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Comfiest bike in the world???

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ab2504
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Joined: 09 May 2008
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PostPosted: 12:40 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Comfiest bike in the world??? Reply with quote

Hi all,

Newbie 1st post -

Let me 1st introduce myself. I live in London and commute about 2 hours a day - thru typical potholed botched roads. Current bike is Aprilia Tuono.

Question... What is the comfiest bike?

I'm no young 'un any more and I've got arthritis/joint problems of the kind that means I might not be able to bike commute any more.

With the hours I do on the bike I am getting jarred/shaken to bits which isnt helping my joints. I need a bike that completely smooths out all the road imperfections & is reasonably upright. Performance & handling is not a priority - the only consideration is comfort...

The only thoughts I have had is something like a Suzuki DRZ400 (or similar) off-road type bike with long travel suspension (& getting the suspension sorted).

Ideas/thoughts?
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks.
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Faraz
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PostPosted: 12:52 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the forums.

A DRZ wont be too comfortable, Goldwing FTW. Cool
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c_dug
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PostPosted: 13:03 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never ridden one so i havent got any first hand experience but i'd imagin something along the lines of a pan euro would suit your needs.

If you got the DZR set up right im sure it would be suitable, the only one ive ridden was off road so cant really offer much advice there.

c_dug
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MarJay
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Re: Comfiest bike in the world??? Reply with quote

ab2504 wrote:

The only thoughts I have had is something like a Suzuki DRZ400 (or similar) off-road type bike with long travel suspension (& getting the suspension sorted).

Ideas/thoughts?
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks.


DRZ has a very hard seat. It is tall which is good for commuting and it does a lot of things fairly well. One thing it does not do well is be comfortable.

I would have said a Super Scoot like a Honda Silverwing or a Suzuki Bergman would be ideal. Nice relaxed riding position, no gears to faff about with. Reasonably narrow to do traffic carving and pretty soft squidgy suspension.

To be honest, with a Tuono pretty much any 'softer' bike would be more comfortable, but different riding positions suit different people. For example, the 'sit up and beg' style of a Yamaha Diversion might be good for not scrunching up your limbs, but it puts strain on your lower back because your spine is vertical.

A VFR800 is good for the back, because the spine isn't stressed, but might not be good for the wrists.

Basically you need to test ride a load of different bikes and make a judgement. You need to test ride them for AT LEAST the length of time of your typical commute, and you need to do it in similar conditions.

Off the top of my head, here is a list of bikes with a reputation for being comfortable:

Arrow Triumph Tiger

Arrow VFR750/800

Arrow Pan European

Arrow BMW R1200RT

Arrow Yamaha diversion

Arrow Suzuki Bergman

Arrow CBR600F

Arrow Honda Varadero 1000 {Edit}<-- actually this is widely considered one of the comfiest road bikes you can get - but again if you have back problems it may not suit. Looking at your post it seems like you want a smooth ride and no limb contortion. The Varadero might be a good bet!!{edit}

Also you'll need to factor in bike width (for filtering) fuel economy and how heavy the bike is.

Personally I'd try a Tiger and a Bergman, and I might even go a bit Ewan Mcgregor and try a big BMW, but I can't imagine that they are really practical for filtering with those huge cylinder heads.
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kawashima
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PostPosted: 13:23 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Or smaller Pan = Deauville?
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MarJay
But it's British!



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PostPosted: 13:25 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

kawashima wrote:
Or smaller Pan = Deauville?


Good idea! But over in the UK they are known as the 'Dullville' because they have a reputation for being boring! Smile
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FreshAL
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PostPosted: 13:30 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

You say performance isn't an issue, so I'd look at bikes in the more like 600cc category than litre plus bikes.

- Honda Deauville - armchair comfort and not as heavy as a Pan European. Fixed luggage, classic commuter.

- BMW F650GS - Slightly longer suspension, bit different riding position. BWM fitted luggage is excellent, if expensive. Also consider 650CS, fitted with zero maintenance belt drive (ugly as sin that tho)
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sagalout
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PostPosted: 13:44 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Tiger I had was incredibly comfortable and plush over bad surfaces and potholes. Only thing is you need to be fairly tall to manouvre it about plus it weighs a ton (this is the 955i shape)
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Timmeh
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PostPosted: 13:46 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1 for the 600F.

It's well comfy.
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veeeffarr
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PostPosted: 13:54 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Strike the VFR off of the list, it's not easy on the back, although there's more legroom than on most bikes.
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panrider_uk
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PostPosted: 14:06 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't recommend the Pan particularly for someone with arthritis - the riding position can put a bit of weight on your wrists.

The Silverwing looks very comfortable. The Wing for the ultimate in motorcycle comfort.

Mark
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MarJay
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PostPosted: 14:11 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Toby R wrote:
Strike the VFR off of the list, it's not easy on the back, although there's more legroom than on most bikes.


Depends on the person. I've read reports that people with back issues have found that they are improved when sitting on a VFR. I suspect you'd have to be the right height to suit it, and its going to be better for your back than a Tuono...
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veeeffarr
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PostPosted: 15:37 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

MarJay wrote:
Toby R wrote:
Strike the VFR off of the list, it's not easy on the back, although there's more legroom than on most bikes.


Depends on the person. I've read reports that people with back issues have found that they are improved when sitting on a VFR. I suspect you'd have to be the right height to suit it, and its going to be better for your back than a Tuono...


That's true, but you need to look at how popular VFR bar risers are.

I have back issues, and they're not improved by the VFR, never mind the fact its hard to manoeuvre at low speed or with the engine off.

I've done 1,000 miles on mine since last Thursday and I'd say from the torso up it's a sports bike, on the bottom it's more of traillie sort of position, but I am over 6 foot.

Rode an SV once, now that was a crippler.
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neatbik
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PostPosted: 19:04 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive heard that suzuki v-stroms are comfy, ive never ridden one though so i cant really vouch for it Thumbs Up
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Itchy
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PostPosted: 19:35 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Honda PC800
Honda NT680V
NTV650 if you can get a big screen for it

Both just about thin enough to filter properly ,

The Pan - way too wide and heavy it doesn't fit when you REALLY need to filter

VFR750/800 same as above lighter but its kinda fat with a sporty kind of position.

CBR600F as again IL4 feels very wide compared to an NTV.

But if you don't filter much then any will be fine, I filter a great deal , since the NTV is just over 2ft wide take off the bar ends , stick some after market mirrors on and you can fit into the tiniest of spaces,
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Wave2k
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PostPosted: 19:46 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive ridden a R1200GS with Ohlins suspention setup and that was pretty comfortable, also had a bit of poke although i didnt like the ABS brakes much.
Its quite weird how at a standstill, when you rev it, it shakes Smile.
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unzey
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PostPosted: 20:38 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

yamaha tdm 900
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G
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PostPosted: 22:04 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is your commute just in London, or do you get to some faster roads?

A supermoto would be an ideal choice I'd say, but I'd get the seat re-done so that it's much comfier.

A typically 'comfortable' bike like some of the above won't be so great on pot-holed roads, as I'm presuming you've worked out Smile.
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hmmmnz
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PostPosted: 01:58 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

i think the aprilia pegaso 650 or the bmw funduro 650 (essentially the same bike) i had a ride on the pegaso, and the ride was sooo soft,
the seat was like jelly, the only downside is its a lumpy single,
but depending on how you look at it it could be a good thing,
it ran out of steam around 100 but would go faster if needed im sure,
fairly torquey and very easy to ride Thumbs Up
thats where i'd throw my money.
and a decent one will only set you back a grand or just over Thumbs Up
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chris-red
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PostPosted: 02:02 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

unzey wrote:
yamaha tdm 900


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WildGoose
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PostPosted: 12:18 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vote for some big engined dual sport thing, i've owned a Triumph Tiger 955, and ridden a newish Honda Varadero.

The tiger is like an armchair, but as someone has mentioned its heavy, and tall, I couldn't manouvre it around much just sitting on it, had to get off. But at 5'10'' I am by no means tall, and managed.

It's all day kind of comfort, did Watford to Wolverhampton in one stint, and one stint back. Tank range is good (300+ miles). Tis designed for soaking up crap roads, but handling could be described as relaxed.

They aren't the cheapest bikes either.
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unzey
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PostPosted: 16:42 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote

chris-red wrote:
unzey wrote:
yamaha tdm 900


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