Do I need to move up to a real touring bike?

[zukirob]

I love my C50T. It's very comfortable when cruising back and forth to work or around the bay area on short hops. But when I go visit my son, about 4 hours round trip, my back is stiff and I'm shot when I get back. I'm really surprised because it's such a smooth ride normally. Do any C50T owners have big touring bike experience? Is there really that much difference in the ride or am I just getting old?

[Funkmon]

Well, I've ridden my uncle's Volusia 800, and it rides about the same as my bike, a little stiffer, though. I've also ridden my dad's friend's Goldwing, as I was thinking about buying it. Now, it's a 96, so it doesn't ride as well as the new ones. It was awesome.

That bad lad was buttery smooth, and you felt like you were IN the bike. It's so weird. I suggest trying a Goldwing or Electra Glide. YOU decide. I felt the difference in my short 50 mile jaunt.

In conclusion, I think you should try it, though I'm not sure if it will help you with the back problem. That might be you getting old. I don't know what a back problem is like at my age, except I have scoliosis. (Goddamned doctors. You'd think they'd NOTICE DURING MY SEMIANNUAL CHECKUPS! Now I'm frelling doomed once I hit 40.)

Another thing you can think about is adjusting your tire pressure and shocks. I typically overinflate my tires. You could try to deflate them slightly and see if that helps the ride, or you could adjust the shocks to think that you and your gear weigh less than you do (I just lost a hundred pounds and haven't adjusted those yet, so I'm riding stiff as hell, but it cuts through corners, baby), to get some more travel, but make sure you don't bottom those out!

[hotcargo]

Hey Zukirob , get your self a back rest , .......I couldnt ride without mine.......Steve in Oz

[Clint]

This is precisely why most tourers prefer a ride that puts your legs more below you. Look at any of Honda's, BMW's, or Ducati's touring bikes and you'll see what I mean.

[TFee3]

I have to second the motion on getting a backrest. I'm age 67, and I just bought a new C90T. I can ride 150 miles from our house to Kansas City, and it doesn't bother me much. But, on the ride back, I begin to hurt. I had a 550 Suzuki many years ago, and it had a backrest. I rigged a gas can on the back that I plumbed right into the carbs, and I didn't have to stop between Kansas City and Minneapolis, which is a little over 400 miles. I was in the saddle 8 1/2 hours, and without the backrest, I couldn't have done it. Someone mentioned Grasshopper Ltd, and I looked at them. They're nice, and they're specifically designed for our bikes. Here's the link: Grasshopper Limited - Custom Backrests

[blackie1491]

I have back problems and the Mustang Seat works for me.
I suggest you see if you can find someone with either a mustang and or a riders backrest and try the seating position.
Check the used bikes at different dealers you may find some to try.

[TFee3]

blackie has a good idea, because you can get a Mustang seat with a backrest. But, they're pretty pricey for what you get in my opinion. I have a different seat from Suzuki for my C90T, and rather than pay (I think) over $600 for a seat with a backrest from Mustang, I'll go with the add-on backrest. My wife is already ready to cut my, er, she's angry that I bought the bike in the first place!

[zukirob]

The backrest idea sounds interesting. I'll give that a try first. RowdyRed94 does have a good point about the riding position also. Guess I'll just have to do a little more field research on those bikes

[SoCalCruisin]

I moved up to the Yamaha Royal Star Venture from the C50T for the same reasons you originally mentioned. I was never really bothered by the stock seat on the C50T, but the rear seat was horrible for long days.

The big touring bike just gives so much overall room, and it does make a difference. It's also so much smoother riding. And things like electronic cruise control, stereo, intercom and CB just makes for a more enjoyable and comfortable ride.

I rode some long days on the C50T, and now I have done some of the same routes on the RSV. I really liked (like) the C50T, but there really is no comparison for long distance touring. That's even more so if you're going two up.

[Ol Doofus]

zukirob, you probably are getting old but on the other hand when that stops so will your posts I'm 65 and I have a backrest on my 90t. I would hate to ride without one. I looked at the Wings and really liked the ride, acceleration and extras, its like riding a crotch rocket with a fairing. The only problem I had was my long legs, I'm 6'6'' and my legs were too close to the fairing to suit me, course the salesman suggested highway pegs but to me that was not a good option. I am so much more comfortable on a cruiser. Cruisercustomzing has some backrests for a little over $200, good luck.

[Jerryzuki]

When I first went to the HD touring bike I didn't think it was as comfortable as the C50T with the Mustang but the more miles I put on it the more I like it. I put 20k enjoyable miles on the suki but wanted more power for riding 2 up which I do a lot. Oh, and the ride is a little better.

There was a time when I had a Lonnies backrest on the zuki but had to loose it when I got the Mustang. I didn't miss it much after I got the Mustang. That's one comfortable seat there.

[Bowtie18]

I would also try the backrest. I had one for my Volusia,a dn Ihave one for my Road Star. Like you, my back is good for the work cummute, but rides over 100 miles, and I prefer having the backrest on!

It doesn't make it perfect, but it is a ton better!

There is a person on the VolusiaRiders.com :: Home that sells them for about 90-100 bukcs, and they very well made.

Best of luck with the issue. Riding is supposed to be fun, and I know it's no fun to ride in pain!

[dcstrng]

Rob, you’ve already gotten good advice, but let me add this thought… at least for me three things, beyond the usual stuff on larger cruisers, make long-pavement riding comfortable (1) Most critical is a saddle that fits yer butt; you didn’t complain about saddle-soreness, so I assume that isn’t an immediate concern; (2) Handlebar, saddle and foot placement adjusted for you – do what you must to get it right, but muscles don’t like to be in a strain for hours at a time, and; (3) Multiple foot positions – you don’t sit with yer feet locked in one position in a cage, I can’t in a bike either…

That said, some sort of back support can be nice for those long miles… I’m sloppy overweight, within spittin’ distance of social security and have had back trouble most of my life, but can’t stand the confining feel of a backrest for everyday riding (I commute 700-800 miles a week, by bike), especially in metro-traffic… But, when I’m riding longer distances, I inevitable have a pack behind me on the passenger seat… I first started doing it that way (sometimes my saddle bags are nearly empty, but I still use a pack) to have something to lean of for sleeping – iron butt hotel style… but over time I adjusted it so it provided support on the road.

Adding some sort of pack behind you (I used a large gym bag at first, but a few years back dug out my ol’ alice-pac and have been even happier…) on yer next longish ride might be a good way to experiment and see if it doesn’t help – give some back relief… If so, then you could take the plunge for a regular backrest if you wanted…

Lastly, if you don’t have highway-pegs or something like that, that offers multiple foot positions; I’d seriously consider `em… (and I’m talking about comfortable positions, not that easy-rider poseur stuff with locked knees and feet up around one’s ears…). It took me some years to get my ergonomics exactly right for me, and now as I move from bike to bike, I have the general measurements for foot/handlebar placement and adjust accordingly before I even attempt much more than around the block…

From the “for what it’s worth” department…

[zukirob]

Excellent advice from all. Thanks.

[hammersfan]

Anyone used one of those luggage bags with a built in backrest that you strap to the passenger seat. I know Kuryakin makes them but others do as well. No good if you have a passenger but I need some extra luggage space so I was thinking of getting the Kuryakin Gran tour bag.

[dcstrng]

Anyone used one of those luggage bags with a built in backrest…

I know it’s exceedingly unpopular, and probably unethical as well, but I used a large gym bag for that purpose for an embarrassing number of years – in one variation or another, since the early 70s… On the most recent one, I had an old cardboard helmet box inside a large gym bag, that I loaded with whatever I was carrying and it functioned very nicely as a backrest – albeit a trailer-trash variant… bungied the rascal crossways on the passenger portion so the zipper end-pockets were easy to get at… loaded one of the end pockets with munchies so I could retrieve `em while I was riding and just leaned back like I was in a strato-lounger… of course in enlightened cycling circles you’d not want to let yer contemporaries know you were spending $29 (at Wally World, no less…) for something where one could easily spend $200, but hey…

See previous – still have the bag (can’t kill it – now use it to lug sailing gear), but in recent years have replaced it with my old GI alice-pack; I find that the frequency of intrusive glances and probing fingers to be inversely proportional to the quantity of olive-drab on the bike... a little road-grime helps the overall ambiance as well – although I’m not sure it will actually enhance the charm of Kury cordura…

But I wholeheartedly agree with the general idea… saw a real Kury on a new VTX1800 once at a rest-stop – looked pretty spiffy, and surprisingly functional…

[hammersfan]

Thanks for the input DC. I like your style !

[zukirob]

Originally Posted by dcstrng

I know it’s exceedingly unpopular, and probably unethical as well, but I used a large gym bag for that purpose for an embarrassing number of years …

I withdraw my previous comment about excellent advice............

[GregR1]

ok, so i don't have a cruiser, never had, etc. i ride a sport bike. a few years old, though, so it's not as tiny and cramped as the current ones (and yes, i'm 6'3" so just about all current bikes are cramped for me, even the small and mid-size cruisers like the beloved M50 / C50 / Vulcan 900 / etc)

i recently did a 440 mile ride through the Adirondacks on the bike, which lasted for around 10 hours, and aside from the occasional stop for fuel or food or the washroom, i wasn't sore or tired or uncomfortable. the nice thing about riding a bike with a less cruiser'ish position is that i can stretch my legs and straighten my back whenever i need to - just lean forwand on the tank bag a bit, take my feet off the pegs, and stretch. if you're nervous, do it one leg at a time. helps quite a bit. also, if your upper back gets sore, you can release one hand and stretch / twist / straighten your back. then swap hands and do the other way. all of this can easily be done mid-ride, though obviously best when you're going straight at a safe speed with minimal traffic around.

up here we do 150-plus mile rides on a regular basis with a bunch of guys and girls of all ages, and none of the people who ride sport bikes or standards complain about excess soreness. there are some that aren't used to the wind at 65mph, but they don't have windscreens - and that's gonna suck no matter what bike you're on (though, easier on a sport since your torso is angled and the wind "lifts" you up a tiny bit, instead of shoving you back and trying to force you to release your grip on the handlebars)

granted, a sport-bike may not be your thing if you're older than i am (33), or if you simply don't like that "image", but there's sport-touring bikes (FJR, ST, Concours) and regular touring bikes (Goldwing, Glides) that have a very similar position to my ZX-9R - at least closer to my posture than your posture on the C50 / etc. and if i can do 10-plus hours on mine without falling over in pain, you could very easily do half as much on an FJR or similar.

[dcstrng]

the nice thing about riding a bike with a less cruiser'ish position is that i can stretch my legs and straighten my back whenever i need to - just lean forwand on the tank bag a bit, take my feet off the pegs, and stretch. if you're nervous, do it one leg at a time. helps quite a bit.

Used to think a ZX-11 would be a nice change of pace for GT-style touring, but now that I’m getting within spittin’ distance of social security, I’ve pretty much crossed that off – although a guy at work, and comfortably over forty, got a ZX-14 a few months back, so who knows… However, more than once in recent years, I’ve thought about adding a Connie (with appropriately set up ergonomics) to the stable for long-range running – the thought of seven gallons of fuel versus four or five is enormously appealing…

But the key to long range comfort, for me, is, as you project – being able to have multiple riding positions… I’ve long set my scoots up so I can move my feet around, quite a lot… as well as getting the rest of the bike like I want (comfy saddle is imperative, properly positions bars – windshields if I had `em, etc., etc…). As long as I can move reasonably freely while running, these ol’ bones will tolerate 1K plus days rather nicely…. But inevitably if I find myself getting stiff on a trip, it’s because I’ve sat in the same position for too long… being able to stretch is good, having the ability to sit in multiple positions is better – although somewhat harder to achieve on some of the more elfin bikes I’d guess…