Back and neck pain after Ultimate seat - anyone else? Fix?

[Mike0123]

So, just throwing this out there. I put an UltimTe seat on my 2021 RTL, and now I have a little pain in my upper back and neck. So I feel like I need to bring the handlebars back, but not up. Has anyone else experienced that?
Am I thinking about this right … back without raising them? Is that even a thing?

Thanks

[RayBJ]

Lots of options. Heli-bars give total positional control but are $$$ and there's a huge assortment of other spyder bars.

What changed in your seating that created the new pain?

[Peteoz]

You can loosen the clamp bolts and rotate the bars on the ‘21 RT, Mike……..

BUT…… if you rotate the bars toward you, that obviously lowers the height of the bars. Also, there is a slot in the base of the stock bars that limits the amount you can rotate them. If you want to keep the bars at the same height as current, but bring them toward you, your cheapest option is risers. Lamonster, for example, sell a riser block that lifts the bars around 2”. If you install that, and then rotate the bars toward you, you should come pretty close to achieving what you are after.

As Ray mentions above, Helibars are brilliant with the 4 adjustments, but they are pricey.

Pete

[RayBJ]

Note that rotating the bars down will also change your wrist angle which could be a concern. I bit the bullet and installed Heli Bars for the flexibility of positioning.

[wyliec]

So, just throwing this out there. I put an UltimTe seat on my 2021 RTL, and now I have a little pain in my upper back and neck. So I feel like I need to bring the handlebars back, but not up. Has anyone else experienced that?
Am I thinking about this right … back without raising them? Is that even a thing?

Thanks

If you bring the bars back you will be retracting your scapula (shoulder blades). That will increase the pain in your upper back and probably increase neck pain. The way to test this without changing the position of the bars is, once you feel the pain, stop, release the handle bars, and retract (bring back) the scapula and protract (bring forward) and notice which position increases or decreases the pain. You don’t happen to elevate your shoulders when riding, do you.

[sledge]

how soon after you started riding your Spyder did the Pain start ?? because I have kinda same problem , but I just thought it was because I grip the Handle Bars way to tight I know , I have been really trying to relax more , but I know its hard to do , I sure want to hear what if anything helps you with your pain.

[Mikey]

I think that your seat has maybe lifted you up some and making you hunch over, you may have to raise them up!

[fatboy]

put the f3 stock bars on

[ButterSmooth]

put the f3 stock bars on

I had the same problem and this worked for me.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

how soon after you started riding your Spyder did the Pain start ?? because I have kinda same problem , but I just thought it was because I grip the Handle Bars way to tight I know , I have been really trying to relax more , but I know its hard to do , I sure want to hear what if anything helps you with your pain.

.... I no longer even GRIP the bars .... fingers not holding just resting .... UNLESS I'm in the twistie's ...... I guide my Spyder not really steering it ....... way less fatiguing ..... good luck .... Mike

[Mike0123]

how soon after you started riding your Spyder did the Pain start ?? because I have kinda same problem , but I just thought it was because I grip the Handle Bars way to tight I know , I have been really trying to relax more , but I know its hard to do , I sure want to hear what if anything helps you with your pain.

I think after my first 2 hours, but I really didn’t think about it much. Then second looonger ride for me was Friday, 175 miles with one stop, and the pain is back. Not horrible, but I started thinking about it.
Then after reading these replies I did the same ride, but home. When I felt it I moved my hands off the bars, just leaving my fingertips, so somewhere about 2” up and back. That might be the answer, or at least convincing enough to give it a try.

[Peteoz]

I think after my first 2 hours, but I really didn’t think about it much. Then second looonger ride for me was Friday, 175 miles with one stop, and the pain is back. Not horrible, but I started thinking about it.
Then after reading these replies I did the same ride, but home. When I felt i I moved my hands off the bars, just leaving my fingertips, so somewhere about 2” up and back. That might be the answer, or at least convincing enough to give it a try.

Mike, if you are sure it is your arm/hand position causing the issues, you should seriously consider the Helibars if finances allow. They will let you go up and back, and adjust the wrist angle for the best comfort.

Pete

[wtrskinut1]

HeliBars was the best investment in my bike so far.

[Pooch]

HeliBars and Utopia driver backrest worked for me.

[Mike0123]

Thank you all. I'll look further at the Helibars ... but I don't think I'm $600 sore, but I do appreciate where you are coming from. I usually try to ascribe to the "pay once, cry once" school of thought, but our finances wont allow that right now.

Thank you all for your input and things to think about. I'm going to take a ride and try all the suggestions.

[trikermutha]

Did you get the backrest with your seat?

[Peteoz]

Thank you all. I'll look further at the Helibars ... but I don't think I'm $600 sore, but I do appreciate where you are coming from. I usually try to ascribe to the "pay once, cry once" school of thought, but our finances wont allow that right now.
Thank you all for your input and things to think about. I'm going to take a ride and try all the suggestions.

Fair enough, Mike…..and I have seen a couple of pairs of Helibars for sale as they didn’t work for their owners (not sure why), so they don’t work for everybody, just nearly everybody . I would hate you to spend that money and then find that you are one of those riders. Mind you, there is always a market for 2nd hand, so they can be sold easily. Good luck in finding a resolution

Pete

[fatboy]

if that seat raised you up might want to raise the floor boards also

[troop]

Fair enough, Mike…..and I have seen a couple of pairs of Helibars for sale as they didn’t work for their owners (not sure why), so they don’t work for everybody, just nearly everybody . I would hate you to spend that money and then find that you are one of those riders. Mind you, there is always a market for 2nd hand, so they can be sold easily. Good luck in finding a resolution

Pete

I wish I could have found a used set, but I was lucky enough to wait until the taller 2022 F3 version came out. After elongating the hole a touch, I can damn near make them mini apes

[scorpion56]

I have an ultimate seat on my F3. I love it but it didn't eliminate the neck/shoulder pain. That was solved by purchasing (directly from CanAm) and installing Short Reach handlebars. Pain is gone. If that hadn't worked, my next step would have been the more expensive Heli-Bars.

[ThreeWheels]

I'm coming late to this thread. I seem to be doing that a lot lately................
Regardless, I vote strongly for Helbars.
Quite a bit of cash up front, around $650.
Nevertheless, the best investment I made on my 2020 RTL.
I had my dealer install them even before I picked the bike up.
Infinite adjustment in all planes. You even have the possibility, if necessary, to adjust the left side and the right side independently.
I also got the BRP backrest.

As always, my free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

[Jbird]

I do like taller bars on my bikes, but with the position of the mirrors, i am concerned that the Helibars are going to put my hands right in the view of the mirrors.
I have my F3 bars lifted about a high as i can go and see my mirrors just over my wrist. If anything i would like to go higher.

Can you folks that have the Helibars tell me if you can see your current mirrors, or did you have to add new mirrors? Thanks

[troop]

I do like taller bars on my bikes, but with the position of the mirrors, i am concerned that the Helibars are going to put my hands right in the view of the mirrors.
I have my F3 bars lifted about a high as i can go and see my mirrors just over my wrist. If anything i would like to go higher.

Can you folks that have the Helibars tell me if you can see your current mirrors, or did you have to add new mirrors? Thanks

I have the newer/taller version of the Helibars on my F3S. Yup .. They do block the OEM mirrors. I have Lamonster Top Cuffs/aftermarket mirrors on the byke now.

[Yabbadabbadoo]

To the OP, try giving yourself a few weeks with the new setup before you buy anything. Sometimes it takes your body to get used to the changes but eventually you will. Just like when I got my bike and it took a few weeks for my arms to settle in.

[RayBJ]

I have the HeliBars on my '20 RT. No problem seeing mirrors. I'm 6 ft. on OEM seat.