Issues with Harley Low Rider S and ST’s Ergonomics and How to Fix Them

The Harley Davidson Low Rider S and Low Rider ST stand as highly desired Harley Softail models. Riders love them for their aggressive design elements, powerful Milwaukee-Eight engines, and better handling abilities compared to other Harley cruisers and baggers.

They may be among the best Harley bikes out there in the market. Still, the ergonomics of these bikes receive much criticism from orders mainly due to their effect on long-ride comfort and general riding experience.

Many trained bikers, alongside reviewers, have raised certain concerns over the Low Rider S and ST’s ergonomics. These concerns and issues are based on personal testing, user reviews, and feedback.

Those riders who want to purchase the Harley Low Rider S or Low Rider ST model or current owners seeking ergonomics or comfort-improving solutions will find this article useful. Continue reading this article to learn in detail about the issues with Harley Low Rider S and ST’s ergonomics and how to fix them.

The standard seats installed on the Harley Low Rider S and Low Rider ST receive the most frequent negative feedback and reviews from owners. Most riders report that this bike’s narrow seat design, along with its firm build, becomes uneasy after one hour of riding.

• Cushioning is missing on the Low Rider S and ST seats, which leads to the growth of pressure points that affect the tailbone. As a result, the ride becomes uncomfortable.

• The shape of the seat fails to offer sufficient support when touring for extended periods on these bikes.

• Riding with a passenger is also not a very favorable option for Low Rider S and ST.

Most riders who own the Low Rider S or ST model experience discomfort in their lower back regions within two hours of riding these bikes. Riders who want better support have turned to aftermarket seat options to make riding the Harley Low Rider S and ST pleasant.

• If you find the stock seat highly uncomfortable on your Low Rider S, replace it with a more comfortable one. You can opt for a gel bike seat or memory foam seat for better comfort on long rides.

• Riders who love to go long miles and touring must opt for installing a backrest for relaxed riding and avoiding back pain on long rides.

• Tall riders who are 6 feet or above will likely experience footpeg setup discomfort due to the sporty forward-leaning stance of the Low Rider S and ST.

• The bend in riders’ legs and knee angle while riding the Low Rider S and ST can be tiring or painful for taller riders.

• Insufficient or restricted legroom due to the installation of a mushroom-style air filter in the Low Rider S and ST reduces riders’ ability to stretch their legs. If you are a taller rider who rides this bike, you are likely to find the legroom restricted.

• Numbness in the foot can be common while riding the Low Rider S and ST models due to footpegs transmitting vibrations.

Taller riders often experience discomfort in their hips and knees while riding the Low Rider S and ST. This prompts them to switch to either forward foot controls or adjustable pegs to find relief.

• Forward foot control conversions and extended footpegs are some solutions to make the Low Rider S and ST somehow comfortable for taller riders. However, they might affect how this bike handles.

• Riders can also opt for anti-vibration peg inserts to decrease foot fatigue and numbness during the ride.

• Adjustable aftermarket pegs are a suitable solution for a more customized fit.

• The Harley Low Rider S and ST have low-rise handlebars. The low-positioned handlebar setup presents a slightly aggressive stance, considering the Low Rider S and ST are cruiser bikes. Such a riding style contradicts riders who want an upright riding stance.

• The low handlebar position leads to long-term pain in the wrists and shoulders.

• There is only a limited adjustability option when it comes to the handlebar position in the Low Rider S and ST. You will have to opt for an aftermarket solution.

• Vibrations pass through to your hands as they lead to increased fatigue levels.

Most riders choose to install taller handlebar risers or mini-ape hanger handlebars to make their rides more comfortable. This is how riders can reduce strain on wrists and back while riding the Low Rider S and ST on longer routes.

• Taller handlebars or the use of risers are among the most common solutions to ensure a more neutral riding stance on the Low Rider S and ST models.

• Users should wear padded gloves or should use jel grips to minimize the impact of vibrations at the bars.

• You can also use bar-mounted vibration dampeners for smooth riding and feel.

• While choosing the aftermarket handlebar option and risers, make sure they have a slight pulled-back angle for comfortable reach. This will help ensure an upright ride stance.

Both the Harley Low Rider S and Low Rider ST versions use Single Cartridge inverted front forks and hidden rear mono-shock. This suspension setup provides decent handling and cornering ability yet delivers an overly stiffer or firm ride experience on different terrains.

• The suspension feel is quite harsh over potholes and bumps.

• There is a limited adjustability option for different rider weights.

• Extra wheel travel will be better for heavy bike riders and especially for riding with a passenger.

• Most riders choose to replace stock suspension with slightly softer aftermarket shocks and fork setups to improve ride comfort on the Low Rider S and ST.

• Using an adjustable rear shock is a preferred option to improve the load management ability.

• If you are opting for the aftermarket setup, find an adjustable one with softer preload settings.

The Harley Low Rider S is a performance-oriented cruiser with a sportier stance. It has a small nose fairing installed towards the front only for a better look. It offers no wind protection on long rides and highway cruising.

On the other hand, the Harley Low Rider ST features a stock wide fairing, but the windscreen is quite small, failing to provide good wind protection. The Low Rider ST is meant for long rides and touring. Therefore, wind protection has to be good to ensure better comfort, as the air drag can cause fatigue and body aches.

• High-speed riding can become very uncomfortable as the wind speed or air drag increases, too.

• The design of the fairing and the size of the windscreen installed in the Low Rider ST model fails to deflect wind when compared to the wind protection ability of fully-dressed touring bikes.

• Both the Low Rider S and ST owners choose to install taller windshields together with deflectors to minimize air drag.

• Choose the windshield based on your size and stature.

Both the Harley Low Rider S and ST are designed for a pure solo riding experience. Both of these bikes don’t feature stock passenger seats or footpegs. It doesn’t feel so good to buy such an expensive Harley bike as the Low Rider S and ST with no room for a passenger or ride partner.

• Without the OEM pollution seating installed from the factory, riders are required to perform different mods to enable two-up riding.

• In certain cases, you may required to modify the bike’s frame to mount aftermarket parts.

• The seat's design tackles solo rider style rather than practical riding needs.

• Even though you can choose to install the passenger seat, the Low Rider S and ST are not ideally built for two-up riding.

• Most Harley Low Rider S and ST owners find it shocking that these performance-oriented models do not include passenger capacity until aftermarket mods are done.

• Users who install passenger seats mention several crucial points about their accessory installation experience.

• The curved lines of the Low Rider S and ST get disrupted when opting for the aftermarket seat.

• After you make this bike capable of two-up riding, the suspension system deals poorly due to the extra weight of the passenger.

The following options serve riders who like to ride with a partner on the back:

• You can buy the accessory passenger seat from Harley Davidson through an extra purchase.

• There will be many aftermarket options to convert your Low Rider S and ST models into a better two-up riding option.

• The vibrations from Milwaukee-Eight engines affect the smoothness of the ride by creating vibrations at the bar. The disruption at the handlebar also increases at a specific bike speed.

• As a result of the buzz of handlebars, the side mirrors become useless as they don’t provide clear views, especially at highway speeds.

• Riders can experience hand fatigue from the constant buzz at the bars.

• In the Low Rider S and ST, there are no factory-installed bar-end weights in the handlebars.

• Riders often install heavy bar-end weights, as well as anti-vibration mounts, to eliminate handlebar buzz and side mirror blur.

• You can also replace the stock side mirrors with more stable aftermarket options.

• You can also opt to install rubber-mounted bar risers.

• Using cruise control while riding on highways and open roads with low traffic can help avoid hand fatigue.

Though it doesn’t directly relate to ergonomics, poor engine heat management can make your ride very unpleasant and painful. Both the Low Rider S and ST models feature the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High-Output engines. They are known to generate extra heat, which can cook riders’ legs, especially while riding in slow-moving traffic and high temperatures.

• The heat from the engine reaches the thighs and calf muscles of riders riding the Low Rider S.

• There is also a lack of proper heat shields on the exhaust pipes.

• There are heat ventilation issues, especially when riding in stop-and-go traffic.

• Above all, these bikes feature an air-cooled system, which is not as effective as liquid-cooled engines.

• Riders living in hot climates often face this problem. They have to face leg burns and discomfort during the ride.

• Wearing heat-resistant riding pants and knee pads can prove to be a little helpful.

• Exhaust heat protection comes from aftermarket solutions that include heat wraps and heat shields.

• Keeping the engine clean and maintained can result in better heat management, but it can only have a marginal effect.

• If your bike’s engine is producing excessive heat, it may be due to some issue with the engine. Your bike may be running on a low oil level. So, regularly check your bike for any issues.

The Harley Davidson Low Rider S and ST models ensure superior performance cruising abilities while handling and appearance receive slight priority over whole-day rider comfort. This cruiser bike works well for those who are of average height or prefer to do urban commuting. On the other hand, taller riders who prefer long rides, along with riders who have some knee or back problems, will probably need aftermarket parts and require certain mods for better long-distance comfort.

• Replace the stock seat with a more plush, well-padded, and comfy option by Saddlemen or Corbin.

• Replace the stock handlebars with a slightly more pulled-back and taller option. Use risers to increase the height or sweptback angle of the handlebars.

• If you prefer to ride with a passenger, you will be required to make certain mods or additions, as the Low Rider S and ST are tailor-made for solo riders. You will be required to add a comfy passenger seat, footrests, and backrest for two-up riding.

• You will also be required to install vibration dampeners for smoother cruising.

• You will also be required to install luggage solutions for a better storage capacity. Always choose the motorcycle luggage options from Viking Bags.

Bikes like the Harley Low Rider S and ST become comfortable machines with suitable mods if you decide to customize them. If you want more comfort and better long-distance-biased ergonomics, there are better options for you in Harley’s touring lineup, including the Harley Street Glide and Road Glide as the most preferred options.