Comfortable Sportsbike?
Discussion
I’m the same height and weight as the OP. I’ll get the disclaimer in early, which is that I’ve always owned sports bikes so might be biased, although I have ridden plenty of other bikes. I find all of them comfortable, I’ve currently got an S1000RR and R1 for roads and both are comfy, albeit in slight different ways.
The thing that most people seem to do to make sportsbikes uncomfortable is bad body position, they seem to love locked arms, splayed feet (locking the heel of the boot peg), crushing their balls into the tank and then arching their back. I’ve no idea why people do this, but it’s no wonder things are uncomfortable.
The thing that most people seem to do to make sportsbikes uncomfortable is bad body position, they seem to love locked arms, splayed feet (locking the heel of the boot peg), crushing their balls into the tank and then arching their back. I’ve no idea why people do this, but it’s no wonder things are uncomfortable.
Gavia said:
The thing that most people seem to do to make sportsbikes uncomfortable is bad body position, they seem to love locked arms, splayed feet (locking the heel of the boot peg), crushing their balls into the tank and then arching their back. I’ve no idea why people do this, but it’s no wonder things are uncomfortable.
They do it because they've not got enough core/upper arm strength to support themselves otherwise especially at lower speeds. Depending on how intensively I'm riding sports bikes I can see my body become even more powerfully built over a few weeks, and the bike then gets more comfortable at the same time, as if by magic.SBDJ said:
trickywoo said:
The ZX10 and R1 aren't great comfort wise.
I don't entirely agree there - I ride a 2008 ZX10R and cover more miles than most I reckon. I've not really had any comfort complaints tbh - in fact I dislocated my knee last Friday and was back on the bike by Monday.Comfort is definitely personal.
SidG said:
Hi all. So Have just got into bikes late (mid 40's). Did all my training and tests on naked middleweight bikes (CB650 + ER6) and bought an MT07 shortly after. Really enjoying the bike and getting more riding experience.
Have alway been intrigued by sportsbikes but been too intimidated to try one out in terms of how powerful they are and my lack of experience.
My aim eventually is to go on long tours throughout Europe perhaps next summer or after. Are there sports bikes out there that are comfortable for long rides (I am 5ft 11, 15 stone) in terms of foot peg/knee position and overall comfort?
Or when I do trade up would something like a MT10/S1000R make more practical sense? My knowledge of sports/touring bikes is very limited, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers guys.
How old are you willing to go to on sportsbikes? the early 00's ones (and even the 99 ZX9R tbf) are more comfy than the latest stuff and still fair rapid Have alway been intrigued by sportsbikes but been too intimidated to try one out in terms of how powerful they are and my lack of experience.
My aim eventually is to go on long tours throughout Europe perhaps next summer or after. Are there sports bikes out there that are comfortable for long rides (I am 5ft 11, 15 stone) in terms of foot peg/knee position and overall comfort?
Or when I do trade up would something like a MT10/S1000R make more practical sense? My knowledge of sports/touring bikes is very limited, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers guys.
black-k1 said:
cmaguire said:
Harry H said:
Most comfortable sports bike out there. BMW S1000XR.
Cruise to the Alps as comfy as any GS and behave like a nutter when you get there.
That isn't a sportsbike however much you want to pretend you own one.Cruise to the Alps as comfy as any GS and behave like a nutter when you get there.
Zzr1400 or k1300s if you want a sportsbike that will tour, you may find most 1000 sportsbikes a bit to focussed for what you need.
The zzr is very easy to ride, it’s v fast obviously but can be ridden it’s not as intense as a litre bike and can be quite docile. Get some risers for it and it’s pretty comfy and still handles well
The zzr is very easy to ride, it’s v fast obviously but can be ridden it’s not as intense as a litre bike and can be quite docile. Get some risers for it and it’s pretty comfy and still handles well
Mr OCD said:
I love sports bikes but do quite a few miles so need comfort... I've ridden most current as well over the last couple of years and in terms of comfort (for me) I find the 04 - 14 R1 the most comfortable... followed by the new GSXR1000R, then the S1000RR.
If you find those are not comfortable then you need to be looking at sports nakeds or sport tourers...
Another vote here for R1s, the older they are the comfier they are as well. My new one has a rock hard seat and is tiny, so not as much.If you find those are not comfortable then you need to be looking at sports nakeds or sport tourers...
The OH is 6'3" and most of that is leg (37" inside leg) and she has an R1 (1999) and loves it - a lot of the reason why is because she fits on it.
Only thing that I get grief with is my wrists if I've not ridden for a long while. I also did on the 2017 bike a run straight from Paris - Manchester with a heavy rucksack - I thought I had permanently damaged my arse, it was hurting for days.
W12JFD said:
I may be a touch biased as I have one but the KTM superduke gt is both very, very comfy and insanely fast - sooooooo much torque, 175 bhp and only 210 kg - great in the twisties and quick enough fore sane road users.
This would get my vote, but the RC8 has adjustable bars and pegs and is pretty comfortable for a sports bike.xeny said:
Gavia said:
The thing that most people seem to do to make sportsbikes uncomfortable is bad body position, they seem to love locked arms, splayed feet (locking the heel of the boot peg), crushing their balls into the tank and then arching their back. I’ve no idea why people do this, but it’s no wonder things are uncomfortable.
They do it because they've not got enough core/upper arm strength to support themselves otherwise especially at lower speeds. Depending on how intensively I'm riding sports bikes I can see my body become even more powerfully built over a few weeks, and the bike then gets more comfortable at the same time, as if by magic.I do think there's still a limit however, they still are quite cramped. After a three or four days of hard riding on my GSXR-750 I'm always broken and I don't believe that's because I'm necessarily doing anything wrong. It's not not a bike for touring. The litre seemed much better actually.
Good one for GSXRs though is the three point adjustable foot pegs as standard.
Prof Prolapse said:
xeny said:
Gavia said:
The thing that most people seem to do to make sportsbikes uncomfortable is bad body position, they seem to love locked arms, splayed feet (locking the heel of the boot peg), crushing their balls into the tank and then arching their back. I’ve no idea why people do this, but it’s no wonder things are uncomfortable.
They do it because they've not got enough core/upper arm strength to support themselves otherwise especially at lower speeds. Depending on how intensively I'm riding sports bikes I can see my body become even more powerfully built over a few weeks, and the bike then gets more comfortable at the same time, as if by magic.I do think there's still a limit however, they still are quite cramped. After a three or four days of hard riding on my GSXR-750 I'm always broken and I don't believe that's because I'm necessarily doing anything wrong. It's not not a bike for touring. The litre seemed much better actually.
Good one for GSXRs though is the three point adjustable foot pegs as standard.
The other thing for the OP to remember is that often, it's the little things that can make or break a good touring holiday. Luggage capacity, tank range, weather protection etc. all make a big difference when touring. All of these can be addressed with a sports bike but it's all compromise for the benefit of extra performance that you can't use on the road anyway.
I'm not sure about the performance argument. It's just just straight lines sportsbikes are good at. I mean, as far as stopping and changing direction goes, they're still the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering.They're just very compromised as a result.
I'll never be convinced they don't have a place on the road. It's just probably not a very comfortable place...
Horses for courses I say.
I'll never be convinced they don't have a place on the road. It's just probably not a very comfortable place...
Horses for courses I say.
Prof Prolapse said:
I'm not sure about the performance argument. It's just just straight lines sportsbikes are good at. I mean, as far as stopping and changing direction goes, they're still the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering.They're just very compromised as a result.
I'll never be convinced they don't have a place on the road. It's just probably not a very comfortable place...
Horses for courses I say.
My point is not that they're not better in pretty much all areas of performance, as they are better, but that the benefit is not going to be noticeable on the road, especially while while touring. You'll be carrying luggage riding on beautiful but unfamiliar roads, often with other tourist traffic. The performance "limit" of pretty much any bike over about 500cc on such roads will be the rider and not the bike so a decent adventure bike, sports tourer, naked etc. will all cover the ground just as quickly. I'll never be convinced they don't have a place on the road. It's just probably not a very comfortable place...
Horses for courses I say.
black-k1 said:
My point is not that they're not better in pretty much all areas of performance, as they are better, but that the benefit is not going to be noticeable on the road, especially while while touring. You'll be carrying luggage riding on beautiful but unfamiliar roads, often with other tourist traffic. The performance "limit" of pretty much any bike over about 500cc on such roads will be the rider and not the bike so a decent adventure bike, sports tourer, naked etc. will all cover the ground just as quickly.
Fair enough mate. But if and when, I feel I can take advantage of the performance and I'm sat on the bloody big adventure bike, I miss having it. As you say 95% of the time it's irrelevant, I'd rather be sat on the Uganda Twin. But that 5%, when you actually could make use of a sportsbike, even just for a small amount of time, for me that's the best 5% of riding. It's extremely exciting, and well worth the back ache.But this is derailing the poor chaps thread, so perhaps we'll just agree to agree?
black-k1 said:
As the Prof says, it's not just about the riders own posture. Even with good posture, your weight is forward on your arms an wrists and your neck craning to see ahead. With wind speed taking some of your body weight this is not a problem but a long, down hill run off one of the Alps passes where there's hairpin after hairpin, not allowing any real speed to build and where you're on and off the brakes constantly, the loading on your arms, wrists, neck and upper body can become very tiring. It may have been a great run up but it's torture coming down. ... And these are exactly the types of roads many (most?) Brits aim for on their touring holiday.
The other thing for the OP to remember is that often, it's the little things that can make or break a good touring holiday. Luggage capacity, tank range, weather protection etc. all make a big difference when touring. All of these can be addressed with a sports bike but it's all compromise for the benefit of extra performance that you can't use on the road anyway.
If you’ve got good body position then there is no weight on your arms and wrists and your neck isn’t craning. You’ve just described poor body positioning. I’m not pretending sportsbikes are super comfy, a sit up bike of any description is far comfier over any distance, but they just don’t excite me in any way. The other thing for the OP to remember is that often, it's the little things that can make or break a good touring holiday. Luggage capacity, tank range, weather protection etc. all make a big difference when touring. All of these can be addressed with a sports bike but it's all compromise for the benefit of extra performance that you can't use on the road anyway.
308mate said:
black-k1 said:
cmaguire said:
Harry H said:
Most comfortable sports bike out there. BMW S1000XR.
Cruise to the Alps as comfy as any GS and behave like a nutter when you get there.
That isn't a sportsbike however much you want to pretend you own one.Cruise to the Alps as comfy as any GS and behave like a nutter when you get there.
S1000XR Link
Its not for off-road anything at all, in reality. I wouldn't take it up an unsealed road any more willingly than I would an R1. That's what the GS is for (and then some). It will never take a corner as fast as a K1300s, its too tall and long legged and the suspension has a tendency to wallow a bit in high speed corners. Its also comparatively low geared. But it takes more (standard) luggage than a 1300S, is more comfortable at low speed which is what you'll be doing each time you go through a town and way more maneuverable which will be handy in European cities (I've commuted across central London numerously on both bikes). The seating position is tall and keeps your back straight and your head up so you get a better view over traffic and you're not always peering through the top 1.5" of your visor. And it's still plenty powerful enough for most people (second gear power wheelies), let alone someone fresh off an ER6.
Its the sports bike you have when you don't really have a sports bike.
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