are you running any air pressure in the shock? Go with maybe a little less or close to minimums. short of that change the rear shock out to a Hagon, but I can tell you the one they make for the RSV I put in felt stiffer than my OEM. So I dont know what you can do. As was mentioned if you go soft you get ill handling effects of bobbing and in corners that bad.

[worm]

i think idd like a back rest and allso some of thows flanders handlebars with more pullback .but the stiff ride is the most trouble .mine dosent have the air shock .im hoping a high mileage shock would help. i ride so slow idd rather be able to ride knowing to watch it in the corners then to not ride. i wish it hade the double shocks idd put the ones off my shadow on it lol

[Freebird]

Well, if you are still determined to buy a used shock, you might check with Pinwall to see if they have one. They are a great source of such things.

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=pinwall%20cycle%20parts&clk_rvr_id=691170635909&adpos=1t1&MT_ID=70&crlp=37073810073_2416792&device=c&geo_id=10232&keyword=pinwall+cycle+parts&crdt=0

[worm]

i havent called themdirectly but i have been looking on ebay .i think they put there parts on there but i guess i should call them

[worm]

still cant find one .can anyone help

[ENG2242]

My friend, having come back from an L4 L5 disc explode, that paralyzed my left leg prior to surgery I understand. I will be rather direct. These people know what they are talking about. Do not modify your bike. If you cannot put the kick stand up or down 2 up without severe pain you have no business riding and will be wasting your money. A back rest with good lumbar support and extended handle bars should do it. If not, and you have sought proper intervention from a neuro or back surgeon. Then it's time to leave the bike alone , period. Pain makes us desperate and pain medication fogs reality and is dangerous. My friend, first lose weight, SWIM!!!!!! and gently get your back stronger. Seek proper medical intervention, not a chiropractor!!! It took years of proper exercise and accepting my limitations until I was pain free enough and STRONG enough to ride. No alcohol, no narcotic pain medication. If you don't get to that point, accept the fact that riding is not an option and for gosh sakes, don't ride two up, that is irresponsible and dangerous. My credentials?? Personal experience, 32 years as a Paramedic, 20 years as an ER RN, 25 years as a professional Firefighter and enough certificates and degrees to cover my walls, and I am still on the ladder truck. This is a serious issue and it sounds like you've been dealing with it for a while. So please, either get fixed, get to work on you and your physical health and stay the hell off that bike. Just to let you know. When I started swimming, I could only walk one lap, now I can swim miles after almost two years. God Bless, my intentions are pure, and I do understand

[dacheedah]

Back support belt can help with the back, it is all about your position on the saddle. Strengthening back muscles can help and that's where some therapy may make it more tolerable. If you put on a back rest make sure to put it in a position that encourages good posture in the saddle and that will help also.

 

As for the shock, as Freebird says if you get the pogo after hitting a bump, time for new.

[djh3]

Dacheeda- you have any recomendations on back supports for riding. My back is giving issues again. I do have a utopia backrest. Somewhere I have a backbrace with gel padding and velro closure. Would a kidney belt be the same thing?

[Condor]

For what it's worth... The most comfortable long distance riding I've ever experienced is with my '83 and a large soft travel duffle mounted across the passenger seat. When I'd lean into it with feet on the highways it took pressure off my lower back, rather than supporting my lower back with a back rest. I'm not saying it the definitive answer to a bad back, but it sure made my riding pain free...

[blue mtn. jim]

For those who do not have any idea of what REAL back pain is, I say GOD bless them! I broke my back 9 yrs ago. I have lost 3 inches in my height and my t-12 has disintegrated, no doc will touch me,VA or other wise and I am 61. I bought a second hand voyager kit and put it on myself to make sure it was right, when i hear a bad story about that kit it usually put on by someone who is not going to ride it. Then I invested in good seats and a rider's BACK REST.If it was not for those two combo's I could never ride again. I also know that with out some serious working of the back muscles then there will be no hope of anything. I was told by several doctors to get a good recliner and watch tv for the rest of my life, I know in my heart that I would be dead by now. I am a realist, my muscles hold my back up where normal people" back is held up by their skeleton bones.I work hard at staying in shape because there is no plan B. And yes I chop wood and build and use everything as a work out for my back and man do I pay for it. You will be able to ride again just make your mind up and do it! I went thru 5yrs of 4 oxycontin and 8 oxycodones a day, morphine patches,and things that i can not remember. You are the only person you got, it may sound funny but it is the truth. I still have my days where I can not get my socks on or spend the whole day in bed, put I will be ready the next morning. I am a believer and know that the LORD is not done using me yet, I hope I gave you some hope, that was my intention. Take care Jim

[djh3]

Let me throw out a question here that sort of falls into this area.

Does any one wear a kidney belt, or back support/brace? My back is going on the fritz as I have some bad discs again. Although it is good today and was OK yesterday, tomorrow who knows. So i had rode with a back brace thing that was sort of elastic with a couple metal stays in the back part. But now I am investigating kidney belts for more support. I ran across more than a few threads that led me to a support called Back-A-Line Web Bike had a rite up on it and the fellow seemed pleasently suprised by it. Not cheap @ $45-50 or so, but it looks to actually have some merit to the claims with the lumbar support built in. Where as the kidney belts just seem to go around you.

[Broncoboy36081]

ok iv put the long story post at the watering hole i wasnt sure were it needed to be but the thing is my 96 has 18000 miles it rides to rough .my back cant handle it the shock is good no leaks .iv adjusted it many different ways i need a shock that about worn out can anybody help

 

Hey man you called me a while back lost your number. I've got a worn shock you can get. Shoot me a PM or call me.

[Seaking]

Let me throw out a question here that sort of falls into this area.

Does any one wear a kidney belt, or back support/brace? My back is going on the fritz as I have some bad discs again. Although it is good today and was OK yesterday, tomorrow who knows. So i had rode with a back brace thing that was sort of elastic with a couple metal stays in the back part. But now I am investigating kidney belts for more support. I ran across more than a few threads that led me to a support called Back-A-Line Web Bike had a rite up on it and the fellow seemed pleasently suprised by it. Not cheap @ $45-50 or so, but it looks to actually have some merit to the claims with the lumbar support built in. Where as the kidney belts just seem to go around you.

 

I had broken my back in two separate accidents in the 80's, lower and upper back. Thankfully the lower back has never bothered me after healing (paralysed for 5 days though ergh) so I'm always careful not to re-injure my lower back. But the two broken vertabrae between the shoulder blades is a different story. The only time I ever feel that is when riding the RSV. Never bothers me on the VStar or other bike.. only the RSV which is the bike I mostly ride. Tried the chiro, massage and various treatments but nothing. Tried various sitting postures, pull back risers etc.. nothing.

 

The local chiro office has a products that loops around your shoulders and joined in the back to pull them back ever so slightly to correct bad posture. I figured that after 30 yrs in the military I had good posture (probably why lower back didn't bother me) but turns out my shoulders were rolling (slouching forward) more than normal. Just by wearing the loops for 10-15 minutes a day helped correct the bad posture so that now when I ride the RSV, I have a better feel as to where I should position my shoulders to take the strain off the afflicted area between the shoulder blades.. You don't wear the device while riding, it's not meant for that.. but only 15 mins a day helps you realign your posture..

 

I have to say it made one hell of a difference as I was able to ride 2500 miles in 4 days a couple of times on the last road trip and yes, though I could still feel the discomfort, wow, what a difference. I could stay in the saddle longer without having to stop to stretch it out. When stopped over night or longer breaks during the day, I'd toss it on.. and take it off before riding (If you wear it while riding, it can affect circulation since your arms are out forward)

 

I also have my back rest leaned forward a lot, not so I can rest against it (inate fear of the mount suddenly breaking off and me falling backwards while riding?!) but I use it to guage my sitting position..

 

I wouldn't say it would help with lower back pain but because you're in a better sitting posture you spine should be better aligned. If I can find the box I'll post the product info so others can check it out. Its done wonders for me, not 100% pain free long rides but much more enjoyable!