Too old for a Sportsbike

Too old for a Sportsbike

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Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,334 posts

108 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Was lucky to have the day off and was out and about on the bike. I had set up a test ride on the current Fireblade (I've never ridden any Blades). I was looking forward to it, even if the Fireblade is no longer top of the super bike tree.

It was a very good bike but overriding impression was discomfort and pain. I might not have helped that I took a circuitous and good route to the dealer on the S 1KR so had been riding a good 90 minutes already. Still, I hadn't expected the Blade to cause such a problem for my knees, wrists and arse. When I got onto some decent roads and could keep the speed up it was okay but the good roads were interspersed with 30 and 40 limits and the last half an hour was not nice. I had to get the bike back so couldn't stop for a break (which I would have done otherwise). I'm not that old, not overweight and reasonably fit for my age but clearly I am now too old to ride some sportsbikes! It was a relief to ride home on the BMW.

Overall I would say I preferred the Fireblade 10%-20% of the time (in the corners) but overall the BMW is better for me. The Honda had an aftermarket exhaust but I still preferred the sound of my standard bike. For takling some new roads I found near the dealer I think the BMW was perhaps easier to ride quickly but then I am used to it now so that is probably a factor.

Feeling old :-(



LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I bet I'm older than you and there are others on here older still who are still riding sportsbikes, I've never understood the struggle to get comfy on them and I'm far from a healthy specimen. I rarely ache much after a long ride and wonder if this is because I don't ride on my wrists, I have the levers moved to suit my arm position and stay relaxed.

I'm not the fastest rider out there, nor the slowest either.

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I would imagine the pain that a lot of riders feel is due to letting their core muscles go to wreck and ruin, so they end up putting their weight on their hands.

Esceptico

Original Poster:

7,334 posts

108 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
I try not to put weight on my wrists and don't have a problem with the BMW but ended up having more weight than usual as legs were so uncomfortable. I don't remember having such problems pre accident (but it was a long time ago and I was obviously younger). Maybe I just need to spend enough time on a sportsbike so that my body adapts.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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LoonR1 said:
I have the levers moved to suit my arm position

.
Top tip which a surprising amount of people don't observe.

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
I try not to put weight on my wrists and don't have a problem with the BMW but ended up having more weight than usual as legs were so uncomfortable. I don't remember having such problems pre accident (but it was a long time ago and I was obviously younger). Maybe I just need to spend enough time on a sportsbike so that my body adapts.
Compare the two, the BMW is bolt-upright compared to the Fireblade, so it's not surprising you don't suffer on your bike.

http://cycle-ergo.com/

ThrottleBod

258 posts

148 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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The people who say they never ache, do you commute by sportsbike at all too?

I try to keep the weight off my wrists as much as possible and it's fine when I'm out for a fun ride. Always ache when committing though or is there no way around that?

J B L

4,199 posts

214 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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LoonR1 said:
I bet I'm older than you and there are others on here older still who are still riding sportsbikes, I've never understood the struggle to get comfy on them and I'm far from a healthy specimen. I rarely ache much after a long ride and wonder if this is because I don't ride on my wrists, I have the levers moved to suit my arm position and stay relaxed.

I'm not the fastest rider out there, nor the slowest either.
hehe I am going to lend you the SP2 for a spell.

Did a good 2 h straight on it tonight and I must admit my neck could do with a quick massage. The R1's a sport torer next to it.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
ThrottleBod said:
The people who say they never ache, do you commute by sportsbike at all too?

I try to keep the weight off my wrists as much as possible and it's fine when I'm out for a fun ride. Always ache when committing though or is there no way around that?
Not in 10 years. I used to use a CBR6F and an R1 occasionally, but again never felt the pain. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I do think a lot of it is about relaxed bent arms, well angled levers and using my core muscles not my shoulders, neck, arms etc to support me.

bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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LoonR1 said:
ThrottleBod said:
The people who say they never ache, do you commute by sportsbike at all too?

I try to keep the weight off my wrists as much as possible and it's fine when I'm out for a fun ride. Always ache when committing though or is there no way around that?
....but I do think a lot of it is about relaxed bent arms, well angled levers and using my core muscles not my shoulders, neck, arms etc to support me.
^This,
It's amazing how many people seem to have their bikes setup to be a torture device.
I cut around/commute on my RSV4 with zero issues.

ThrottleBod

258 posts

148 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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I'll have a look into adjusting the angle of my levers then. Never even considered it to be honest. Cheers

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
bass gt3 said:
LoonR1 said:
ThrottleBod said:
The people who say they never ache, do you commute by sportsbike at all too?

I try to keep the weight off my wrists as much as possible and it's fine when I'm out for a fun ride. Always ache when committing though or is there no way around that?
....but I do think a lot of it is about relaxed bent arms, well angled levers and using my core muscles not my shoulders, neck, arms etc to support me.
^This,
It's amazing how many people seem to have their bikes setup to be a torture device.
I cut around/commute on my RSV4 with zero issues.
I shudder at the amount of people riding round bolt upright with their arms locked and the forces that must be jarring their way up the riders arms and then back down to the front suspension unsettling it and making the bike feel skittish, so they tense up even more.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
I bet I'm older than you and there are others on here older still who are still riding sportsbikes, I've never understood the struggle to get comfy on them and I'm far from a healthy specimen. I rarely ache much after a long ride and wonder if this is because I don't ride on my wrists, I have the levers moved to suit my arm position and stay relaxed.

I'm not the fastest rider out there, nor the slowest either.
You probably have 25 years on me and I find sports bikes uncomfortable.

I am a fine specimen but get back problems. Maybe certain peoples frames don't suit sportsbikes. Unfortunatley for me they just look too damn good.

Tribal Chestnut

2,996 posts

181 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
sc0tt said:
LoonR1 said:
I bet I'm older than you and there are others on here older still who are still riding sportsbikes, I've never understood the struggle to get comfy on them and I'm far from a healthy specimen. I rarely ache much after a long ride and wonder if this is because I don't ride on my wrists, I have the levers moved to suit my arm position and stay relaxed.

I'm not the fastest rider out there, nor the slowest either.
You probably have 25 years on me and I find sports bikes uncomfortable.

I am a fine specimen but get back problems. Maybe certain peoples frames don't suit sportsbikes. Unfortunatley for me they just look too damn good.
Me thinks a certain someone is a smaller gentleman, hence the lack of discomfort on sports bikes.

This theory of mine would also go some way to explaining their aggressive style of internetting.

rat840771

2,023 posts

164 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
interesting points, i do find at low speeds my wrists hurt and i will have a go and adjusting the angle on the levers when i fit the ASV levers, gripping the tank with my legs helps on my wrists/arms, but this can also be uncomfortable. How is this overcome/made easier? Do you add the grippy things to the tank ( is it stomp grips?)

LoonR1 said:
ThrottleBod said:
The people who say they never ache, do you commute by sportsbike at all too?

I try to keep the weight off my wrists as much as possible and it's fine when I'm out for a fun ride. Always ache when committing though or is there no way around that?
Not in 10 years. I used to use a CBR6F and an R1 occasionally, but again never felt the pain. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I do think a lot of it is about relaxed bent arms, well angled levers and using my core muscles not my shoulders, neck, arms etc to support me.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Esceptico said:
Maybe I just need to spend enough time on a sportsbike so that my body adapts.
When I got my GSXR I was a tad uncomfortable but got used to it, After a short time it was fine to ride all day without any issues.

Swapped to my R1 and the riding position is quite different. I have a issue with my hip on the right side for some reason. I end up getting off hip clicking and hobbling about like a old man tbh. Hopefully some rear sets will sort that when I can eventually find some.





bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
If the levers aren't set at the right angle then your hands are cranked at the wrist. So when you brake, rather than the force being directly along the arm, to the wrist and to the bar, the wrist is now at an angle. So you are now trying to stop the wrist rotating over or under the bars. Not a surprise that you'll experience discomfort, not only in the wrists but all over as you tense up trying to restrain yourself.
Do you buy a car and leave the seat in it's original position????

mikal83

5,340 posts

251 months

Monday 29th June 2015
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My FJR has 155 horses on tap, with the screen being adjustable and a comfortable seat, it keeps up with the young uns.

Tribal Chestnut

2,996 posts

181 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
rat840771 said:
interesting points, i do find at low speeds my wrists hurt and i will have a go and adjusting the angle on the levers when i fit the ASV levers, gripping the tank with my legs helps on my wrists/arms, but this can also be uncomfortable. How is this overcome/made easier? Do you add the grippy things to the tank ( is it stomp grips?)
I suspect Stomp Grips or similar would make a huge difference. On my old Thundercat, which is a relaxed old barge next to a current sports bike, probably compared to any other sports bike actually, is so much more comfortable in leathers as I have a lot more thigh grip on the tank, as opposed to with textiles that have me sliding all over the place no matter how hard I clench.

bass gt3

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Tribal Chestnut said:
I suspect Stomp Grips or similar would make a huge difference. On my old Thundercat, which is a relaxed old barge next to a current sports bike, probably compared to any other sports bike actually, is so much more comfortable in leathers as I have a lot more thigh grip on the tank, as opposed to with textiles that have me sliding all over the place no matter how hard I clench.
Re your thigh grip point, are people trying to sit too far back on sports bikes?? If your nadgers are closer to the tank, there's more leg surface area against the tank and the arms are more relaxed. With more leg against the tank there's less need to grip really hard...