A question or two on seat heights and lanky buggers like me

[firg]

Hi all,

I did my CBT on a CG125 and to stop my knees getting in the way of the bars turning all the way i had to pretty much sit on the pillion seat and operate the bike from back there.

I've been looking at different bikes and one thing has occured to me - seat heights. The CG has a seat height of 780mm. A bike that I've been pretty interested in is the Hornet 250, but that has a specified seat height of 760mm, which is even lower than the CG. I was thinking this was becuase the bike is a small cc one, but then even the hornet 600 only has a seat height of 790mm, 1cm heigher than the CG.

So, whats the deal? Will I have trouble fitting on the hornet without having to spread my knees out tothe side to get anything near a full lock on the bike?

Surely this cant be a major issue - there are many bikers my height or higher (I'm 6' 4"). If I wouldnt fit on these bikes, what kind of seat height should I be looking at?

btw - I'm trying to avoid getting a 125. I'm looking to do my test in an intensive course and then get a lower CC bike with low insurance and not too much power.

This is because apart from the normal weekend rideouts, my biggest and most frequent trip will be from Loughborough to Leamington - M1, M69, A46 (motorway and dual carrageway all the way). Its a bit of a bugger not using motorways and can almost double journey time.

Cheers for any help,

Loz
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Ex-'96 Bandit 600S -> '99 Bandit 600 -> K7 V-Strom 650

[McJamweasel]

It's not just the seat height thats important - the shape of the seat and the relationship with the pegs and bars is just as important. For example - the Triumph Bonneville seat is 5mm lower than the Speed Triple. On the Bonnie I can easily reach the floor with knees bent - on the Trip its feels as though I can only just touch the floor. It's all down to the shape of the seat.

My mate has a Hornet 250 and I can say from experience that it does feel a lot bigger than a CG. The bars are further away and the pegs are further back - so your knees are out of the way.

Get over to a dealers and have a sit on a load of bikes - its really the only way to tell.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[WATCHOUT!]

I am also 6'4" and ride a hornet 600. It's ok, but not extremely comfortable for long rides. I use it mainly in town so that's not a problem, but I'd not recommend it for longish trips (ie more than 2-3 hours -- not that the 80 mile tank would would make that possible without frequent interruptions).

Overall I can fit my legs at the very top edge of the tank cutouts. It's not too bad. But I think my next bike will be something like a Tiger or a GS of some sort -- it just feels soooo much more comfortable.

by the way, don't even think about something sportier than a hornet -- the only proper sportsbike where I could decently fit my frame is the R1.

Well it's up to you. I know enduros look naff, but sometimes you just have accept you're not built like frankie dettori and choose based on what would work for you.

[firg]

Cool - thanks guys.

Jammy - Any chance of PMing me an email or MSN addy for thus mate of yours? I have a few questions I'd like to ask

Watchout - I actually like the look of the Suzuki DL V-Strom, and the BMW GS Adv bikes... I dont know why everyone slags them off

But then, I also like the look of the BMW R1100R(Unfaired roadster) and the Triumph Thruxton I'm a retro guy me (not the oil leaking part tho )

I'm not gonna compain if someone gave me a SV1000 or a Blackbird tho
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Ex-'96 Bandit 600S -> '99 Bandit 600 -> K7 V-Strom 650

[WATCHOUT!]

well you're in business then! I actually do fancy the tiger a bit -- not a fan of twins and this seems to be the closest you can get to a big 4 cylinder trailie. Seriously, if you want to be comfortable, don't get a hornet. It's a blast though!

[Flip]

Just to add to what McJ said, the width of a bike will make a difference to the position too.

Don't rely on the seat height figures to much.

EDIT/ Although now I've read the Col's post again, I'm not sure if I added to it or reworded the part about seat shape. )

[firg]

Hmm, ok.

I think ill have to start out with something like the hornet (Cant really afford a big traily tbh :p) but I'll try to move to something like that as soon as poss. Probably at the end of uni.

Aaah, I've now Ad-blocked that clown picture and can surf BCF in peace again... I hate clowns

Actually one thing - vara 125 might be a posibility. Ive heard the can cruise at 65 comfortably, and with a full liscence insurance wouldnt be too bad. I could use that for the mway journeys...
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Ex-'96 Bandit 600S -> '99 Bandit 600 -> K7 V-Strom 650

[dodsi]

You would be surprised how low insurance on lower powered 600cc bikes is and 500cc bikes.

I am 6ft 3 and have no problems on bandits/ER-5 (only bikes I have owned other than 125's)

[bigdazz]

i had a similar dilema and after much deliberation bought a 98 fireblade which is as big a sports bike as you will find, the zx9r is about the same.newer sports bikes get smaller every year.
for a first big bike try an africa twin or a tiger. or a 96-99 zx6r with a restricter on it then after your 2 years you can just take the restricter out. I am 6 5 and can ride my mates zx6r quite comfortably although it depends on proportions i have 33 inch inside leg and a long body wheas you may have a 36 inch inside leg and a shorter body.

[bigdazz]

by the way failed my test on a er5 because couldnt do a u turn because my knees were hitting the bars.

[WATCHOUT!]

[Johnny GSX-R]

I had to use a trail bike to give me enough space between my knees ands the bars....
I did my direct access on a Honda SLR650 trailie too.

[kaillum]

i'm 6' 4" with a 34" inside leg.. I've started riding on an RS125.. Then moved up to a '99 CBR600, had a little play with an RGV250 for a couple of months and now moved onto an Aprilia RSV Factory.. Who said Sports Bikes are for the small??

Personally I couldn't get comfy on either the R1 or the ZX10R as I couldnt get my knees tucked in enough..

The best way to find whats comfortable is to get to the dealers and see what fits.. Dont accept that 'its uncomfortable because its a sports bike' thing.. There are LOTS of different bikes of all shapes and sizes.. and any style of bike you like, there will be one to fit you...

[WATCHOUT!]

[kaillum]

[WATCHOUT!]

[Zen Dog]

Im 6'4 and ive got a VFR750, which is perfectly comfy for my size (now i've fitted a double bubble).

Like you, i bashed my knees on the CG handlebars when turning on my CBT. But afterwards I got an NSR125, and i never found that too small, although it was a little heavy on the wrists sometimes.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, '10 600 Hornet - Previous - '11 CBF125, '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[muddycoffee]

I am 6'2", and I would say that if you look at the specified seat heights of bikes, they won't take into account how much that seat will go down when you sit on the bike.
OFten you have to adjust the rear shock to a high preload setting so that it doesn't sink too much. After all most bikes are designed for Japanese 8 stone rider!

I find that I am more comfortable with a naked bike with a flyscreen, because the bars are higher and the position is more upright. When you have a faired bike with clip on handlebars and leaning forward, you get sore neck, sore wrists, sore back, sore bum..
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Suzuki SV650 naked Blue curvy with Givi Screen and G force can.

[colin1]

im not tall and have found that the tallest seat height on any bike i have sat on, was on 600+ supermoto. so tht wd be good if u are tall
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colin1 is officially faster than god