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legs get tired- any advice?

10K views 48 replies 38 participants last post by  Moosecapades  
#1 ·
and "ride less" isn't good advice. Not an option :chair:

So far I've been loving my vrod. fast, reliable, excellent build quality, and shiny too. I've put a few miles on it and and have only one real complaint.

When I make road trips (mainly from college station to houston tx), its not the wind or the handlebars or even my ass that gets me. After about 45 minutes of highway riding, my legs get tired; they feel like they are being pulled apart and that i need to work real hard just to keep my kness near the engine. If they get this tired after 1.5 hrs of riding, i can't imagine trying to put on 300 miles or so trying to take a trip to new orleans.

I'm a shorter rider i suppose (about 5'8") and need to figure out what to do about feet positioning to let my inner thighs relax. and man, i really don't want to think about my inner thighs when i'm riding!

I don't think its just the windblast, but instead just holding my legs up for an hour. Does anyone else experience this problem and are there remedies? So far my only solutions involve jamming my feet under the brake pedal and shifter which puts stress on the tailbone and lower back.

thanks for the help!
 
#4 ·
I am with David - try mids, or at least the pegs. Play around with different positions, and find what works for you. Joe
 
#7 ·
Sounds to me like the bike is new, just ride as you are and your endurance will increase. Or maybe you should have purchased an Ultra :hidesbeh: Seriously, give it some time then see if changes are needed.
 
#18 ·
:them:

at first I had the same issue (for the first couple of seasons actually). I would ride 75 miles and my legs would be so tired from being ripped apart. gradually I was able to increase my mileage to where I could do 600 mile days without my legs getting tired. Now it's my back and ass that kill me but my legs can go all day!

finding different positions on those longs runs is a must as well. sometimes i kick my feet out over the pegs and let my muscles completely relax, sometimes I put my legs on the passenger pegs for 5 minutes for a change, and sometimes I shift my ass to one side of the bike or another to just use different leg/arm muscles and to get some blood flow back in my rear.
 
#8 ·
Reduced reach pegs may help. I had thigh aches after riding when I first got mine, after riding a while I relaxed and no longer had a problem.
Ed
 
#47 · (Edited)
I solved the problem using a similar method. Thigh compression socks? This is something new, has anyone tried it? I know compression socks are effective for leg fatigue and varicose veins, it seems to be similar.
 
#10 ·
I have a Night rod and it comes with mid controls, But when I used the highway pegs for more than a few mile I had the same problem of having to hold my legs in place.
I did two things, moved the horn from its push your leg out place. Next I added some little screws to the front pegs to angle them to match my legs. I don't know if this can be done with the forward peg/control setup but cost $2 to do.

http://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129922
 
#11 ·
Before I put my forward controls on I had the same problem. It seems like when your knees are bent they catch the wind. One thing I did was to rest my heel on the peg when I was just cruising. That helped a bunch. Also since you aren't super tall, you may want to try the reduced reach pegs and flip them. I haven't tried the horn thing yet but it is on my list of winter mods.

-Keith
 
#13 ·
have you tried just throwing you heels up on your pegs? i make that run all the time (i'm in cypress) and offen i will throw my heels on the forward pegs and that works, OR i will lay on my air box and put my feet on the rear pegs that helps with almost all the wind drag over my whole body (smaller target for cops to hit with radar too)
 
#14 ·
Try hooking your heels on the passenger pegs for a nice stretch. Works for me to get a little relief.
 
#16 ·
I will just let my feet dangle for a while. It takes pressure off of your back and legs. If you go fast enough the wind will lift your legs so you don't need to hold them up. Watch your boots on your pipes though, I burned the rubber from my sole (not soul) for the first time this weekend. I burn rubber from my soul every time I mount up LOL.

I have a 90 mile stretch of I 10 to get to Houston from Beaumont.
 
#19 ·
Zilly,
The reduced reach pegs may help. They move the pegs back one inch, up about one inch and outward about one inch.

Give them a try. Simple install.

I'm 5'8" and I was having trouble keeping my feet from sliding off the ends of the pegs. I was using thigh muscle to keep them on until I discovered the reduced reach pegs moved the pegs outward. Easier on the thighs.
 
#28 ·
It probably won't in most cases of putting pressure on the shifter,but I've seen excessive shift fork wear in other vehicles from the driver leaning on the shifter.With as frail as some of the early internal shift mechanisms were,why take a chance?

With the brake,I know for a fact it causes air to enter the master cylinder.

You can do as you like,I was just adding a precaution.:)
 
#21 ·
Iso Stirrups from Kury did the trick for me it's like having floorboards without the bulk! I have switchblades on my RoadGlide and they work good but if you hit a hard bump with your feet on them they can slip down :( not so on the iso stirrups they fit in notches and you can pretty much stand on them (wouldnt advise it though :D) I think this would solve your problem. ;)
 
#22 ·
what about exercise or compression socks? Sounds like you're having some circulation issues
 
#23 ·
Thighmaster. :)

Seriously, you'll adapt. I'm 5'6", sit on a Corbin (back another inch) and ride serious distances. I go through this every spring, but by the time it's hot, I'm good.

Really, I'd like a heel rest; I think that's the answer. I just haven't seen some I like. Probably have to make some. I like the Switchblades, but they don't match anything else on the bike. Tip: if you install heel rests that mount to the footpeg, get a harder bolt to replace the one that retains the footpeg assembly or it will shear off at exactly the wrong time.
 
#24 ·
Thanks for the replies! I'm glad i'm not alone with my lazy weak thighs.

I think I'll go for those Switch blades or ISO stirrups, which sound better than flooboards
If those don't do the trick I'll also invest in some reduced reach adapters, then followed by th horn mod, and then a 2010 ultra. But it sounds like yall have had this problem and got it fixed, and I really like my vrod.

vroder, i think i'll also get a thighmaster. Not for teh riding or anything but just to get some definition.
and about that transmission, i had no idea that could be a problem! Hopefully it doesn't cause a lot of problems, but I guess I'll try to be more careful about shifting to 6th gear while i'm at it
 
#26 · (Edited)
second foot position option

:them:Kurakyn "Switchblades" work.

If you have the DX,mount a second option for foot position.... D mid foot holds without controls($187). This D assembly mounts at swing arm position.
Estimated work time 2 hours?

The "D" mid peg mount is also a more comfortable position for passenger legs.
 
#29 ·
Armed Forces

The problem is not so much your legs are too short or that the pegs are too far forward. The problem is that the handlebars are too short for your arms.

When you bend at the waist, your legs spread naturally. It takes effort to keep your legs together and they get tired.

I suggest that you adjust your handlebars so that you aren't bent over so far. If you can't get relief there and you have adjusted them as close as possible to your body, you either need taller bars or a reach seat.
 
#31 ·
One small problem I get with the bike is my ride everyday is a 7 minute ride to where I work. I got it last August I don't get to do many highway miles unless i really am just purely going for a joyride. I'm in pertty good shape though, 24 at 160 lbs. At least I don't think i have a metabolic disease (is wanting to sleep past noon genetic?). I do have some tailbone stuff, which thank goodness isn't bothered by riding.

I'll probably get those switchblades, if they don't help with fatigue then they'll at least be nice for other stuff. I guess if everyone else can put some highway miles on without a problem, I should be able to get the problem fixed on mine (or on me). I love the bike. Looks great, performs amazing, and i love what it stands for as far as harley davidson