Sore elbows

[ShiftHead]

So I've not ridden the C14 much because my elbows start hurting after as little as 45 mins on the bike.  I seems like risers would help, but I'm not too sure.  I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar issues and if risers were the solution or was it something else. 

I have a 99 Harley softail and a 98 KLR650, both with more upright seating positions and neither give me this problem.  So I'm fairly certain it's just seating position...

Thanks

[Rhino]

Welcome to the forum!

Yup, I knew immediately ever before I rode mine that I wanted a more up right seating position. There are lots of options out there. The easiest are 2" risers such as these:

http://www.murphskits.com/product_info.php?cPath=130_133&products_id=282

I started with that but it wasn't enough so I designed and built additional 1" up and 1.25" back risers that are now sold by Advanced Sport Touring. But I still wanted more so I bit the bullet and shelled out the big bucks for Horizon ST bars from helibars.com

https://www.helibars.com

Now my bike is the most comfortable long distance machine I have ever ridden.

[RBX QB]

This may also be fun to play with... http://cycle-ergo.com/... helped me visualize a few customizing options with my bike.

[MAN OF BLUES]

the ergo thing is more than just adding risers, or pull backs, and I for one have proven this to myself on the C10, and other bikes...
that elbow and between the shoulder blade pain, is caused by hand and arm position being tooo squeezed into the torso, and it forces pain on those joints...
a wider and flatterand even moreso turned " outward" hand position allows your elbows to flex outwards, not forced into your ribcage like the oem bars on both the C10, and C14 do... I don't have a problem with the 14 really, but I installed big bar ends, which let me spread my grip, and my elbows can flex outwards..
when yo get your hands flatter, and your wrists aren't bent at an awkward angle, its surprising just how much less pain, and associated arm and back fatigue, just dissapears...


kinda like having your arms facing like this...  (---) instead of this. )--(  narrow bars kinda suck, wide flat bars are a great relief...

[RBX QB]

the ergo thing is more than just adding risers, or pull backs, and I for one have proven this to myself on the C10, and other bikes...
that elbow and between the shoulder blade pain, is caused by hand and arm position being tooo squeezed into the torso, and it forces pain on those joints...
a wider and flatterand even moreso turned " outward" hand position allows your elbows to flex outwards, not forced into your ribcage like the oem bars on both the C10, and C14 do... I don't have a problem with the 14 really, but I installed big bar ends, which let me spread my grip, and my elbows can flex outwards..
when yo get your hands flatter, and your wrists aren't bent at an awkward angle, its surprising just how much less pain, and associated arm and back fatigue, just dissapears...


kinda like having your arms facing like this...  (---) instead of this. )--(  narrow bars kinda suck, wide flat bars are a great relief...

All that...

The big comfort for me came when we had the group buy on these... https://www.preeng.com/xcart/2008-Current-Kawasaki-Adjustable-Handlebars.html... allowed me to get rid of the weird wrist/arm angles and find a position that worked well (for me, anyway). I still have 2" riser blocks under these, and end up quite upright, helped my arms, wrists and back.

Lots of stuff on the forum about their products...http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=search2

[jwh20]

One issue I've noticed is that many C14 riders tend to sit too far back and this puts extra weight on the elbows, wrists, and hands.  The seating position should be more like a sport bike, slide as far forward as you can, get your "junk" right up against the tank.

Everyone fits differently and before you spend $600+ on fancy adjustable bars, you might just try riser blocks.  For a lot of riders that's all that is needed.  Also there is the Heli-bar Horizon system that is almost infinitely adjustable.

[maxtog]

There are many factors to consider, but one of the most important things is that it will take time for your body to adjust to a new [or any] riding position.  You will be using muscles and tendons in ways they are not used to being used and with practice, it will get better.

Risers help, but so does making sure your are paying attention to what your body is telling you.  As you are getting used to the position, take frequent breaks, use that time to stretch and flex all your joints and fingers and arms.  When riding, make a conscious effort to monitor how much weight you are placing on your hands and arms- you should not be holding up your body by your arms, but by your legs and torso muscles.

Again, it takes time, so don't give up.  It might sound like mumbo jumbo, but it really isn't!

[gPink]

One issue I've noticed is that many C14 riders tend to sit too far back and this puts extra weight on the elbows, wrists, and hands.  The seating position should be more like a sport bike, slide as far forward as you can, get your "junk" right up against the tank.

Everyone fits differently and before you spend $600+ on fancy adjustable bars, you might just try riser blocks.  For a lot of riders that's all that is needed.  Also there is the Heli-bar Horizon system that is almost infinitely adjustable.

Therein lies the problem. My 'junk' did not like getting smashed against the tank so I changed the seating and handlebar position. So now the seating position is still a bit forward lean except without the terrible wrist angle and 'junk' smashing.

[jimmymac]

There are many factors to consider, but one of the most important things is that it will take time for your body to adjust to a new [or any] riding position.  You will be using muscles and tendons in ways they are not used to being used and with practice, it will get better.

Risers help, but so does making sure your are paying attention to what your body is telling you.  As you are getting used to the position, take frequent breaks, use that time to stretch and flex all your joints and fingers and arms.  When riding, make a conscious effort to monitor how much weight you are placing on your hands and arms- you should not be holding up your body by your arms, but by your legs and torso muscles.


Again, it takes time, so don't give up.  It might sound like mumbo jumbo, but it really isn't!

This! ^^^^

[ShiftHead]

This may also be fun to play with... http://cycle-ergo.com/... helped me visualize a few customizing options with my bike.

Thanks everyone!  I found this site to be quite useful.  Looking at the OEM position, I see the original lean angle is 9 degrees, and a 2" rise on the bars nearly halves that.  I suspect this would help tremendously.  I was able to see that the KLR and Harley are both at 0 degrees from the factory, so that explains quite a bit. 

I also agree with Man Of Blues, the bars are much more narrow than the other two bikes. 

I think at the end of the day I will get the risers and go from there, as I am simply too cheap to drop 7 bills on a handlebar setup.  Wow, that's some serious cabbage!

[Rhino]

the ergo thing is more than just adding risers, or pull backs, and I for one have proven this to myself on the C10, and other bikes...
that elbow and between the shoulder blade pain, is caused by hand and arm position being tooo squeezed into the torso, and it forces pain on those joints...
a wider and flatterand even moreso turned " outward" hand position allows your elbows to flex outwards, not forced into your ribcage like the oem bars on both the C10, and C14 do... I don't have a problem with the 14 really, but I installed big bar ends, which let me spread my grip, and my elbows can flex outwards..
when yo get your hands flatter, and your wrists aren't bent at an awkward angle, its surprising just how much less pain, and associated arm and back fatigue, just dissapears...


kinda like having your arms facing like this...  (---) instead of this. )--(  narrow bars kinda suck, wide flat bars are a great relief...

+1 Another reason I love the Horizon ST bars, all of the above is completely adjustable.

[ShiftHead]

the ergo thing is more than just adding risers, or pull backs, and I for one have proven this to myself on the C10, and other bikes...
that elbow and between the shoulder blade pain, is caused by hand and arm position being tooo squeezed into the torso, and it forces pain on those joints...
a wider and flatterand even moreso turned " outward" hand position allows your elbows to flex outwards, not forced into your ribcage like the oem bars on both the C10, and C14 do... I don't have a problem with the 14 really, but I installed big bar ends, which let me spread my grip, and my elbows can flex outwards..
when yo get your hands flatter, and your wrists aren't bent at an awkward angle, its surprising just how much less pain, and associated arm and back fatigue, just dissapears...


kinda like having your arms facing like this...  (---) instead of this. )--(  narrow bars kinda suck, wide flat bars are a great relief...

When you say Big Bar Ends, are you talking about large bar end weights or are these bar extensions? 

[MAN OF BLUES]

When you say Big Bar Ends, are you talking about large bar end weights or are these bar extensions?

HVMP heavy bar ends, they are quite large.... this is the best I can do with a picture of one installed....

[elp_jc]

If you get pain between the shoulder blades, you're stretching your arms too much. It's less uncomfortable over the long run to have the proper posture than trying to be more upright than the ergos are designed for. And unless you have a big a$$ windscreen, that position is quite comfortable since it naturally detracts from crouching, which is very common on upright riding positions. Regardless what riding position there is, you need proper posture first. If that doesn't solve your issue, then start changing crap .

[VirginiaJim]

Stretching which way?  I definitely have the pain in the shoulders but only after a long day..

[Cuda]

Never had sore elbows from the bike , but I was having issues with my hands , learning to relax helped , but so did the LSL bars I bought used 4 years ago,
 also installed aftermarket bar ends. http://www.vibranator.com/street_bikes_s/23.htm
Good luck