Riding position cause lower back pain?

[Rhys]

I have noticed a few times but after riding my lower back is sore, do you have this problem.. the bike is a CBR 300R.. so you have that slight forward lean.. not much but a little.. never had this issue before.

Cheers

[Marcel1]

You just bought the bike or riding it for longer already?

There can be many causes to back pain for you personally but, I've found for myself that the first few times on a new bike I always have back ache after a ride but it disappears after a while. Same when I bought my versys but now its the mist comy bike i've ridden.

[AllanB]

If it is a new bike try some back strengthening exercises and those for loosening the hips, these are perfect because Karate is all about loose hips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJyfL3c2W8.

Don't laugh but trying riding with you legs open which will cause you straighten your back slightly.

Works for me, had back problems right up until I began doing Karate, don't do it now but practice the warm ups when feeling a bit jaded.

[Rhys]

If it is a new bike try some back strengthening exercises and those for loosening the hips, these are perfect because Karate is all about loose hips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJyfL3c2W8.

Don't laugh but trying riding with you legs open which will cause you straighten your back slightly.

Works for me, had back problems right up until I began doing Karate, don't do it now but practice the warm ups when feeling a bit jaded.

Thanks Rider Allan B,

actually, I have a set of back exercises I do based from my Physical Therapist...but I will give it a look and thanks for the advice.

Yes it is a new bike a CBR 300R

[jonnyscot]

Id Agree with marcel, i had a sore lower back (butt bone) on my first trip from suphan to nakhon sawan with the versys, thought about buying one of those airhawk seats that was recommended, but on completing a later trip longer than the nakhon sawan one the pain had virtually gone

You just bought the bike or riding it for longer already?

There can be many causes to back pain for you personally but, I've found for myself that the first few times on a new bike I always have back ache after a ride but it disappears after a while. Same when I bought my versys but now its the mist comy bike i've ridden.

[avidflyer]

Bike riding totally messed up my back. Be sure to have the very best shocks.

[WingNut]

I've never felt any back pain from riding. I had a sore backside for a day or two when I got my first bike about 4 years ago, but that was it. I've also had sore wrists on occasion which are more common with spirt riding positions. I would say that everyone is different, everyone's body is different, and different people might get pain in different parts of the body depending on their physical constitution. For you it's the back, for someone else the pain might be somewhere else on the body instead. So I don't think it has anything to do with your particular bike. It may have something to do with your riding position, your physical makeup, or just a back that needs some strengthening of the muscles. I would say that your back should get used to the riding overtime and improve. But if it doesn't, then as other people have said, perhaps some stretching and or strength building exercises might help. You could also put some ice on your back when you get home from riding if you're in a lot of discomfort.

Edited March 19, 2015 by WingNut

[drift]

Maybe wear a kidney belt. I find it helps a lot.

[papa al]

75mm bar risers on my cbr helped a lot.

[AllanB]

75mm bar risers on my cbr helped a lot.

Slightly off topic, did the bar risers get the riding position anywhere close to the CB250/300? I know you have a 150 but the principle is the same.

[Just1Voice]

I began to have back pain on the longer trips on my CBR 250. Rented a CB500f for a couple of days, no more pain. The difference was in the riding position.

[fantom]

The kidney belt is a very good piece of kit as suggested by Drift

My back ground apart from Therapy is Ergonomics as well as bike riding for far too long

The underlying problem is that of static loading, similar to that when you hold your arm out for a period and it starts to ache.

When riding a bike the back muscles tend to be in a state of constant tension (muscles only pull - never push), a good thing or you would fall off, but a bad thing because if you hold muscles in tension with little movement for for a long period they will ache. Natures way of saying time to get off and have cup of coffee.

I fully support the kidney belt, not only will it help your back on the bike but in the event of a fall it is just that bit of extra support when you really really need it.

Safe riding!

[pizzachang]

(Only my opinion) Riding hunched over does not seem natural. 'Racing' style bikes are similar to 'racing bikes' and the guys that ride them take a beating. Having ridden many types of motorcycles, I've always preferred a more laid back riding position but on long trips, the jolts do affect the lower back. Harley riders often wear kidney belts for that reason.

[fantom]

(Only my opinion) Riding hunched over does not seem natural. 'Racing' style bikes are similar to 'racing bikes' and the guys that ride them take a beating. Having ridden many types of motorcycles, I've always preferred a more laid back riding position but on long trips, the jolts do affect the lower back. Harley riders often wear kidney belts for that reason.

I think you will find racing riders wear kidney belts too

[HerbalEd]

Have her be on top.

[arjunadawn]

The bike forces a rear displacement of the pelvis, necessarily. Look online at a tai chi or wing chun stance. This will reflect the correct forward tilt of the hips into a natural, healthy steady state. Riding bikes, like sitting on a couch reaching for the remote, projects the pelvis rearward. I long ago removed a chair for use and use an inflatable ball to work at a desk- same principle, it rotates the hips forward, where they belong.

[dotpoom]

I retired from work early because of back pain....particularly while driving. Only troubles me occasional now, when it does I wear one of those "Support Belts" (looks like a weight lifter's belt) works great. I might even wear it when driving long distances if my back is feeling a bit weak when starting out.

[HughJass]

Maybe wear a kidney belt. I find it helps a lot.

you can get similar to this belt in Pharma Choice for 500 baht...u see people working at Tesco stacking the shelves wearing them

I had a CBR250 but sold it for the same reason plus it used to cripple my arms and shoulders too

I have seen a couple of people convert the CBR250 to an upright bar position with the top of the fairing and screen cut back

[papa al]

75mm bar risers on my cbr helped a lot.

Slightly off topic, did the bar risers get the riding position anywhere close to the CB250/300? I know you have a 150 but the principle is the same.

Dunno.

Gimme the data on the CB's parameters, and I'll compare.

Edited March 20, 2015 by papa al

[sawadee1947]

..ask the girls what they are doing in this case.......

[Rhys]

I've never felt any back pain from riding. I had a sore backside for a day or two when I got my first bike about 4 years ago, but that was it. I've also had sore wrists on occasion which are more common with spirt riding positions. I would say that everyone is different, everyone's body is different, and different people might get pain in different parts of the body depending on their physical constitution. For you it's the back, for someone else the pain might be somewhere else on the body instead. So I don't think it has anything to do with your particular bike. It may have something to do with your riding position, your physical makeup, or just a back that needs some strengthening of the muscles. I would say that your back should get used to the riding overtime and improve. But if it doesn't, then as other people have said, perhaps some stretching and or strength building exercises might help. You could also put some ice on your back when you get home from riding if you're in a lot of discomfort.

Wingnut Rider,

I transition from the CBR 150 to the CBR 300.. .the 150 is slightly lower and smaller in length. At first changed the levers on the 300 because they seem to far and my wrist were hurting on long rides..

I have strengthen the back, even had treatments by the physical therapist .. all is well.. then I started riding again and the problem popped up again.

I'll give the back support belt a try..

cheers..

Edited March 20, 2015 by Rhys

[AllanB]

A common thread here seems to be the CBR250 and having ridden one for a very short time, I understand why. I felt that my whole body was distorted and cramped, upper and lower, it was almost impossible to get comfortable, even for a short while. This bike is too small for a 6 footer, but maybe not that suitable for shorter people either, it seems.

I was looking at buying a CB300 later this year, but will definitely rent one for a while first, my back is not too bad these days (FLW) and would like to keep it that way.

Having a bad back is not gangs of fun.

[papa al]

fantom:

"When riding a bike the back muscles tend to be in a state of constant tension."

Muscle tone (≈tension) is characteristic of all innervated muscle; riding bike, sleeping, whatever.

As a therapist you know this.

Excessive persistent tone can cause pain, ya.

Arjunadawn:

"The bike forces a rear displacement of the pelvis, necessarily. Look online at a tai chi or wing chun stance. This will reflect the correct forward tilt of the hips into a natural, healthy steady state. Riding bikes, like sitting on a couch reaching for the remote, projects the pelvis rearward. I long ago removed a chair for use and use an inflatable ball to work at a desk- same principle, it rotates the hips forward, where they belong.”

Perhaps you are trying to say that slight anterior pelvic tilt is the neutral anatomic position?

A properly set up bike, like your theraball, can facilitate this posture.

i know of an elderly gent who rode three weeks 4500km thru Laos & Thailand on a 150cc a few months ago.

Penultimate day on the road he clocked 800km.

No back pain.

Was his bike necessarily forcing his pelvis into “rear displacement” (posterior pelvic tilt)?

Edited March 22, 2015 by papa al