How to Steer a Spyder and Avoid the Pain between the Shoulders (video)

[billc]

Hi, there!

So I posted my method of steering the Spyder to avoid the high-intensity pain that occurs between the shoulder blades and on up into the back of the neck that can result from pushing on the handlebars but I thought I'd post this video to give you a better description of the process.

Since I was holding my camera in my left hand, I was a bit clumsy and I couldn't really demonstrate how easy it is to control the Spyder when making turns/curves by PULLING instead of pushing but I think you'll get the idea.

Also, it helps to lean forward a bit into turns/curves as that further reduces or eliminates the stress on the muscles between the shoulder blades and in the neck. But the real key is PULLING.

Caution: The machine responds as if it had a hair-trigger power-steering system. If you're not aware and cautious, you could easily roll the rig, especially if you're riding at higher speeds. So take it easy at first until you're really confident and then go at it. <grin>

Here's the video:

bc

 

[ARtraveler]

Your video demonstates very well how easily the :spyder2: will turn. :thumbup:



I use a combination push/pull method--requiring very little input also.

 

[cyclelover63]

I get that pain and have went to a chiropractor,which did not help...I really never paid attention to how much I pull or push with either hand....I will experiment with your method..Thanks!

 

[Bob Denman]

I find that a liberal "meeting of the minds" with the good Captain Morgan solves all the aches and pains that I can muster! :thumbup:
But using both paws to steer spreads the load out evenly; no pain!

 

[billc]

Oh, well...

I get that pain and have went to a chiropractor,which did not help...I really never paid attention to how much I pull or push with either hand....I will experiment with your method..Thanks!

This is an update after a 300-mile riding day...

Unforunately, while the "pull" method of steering did eliminate the pain BETWEEN the shoulder blades, after nearly six hours of riding, the NEW high-intensity pains along the top of my right shoulder and up into my neck were worse than what I suffered before! Nuts!

So I reverted to the way I'd learned to ride convention motorcycle trikes (lock the elbow on the side you wish to turn and lean toward the front of the rig) and that reduced the pain but, by then, my muscles were in such knots that it took me a 600mg ibuprofin and a hot shower to finally loosen things up and it took another ibuprofin a couple of hours later to finally stop the pain all together.

I don't know. My wife rides her Spyder RS all day long (well, when she's worked up to it...right now, she manages an hour and she's pooped but, by the end of the riding season, she'll handle a day's ride easily enough) with no pain at all.

Maybe it's just the way my body is structured. Maybe it's all the curves that I like to ride so I'm almost constantly man-handling the machine from one curve to another. I just don't know but one thing that IS clear is that, while the "pull" method did eliminate one type of pain, it created another worse one after an hour or two of riding. For someone who typically rides all day long and often into the night, these pains with mystery causes sure take a lot of fun out of the riding.

But, if you're an occasional rider, the "pull" method should help.

 

[StanProff]

This is an update after a 300-mile riding day...

Unforunately, while the "pull" method of steering did eliminate the pain BETWEEN the shoulder blades, after nearly six hours of riding, the NEW high-intensity pains along the top of my right shoulder and up into my neck were worse than what I suffered before! Nuts!

So I reverted to the way I'd learned to ride convention motorcycle trikes (lock the elbow on the side you wish to turn and lean toward the front of the rig) and that reduced the pain but, by then, my muscles were in such knots that it took me a 600mg ibuprofin and a hot shower to finally loosen things up and it took another ibuprofin a couple of hours later to finally stop the pain all together.

I don't know. My wife rides her Spyder RS all day long (well, when she's worked up to it...right now, she manages an hour and she's pooped but, by the end of the riding season, she'll handle a day's ride easily enough) with no pain at all.

Maybe it's just the way my body is structured. Maybe it's all the curves that I like to ride so I'm almost constantly man-handling the machine from one curve to another. I just don't know but one thing that IS clear is that, while the "pull" method did eliminate one type of pain, it created another worse one after an hour or two of riding. For someone who typically rides all day long and often into the night, these pains with mystery causes sure take a lot of fun out of the riding.

But, if you're an occasional rider, the "pull" method should help.

How long have you had the spyder, It's a 2010 model from your signature on your post. Has this pain always been a problem or has something changed and started recently? The push pull method should even the pressure out, I have never noticed any problems (pain) from riding the Spyder. Hope you get it worked out so you can enjoy the spyder again. Maybe ease up on the aggressive riding for a while and just cruise along and gradually build up your tolarence.

 

[Illinois Boy]

This is an update after a 300-mile riding day...

Unforunately, while the "pull" method of steering did eliminate the pain BETWEEN the shoulder blades, after nearly six hours of riding, the NEW high-intensity pains along the top of my right shoulder and up into my neck were worse than what I suffered before! Nuts!

Sorry to hear about your "pains". I have similar problems, and more up and down my back.

Been riding with these "pains" for years, and know with extensive medical tests and treatments that they are not going away for me.

Just about the time one thing seems to work, then another pain starts. Then the "dog begins to chase its own tail"...

My physical therapist has provided the best advice; which is to exercise appropriately to counter the stresses causing the pain. It is an individual situation, so what works for one doesn't work for another.

Despite the pain, I still try to maintain a grin as best I can... because the alternative to riding is not good! :shocked:

 

[Desert Spyder]

You don't mention your age, weight, height, body style, past health issues, etc. I'm 61, 6'1", 27ahem pounds, 30" inseam, distended abdomen, no past health issues. Fortunately I Ryde the RT where the handle bars are a little closer for comfort. Thank God for cruise control btw, another factor. I do maximum body English in the twisties, and actually tend to lift up/push down on the bars. I change my style subconsciously as most of us probably do. I recall this thread on Spydertalk and applauded your contribution, its not a thread I see often, if at all. This time you included a video at slow speeds just to demo. Glad you didn't do it at highway speeds where handling is vastly different.

 

[cyclelover63]

My chiropractor niece tells me the pain between the shoulders is from your head always trying to level up,while sitting in a leaning forward position..It doesn't help much if you also wear a helmet and fighting its weight also..She says about 5-6 weeks of deep tissue therapy would help..:dontknow:

 

[cpdblegl]

and maybe a set of those new adjustable handlebars might give some different positions to change up always riding at one angle... just thinkin' out loud. I ordered a set with my new toy, but I am new to this sub-culture, so do not have any saddle time yet...

 

[MrBones]

Well I be a new rider also. Only had my RSS for 11 months and have put 9300 miles on it. But did just lately put on the Rivco risers and there is a world of difference in the handling! The faster speed turning is much easier and the slow parking lot speed is so much smoother it is unreal. Don't get me wrong I'm not advertising a brand as other risers will give the same effect I'm just saying the risers are a great improvement for me. And don't be afraid of the installation as I be 80 and did it myself.

 

[billc]

Much thanks for the continued ideas and well wishes

Let's see if I can summarize responses here. I'm senile enough that I have a hard time remembering my name! Oh, wait. I was so bad at remembering my name at age 17 that they had to put my name tag on my chest when I joined the army. I noticed, though, that all the other troops must have had just as much trouble 'cause they all had their names on tags on their chests, too.

Actually, I forgot my sig file. I first owned a 2010 RS which I eventually passed on to my tiny wife who it fit perfectly. She's ridden it for the past two years while I went from a Suzuki Burgman Executive (my favorite ride of all) to a Victory Cross Roads and then to the 2012 RT which I have been riding for the last six months or so.

I'm 65, six foot one, 185 lbs, very thin hipped and long-legged. I've been wearing a full-face helmet during the bitter winter cold so I could ride year-round and enjoy the lack of traffic and complete absence of bugs during the winter months (rode when the roads were dry but snow piled up on both sides at times). Too cheap to invest hundreds of bucks in a helmet so it isn't one of those that weigh a few ounces so the helmet weight could certainly be part of the problem but I've worn helmets like the one I have now for years without problems.

Could be the posture when riding, as suggested, but I've ridden other machines that have aggressive forward-leaning positioning and never had a pain before like the ones I've had with this rig. Even riding the RS never resulted in pains on this scale.

Could be I'm just getting old and wimpy but I don't feel that old and I don't seem to have pain doing anything else.

I've looked at the adjustable handlebars but they didn't look to me like they'd adjust the right way to suit me and my riding style.

Finally, I'm too lazy to invest hours and hours (or days or months) in physical therapy just to ride a motorcycle. I've been at this for about 50 years now and it's just too easy to get a different machine when problems like this arise. In fact...

I finally figured out a complete solution to all of the pains whether in the neck, across the top of the shoulders, or between the blades (and the pain in both legs and knees from the inability to stretch my long legs out to the front and move them around enough): I bought a new Burgman Exec and gave my RS-riding wife my 2012 RT and we're going to sell her 2010 RS.

I know that may make me a traitor to the Spyder crew (please don't take it as a slap in the face after all your support, ideas, and good wishes) but there has never been a machine that I've owned/ridden before that was as fun, agile, comfortable, and perfect for me as the 2010 Burg that I owned previously. I only sold it because I was into endurance riding then and the small four-gallon tank was too limiting. I don't enjoy that extreme riding anymore (although 300-500-mile days are still normal for me) so the Burg will meet my needs now. I have to admit, all the way back home last Saturday, I was thinking, "Oh, if I was just on my Burg again." Today I found out that Suzuki is offering 0% financing so I signed on the dotted line.

I reckon some rigs are good for some folks and other rigs are good for other folks. As I said, my wife loves the Spyders and wouldn't ride anything else. I think they're great machines but they're best for other riders.

So best of luck to all of you and thank you again for your kind and generous suggestions about the inconsistent cruise control, the steering, the pains, and anything else I might have posted about while participating with all of you. You're great! Best of luck to you all.

bc

 

[spydercoach]

push---pull

You wont believe this but, I read this thread a few days ago and thought i'd give it a try. The only problem is I remembered it backwards and I used the push method. For me it's working out better as when I push say with my left hand/arm I have a tendency to squeeze my right knee into the tank and it makes the corner easier for me. I am riding a 2012 RT SE and am only 5'6 and 150 lbs. All I can say is experiment experiment, experiment. What works best for one may not be the best for all..Enjoy your ride

 

[vtspyder]

I finally realized why I'm pooped out after a long ride! I think you're onto it as there is a big difference riding curvy winding roads and highway riding/cruising. 200 miles in the mountains requires a lot more effort on a Spyder than cruising the straights and flats. I could never understand how people could ride the miles they do in a day. My butt aches and I'm just beat from riding up here for a whole day. Our road system is in total disrepair as well. Cracks, bumps, potholes, broken down to say the least. still beats being home doing yard work!:thumbup:

 

[CycleChamp]

Spyder Vs Burgman650 Exec

there has never been a machine that I've owned/ridden before that was as fun, agile, comfortable, and perfect for me as the 2010 Burg that I owned previously. I only sold it because I was into endurance riding then and the small four-gallon tank was too limiting. I don't enjoy that extreme riding anymore (although 300-500-mile days are still normal for me) so the Burg will meet my needs now. I have to admit, all the way back home last Saturday, I was thinking, "Oh, if I was just on my Burg again." Today I found out that Suzuki is offering 0% financing so I signed on the dotted line.

I was on my second Burgman650 (upgraded to the Exec Model for the ABS, etc,) when my wife stopped riding with me. We had a couple of "Drops" while not moving and that freaked her out, I guess. I tried to explain to her that those were caused by her "squirming" around while we were not moving. So, when she saw her first Spyder she exclaimed "Why don't you get one of those?" My answer was, "I will if you agree to start riding with me again." She "promised" she would, so I sold the Burgman and bought a new 2011 Spyder. It now has only 1859 miles on it and she has been on it for only maybe 100 miles or less of those miles. I could have bought two Burgman650 Exec's for what I paid for the Spyder, and NO, I'm not having twice the fun!
Quite frankly, I am ready to Sell the Spyder RT and buy myself another Burgman650 Exec! Suits me perfect.