Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello All,

I have wanted a motorcycle since I was old enough to remember. I raced mountain bikes and road bikes. But my only real motorcycle rides came on a friends mini bike as a kid; and a quick ride around a parking lot on a Harley about 5 years ago.

Now, at 35, I still want one, but I injured my back doing leg press exercises almost 3 years ago. Although not an incapacitating injury by any means, it is inconvenient. Lifting heavy weights is out of the question, but I remain active riding bicycles (on a limited basis) and swimming. I also do some SoloII with my local SCCA chapter...all in all good fun.

This past weekend, I had a chance to watch a local group of stunt riders at a motorcycle store grand opening in my hometown. I was blown away. Although I know it is not likely I will ever intentionally do a nose wheelie, I just want to know what it is to ride a bike.

I hate to make this my initial post, but I am wondering if anyone else out there rides with a low back injury. If so, what sort of bike do you recommend.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Welcome to the board. Watch out though, you're about to enter a life long addiction. Have fun with it.

LOL - Well, I am hoping to enter it. But I do not want to compound one life long problem with another. Thus the reason for asking if anyone else out there has experience with a similar situation.

Yeah, I've been fighting a low back injury (herniated disc at L5S1) for the last three years. I had a microdiscectomy almost a year ago. I'm not pain free, by any means, but I still love to ride.

As for bikes, I find a position with forward lean best for me. Not in the way of sport bikes but a little further back like a naked standard. Sitting straight up is the worse as all the bumps go straight down my back. Sitting on my tailbone in the feet-front, cruiser fashion is no good, nor are bikes with a long reach to the ground (supermotard, etc.), stopping one-foot only really tweaks the back. Good luck. Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Yup...l4-l5 and l5-s1 here. Surgury is not an option for me.

Little help though...what is a naked standard?

Thanks again.

Mark

Naked bike or a standard along the lines of maybe a Triumph bonneville, Suzuki SV650 or any other where you're slightly canted forward. This is what I've found for me and may not hold true for others. But really, you need to get a test ride or borrow a friend's where you can get at least a half-hour ride. You need to feel it out and find what's going to work for you and specifically for the nature of your injury. For me a position where I can arch the back from time to time, tighten the abs and move around a bit is best. And as a mountain biker this is my most comfortable position. Good luck.

Good Advice.

Thank you very much.

M