Question to former Harley Riders/back issues. Need advise on how it spyder vs Harley

[DonCSCS]

Hey group,

As many of you know I purchased a Trike from Harley. Now, I recently noticed that my back has been acting up a bit more. I don't know if it's from the Harley ( vibration, etc..) or just acting up. So I wanted to know if there were any former Harley riders ( or other bikers) that felt that the spyder was smoother and less trouble on their backs.

All information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DrewNJ]

Where are your feet? Sounds like your weight may be focused on your back/seat?? I've found in the past that if my controls are to far out in front of me (or behind me) I end up with a sore back.
You'll likely want pull your feet back under you a bit to get your weight back inline with your body/legs.
Rider backrests can help if your looking to keep your legs out, but best to support your core with your legs.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: The bike just doesn't quite fit you properly... nojoke
Go back to your dealer, and check out their seating, handlebar, and floorboard options.
As I recall; they even have the capability to set you up with a custom fit! :thumbup:

 

[kngfsh27]

I rode a Softail Custom that was built on a non-Harley frame. It had more rake and sat lower than the factory bike. I also had a Mustang wide regal solo seat on it with floorboards and wide beach bars. It was very comfortable and 300-400 mile days were the norm. My RTL is more comfortable. It smooths out the road a lot better than the Harley. I do have days that my lower back will bother me, but not like when I was on two wheels. I, myself contribute it to getting older and not being in the shape I used to be in.

 

[MikeT]

As an X H-D touring bike rider(RK, UC, SERG), and an X-HOG Chapter director, I agree 100% with what has been said about your seating position on your Tri-Glide as it relates to your overall comfort on your trike.. What you do not tell is:
A. What year is your Tri-Glide. (Is it a Rushmore model)?),and
B. Are you "in love" with it, and/or the Harley mystic(I get that)
I asked abot the year of your Tri-Glide because I know that H-D made a number of "creature comfort" upgrades to the touring platform with the Rushmore generation. If your answer to point B is:
1. 100% YES, then you'll spend a lot less money by getting your seating position correct(new seat, handle bars, controls' position, foot pegs)
2. NOT SURE, then you have to decide how much do you want to invest in your Tri-Glide, while researching the Soyder more in depth.(test riding and visiting dealers)
3. NO, then spend no more money on your Tri-Glide; but do spend time detailing it for an outright sale, unless there's an H-D/Spyder dealer in your area. My exoerience is, Spyder dealers don't want to mess with off brand trike trades. Coming from a Tri-Glide, you'll probably want to look @the RT line. Before you make the LEAP do:
a. research the Spyder. it's a comletely different experience compared to your Tri-Glide. Your off to a great start here,
b. demo ride, demo ride, demo ride. 2 wheels in front is a lot different than 1 wheel in front.
c. visit dealers to find your best fit both sales AND service.
Hope this helps

 

[trikermutha]

Are you reaching for the handle bars while sitting and reach when turning the Harley?

Plus straight axle / suspension is no help on those bikes..


Test ride a spyder I did and bought one..:thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Don't blame the bike.....

Generally you will find the problem is all in seat, bars and pegs and where they all are. I have back problems and find that the cruiser seating, with legs out front and little or no way to take the weight off my back, is painful. When you are in that position it's like a pile driver up your spine and in short order you will feel it. As mentioned above, you need to find some adjustments to help. Backs do tend to hurt folks different ways so it is hard to say which would be best for you. Start with chairs, dinning room, bar stool ( hush now we're talking comfort) etc. :thumbup:

 

[wiredgeorge]

I have owned a Harley FLHTCUI, A Kaw Voyager XII, a GL1500 and GL1800, A Kaw Nomad and a Yamaha Venture (and now a Spyder RT). The Venture was the only one that made my back hurt. It was because of the reach to the handlebars which had no adjustment and since it was a 2000 model, no one had come out with risers at the time I bough it. I put on a Utopia driver backrest and for whatever reason, that cured the issue. I think it is fortunate that the good Lord gives folks with limited intelligence strong backs for the most part. I think lower back problems on most any bike/trike are due to curvature of the spine caused by unnatural reach to the bars. I will say that you will sit up straighter on a Spyder compared to a HD because you will know you look a lot better in the saddle. bwhahaha

 

[ARtraveler]

Prior to purchasing my 2010 RT I went to the HD dealer and test sat the triglide. For me the ergos were very uncomfortable. My back began to hurt even without a test ride. I bought the RT instead.

Ergos are very personal and can make or break a ride. Back in the day, I also tried a BMW. They are not built for short or stout people. I did a test drive on one of those two cylinder 650's (1978).

During the test ride I could picture this Gestapo guy telling me "Vee Have Vays of Making You Ride." :roflblack::roflblack: It also turned out to not be my cup of tea. I bought a Kawasaki KZ 650 Four instead.

 

[DonCSCS]

Good points

As an X H-D touring bike rider(RK, UC, SERG), and an X-HOG Chapter director, I agree 100% with what has been said about your seating position on your Tri-Glide as it relates to your overall comfort on your trike.. What you do not tell is:
A. What year is your Tri-Glide. (Is it a Rushmore model)?),and
B. Are you "in love" with it, and/or the Harley mystic(I get that)
I asked abot the year of your Tri-Glide because I know that H-D made a number of "creature comfort" upgrades to the touring platform with the Rushmore generation. If your answer to point B is:
1. 100% YES, then you'll spend a lot less money by getting your seating position correct(new seat, handle bars, controls' position, foot pegs)
2. NOT SURE, then you have to decide how much do you want to invest in your Tri-Glide, while researching the Soyder more in depth.(test riding and visiting dealers)
3. NO, then spend no more money on your Tri-Glide; but do spend time detailing it for an outright sale, unless there's an H-D/Spyder dealer in your area. My exoerience is, Spyder dealers don't want to mess with off brand trike trades. Coming from a Tri-Glide, you'll probably want to look @the RT line. Before you make the LEAP do:
a. research the Spyder. it's a comletely different experience compared to your Tri-Glide. Your off to a great start here,
b. demo ride, demo ride, demo ride. 2 wheels in front is a lot different than 1 wheel in front.
c. visit dealers to find your best fit both sales AND service.
Hope this helps

All good points. I almost pulled the trigger on the spyder. I decided on the Triglide (2015). I'm just trying to see if the problems are from riding or from something else. I will check on the arm reach of the TriGlide tonight. thanks for the information!

PS. Still like those spyders. That's what is making this difficult. I think I would drive the spyder more.... we will see with time. :banghead:

 

[Bob Denman]

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Gotta get your feet under you and not out in front of you. The Spyder is my 5th bike, and I would say the most comfortable one. With your feet out in front of you, you're putting all your weight on your tailbone and lower back, and tend to have poor posture while you ride. A "rider forward" posture will help a lot, with a slight forward lean.

 

[PaladinLV]

My UltraGlide had a Mustang seat and backrest, which were perfect for my lower back problems (and when I say lower talking first 4-5 inches above the tail bone), others worked but never matched.

It actually took me about 6 months before I finally found a sweet spot on the Spyder and a Crobin seat and backrest for my lower back. It works well, but not as good as the Mustang (no seats for Spyder).

As for the TriGlide, spent several days on one. Didn't like it but had nothing to do with my back.

Like others said before giving up on it, try some of those inexpensive "upgrades" sometimes that all that's required.

To end, YES the Spyder is smoother BUT not necessarily less trouble on one's back

AJ

Hey group,

As many of you know I purchased a Trike from Harley. Now, I recently noticed that my back has been acting up a bit more. I don't know if it's from the Harley ( vibration, etc..) or just acting up. So I wanted to know if there were any former Harley riders ( or other bikers) that felt that the spyder was smoother and less trouble on their backs.

All information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DC1]

The differences I see as a man with back issues...

Here's my take....I came to a Spyder RT so I could travel distance with my wife 2 up....she has bad bursitis and I have severe degenerative disc between L4-L5 and L5-S1...

Since February and having put nearly 9000 miles on the RT SM6 Here is what I have noted..

My lower back is giving me less pain than it has in about 5 years and Some days is completely pain free....for my lower back it has been a blessing..

My shoulders have developed bursitis in the joints though...not sure Spyder related because it hurts no different on a 500 mile day as a zero mile day, just a new development...

Overall I would say the Spyder is a little harder on my upper body but a lot easier on the lower body...and not worrying about dropping a loaded bike 2 up when pulling into a gas station with dead legs from pinching lower back nerves....absolutely priceless!!!

 

[DonCSCS]

Thanks everyone

Just wanted to thank you all. I will look at different things and see where I go. I like riding but I don't want to be beat up. Not worth it then.

I really likw like the spyder group they are good source for information :yes::clap:

 

[Vt. Rider]

One thing that helps me with my back is a good back brace. Mine is made of stretch fabric (with elastic) and 3 layers of adjustable Velcro. You can get a good one at your CVS or Walgreen's, or Rite Aid or whatever. For me, it makes a world of difference while riding.

 

[spacetiger]

Hey group,

As many of you know I purchased a Trike from Harley. Now, I recently noticed that my back has been acting up a bit more. I don't know if it's from the Harley ( vibration, etc..) or just acting up. So I wanted to know if there were any former Harley riders ( or other bikers) that felt that the spyder was smoother and less trouble on their backs.

All information would be greatly appreciated.

Don,

Just curious, which trike did you buy (any modifications)?

What part of your back was bothering you (upper, middle, lower, some combination)?

Jerry

 

[Woodsrider]

tons of replies....mine is the same...I had an ultra classic, loved it. lower back couldn't handle the seating position and at 55k miles sold it, went to kawi concours which put my legs under me and leaned slightly forward.

The spyder was a bit of a problem for my back (still is), and my partial fix was to put a custom seat and backrest on, and adjust the backrest so it pushes me forward into a sport-touring position. Still not as comfortable for the back as a pure sports-bike is, I mostly ride a little CBR now with 1.5inch lowered clip-ons and lowered-moved back rearsets.

With 3800 miles on the RT-S, I'm considering trading for a different style Spyder, have to get down to the stealer and test sit the ST and see if it's and more chest-forward than the RT.

 

[DonCSCS]

Don,

Just curious, which trike did you buy (any modifications)?

What part of your back was bothering you (upper, middle, lower, some combination)?

Jerry

2015 TriGlide ultra. Nice bike. Just don't want to get beat up. Only put adjustable backrest.

Want to buy

 

[Woodsrider]

2015 TriGlide ultra. Nice bike. Just don't want to get beat up. Only put adjustable backrest.

Want to buy

If'n the Triglide wasn't worth so much more than the Spyder RT-S I'd offer to let you test ride and swap but there is ~10k book value difference between a 2014 RT-S and a 2015 TriGlide. Mine does have the corbin leather dual heated seat and extended warranty but the seats are under 1k new and extended warranty was given away in fall 2014 when I bought mine . (I'm frickin honest).

Maybe going to test out a slingshot this weekend, or might sell spidey and stick to sportbikes.