Passing strange, passing strange......

1610 Views 30 Replies 22 Participants Last post by exavid, Jul 16, 2009

Cousin Jack

Discussion Starter · Jul 14, 2009

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Here's something to ponder:

On my old 1100 and my slightly younger 1500, my legs were never at rest. Highway boards, Mic-O-Pegs, whatever.... my legs always felt the need to stretch when on a ride of over 200 miles. My hips would also ache.........

But on my ST1300, my legs and hips don't ache... I don't seem to need to stretch! Honest..... my feet go on the standard issue foot pegs and rest there, seemingly forever. I've done a 482 mile day on the crazy thing, and the only discomfort seems to be a mild case of saddle pressure, which I thinkI caneasily fix.

What I'm pondering is how come the slightly leaning forward ride position of my ST1300 is more comfortable that the bolt upright position of a heavy tourer or cruiser bike? By all laws of physics and common wisdom, that just shouldn't be happening......

I'm not complaining, mind you..... I'm just pondering!

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93Wing

· #2 · Jul 14, 2009

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Hmmmmm, interesting side effect.

Wonder if it hasto do with the position of the spine. If you look at the way we walk we walk leaning slightly forward (at least I do) and this may be a more natural position for the spine and everything is inline and nothing is being pressed on.......

Cousin Jack

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 14, 2009

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That might be true.....

Also, I was thinking that the hips, or legs, aren't quite as "bent" as they are sitting bolt upright.... not quite 90-degrees....... legs are more naturally extended. Something is different, sure, and I think that something is good!

All conjecture of course.....

actionpack

· #4 · Jul 14, 2009

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i had that problem with my 85 aspy , i did make it better , i moved the trunk back 3 in. and then the seat bck all the way , then i made new holders for my forward floor boards to get them out away from engine guard and on a bit of a angle , alot better ride for me now

93Wing

· #5 · Jul 14, 2009

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Cousin Jack wrote:

That might be true.....

Also, I was thinking that the hips, or legs, aren't quite as "bent" as they are sitting bolt upright.... not quite 90-degrees....... legs are more naturally extended. Something is different, sure, and I think that something is good!

All conjecture of course.....

As long as it works for you, it's good........:waving:

Dubswing

· #6 · Jul 14, 2009

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I'm sure that you never considered for a moment you might just be an odd duck!:cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1:

Bernie

SpiderBob

· #7 · Jul 14, 2009

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Too bad we don't have some doctor on here that could explain that one to us. I have often wondered about that myself. Although I can't ride leaning forward anymore, without the backrest I probably would not be able to ride long that way either. The back rest makes a difference for me now. Hope we find out if there is really an answer to that.:?

AZgl1800

· #8 · Jul 14, 2009

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I can't ride leaning forward at all.

either I sit up straight with a back rest, or I don't ride a bike.

Big Kahuna

· #9 · Jul 14, 2009

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It's kind of funny that you mention that you're very comfortable on the ST. I have felt the same way about the 1800 and I was mentioning it to one of my friends the other day. On my '83 Aspy, I always felt a little uncomfortable in the legs after a long ride, I used my highway pegs a lot. When I got the 1800, I bought highway pegs because I thought that I would need them and I almost never use them. I guess that the 1800 is just right for me, of course I'm only 5'8" with a 30" inseam. Okay, stop laughing now!:cheeky1::cheeky1:

I really want to try an ST, I almost bought that instead of the 1800. I guess Honda designed something right.

Dancinbear

· #10 · Jul 14, 2009

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I wonder if it is in the width of the over-all bike. When i first got the 1200 it seemed very wide and made me spread out more than any other bike. My hips did get a little funky feeling until I got used to the bigger/wider bike. Now that I am used to it, alls good.

Thats why I call it the "Water Buffalo"......... gotta wrap your leggs around it.

My Bro-in-law says the same thing about my wing, as he rides a v-twin and his bike is narrower.

zimmerleemark

· #11 · Jul 14, 2009

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think maybe you may need a good chiropractor:shock:

mark:waving:

lostinflorida

· #12 · Jul 14, 2009

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Aw come on,,,, it's really simple...

Now that you have moved back towards a semi-crotchrocket type bike, you are starting to regress back towards that younger mind set!!

We're going to have to keep an eye on you! Next thing we know, we'll be seeing photos of you riding wheelies down the center of the road..:action:

Who know, soon you might feel like you did when you were 18,,,,

heaven help Red!

bbach

· #13 · Jul 14, 2009

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I think we all recognize that each of our bodies are comfortable in different positions. That's why they make different size women. :cheeky1::cheeky1:

I set my goldwing backrest a little forward and ride in more of a forward position like you would be in on a 1300. My legs like that certain bend and that's where I can go longer distances between stretches. If I sit back and upright, my legs start to hurt after a while.

drknobs

· #14 · Jul 14, 2009

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Cousin Jack wrote:

What I'm pondering is how come the slightly leaning forward ride position of my ST1300 is more comfortable that the bolt upright position of a heavy tourer or cruiser bike? By all laws of physics and common wisdom, that just shouldn't be happening......

I'm not complaining, mind you..... I'm just pondering!

Several decades ago when I worked in a small bicycle shop, it was explained to me this way by a long-distance 10 speed cyclist...

Sitting straight up puts all of your upper bodyweight directly on your lower spine and hips (which also means your hips/lower spine are absorbing all the hits fromany bumps in the road). Sitting in a leaned forward position allows you to distrubutea good dealof that weight thru your arms/upper bodyinstead of entirely thru your back/spine.

82gl1100iWingman

· #15 · Jul 14, 2009

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drknobs wrote:

Cousin Jack wrote:

What I'm pondering is how come the slightly leaning forward ride position of my ST1300 is more comfortable that the bolt upright position of a heavy tourer or cruiser bike? By all laws of physics and common wisdom, that just shouldn't be happening......

I'm not complaining, mind you..... I'm just pondering!

Click to expand...

Several decades ago when I worked in a small bicycle shop, it was explained to me this way by a long-distance 10 speed cyclist...

Sitting straight up puts all of your upper bodyweight directly on your lower spine and hips (which also means your hips/lower spine are absorbing all the hits fromany bumps in the road). Sitting in a leaned forward position allows you to distrubutea good dealof that weight thru your arms/upper bodyinstead of entirely thru your back/spine.

That's true. When I was in my early twenties I use to ride 300 miles a week on a bicycle. But if you lean to far forwrd on a bicycle, it cuts the blood flow off to certain male anatomy possibly making a man impodent. :shock::shock:

84GrayWing

· #16 · Jul 15, 2009

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CJ,

Sounds like you're really enjoying the ST. I'm absolutely loooovviing mine. Glad you like it.

Jeff

clarkjh

· #17 · Jul 15, 2009

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It could also be in relation to where the handle bars are. If they are farther ahead it will cause your pelvis to tilt. I think for most long rides you should have about a 70 to 80 degrees of bend from back to legs.

But then again, I could just be blowing smoke like Samson was before I ripped him apart.

James

RayandTracy

· #18 · Jul 15, 2009

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actionpack wrote:

i had that problem with my 85 aspy , i did make it better , i moved the trunk back 3 in. and then the seat bck all the way , then i made new holders for my forward floor boards to get them out away from engine guard and on a bit of a angle , alot better ride for me now

Hey show us some pictures, we love pictures :action::blowingup:

RayandTracy

· #19 · Jul 15, 2009

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SpiderBob wrote:

Too bad we don't have some doctor on here that could explain that one to us. I have often wondered about that myself. Although I can't ride leaning forward anymore, without the backrest I probably would not be able to ride long that way either. The back rest makes a difference for me now. Hope we find out if there is really an answer to that.:?

Isn't Rodger a docter:baffled:

DaveO430

· #20 · Jul 15, 2009

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I agree with drknobs, I like the position because it takes some weight off my tailbone but it makes my neck hurt to have to tilt my head back so I can see ahead.

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