[Florida boy]

Evening; seems like every time I ride more than 45 minutes I get sore between the shoulder blades. I have a stock 2011 RGU. Stock handle bars are fairly wide and I sit back in the seat and real upright. Wonder if I'm having to reach a long way and that is causing it. I'm long armed (35"-36"). Would appreciate any thoughts!

Jim

 

[CHAINSAW]

Yup,, stock bars suck!!
The easy fix, is heritage bars. If you like the looks of ape hangers, they are the most comfortable kind you can put on in my opinion.

 

[Florida boy]

Muscle Aches

Chainsaw: thanks for the advice on the bars. Got a gift card I may need to use at the local dealer.

Jim

 

[Oaktree]

There is a company that makes "Helibars" (back east). These bars have four points of adjustment (little different looking) but they can be adjusted to exactly where you want them and changed in minutes. They are pricey (last I looked they were over $1k) but potentially get you out of the uncomfortable zone.

 

[harvesthunt]

I would have to say it's the stock bars too. Had my 11 RGU for about a month now and noticed that very same pain even on first ride. Buddy said change bars. I bought heritage style but haven't had time to put on yet.

A quick fix is to loosing monting bolts and roll back towards you to a comfortable position, then retighten. I know that worked for me on a 450 mile trip I did 2 weeks ago. Not perfect, but definately better till you can change out bars.

Good luck man

 

[tmd]

Apes, apes, apes......

I had the same problem with my 05 RG. I installed Heritage bars and it helped a little but still had the same problem. On my '11 RGU I installed 16" apes and problem solved. I've taken it on several trips that were over 300 miles long and no aches or pains. Oh and in addition to that you will look really cool to boot.

[/IMG]

 

[mea4dxl]

you mite be able to kill 2 birds with one stone. If your seat sucks you mite be able to fix the shoulder blade prob with a seat that will change your position. hope it will help.

 

[Ducflames904]

Change the bars. Huge difference!

 

[103_FBob]

you mite be able to kill 2 birds with one stone. If your seat sucks you mite be able to fix the shoulder blade prob with a seat that will change your position. hope it will help.

+1 on this comment. Personally, the stock seat rocks for me on the FLTRU (and I've had three other HD's before where the stock seats flat out sucked for me). Not sure what you could do exactly to test an alternative before committing to a bar switch, but I would think that there is a chance the seat has you positioned in a way that may contribute more to this issue. That being said, if you're finding no issue w/the seat whatsoever, the only option then is to find a bar to remedy the issue (and obviously you're already getting great recommdations).

I'm 6'3" with 36" reach (18 1/2" neck for anyone wanting to surprise me with a new year's gift!!!). Aside from wishing the bars where about an inch higher, the stock setup (surprisingly) works pretty well for me.

And this may sound a bit odd, but for me this was my first true 'touring' bike. Obviously I don't have a clue of your bike resume so disregard remaining comment if you're a seasoned tourer... But I spent the first 250miles on my RGU actually realizing I could relax on this thing and enjoy the ride. I was so used to 'driving' all the bikes I had before (I'm sure I'm gonna catch some flack for that comment). I found I was a bit more tense when I didn't need to be. Tension = muscle aches. Just a thought.

 

[Sancho]

These fixed the problem for me. Krome Werks Sweeper Bars +2.

 

[abone]

I had the same issue on my '06 RG with stock bars....for my '10 went to 10" Yaffe apes - problem solved. Eliminated the pain between the shoulders and neck pain too.

 

[slaterman5]

i had the same pain...6'5" with 37" sleeves, changed to Wild 1 Chubbies ...10" baby apes...pain stopped

 

[ichiban]

Change the bars...The Heritage bars for touring is a quick change without replacing your lines ( $80) or go for Wild 1 chubbies. The RGU seat is a keeper. Get it reworked to fit you, so you can put full weight on your boots while at idle. They can take some off the sides and give you a push forward also. I had it lowered an inch plus narrowed a touch. What a difference.

 

[harvesthunt]

And this may sound a bit odd, but for me this was my first true 'touring' bike. Obviously I don't have a clue of your bike resume so disregard remaining comment if you're a seasoned tourer... But I spent the first 250miles on my RGU actually realizing I could relax on this thing and enjoy the ride. I was so used to 'driving' all the bikes I had before (I'm sure I'm gonna catch some flack for that comment). I found I was a bit more tense when I didn't need to be. Tension = muscle aches. Just a thought.

It's funny you say this and I totally agree. My RGU is first touring bike as well. I've done super long trips with old lady and packed to the teeth on my sportster; but this is my first real touring bike. I agree that I had to LEARN to relax on it at first. I was very tensed trying to make it feel the way sporty did. Until I realized I DIDN'T WANT it to feel like that, that's why I got a touring bike. LOL

But for me I think it's the bars mainly. My seat feels like my recliner. Of course look what I was used to.

 

[Old Harley Guy]

Change the bars. +2 Chubbies. After visiting my son at FT. Bragg, I rode back from Fayetteville, Nc to Richland, Ms (720 miles) in 10 hrs., only stopping to fuel up. Rode the bike to the Waffle House the next morning at 6am. No pains. The stock seat on my 05 is great. I'm 6'1" with a 76" wingspan.

 

[Florida boy]

Muscle Aches

Thans for all the inputs. I may rotate the bars first and see whre that gets me. Then, work the seat angle. And thanks for the reply on relaxing. Never hurts to check into that.

Jim

 

[ichiban]

Thans for all the inputs. I may rotate the bars first and see whre that gets me. Then, work the seat angle. And thanks for the reply on relaxing. Never hurts to check into that.

Jim

I did already did the rotation which takes 10 mins. It wasn't enough due to the size of the stock bars. You can pop on a Heritage bar for touring and have enough height to rotate After your test ride. You may like to lean forward or have a much longer reach then me.

 

[tmd]

I did already did the rotation which takes 10 mins. It wasn't enough due to the size of the stock bars. You can pop on a Heritage bar for touring and have enough height to rotate After your test ride. You may like to lean forward or have a much longer reach then me.

Stock Heritage bars wont work unless you have the end notched for the TBW

 

[Roadie09]

I have had the stock bars, KW +2 sweepers, and currently running WO518's. The WO518's are by far the most comfortable for me. I know they are not ape hangers so they are frowned upon, but the moral of the story is you just have to find something that fits your body and riding style.

 

[mattman22033]

Stock Heritage bars wont work unless you have the end notched for the TBW

He said Heritage bar for touring...which has the notched end for TBW.

Majority or RG & RGU owners switch the bars out. The touring Heritage bar is one of the cheaper bar changes as you can still use the stock cables. The hardest part of the swap is the TBW unit....as you have to disconnect it in the fairing. When mine were switched the just removed the throttle side headlight and there it was.