Barbacks - mehh..

[deilenberger]

Installed the MotoTechniques this afternoon and went for a ride. My initial impressions:

1 - Might be better for my CTS hands - but not for my back. I ended up in a more upright position that puts my spine straighter. I have degenerative disk disease - ie - worn out disks - and being more upright seems to put more impact into the disks. Normally if my back is bothering me - I go out for a ride, the lean forward position on the stock bars actually stretches my back and is therapeutic (wonder if I can deduct the bike as durable medical supplies?) I felt the more upright position (sit up and beg) may not work for me. I tried scooting back on the seat a bit - and that may work, so I left them on and will decide after a few hundred miles if I leave them on or not.

2 - Handling feels different. I doubt if it really is - but perhaps moving weight back changes how the bike does corners, or perhaps having the bar pivot behind the steering pivot point changes how it feels. Whatever, it felt different - not necessarily bad, just different.

3 - Cables/brake-line/wiring are maxed out. Even with rotating the bars a bit forward in the bar-backs - at full left-lock the brake line is tight. The clutch line doesn't appear to be a problem and to some extent is perhaps improved. Mine was wearing a groove in the bottom of the instrument cluster before. Now it was better centered in the opening it comes up though.

4 - Bars hit my tankbag at full lock. Not a biggie since it didn't sound the horn like my old K bikes used to do (even with stock bars and a BMW tankbag).. and since I only use full-lock at walking speeds, it's not a huge concern.

MotoTechniques did fill the order and ship quickly. It's worth reading the instructions since what looks like 4 identical length Allen's isn't (two are 5mm longer than the other two - dunno why, they just are..)

Will be taking a 100-150 mile ride tomorrow AM, so more on it then. Right now - mehh..

[bobw]

Hope you can make them work for you. There is another post about a bar change, but that is a lot of work if the bend isn't good for you. I changed my clip ons to a higher set on my Triumph and it helped my old neck and rotator a bunch, but a little was lost in some other areas of steering feedback. The bend on the r bars at first had my forearms screaming and at times I would like a R1200S peg/bar configuration, but I can't complain too much on the factory set up/compromises. I still do some mini pushups when riding and roll my shoulders, shake out one arm at a time and apply "Master Yoda" posture. 95% of the time it works, but some rides I just have to stop and bend my back over a rest area table or toe touches, etc. Its hell getting old and having these abuses to our bodies come back to haunt us. Nice time of year to test ride a few other BMW's too. Some folks like the more forward posture of a KS over the GT, never a bad way to get a fresh perspective . Like you, I hate limiting my riding and I wish you all the best in getting some relief.

Cheers

[crazyhorse]

i don't pretend to know what it's like to have that particular bodily limitation, ron, but the first few rides with my moto-techniques were uncomfortable for me as well. it almost felt like the position was subtly arching my spine backwards, which was uncomfortable.

after about a week it felt a lot more comfortable, but perhaps i just got used to it, or perhaps i adjusted where i was sitting. i know i do sit rearward more than i used to.

i find them not perfect, but better than stock. honestly the riding position on the r12r, for me, is not the best of the bikes i have owned. my f650gs is much more neutral and absolutely wonderful. i don't mind admitting that it's probably the weakest part of the bike for me. it's still head and shoulders above others my favourite bike, but for my back, i actually prefer some of my sport bikes better. for my wrists, that is obviously untrue.

i'm 5'8" so perhaps i need a couple more inches to be ideal for a bmw, however i bet my legs would feel crampt if i was much more. when i'm riding hard, the riding position is great. when i'm just crusing around, that is when i notice the small nagging non-perfection.

wes

[deilenberger]

Wes,

They got a longer ride today.. and I tried a lot of different butt positions. IF I push my butt back on the seat (a Sargent low seat) - the impact on my back isn't as bad, but my butt doesn't want to stay there naturally. I still found the difference in bar/wheel position a bit disconcerting, and the biggie - it does nothing at all for my carpel-tunnel. Took them off as soon as I got home. If anyone wants a bargain on a set - they are nicely done, finished decently and complete (and in this case - barely used, "never seen rain"..)

Guess I'll be trying to convince the hand MD to give me a cortizone shot in that wrist before I leave for Tennessee..