riding pains

[capz]

I have about 500 miles total riding experience. After a half hour or so I start getting pain at the base of my neck and upper back. My helmet is a shoei, very light so it's not that. Changing my posture doesn't seem to help. Is it just something that new riders experience or could I be doing something wrong?

[skramer360]

Give it time. Your neck will likely get stronger. Mine still gets sore after a couple hours and I've been riding for 24 years. YMMV

[Bad Boy]

Very common for beginners and very fixable.  It is a combination of building endurance, conditioning, body position, and technique.  Common causes are too much tension, release the death grip, one should work at having relaxed muscles, leaning into the wind.  Another is that one needs to move around and keep changing your position.

[Bumblebee]

Proper posture changes physical comfort and motorcycle handling.

Sounds like shoulder tension. Deliberately force yourself to relax until you quit tensing up.

Move your butt back in the seat a bit, not forward near the front of the seat. Back arched slightly to sit straight up, not hunched forward. Bend at the hips, not the waist. Arms and shoulders relaxed with forearms near level to the ground. Hands should not be supporting your body weight. Don't death grip the hand grips. Head back a little bit, not pushed out forward. In turns, lean slightly forward and out toward the direction of the turn. Don't forget to relax and not tense up.

[Soupskin]

Completely normal when starting out, IMO.  The solution like every else has said is to relax.  With time and practice, you will have it.

[green427]

2 things you might need to do: Get a set of 2" bar risers (or get taller bars) and force yourself to lower your chin to keep your upper spine as straight as possible.

I tense up in the neck area all the time, just have to keep reminding myself to relax my neck muscles.

[capz]

Sounds like a combination of factors. I do find myself extending my arms at lower speeds so maybe the risers will help. Dropping my chin makes it a little more comfortable but affects my vision. I'll adjust and give it more time. Then maybe risers are in order. And a couple trips a week to the gym won't kill me either. Thanks.

[gammer]

A tip for setting you bar position:

Put the bike on the center stand and mount up. Sit on the seat normally and look strait ahead. Close your eyes and place your hands and arms where you feel the most natural, comfortable spot would be to hold the bars. Open your eyes. You should try to position the bars as close to this position as possible.

[n5tbu]

I do long trips and even tho I worked up to it after 7-10 days out,I get neck and shoulder pains,but I'm old!lol

[happycommuter]

I agree with the requisite newb tension posts.  You're probably doing the motorcycle equivalent of white-knuckle driving, as every beginner does. 

There is very little effort involved in casual motorcycling, and it's easy to exert oneself to no avail.  Relax the grip, let limbs hang slack (gentle inputs are all that is needed for steering, and your abdominal muscles should be supporting your torso, not the arms). -Oh, Bumblebee already said this: he's right.

Changing the angle of the handlebar within the clamps the slightest bit can make a big difference.  Same with lever angle.

I regularly flop my elbows round, do neck rolls and all kinds of limber stuff while riding.  Sitting still is hard.

[capz]

I'll play with the handlebars some. I'm passed the white knuckle phase and find I'm beginning to get more comfortable shaking things out while riding. Early on I was afraid of moving thinking it would throw off my balance. I'm slowly getting past the newb phase a mile at a time. I couldn't be happier with the bike choice too. If I was posting this on a crotch rocket forum I'd probably get "stop being a p***y" as feedback. Great bunch here.