Shoulder pain

[jd21029]

Took a nice 1300 mile trip over three days this past weekend, mostly dowm the Blue Ridge Parkway and then back home on Rt. 81 trhough the Shenandoah valley. My 97 ST1100 performed great, and I am very pelased with it. I've only had it about three months now.

By the last day I noticed a great deal of pain in the front of my shoulders when I held the grips. On the ride home I alternated each hand for a mile or two, and then the pain would be so bad i would have to switch hands. I was popping asperin like crazy too try to dull the pain, but it didn't much work (or if it did, then the pain was even worse than I knew).

Anyone else get this? I never got this pain when I rode my cruiser, and I wonder if its just getting used to the more bent forward position. Just so you know, I do have helibars on the bike.

So, was my posture poor, or is it just getting used to the new position?

[stormrider]

I think it is a combination of both.
In this position you are putting more weight forward, on your wrists, arms, and shoulders.

Try and bend at the hips more, rather than bend your back.
You need to use your quads more in this position
Google the "Master Yoda" riding postion.

Read through that it will help

[c-lapier]

I developed shoulder and wrist pain about a year after getting the ST. X-Rays during a physical showed no arthritis or rotator tears. My GP gave me a hand-out of 7 different 10-15 lb bar bell excercises; they've worked great.

[Uncle Phil]

Many folks with that problem (myself included) did the flip-clip mod for the ST1100 which raise the handlebars up and back just about 1 inch (about $25 or so for the parts).

[nm6r]

I had the same problem with my ST1100. Thankfully I received good advice before making any mistakes with mechanical changes. Relax and bend your arms. It takes a little getting used to but the advantages of the sport touring riding position are worth the effort.

BTW, no problems when I switched to an ST1300.

Ray

[jd21029]

I've looked for the description of the Master Yoda Riding Position (MYRP), and every link seems to be to some thread on the BMW sport touring site that is no longer available. However, I do bend my elbows and concentrate on keeping my arms relaxed. I did the same when riding the cruiser. I pretty much just let my arms hang down from the shoulders, and my hands to hang from the grips, keeping a very light touch on the grips. Even so, I think the problem is just that I am reaching out farther than I did with the cruiser.

[stormrider]

I've looked for the description of the Master Yoda Riding Position (MYRP), and every link seems to be to some thread on the BMW sport touring site that is no longer available. However, I do bend my elbows and concentrate on keeping my arms relaxed. I did the same when riding the cruiser. I pretty much just let my arms hang down from the shoulders, and my hands to hang from the grips, keeping a very light touch on the grips. Even so, I think the problem is just that I am reaching out farther than I did with the cruiser.

try these. they pretty much sum it up

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2757&fpart=1

http://midliferider.com/blog/2008/02/17/learn-how-to-sit-on-your-bike-meet-master-yoda/

[Speedracer612]

Did you have stock handle bars? Do you have risers on the handle bars?

James

[Mcreviver]

I can do without an adjustable windscreen but would it ever be nice to have electrically adjustable handlebars? Or just a crank would do that would move them up and back at a 45 degree angle from vertical. I guess the adjustable seat is a step in the right direction but bars you could move, without tools, would be great.

[Don-STOC237]

After crashing a few months ago and rupturing my right rotator cuff along with some ligament damage, I could no longer reach the bars without a lot of pain.

I put on some nifty risers that bring the bars back and up slightly. With these you can pick between up, back, or some combination. I'm pretty sure they'll work on the ST's since they fit a standard 7/8" bar-clamp type mount.

http://www.roxspeedfx.com/cgi-bin/cart/showitems.cgi?subcat_id=268

Here's a picture of them on my VSTrom DL1000

http://www.stocrallies.com/pictures/veestar/roxrisers.gif