Topic: Modern sportbike seating positions ?

[jsaab2748]

Yes, I know this has been talked about before, but I need some specifics. I've never actually driven a modern crotch rocket, and have looked at a new old stock cbr 1000rr with 0 miles for a good price. Wondering if i can actually ride the thing for any length of time. The seating is such that I wonder how it makes the wrists and shoulders feel. I really want to buy this thing, but obviously not if
I can't stand to stay on it. Any sport bike guys out there? Thx.

[rbmgf7]

i had a buddy that said he rode his r6 for almost 12 hours straight. i know he went on numerous long (few hour) rides nonstop and never complained about the comfort. also, i depends on your build. he was a fairly tall guy, so his physique was probably more compatable for that bike. whereas, i'm real short and hunching over from reaching out to the handlebars starts to make my back hurt. i usually can't ride for more than 30 minutes at a time.

[jsaab2748]

I hear ya. I'm 5'7'' and it seems like I'm all hunched over reaching for the grips. Please keep it coming guys. I'm gonna use this to decide if I really want this thing.

[333]

An old Harley guy I know put it this way:

"I don't see how anyone can ride like that, all bent over like a dog $h!tting a razor blade!"

[okie]

In 2006 I got a brand-new VF800 Interceptor.   Every time I rode it my hands got numb within the first mile.  The problem never went away, so, after 4 months, the bike did. 

[tramp]

never heard of anybody feeling good after a 3hr ride on a crotch rocket

[eldar]

Why not check out the 919? Not so leaned over as a crotcher.

[jdigga]

^ Agreed.  I sat on the 919 at the MC show and it was a perfect fit.  Relaxed upright position yet still sporty.  It remains on my short list for when I can get onto a modern bike.

I'm average height (5'9") but have that "positive ape index" so my reach is 6'1".  Still, I don't like having to reach for the bars. 

It's not just about all the weight on the wrists and shoulders--you also have to hold your neck up, and with higher pegs for cornering clearance your legs will be folded up too.

[CBGhia]

I used to ride my Ducati Monster with clip-ons from Fort Riley, KS to Arlington, TX  several times a year.  It was my only mode of transportation.   It wasn't the most comfortable ride ever, but it didn't hurt.  I think I could ride longer on a CBR though. 
One thing you have to learn to do is use your waist to hold you up.  You shouldnt support yourself with your wrists.  Once you et up to speed the air will hold you up so it can be pretty comfortable.  My biggest complaint was that my ass hurt after a long ride. 

I have read about people having numb wrists with some bikes, and they say that heavy bar ends and gel grips will usually take care of that problem.

[jdigga]

Maybe that riding position is a good thing then--develop that posterior chain strength! 

[Frankenkit]

That's actually something road bikers (er... bicyclists) use on their little hunched over bikes w/ drops.  Use your core to support your upper body (strengthen abs, lats, and those big ol' muscles on your lower back, glutes, too) and you won't put so much weight on your hands/forearms.

[bwaller]

The trick is to pick your roads because you'll need to maintain 100mph in order to stay in a partial windblast and keep the weight off your arms.

All joking aside, my son rides a 750Gixxer and I'm great with the position for about an hour then I have to get off the thing.

I do have friends my age (fifties....) that ride modern stuff and don't have any more problems than I do on my K3 so give it a shot, maybe you'll love it.

[jsaab2748]

I thought about the 919, probably what I should get, but I'm mesmorized by the cbr. I've heard of using the abs to hold the upper body upright, and that's probably my strongest asset. Can't say as much about the shoulders and wrists tho. Anyone use bars with a little more rise? Do they make a substantial difference? I keep seeing guys going down the road with their clutch hand resting on their left thigh and driving one handed. Makes me wonder what's up. And how is it during decelleration?

[ofreen]

It helps if you are in decent physical condition.  I like sport bikes, having had a few.  The newer ones are getting higher in the back, making you feel like you are going downhill even when on the flat.  This is to compensate a little for their tendency to wheelie anytime you are above idle.  If you are reasonably spry and your wrists and knees don't suffer, the thing most likely to get to you is your neck from having to look up all the time.  But you can get used to it.  There are Helibars for most models that helps with this. 

Have you ridden a recent liter sportbike?  If you haven't, you will have your eyes opened.  All I can say is be careful at first and find out what you've got, or you will, as they say, end up wearing it as a hat. 

Is the CBR a 2007 model?  I have to say I prefer it to the 2008, but we'll see.

[azuredesign]

I used to ride my Ducati Monster with clip-ons from Fort Riley, KS to Arlington, TX  several times a year.  It was my only mode of transportation.   It wasn't the most comfortable ride ever, but it didn't hurt.  I think I could ride longer on a CBR though. 
One thing you have to learn to do is use your waist to hold you up.  You shouldnt support yourself with your wrists.  Once you et up to speed the air will hold you up so it can be pretty comfortable.  My biggest complaint was that my ass hurt after a long ride. 

I have read about people having numb wrists with some bikes, and they say that heavy bar ends and gel grips will usually take care of that problem.

I rode out to and back from western MA on Tuesday afternoon on my Hayabusa to see what I would feel like after 200 miles. It becomes pretty standard practice after a bit to not load your body weight on your hands when riding in what is basically a fetal position, and I can keep my balance using my knees and feet. Additionally, my gut is sufficient to engage the tank, if I'm seated close to it, and that helps as well. It wasn't bad to do the 200, and it went by without any discomfort to speak of. I found that there is enough seat room to get a couple of positions out of, even though there's not really anywhere to move your feet to. ( I miss the days when passenger pegs were at the same vertical level as the riders, like on the cb's). My right wrist did get a little numb at one point but it was pretty simple to move my hand around and still maintain the throttle setting. If I had remembered to put a throttle rocker on and wear ear plugs, I would have been fine.

The bad thing about the sport bike seating position for me, is lateral visibility, I'm used to looking over my left shoulder at intersections where the oncoming traffic is at an acute(less than 90 degree) angle, and now I have to strain to see what's coming at me.

There are all sorts of bar risers and adjustable foot pegs to help you find a more comfortable seating position on the new crotch rockets, and I know a lot of folks have used them with good results. I didn't have any residual shoulder or neck aches following the ride, and I'm pretty sure I can go a couple of hundred more miles in a day if needed. However, after riding the Yamaha FJR and the Concours 14, I'd go with one of those bikes if I was doing big mileage regularly. Because you are more upright, it's easier to see the scenery.

[jsaab2748]

It helps if you are in decent physical condition.  I like sport bikes, having had a few.  The newer ones are getting higher in the back, making you feel like you are going downhill even when on the flat.  This is to compensate a little for their tendency to wheelie anytime you are above idle.  If you are reasonably spry and your wrists and knees don't suffer, the thing most likely to get to you is your neck from having to look up all the time.  But you can get used to it.  There are Helibars for most models that helps with this. 

Have you ridden a recent liter sportbike?  If you haven't, you will have your eyes opened.  All I can say is be careful at first and find out what you've got, or you will, as they say, end up wearing it as a hat. 

Is the CBR a 2007 model?  I have to say I prefer it to the 2008, but we'll see.

These have been my thoughts too. The bike I'm looking at is a 2004 model, with zero miles.
The financing is at a very low rate with no freight or set up charges. It aint the latest and greatest, but heck, I wanted one four years ago, so it'll be good enough. And no, I haven't been on a modern litre bike, but look forward to that very possibility . Thanks to ALL for the responses.

[tramp]

i agree that the 919 is a good bike for position and ride
i just can't get ovet that bone ugly fuel tank and only one color

[nickjtc]

Nick Saunders (Sanders?) the fellow that holds the record for the fastest ride around the world on a motorcycle did it on a R1.......

For me, being a GHOF, the issue with the sprty bike riding position is not the weight-on-wrists thing, but the crick I get in my neck having to tilt it back to look ahead. Having said that, when I got my '00 VFR800 I immediately put a Corbin seat and Helibars on it. Transformed it from being so-so for comfort, to being capable of Iron Butt Qualifier rides (1000/24; 1500/36; 2000/48). And a great 'office' to do rider training from.

It's interesting how the cruiser crowd can't look beyond the feet-out-in-the-gynacologists-stirrups riding position.

[MRieck]

 I've done 725 miles in one day on my busa. It's got a 3/4" riser plate and TL1000 pegs which drop the peg height a good bit. I would just stop about every 100 miles

[GroovieGhoulie]

Is the CBR a 2007 model?  I have to say I prefer it to the 2008, but we'll see.

Me too.  If I won the lotto, I'd pick up a '07 Repsol edition and use it as a pure track machine.  Take all the street stuff off and make it a toy.

[detdrbuzzard]

i had an '88 katana 1100 and the handle bars was not the problem. the seat was too low and my legs were cramped so make sure you have a good fit there as far as the handlebars you may want to see if there are some handlebar risers for it, that will bring the bars up about an inch. that may make all the difference in the world for you amd take the weight off your arms