I have recently encountered the low back pain thing, but I managed to overcome most of it by wearing a back support brace. Available at Wally World or most sporting goods places. The forward controls may be having and effect, but having little experience with them, I can't really give you anything useful. BTW, I also have a back rest on my Ultra that helps a lot for all day riding.

 

Now you know why so many bikers in those old pictures are wearing kidney belts.

 

No, the reason for those back then was because the frames had no shock absorption of any kind. Hardtails were hard on the rider *and* the bike parts because the vibration of the motor and the road made things come loose often and the kidney belt was needed by *some* people because of the harsh ride. I personally never needed one and don't personally know anyone who did, but I did see some people throughout my years wear them when riding hardtails.

 

If you sit on your wallet (hip pocket) , it is shifting your hips/ spine out of alignment. And with forward controls on your bike ,every bump you hit in the road is transferred from the road to your butt, then your lower back, your feet and legs can do little to soften the impact like you could if you had floor boards.

 

Yea I never hold anything in my back pockets. I will start with a back brace before dropping $400 on a seat. Do floorboards make a difference?

 

A backrest is wonderful. Your HD may let you tryout new seats. See if you find one you like.

 

Don't worry about the bars yet. Find somewhere (since it's a 2019, start with a Harley Dealer) and see if there's some seats for yours you can try. Find one that when you sit on it, it naturally puts your lower half in a comfortable position (where you don't have to focus on maintaining posture, it naturally puts you in a comfortable one).

Then, find handlebars that are comfortable after you square the seat away. You can't really judge what bars are comfortable until after you know where and how you'll be sitting.

 

Second vase for a backrest. Worked for me.

 

I can relate to low back pain--I have bulging and/or herniated discs. Try to sleep on my side at night. If I sleep on my back when I get up it really hurts and I can't stand straight up, walk around like a crippled guy for maybe 30-40 minutes.

But, strange as it may seem, unless it is one of those times I maybe strained my back a little and have light/moderate pain for several days or a week, riding doesn't really hurt my back. Even all day rides.

Not long ago I put a backrest on. But not one of those expensive HD backrests where ya gotta buy the really expensive mounting kit for it. I bought a "Grasshopper" brand backrest. It is not adjustable. They make backrests for about all HD bikes. And the really simplified mounting kit comes with the backrest. And you can mount it in maybe 5 minutes, don't know why Harley couldn't come up with something simple and cheap like Grasshopper did. You can get the whole kit for about $85. And if you want to remove it just pull it off but, so far since I put mine on, I have no reason to take it off. And IT DOES make my back feel better after being out several hours. Here is a Grasshopper link:

Harley Davidson - GRASSHOPPER LIMITED

 

I can relate to low back pain--I have bulging and/or herniated discs. Try to sleep on my side at night. If I sleep on my back when I get up it really hurts and I can't stand straight up, walk around like a crippled guy for maybe 30-40 minutes.

Not long ago I put a backrest on. But not one of those expensive HD backrests where ya gotta buy the really expensive mounting kit for it. I bought a "Grasshopper" brand backrest. It is not adjustable. They make backrests for about all HD bikes. And the really simplified mounting kit comes with the backrest. And you can mount it in maybe 5 minutes, don't know why Harley couldn't come up with something simple and cheap like Grasshopper did. You can get the whole kit for about $85. And if you want to remove it just pull it off but, so far since I put mine on, I have no reason to take it off. And IT DOES make my back feel better after being out several hours. Here is a Grasshopper link:

Harley Davidson - GRASSHOPPER LIMITED

Only way I sleep is on my side with knees pulled up slightly. One herniated disc. Reason Harley doesn't make things easy? They like your money. :devil

 

Depending on how tall you are. Forward controls and bars causing you bend in middle. I sat on one and felt right at home being 6'. Bending forward puts a strain on lower back. Doesn't take much pressure to damage lower back. Orthopedic doc said less 30# put immense pressure there. Leverage at work. Try backing off the preload on rear suspension.

 

I can relate to low back pain--I have bulging and/or herniated discs. Try to sleep on my side at night. If I sleep on my back when I get up it really hurts and I can't stand straight up, walk around like a crippled guy for maybe 30-40 minutes.

I could have written that myself Joe. I like laying on my back once in a while, but can't walk upright for a while when I do. :mad The back rest in my Ultra sure helps when I ride.

 

Just my opinion here...
I think maybe your issue is that your body is accustomed to the lean over/stretched riding position.
While riding your cruiser you are more in a "straight up" riding position.
Gravity transfers the upper body weight straight down your spine to your lower back/hips.
Since you workout you will know generally pain comes from the weakest link in the muscle/skeletal combination of our bodies.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. This is not advice. It is a personal observation for what worked for me alleviating lower back pain while riding and in general. I have been lifting weights/exercising for over 30 years.

What worked for me was doing lower back exercises to strengthen this area supported my upper body weight.
A backrest did nothing to eliminate the lower back pain for me on any of my motorcycles.

 

We have Grasshopper backrests on two bikes. They really help.

 

I love the addition of my backrest . . . it makes for a much more comfortable ride and keeps me sitting more "upright". Without the backrest I was always "hunched over" and made for a sore back.

 

And I would argue against floor boards making a significant difference. My Heritage had the floor boards and my Break Out has the forward controls. I have arthritis in my neck and back. My back starts feeling the miles after about 2 hours, same as the old bike. The seat and posture make all the difference really. I felt rough after only 25 minutes on my buddies Road King. I know when I sit on a bike if it gives me good posture.

Agree with the stretches too. I know if I don't keep my hamstrings reasonably limber my back is much quicker to act up.

The seat, bars, foot pegs, back rest, all have the potential to alter your overall posture so all of the suggestions are worth a look, although it is certainly different for everyone. I am 5'8 and about 240lbs. I think the longer folks benefit more from the bars.

 

I knew a guy who had the same problem. Ape hangers fixed it for him.

 

For you guys that have a backrest and state that it helps with back pain,I have a question.
Is your pain in your Lower back as the OP stated his was?
The reason I ask is because if your pain is in the lower back,it makes no sense to me how directing more weight downward to the lower back can possibly be better.
Please explain if this applies to you.
I understand how a backrest can help if your back pain is elsewhere in your back.
I have scoliosis so I know back pain.
I live with it every day.
Some days are just a little better than others on the pain scale.

 

Maybe we should start a back pain club here. My back hurts sitting in my easy chair. I just try to live with it along with sore neck, ringing ears, numbing fingers/hand and so on. My strategy is :seehearspeak

 

Yup...... throw in a tumor and partial kidney removal..... describes me pretty well.

 

I have a bad back problems now for over 20 years I suffered a prolapsed disc when I was 40 years old I wasn't able to work for 4 months due to the damage and what they called foot drop on my right foot ,I couldn't drive at all or ride.
The doctors told me I needed an operation to fuse the discs on my spine but having it done would be 50/ 50 when I asked what they meant well if it went wrong then I would have come out in a wheel chair .
Well F @@k that I ended up with numerous visits to physio and the only thing that helped me was Pilates it got me back to work .
I still suffer with my back in fact I am right now at the moment I use a TENS Machine when I go riding it works for me and nock's out the pain from the back I also use it to get some sleep for a few hours a night .
Try that I hope it helps you because suffering bad back issues isn't pleasant and gets you really down

 

One more vote for a backrest. I used to take Tylenol before every ride and every four hours while riding. After I installed the backrest, that is no longer needed.

 

Yep, I have/get lower back pain. I took pain pills for years. Got off all that. My back rest on my bike gives me something to lean into and press into. Without it, all my weight would be pressing down. Makes a huge difference. I’ve done a couple of iron butt rides, my longest was 1576 miles in less than 24 hours on my WG. Could not have done that without my back rest.

 

I've heard good things about the full spectrum CDB oil, but haven't tried it myself yet.

 

It's not as effective as they would like you to believe. Pricey too.

 

My neighbor uses CDB for back pain and says it helps......:dunno Course I tell her it's all in her mind..... she responds no you idiot it's in my back! But you know she is 86!

 

Back on the subject though, backrests are great.

A TENS unit is also great, but you can't use one if you have a pacemaker or defibrilator. I have one and use it all the time because I'm prone to stiff muscles and bad muscle cramps (drug-induced parkinsonism). They're also pretty inexpensive. There's also a deep muscle portable ultrasound thing which is more expensive, and you need someone that knows what they're doing to work it so they don't burn you, but that was the best part of physical therapy after my accident.

Another thing that's great is yoga. As lame as I feel doing yoga, it does help a lot with core strength and stretching. That ex-wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page, has a yoga program that's a little more manly and resistance and not any of that "breathe through your third eye and feel your chakras align" bs. I haven't tried it yet. My wife has, she hates yoga, but she likes the DDP Yoga.

 

I like the blueberry low fat yoga the best. :smile

 

and shapely ladies in yoga pants.

 

I did functional fitness for 3 years.
It was a lifesaver for controlling my scoliosis pain.
I went back to weight lifting recently for a change in working out and will still incorporate the functional fitness in to my routines.