headaches and suspension

[Aussie]

Hi Guys (n Girls)
Does anyone get headaches when they ride?
I usually do and ive been off sick this week feeling dizzy and disorientated with a really numb sort of headache.
This is probably going to sound really silly but i went on a really long ride about a week ago and im wondering if the two could be related..like some some of really mild concussion.
It's the first time ive ridden a long distance on the FZ1 and by the end of it i was dreading any bump in the road. Not from my backside, but from my head and neck.
Ive got the suspension set to stock and are a little worried about touching things that i really don't fully understand. Too soft might make the head shaking and bouncing worse while also risking ejecting my from the bike if i hit a bump midway through a corner. A friend suggested that i keep the compression tight while relaxing the rebound a little.
I did a little search here about suspension settings and id love to know what everyone has theirs set on for touring.
Pardon my ignorance with all things mechanical - i just ride the bastard lol.
I'm not a hardcore rider. most of the time i just go for long rides in the mountains or tour on the highway for a few hundred km, spending far too much times pushing down on the pegs to save my head. I swear i can feel my brain bouncing around in there...

 

[cookie99]

Aussie I have been riding for in excess of 48 years and have never had that problem but there could be any number of reasons.

My first bit of advice is SEE A DOCTOR! Do not muck around with your head or neck, it could be anything from stress, helmet fit, helmet weight, riding position, your eyesight, wind buffeting, wind noise, lack of good sunglasses, wrong songs on your IPod and many more but start with a Doctor.

What are you riding Aussie? Tire pressures? fork and rear shock settings (refer to manual) Steering head tension.

If your head is being buffeted by the wind you may need to change your screen, I am still on my stock screen after 8 years on my Gen 1 FZ1 but most of my friends have changed theirs.

Talk to your Doc and get back to us, maybe some others here may have some suggestions, we will certainly help if we can but the medical professionals should be your first port of call.

Good luck mate.

 

[mies]

I have had that also getting headache after riding. But for me that was due to the wind noise. So after I got some earplugs to get rid of the wind noise I never had it again.

But like Cookie said let yourself get checked out as you can never be te carefull when it comes to head and neck injuries

 

[ballmead]

I used to get headaches after trackdays but I put it down to heat exhaustion or extreme concentration (my feeble brain can't do too many things at once lol) as it gets bloody hot out here in Summer.
I have never had a headache riding on the street though.

 

[Aussie]

Thanks for the quick replies. I saw a doctor yesterday re the dizziness who is thinking sinus but wants to see my last MRI from z year or so ago. I have no idea where they are and I'm really not keen on rushing in to get another one since they're equal to roughly 50 xrays. I'm going to sit on that issue for another week to see if things improve on their own. As for the usual headaches I'm certain it's related to the jarring and shaking of my head and neck on bad surfaces and high winds. I might try one of my old helmets to see if it makes a difference but I really like my current helmet with the retractable sun visor.
I will keep you posted.

 

[Aussie]

Oh and I'm riding an 06 fz1s with stock suspension setup as per the user manual. I'd like to try a touring screen but I like the look of the stock screen and the feel of the wind on my upper body when I accelerate lol. A more expensive and lighter helmet might be on the cards.

 

[Dustin]

If you are getting headaches you should have an experienced apparel guy check the fit of your helmet.

When you ride, concentrate on being loose on the handlebars over bumpy surfaces. When riding over rough terrain, you shouldn't be jerking all around because your loose hands, bent elbows, slightly arched back and tight core muscles (suck in your stomach) should be enough 'suspension' to smooth out any bumps--especially on stock suspension.

I hope everything is ok for you, pretty worrying to experience those kinds of things while riding a bike

 

[pjspin0331]

If you are getting headaches you should have an experienced apparel guy check the fit of your helmet.

When you ride, concentrate on being loose on the handlebars over bumpy surfaces. When riding over rough terrain, you shouldn't be jerking all around because your loose hands, bent elbows, slightly arched back and tight core muscles (suck in your stomach) should be enough 'suspension' to smooth out any bumps--especially on stock suspension.

I hope everything is ok for you, pretty worrying to experience those kinds of things while riding a bike

that was my first instinct for you. maybe your helmet doesn't fit like it should. i got head aches from a helmet that was tight, but a little too tight. i was hoping the padding would work itself smaler after wearing it a lot, but that wasn't the case. anyway, you can't really take any chances. last thing you wanna do is get dizzy/ pass out while your riding. good luck with figuring it out. :stunta]: