Right shoulder tension?

[Rusty the Scoob]

Anyone have tips or feedback about right shoulder tension from riding?

I get it sometimes while riding solo but it's pretty severe when 2-up, which I'm quite new at.  

I don't think I'm death-gripping the bars or putting weight on them... I can quite easily do the "funky chicken", waiving my elbows around while riding without loosening anything.   The tension is like a knot, deep in my right shoulder... it feels like it's beneath my shoulder blade but I can rub the spot where my shoulder blade ends and it helps.  

I don't think my ergos are bad, either... it's a naked SV650 and I'm 5'8", 155 lbs, in reasonable shape.  My pillion is on the tall side, about 5'7" and 150 lbs.

I've been riding for just over two years, and have gone about 10k miles in that time, with only maybe 100-200 of them two-up.   I ride two hours a day commuting at 26 miles roundtrip, so I get a lot of seat time per mile and my low-speed handling is pretty good.

[jbs80106]

Sounds like it could be 1 of 2 possible things......

I can get this sometimes when I get sloppy on my posture, leaning forward on my arms instead of supporting myself with my back/core (I ride a sporty position bike).  Also, early in the season if I've not ridden in a while it sometimes feels like the pain may be neck related in supporting the helmet.  Haven't felt it in a while so must be doing something right.

Odd that it seems to be the right side and not the left too...

[kevin_stevens]

If you're riding two-up seems you're in the perfect orientation for a nice massage.  

KeS

[UHOH]

I use a ~$13 Cramp Buster, the wide version, and slip it over the throttle grip
- as directed on the back on the package.   Bet it would help your right side tension.

[R Doug]

Shoulder strengthening exercises are great.  I used to get the same tension, but my neighbor (a physical therapist) recommended the following:

Lay on your bed, face down.

Hang your arm off the side of the bed (first your right, then you left).

Grab a 7lb weight and, with your thumb out and palm facing downward, extend your arm away from the bed 15x.

Next, with palm down, extend your arm up towards your head (think superman)15 x.

Finally, again with palm down, extend your arm backwards 15 x.  

I do this three times a week and have never had shoulder tension since.  

[nater]

Shoulder exercises helped me with this.

[mlinkibikr]

I bet you used to play baseball - LOL

+1 on the shoulder stretching. I had the same problem, comes with throwing about a bazillion baseballs. There are some specific shoulder stretching and strengthening exercises at this site. Check it out.

http://www.safethrow.com/ExerciseThrowing/ExerciseIndex.htm

[NestorK]

Stretching won't help, and basic iso-kinetic movements will reinforce the limitations that are already there.

Go see a Muscle Activation Techniques specialist.

http://www.muscleactivation.com

[cdwilliams05]

had this problem after about hour 2 I would get this "tight" feeling in my right shoulder.  Had a buddy record me, and saw plain as day, I was slouching, and causing the pain.  Started riding with a note to keep my back straight pain went away, well the "this is wrong" pain went away, and then came the "my ass is out of shape" pain.  But that went away too.

[yotes65]

I have the same issue & just assumed it was becaused I was getting old...

[TooTall]

I had the same issue in my left shoulder.  Found out it was two herniated disc in my Cervical spine Hope surgery will fix it and keep me riding.  I'm only 40.  Not the years but the milage!

[Baz]

I can tell you that once you hit 50, you will have too many "why does it hurt when I ride" questions.  

I suffer from the same sort of paind & usually it is throttle related. You can move your left arm around but the right one is always on the throttle. I find on highway trips it helps if I change the position of my throttle hand enough and easing up on the grip. (Try resting the ball of your hand on the throttle instead of griping it etc)

[Uncle Leo]

had this problem after about hour 2 I would get this "tight" feeling in my right shoulder.  Had a buddy record me, and saw plain as day, I was slouching, and causing the pain.  Started riding with a note to keep my back straight pain went away, well the "this is wrong" pain went away, and then came the "my ass is out of shape" pain.  But that went away too.

Yep, absolutely. Remember the old cowboy rule, "Tall in the saddle". After a few hours riding, just keep reminding yourself to sit up straight, and do it.  Does wonders on those longer road trips.

[Orson]

It could be that the route your taking to work has few curves with which to limber up the body.

I find that sitting in one position for interstate riding, wears me down more than when I ride the twisties and am moving around.

[Papa Lazarou]

Ride a Cossack sidecar outfit for a while.

Piddly little solo bikes will then become very easy.