Had the same problem on my 2008 Heritage so last year before I started on my annual 5800 mile trip West I had a set of 4" Risers with 2.5" pullback put on the bike. Really took care of my problem with the burning and aching between my shoulder blades. By the way I'm 79 years young and I ride out West every year. Just got back from Glacier NP this year, still no shoulder aches. Hope you can find one of the suggestions on the Forum that will help.

 

The RK has a different seat height and different bars. It might just be that they fit your frame a lot better. You might never get the same comfort from another bike. That's why Harley makes more than one ride.

 

I have had the same burning between the shoulders on a RK and an Ultra....until I changed the handlebars.

It really is just a matter of setting your bike up right...handlebars, seat, backrest foot pegs/floor boards. In my experience to get rid of the burning it almost exclusively a matter of handlebar positioning.

This is the way that has always worked for me to get the most comfortable handlebar position-


Sit on your bike

Have someone hold it up straight for you

Put your feet on the pegs

Close your eyes

Put your hands out to where it is most comfortable to hold them

Open your eyes...where ever your hands are, that is where you want the handlebar grips to be.


Kevin

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. As I said in original post, if buying a Road King was an option I'd get one. Unfortunately I can't get the US spec models in Japan anymore. Regarding handlebar position, RK bars are lower than mine but angle is different. But, I won't gamble on another bar change unless I'm 100% sure it will make a difference.

 

Those Heli-Bars are fugly but I'd love to rent a Softail with those installed -- just to try out a lot of options to see what works best.

 

I agree. See my sig.