Comfortable sport bikes
Discussion
Been riding for many years and have owned an old fzr1000 exup for over 20 years but stopped riding it a few years ago due to wrist pain. I switched to naked bikes and currently ride a speed triple 1050. I do love the triple but am hankering after another sports bike and have had a gsxr1000 itch for years that just won’t go away.
As I am quite a large chap (fat) am I going to struggle to ride a gsxr and just end up with another bike that I can’t ride comfortably. I have ridden a k7 and loved how light the clutch and throttle felt but I didn’t ride it for any real length of time to really gauge what it was like over distance.
Any fatties in here that ride sports bikes, in particular a gsxr and get on ok with it.
As I am quite a large chap (fat) am I going to struggle to ride a gsxr and just end up with another bike that I can’t ride comfortably. I have ridden a k7 and loved how light the clutch and throttle felt but I didn’t ride it for any real length of time to really gauge what it was like over distance.
Any fatties in here that ride sports bikes, in particular a gsxr and get on ok with it.
The GSXR 1000 K3/4 is comfortable, or at least was for me at 5'8". Found it easier to get about on than the BMW K1200R I replaced it with which was a naked with bars instead of clip ons.
Really enjoyed that GSXR, rode it all weather, and was so light to maneuver around town and the torque meant you could be clumsy with the gearing.
Really enjoyed that GSXR, rode it all weather, and was so light to maneuver around town and the torque meant you could be clumsy with the gearing.
I had a GSXR600. 6ft 4 and over 20 stone.
It wasn't the right bike for me. Short rides it was fine, but anything over an hour and I will achy all over. Worst was a trip to North Wales from the South Coast. Nine hours because I was stopping every 20 minutes after the first 100 odd miles.
If you do get one make sure to get a decent long test ride.
It wasn't the right bike for me. Short rides it was fine, but anything over an hour and I will achy all over. Worst was a trip to North Wales from the South Coast. Nine hours because I was stopping every 20 minutes after the first 100 odd miles.
If you do get one make sure to get a decent long test ride.
After having a sports bike for the last 30 yrs, I'm done with them. Too uncomfortable and quite frankly, unnecessary. Far prefer to have a 'sit up' type bike with a decent engine.
The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
I needed a comfortable(ish) sport bike (5'11 14.5st, I'm not a fatty as you put it but I am fairly stocky) as I just couldn't get along with most of them and found the S1000RR to be very comfortable to the others in comparison. I own a RR and can ride it for long periods without too much discomfort. I find the cruise control on the motorway helps a lot and the riding position is good for me.
I wanted originally to buy a R1M which is a bike I still think is amazing but I just couldn't get on with the position sadly.
I wanted originally to buy a R1M which is a bike I still think is amazing but I just couldn't get on with the position sadly.
snagzie said:
In the traditional style of recommending ones own bike.......
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
With such an appraoch then it has to be an H2 SX. Probably best described as a "long distance sports bike" as it sits either at the sports end of sports tourers or the comfortable end of sports bikes, bepending on your view of such things. 197bhp in "out of the showroom" Kawasaki neutered trim but with 220bhp easily avaialbe with a can, a filter and a flash. 240+bhp fairly easily avilalbe if you're interested in chasing the really big numbers.
black-k1 said:
snagzie said:
In the traditional style of recommending ones own bike.......
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
With such an appraoch then it has to be an H2 SX. Probably best described as a "long distance sports bike" as it sits either at the sports end of sports tourers or the comfortable end of sports bikes, bepending on your view of such things. 197bhp in "out of the showroom" Kawasaki neutered trim but with 220bhp easily avaialbe with a can, a filter and a flash. 240+bhp fairly easily avilalbe if you're interested in chasing the really big numbers.
It's hard to get over the crazy shove the H2's have even in standard form and I love the supercharger sounds. If/when I buy one I would definitely turn it up or get rid of the factory detune to allow it to operate as it should do!
After having a sports bike for the last 30 yrs, I'm done with them. Too uncomfortable and quite frankly, unnecessary. Far prefer to have a 'sit up' type bike with a decent engine.
The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
Taff107 said:
After having a sports bike for the last 30 yrs, I'm done with them. Too uncomfortable and quite frankly, unnecessary. Far prefer to have a 'sit up' type bike with a decent engine.
The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
It's like deja vu all over again! The majority of peoples sportsbike riding ability on the road rarely goes anywhere near the limits or potential of the modern day sportsbike. Being able to ride something like a Multistrada or S1000 XR well can be a good equaliser
Scobblelotcher said:
black-k1 said:
snagzie said:
In the traditional style of recommending ones own bike.......
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
GSXS1000F or newer GSXS1000GT? Gixxer thou K5 engine, fairing, loads of room, upright bars. Needs a better shock and a remap to sort out snatchy throttle but doesnt cost that much.
With such an appraoch then it has to be an H2 SX. Probably best described as a "long distance sports bike" as it sits either at the sports end of sports tourers or the comfortable end of sports bikes, bepending on your view of such things. 197bhp in "out of the showroom" Kawasaki neutered trim but with 220bhp easily avaialbe with a can, a filter and a flash. 240+bhp fairly easily avilalbe if you're interested in chasing the really big numbers.
It's hard to get over the crazy shove the H2's have even in standard form and I love the supercharger sounds. If/when I buy one I would definitely turn it up or get rid of the factory detune to allow it to operate as it should do!
Oh and yeah, course I'd rather have a H2 SX, but there is quite a huge price difference. Plus insurance is silly strangely on the H2 SX
Edited by snagzie on Thursday 10th March 10:09
Surely the most comfortable sports bike is the Aprilia Tuono ? ...its a sportsbike with a more upright riding position
Great website here for comparing bike riding positions, if you know something you are comfy on start with that first to compare
http://cycle-ergo.com/
Great website here for comparing bike riding positions, if you know something you are comfy on start with that first to compare
http://cycle-ergo.com/
Similar story here. I love sports bikes - the lightness, urgency, excitement, usability (torque), etc.
I had a new blade in 2014, but i'm 6ft and a stocky build, so never felt massively comfy.
I also had a K1300S, ZZR1200 and two blackbirds because they're a good compromise, but lacking the urgency and lightness that i wanted. K1300S was closest to perfection, but heavy and i never liked the front end feel.
I also had a few older litre bikes (929 blade, 954 blade, early R1, ZX-9) and they're more comfy, but still too cramped, and were missing the newness and gadgets i wanted.
I then went to full tourers and adventure bikes. Had a new Africa Twin because i wanted gadgets and comfort but it was lacking any sense of fun and just an enormous tank of a thing. I had a GTR 1400 for a bit, and that had more "engine", but man it was a big ol' bus.
I tried an S1000XR as on paper that might be perfect (engine, gadgets, etc) but it was just too buzzy and left my fingers tingling after 2 miles on the A1. Plus it was just a bit too big.
Finally i've settled on an S1000R with a half-decent screen. I've fitted hand guards, tank bag and tail pack. It's now jack-of-all trades. It's awesome. Riding position feels close to a K1300S (which was perfection for me), but it has all the bells-n-whistles, an epic engine, and the lightness and flickability that i love. Compromise is there's some windblast (despite the screen) but that keeps speeds sensible, plus the front end looks...erm...challenging
I had a new blade in 2014, but i'm 6ft and a stocky build, so never felt massively comfy.
I also had a K1300S, ZZR1200 and two blackbirds because they're a good compromise, but lacking the urgency and lightness that i wanted. K1300S was closest to perfection, but heavy and i never liked the front end feel.
I also had a few older litre bikes (929 blade, 954 blade, early R1, ZX-9) and they're more comfy, but still too cramped, and were missing the newness and gadgets i wanted.
I then went to full tourers and adventure bikes. Had a new Africa Twin because i wanted gadgets and comfort but it was lacking any sense of fun and just an enormous tank of a thing. I had a GTR 1400 for a bit, and that had more "engine", but man it was a big ol' bus.
I tried an S1000XR as on paper that might be perfect (engine, gadgets, etc) but it was just too buzzy and left my fingers tingling after 2 miles on the A1. Plus it was just a bit too big.
Finally i've settled on an S1000R with a half-decent screen. I've fitted hand guards, tank bag and tail pack. It's now jack-of-all trades. It's awesome. Riding position feels close to a K1300S (which was perfection for me), but it has all the bells-n-whistles, an epic engine, and the lightness and flickability that i love. Compromise is there's some windblast (despite the screen) but that keeps speeds sensible, plus the front end looks...erm...challenging
Edited by PTF on Thursday 10th March 10:33
Conversly, i don't like a position that's too upright at A-road speeds.
Having had bikes with clip-ons in the old days, I find my Ducati ST is a good compromise.
Which is no use to anyone wanting a bike from this decade!
Really don't know what I'd replace it with.
Possibly have to decide whether I wanted a couple of hours on B-roads, or serious touring.
Having had bikes with clip-ons in the old days, I find my Ducati ST is a good compromise.
Which is no use to anyone wanting a bike from this decade!
Really don't know what I'd replace it with.
Possibly have to decide whether I wanted a couple of hours on B-roads, or serious touring.
Probably the main reason I ride a KTM 1290 is because of comfort. The GT still has 170bhp and plenty of speed but lots of legroom (I'm 33" inside leg) and is very comfortable, especially with the heated comfort seat. I used to ride a ZX6r years ago which is just physically too small for me now, the Hayabusa was great but too little legroom with a low seat, the KTM is just right.
But if I was riding locally for maybe 100 mile Sunday morning blat (not touring), I think the BMW S1000RR I tried at a show felt really comfortable, for a sports bike.
But if I was riding locally for maybe 100 mile Sunday morning blat (not touring), I think the BMW S1000RR I tried at a show felt really comfortable, for a sports bike.
I find comfort to be very subjective depending on your build, any pre existing injuries etc.
A good example of this is a friend of mine. He rode a VFR800 for years and always complained it was uncomfortable. Yet this was a far from common opinion but it was down to his individual circumstances following a bad crash years ago. He then moved on to a KTM 790 Duke and found that to be perfect! We travelled miles together with him on that and he never complained.
I never find sportsbikes uncomfortable, I'm 40, 5ft 8 with childrens legs and they seem to suit me perfectly. My current bike is a GSXS1000 which is by far the comfiest thing I've ridden let alone owned. I think a lot of that is down to the low seat!
A good example of this is a friend of mine. He rode a VFR800 for years and always complained it was uncomfortable. Yet this was a far from common opinion but it was down to his individual circumstances following a bad crash years ago. He then moved on to a KTM 790 Duke and found that to be perfect! We travelled miles together with him on that and he never complained.
I never find sportsbikes uncomfortable, I'm 40, 5ft 8 with childrens legs and they seem to suit me perfectly. My current bike is a GSXS1000 which is by far the comfiest thing I've ridden let alone owned. I think a lot of that is down to the low seat!
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