Sore Back from the Kat

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadKatter
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MadKatter

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Took the Katana for a ride today. still a great beast but..... my back is stuffed from it. I am used to much longer rides with much less discomfort on my other bikes. I have always been a fan of the Katana and have always wanted one, Now that I have one I'm not real sure if I've made the right choice for the kind of riding that I do. time for a hot bath, some Tiger Balm, Panadeine and a heat pack.
 
To the shop and back :D

Find some risers, don't get rid of it.
Mine has Kwak forks on it and VF1000 clip ons which are about 3" higher than standard and it's a comfortable bike.
 
From Ringwood to Portsea return, only about 200km in total with a big stop down there, I usually ride about 4-500 km in a day. Im not a stranger to long rides I rode from Melbourne to Uluru (Ayers Rock) return last year, I just cant get comfortable on the Kat. It saddens me as I love everything but the ergonomics on this machine!
 
Boogieman said:
To the shop and back :D

Find some risers, don't get rid of it.
Mine has Kwak forks on it and VF1000 clip ons which are about 3" higher than standard and it's a comfortable bike.
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Haha, yea just down to get some milk Boogieman...haha
 
Trousersnake said:
Try two teaspoons of cement...;)

Yer kats aren't the most comfortable things to ride.
I'll let you know after 500 ks next weekend.
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2 spoons of cement anda big cup of harden the F up...lol

goodluck with 500km under your belt, that's my usual weekend ride distance but on something a little more upright or laid back :cool:
 
Very interesting.
Back in the day everybody who did not own a Kat, but had riden one, all said the same thing - Damn Uncomfortable!

I formulated a theory back then and after reading the MCnews editorial link Frankie provided for the 35th and noted the comment "built like a gorilla", or something to that effect, am now getting my head into analysis mode.

I have always wondered if there is a corilation between the length of a riders arms and the degree of comfort they find whilst on the beast? Recently I let a college take a short ride int the car park at work and noticed that whilst he is tall, he looked very awkward and seemed to stretch to reach the bars.

That being said, I'm only 5'11" and when riding always feel like im reasonably upright. Now granted I have not been on a ride longer than 200 since '84, and full respect to all others who have been clocking up the K's for years, but do wonder if there is a link.

Long live Gorilla's
 
Well I.m 5'8" and 95kegs, longest I have ridden is 272kms in a day on the 1100, at low speeds its much easier to take left hand of bar and lean on tank, at speed, anything 100km/h upwards its comfy with both hands on the bars, but I need the wind force to help support with the stretch to the bars.
 
Oh, and to be fair,
I did try to book one of the cabins with a spa bath for the 35th just in case I arive even n a crippled state!

Phil, the point I did not make is its not how tall you are, but the length of your arms relative to your body.
But hey, 95 kegs of beer is awesome effort :D
 
I went for a ride today for a loaf of bread and got home an hour and a half later (took the long way) and remembered that it is a lot more comfortable over 130kph. A stand out part of the ride was at the shop an old bloke came up and was telling me he still has his 750 Kat and an RG 250 in the shed but prefers to ride his Harley now. But won't get rid of the Kat. Gunna do it up one day.
 
I am circa 6ft2 and have a couple of different bikes - I think the Kat is actually quite comfortable - i am able to rest my arms on the tops of my legs.

Through corners i move around a bit and this i find also helps (perhaps through a change of position).

SoO is circa 500km each way and no drama's......even in the rain.
 
AJ67 said:
But won't get rid of the Kat. Gunna do it up one day.
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Yeah, that was my old mans nickname, "Gunna"
When he passed we took 9 trailer loads out of the shed to the dump!

Glad I'm not the only one that takes 2 hours to get the Sunday paper, newsagent is only 3k's away ;)
 
Go into Bikemart & ask Brian if he can get you a set of Tingate clip ons (Rod Tingate is only out in Wonga Park but he doesn't deal with the public.
Tingate clip ons are available in 1,2 & 3" rises so they should get you comfortable, Brian knows Katanas (I bought his last one off him) so he'll know what rise you need.
If the Tingates don't work, definitely try the concrete. ;)
 
sore arse,sore legs sore arms sore neck, pins and needles. I'm a 55yr old wreck that can hardly stand up in the mornings and barely walk sometimes and have constant back pain had a bad back for 40 yrs welcome to my world.,owned this ride for 5 1/2 yrs and yer its fucken agony to ride,if they wont every one would want one .chiropractors nightmare,ergonomics ? what ergonomics ? it is a production race bike and will never be comfortable ,better luck with your next ride,and by the way bubble wrap on the seat helps heaps View attachment 3888to lessen butt a leg ache on long rides.;)
 
Go see a phyisio therapist and ask them to show you some core strength building exercises.
I too have rooted back, and sometimes can barely walk. A couple years ago, I could hardly bare to even sit on the bolt upright GS let alone a KAT.

Even though Im a fat lazy bastard, I still do my back exercises almost everyday,and can hold my torso up even in the leaned forward position by my core muscles,stomach etc, not the lower back muscles.

That and HTFU, riding is tops and not going to let a sore back stop me, no way.


Cheers John
 
MD, there is mob called AIRHAWK and they make gel seats for added comfort and they are based in Melbourne. There web site caters for different types of seats so get on there web site and have a look as it does help.
Nick
 
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