I have back issues, back and neck pain on long rides was and still is an issue. Wasn't so bad on my Gen-5 wings but my 24 is not so kind. I also have a Utopia on my 24 but have an Ultimate seat and Goldtrike highway boards. I tried Helibar risers and they helped a little. I sat on a friend's Gen-6 that had full Helibars and knew they would help so I ordered them. By far the best thing I have done for the back and shoulder pain. Full Helibars are the main thing I would recommend but they are $$$ to say the least. I still have to stop more frequently than I used to and there is no way I can do all day rides anymore. 4 to 5 hours at best and I'm done, but it was about 2 to 3 hours before the Helibars.

 

I have several bikes, but the Wing I ride the most is a 2007 Air bag model. The Air bag has not helped with the pain, but my air hawk that goes under my keister does miracles. When I first got one I was riding my VTX to the Grand Canyon, Taos, NM, then to Brice Canyon, then Zion National Park, ect. It wasa total of just over 4,000 miles by the time I arrived back home. When I started out I was with a group. We were all just going to the Grand Canyon. When I got the air hawk I didn't realize I had to strap it down to the seat. We all slowed down so I stood up on the floor boards to see what was going on up there and my $100 Air Hawk flew off my bike. As I was with the group I didn't stop and go back to get it. We had done about 600 very comfortable miles by that time. I thought, I'm on my 3rd custom seat, it won't be that bad. I was wrong. I had spent about $1,000 on custom seats by that time, this one was hand crafted by a chiropractor who took my measurements, inseam, etc.. the next two hundred miles were pure agony. I was eating tramadol like M&Ms and they weren't helping. So at the next stop I ordered another Air Hawk to be overnighted to the UPS store in Flagstaff where we were planning to stop for the night. I was fine catching up to them if I had to, but they had to stop at the Harley shop in Flagstaff. So I had plenty of time and it was there. That was the best $200 I spent on the trip.

Now they have a lot of knock offs that are a lot cheaper than the original Air Hawk. The key is that all of the individual air pockets need to be connected to each other. So when you sit "in it" the pockets where most of your weight is transfers the air to the pockets where less weight is, and this changes as your weight shifts on the ride.

If I was buying a brand new Wing and there was a law that no one could have more than one accessory for their bike, mine would be the Air Hawk. I'd suffer with the insane pegs they have even though every bike I own gets floor boards if I have to make them myself. For the life of me I don't understand why floor boards are not even an option on a wing??? I've been riding over 55 years now, I'm not running the twisties like I'm at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
I know they limit my lean, but without a few sparks every once in a while what's life 🤷🏻‍♂️. I just need a little wind therapy and enjoy riding at my own pace. The only way I can enjoy it is on an Air Hawk. Although I just said that wrong, because you "ride in, not on" and Air Hawk. They say that in the directions. What you want to do when you're airing it up is to get it so that when you sit on it, you're kiester goes almost to touch the seat. So that when you sit down you can almost feel the air evacuating from your tail bone.

A little about me, I was discharged from the Navy with a cracked disc in my back which has caused pain ever since. They had given me heavier drugs than tramadol but I couldn't drive on them. My Dr did tests and then wrote a letter giving me permission to ride/drive while taking them. Also, later in life I messed up 3 discs in my neck. They have a lot of words for it, one of which is subluxated, I have other diagnosis, but to me it just causes extra pain and I don't want surgery. Then of course there's the hip that I injured years ago. So without my Air Hawk I don't think there are enough drugs in China to help me ride.

Which brings up another point. At the Biketoberfest in Daytona last year I talked to a vendor that said Air Hawk, previously made and sold by a medical equipment company Roho, was bought out, and is now made in China 🤔🤔🤔. I don't know if that's true, all of mine were made in the USA. And I have several, one for each of the Wings, the VTX, cars, PU, Zero turn, and my tractor. I've got a farm hand that got off my tractor and was working with a friend on his tractor and asked, "Where can I get one of those seat cushions" I've not had a friend yet that I told about the Air Hawk not say that it was the best purchase he's made for his bike. I don't own stock in the company, I don't work for the company, and I won't get a kickback from anyone who sells them. But I've been recommending people go to Amazon type in air cushion motorcycle seat cushions. Many options will come up with different features.

 

‘06 Goldwing, but I don’t think the year would matter, when riding on interstates I find the ride boring. How do you guys stay focused on the ride?
Helibars are the best investment I made for my Goldwing. I was on the verge of giving up riding because of shoulder pain, but the Helibars cured the pain. They also made tight turns much easier.

 

‘06 Goldwing, but I don’t think the year would matter, when riding on interstates I find the ride boring. How do you guys stay focused on the ride?
Helibars are the best investment I made for my Goldwing. I was on the verge of giving up riding because of shoulder pain, but the Helibars cured the pain. They also made tight turns much easier.

When I have long stretches on the interstate, I tend to run different traffic scenarios through my head. Minding the vehicles around me and anticipating what I would do, depending on what they would do. Since the situation is fluid, the potential scenario in my head is, likewise, fluid. I find it entertaining. Over the years of this, I find it a lot easier to anticipate other driver's moves and how to react as needed.

Outside of that, a good Spotify playlist is helpful.

 

My 2018 caused me great pain on 1,000+ miles rides. I had to get Heli Bars to move the grips back 2" (did not want elevation change, nor grip angle change). I am still in need on the seat as I have a WingSoft modified seat that I made additional modifications on and it is still not what I need. I think a Russel seat is the only thing I have left to try. I do have a backrest, but it is not as good of one as on my 2010 and there is no equivalent of it for a 2018+. I did find highway pegs that I like and they mount totally over the nearly useless tip over bars at the engine. Those pegs also did more to help reduce damage on the bike and me after wiping out on one of Nevada's major cricket swarm 3-4" deep. It slid a good ways on the peg mount giving room for my leg until the plant life sent everything flipping in the air. Hopefully, the bike will be back in my garage soon......

 

Everyone should look online a get some physical therapy excersies to do for their pain.. You Tube has dozens of videos. Back, Legs, Arms etc. IMO it's the key to a painless or way reduced pain riding season. You do them at home, easy to do and they really help the ol body. You'll move better, bend easier and loose weight to if you stick with the program.

 

Train before a long trip.....start with a day ride, then a 2 day ride, then a 3 day ride to be sure you can handle multiple 3-400 miles days back to back. Stay physically fit. Stretch before, during and after a day in the saddle. Have the right gear....seat. bars, backrest, helmet and outerwear. Aspirin or similar can be your friend. Know your limitations and respect them. Get a good nights sleep. Eat and hydrate. Getting old sucks.

 

Take shorter rides. I don't mean to be glib. We're old.

 

I feel your pain! I did the Rockies Gold trip this year and it was the longest trip (1040 miles one way, about 3000 total) I have done in quite a few years so I wasn't sure how I would fare at 75 YO. Going up we split it into 2 days so it wasn't too bad but I was tired by the end of both days. Riding, I was fairly comfortable and having satellite radio really helped keep me entertained, I wouldn't want to ride that far without it. I should have used sunscreen and I paid the price for not doing that until too late, burned face and lips!

I put an Ultimate Seat & Backrest on my bike last year and that has helped a lot, so much better than the stock Honda seat but still not perfect. Wood Beads on the seat sometimes felt good and seat heat also sometimes helped. Good highway pegs really help me stretch my legs and move them around to avoid cramps. Coming back home down thru NM & Texas I ran solo and was able to do 900 miles (even though it was 90 deg. much of the way) before stopping at my daughters for a night. I felt pretty good and could have made it home but wanted to visit. All the Colorado riding helped build up my endurance for the ride home! My burned lips bothered me the whole trip so I won't make that mistake again, next time I will probably wear the full helmet even though I don't like it. Getting old does suck but I still had a great time!

 

I feel your pain! I did the Rockies Gold trip this year and it was the longest trip (1040 miles one way, about 3000 total) I have done in quite a few years so I wasn't sure how I would fare at 75 YO. Going up we split it into 2 days so it wasn't too bad but I was tired by the end of both days. Riding, I was fairly comfortable and having satellite radio really helped keep me entertained, I wouldn't want to ride that far without it. I should have used sunscreen and I paid the price for not doing that until too late, burned face and lips!

I put an Ultimate Seat & Backrest on my bike last year and that has helped a lot, so much better than the stock Honda seat but still not perfect. Wood Beads on the seat sometimes felt good and seat heat also sometimes helped. Good highway pegs really help me stretch my legas and move them around to avoid cramps. Coming back home down thru NM & Texas I ran solo and was able to do 900 miles (even though it was 90 deg. much of the way) before stopping at my daughters for a night. I felt pretty good and could have made it home but wanted to visit. All the Colorado riding helped built up my endurance for the ride home! My burned lips bothered me the whole trip so I wont make that mistake again, next time I will probably wear the full helmet even though I don't like it. Getting old does suck but I still had a great time!

Dave, you told me that you didn't do much long-distance riding, but you couldn't prove it by the way you rode. You rode the 510 miles from Crockett to the Big Texan in Amarillo, through Fort Worth, in 7.5 hours. and never missed a lick! It was good riding with you!

Glen

 

I just got back from a tour around Lake Winnipesaukee (and all around New Hampshire) approx 1500 mile trip..
The best part of the trip was my $10.00 car seat I purchased from Walmar# a couple of years ago.. (my friend was crying the blues , about the long ride) and how his butt was hurting (Harley)..........Me I was just "smiling" , I had NO PAIN whats-so-ever................. Purchase a car seat, and place it on top of the stock seat...
2010 Goldwing (with 80,XXX miles)TRIKED w/Roadsmith model

Ronnie
10/4/25

 

I have found on long rides Backrest adjustment can make all the difference. But not how you think !!!!!
This is just my own findings for myself as I ride from Connecticut to South Carolina often
.
I found I need the backrest back farther and slouch a bit to keep the pain away.
My Backrest adjustment starts out so that my Backrest does NOT touch my back in the beginning of a ride and as time goes on I slouch into the backrest for a good comfort. If i sit up straight I end up with lower back pain.

Just me but maybe this will help you as well.

 

2025. After total reconstructive back surgery 10 years ago, back pain is something I fully understand..Seat,backrest, highway pegs, got all of them. With actual pain in the back I use a Back A lLne back support I bought through Areo Stitch. It supports your spine, keeps you from slouching which.cause pain and spasms..Well worth the price. On long trips padded bicycle riding shorts with shearling padding are the answer to sore butts. They work better and seat pads. Sprinkle in some anti monkey butt powder and you're good for 500 plus miles. Back pain is terrible..

 

I find that the highway pegs are good just to stretch the legs a few minutes every hour. I keep the balls of my feet on the oem pegs. It’s allows more leg tissue on the seat distributing the weight. If I use all highway pegs my tail bone gets all the weight. I stop every 120 miles or 2 hours. Fill the tank, only half gone and stretch the hammies and quads. I take the weight off my buttocks every now and again by slightly st banding on the pegs and pushing back on my utopia back rest. Also, like was said, train early before real long ride or multiple days. I just did 350 miles in 9 hours today. Mostly back roads and twisties. I could have kept going using the oem seat

 

I can ride long distances without the shorter rides to build up to it. I don't know, just me. My wife doesn't understand that I can get on the bike and ride 1000+ days after not riding for a month or two. On my 2021, I have Helibar risers, Rivco foot pegs and stock seat. I change seating position often. Straight up, slouched a little, move feet between both sets of pegs, even using the passenger boards, scoot up close to the tank, slide back against the ridge in the middle of the seat.

But the biggest thing I do is isometric exercises while moving and leg, arm stretches and torso, shoulder twisting while at traffic lights. This has worked for me for years. 5'10", 180 lbs, 32" inseam, mid-60s.

 

I’m 6’3, 175lbs of formerly forged molten steel…now not so much..and have Rivco highway pegs, RDL, Utopia backrest and a lifetime supply of Ibuprofen.

If you have any suggestion that have helped you, please contribute

You’re still made of molten steel but now need a way to keep the rust at bay!

 

Moving and stretching really helps and I stand a lot on my Super Tenere but I have never found my 08 or 18 to be easy to stand up while riding.

When putting in full days on a bike my back will start to bark at me or even worse it'll be growling by late afternoon. I used to wait for the pain to really set in before taking a couple Motrin. Wrong.

My wife reminded me I should take one at the beginning of the bark so now I do and it really helps nipping the pain in the bud so to speak. I don't take as much as I used too now.

 

I'm 64, and 350 Miles is a good day for me. I have no desire to ride any further than that
Anything past that then I think it's a safety issue. I could probably do 500 miles but I wouldn't want to go any past that. I'm riding a 2006 wing with stock seat that only has 15,000 miles on it . Riding a thousand miles in a single day doesn't appeal to me on any level

 

Captron, this makes the 29th time (🤣🤣) I’ve heard tell of that magical walmark seat pad!! How about letting the cat ot-da-bag and perhaps post a picture or two and a product number. I’ve checked walmark for “seat pads” and it lists about a gazillion items. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!! Semper-fi & This We’ll Defend, Mike

 

Captron, this makes the 29th time (🤣🤣) I’ve heard tell of that magical walmark seat pad!!

29th time? You've missed about 100 others then......😅😍

 

I'm 71, but I stay in shape and I'm pretty good at the long distances. To avoid pain, I made ergo changes on my DCT Tour like a Corbin seat that sits me 2" further back to fit my 6-5 225# self, highway pegs, back rest and a Klokwerks recurve windshield.
All set for my 3-week trip to Alaska, and did ok, except for one thing: Monkey Butt! It didn't start until 2 weeks in, but it was a big PIA! I hadn't been this long in the saddle before, so I didn't plan for it. I did have a seat pad that helped a little, I also pressed my legs against my highway pegs and pushed my butt off the seat, and other times I rode standing on my pegs, or I stopped and hiked around. All of these were short term relief, buy it got worse every day. I even cut my trip short a couple of days because of it. Not sure what the real solution is, or if there is one.

 

Monkey Butt is similar to baby’s butt, aka diaper rash. Products like Desitin or Balmex applied to the affected area may be helpful.

 

UtahRider, the other “solution”, would become a couch patatah!! That doesn’t sound like that’s an option. So, sometimes we put up with a bit of discomfort for the finer things in life!! JMHO. MIKE

 

Go here on your next ride:

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I just use a bungee cord, to hold my seat cushion in place (it works!!) and I use that same buggee, to also hold my gloves, when I stop to eat, or rest..................I don't feel it lQQks tacky, or ugly, using the bungee....
PS: I did lose my first seat cushion, (the exact same way as Silver Eagle @ above post )because I didn't have it bungee'd down!

Ronnie
10/7/25