Improving Comfort On Your Motorcycle
Avid motorcyclists often seek to ride their bikes often and for as long as possible. But sometimes, a long ride is curtailed by the development of fatigue and joint or muscle pains as a result of uncomfortable riding positions and several other factors.
In order to prolong your rides and decrease pain and fatigue, you’ll need to make some adjustments in how you ride. This also includes making some changes to the bike itself to make it more suitable for longer rides.
Your local motorcycle dealer is Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson in Eugene, Oregon. We’ve gathered together some ideas for making your rides more comfortable and pleasant so you aren’t fatigued at the end of the day! Bring us any questions you may have when you’re through reading.
Padded Seat Cushions
The standard cushioning on your factory-fresh motorcycle might be okay for a while, but it can sometimes be insufficient if you’re spending all day on your bike. Usually, this cushion is made to be affordable for the manufacturer to install, so it’s not very plush. However, you can easily install better seat cushions to improve your comfort as you ride and there are several options available to you.
Inflatable cushions will help to balance out weight and are similar to the cushions used on wheelchairs. Other cushions are made from polymers that are used in hospital beds, which can help prevent soreness. Still other types of seat cushions are made with soft covers like sheepskin to reduce friction. Look into all your options to find something that’s suitable for you.
Cruise Control
On long road trips in your passenger car or truck, you’ve no doubt made use of the cruise control feature to allow your feet to rest, rather than being mashed onto a pedal for hours on end. You can also find this feature on some motorcycles, although not all of them are equipped with it. Sometimes, you can add cruise control aftermarket. If you want to get a bike that’s got it already, look at touring models, since these are designed with longer rides in mind anyway. This feature allows your wrists to relax, rather than having to grip the throttle tightly the whole time.
Windshield Installation
Wind fatigue is a huge problem for motorcyclists, no matter where you are. The fast-moving air makes it harder to stay balanced, so your muscles have to work more to keep you upright. Installing a windshield on your motorcycle can immediately reduce how much air hits you, so you’ll be less strained while riding for hours. Some windshields are permanent installations, while others are removable to make storage easier. Different materials exist, as well.
Do Some Stretches
No one should undertake strenuous activities without preparing themselves first, and that includes motorcycle riding. Before you hop on your bike, do some simple stretches to loosen up all your muscles, including your legs, arms, shoulders and core. Having more limber muscles will help to reduce soreness as you ride.
Take More Breaks
Finally, it’s important to build in some breaks in your driving schedule. We know it’s tempting to just push on as long as you can, but frequent rests can actually allow you to ride longer! Use your time to walk around and stretch, relax in the shade or indoors and out of the sun, have a snack and drink some water. You’ll feel much more refreshed and invigorated when you give your body time to rest!
We hope these tips help you to have a more comfortable riding experience wherever you choose to go. Still in need of a bike? Visit our dealership in Eugene to see our current stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson welcomes all of our Oregon customers coming from the cities of Albany and Corvallis.