[internationalballer]

Holy shiznizz, you're 6'10", maybe you should look into getting some frame mount highway pegs and put em on the the forks way up there by the front tire.
Also don't forget to duck when coming up to bridges. LOL

I'm 6'4" on a V-star 1100, with the 3" floorboard extension, its a comfy fit but 6'10" you're gonna need somekind of highway pegs to put your feet on, better yet to lay your legs on and just let the feet dangle.

 

[Setheroo82]

Wildly interesting

This is EXACTLY what I needed to read. Thanks to everyone who posted. I'm a new motorcycle rider and I'm a freakin' amazon. 6'5" and 36" inseam. I'm just now looking for bikes, and am planning on taking a vacation this year from Des Moines to San Diego, so I need a bike that is comfortable and won't leave me walking like I rode a cactus instead of a motorcycle.

 

[KMWilliams]

Hay, welcome to the forums.


I'm 6'6" with a 36" inseam, plus I'm 275lbs.

I think I read in your intro post that you have signed up for the BRC, that's a great first start.

You will find that many of the cruiser style bikes will fit you better because the controls are forward. This is a double edge sword however, because it compromises your ability to maneuver the bike. The IDEAL first bike is a standard with the pegs directly under you.

My advice, sit on as many different bikes that you can. Stay away from sport bikes. Sit on the saddle and put one foot up on the peg / floor board then turn the bars full over. (please do NOT drop the bike in the show room) When does your knee hit? How much turn is left? Next, is your knee below your butt? If your knee is too high you will cramp and the ride will always be uncomfortable.

Good luck.


For the record, I ride a Yamaha V-Star. If I did more long Iron Butt rides I'd invest in some highway pegs.

 

[RezZ]

I would recommend the Honda Shadow Spirit line. Im only 6/1 but I head wayyyyy more room on that bike than any I have ever gotten on.

 

[B06Tang]

I'm 6'5" and ride on a Triumph Bonneville. I am a big fan of the roadster style bikes and think the Bonnies are good for us tall guys

 

[racinfan101]

I am 6' 3" and I have a 750 Shadow ACE looks a little bigger than it is because the Mustang seat I put on gives it a bigger look and also raised me up a bit. I also added floorboards that are a little lower than the stock pegs along with an engine gaurd with foot pegs. Fits pretty well now and I have found my self sitting on some larger bikes thinking inspite of a massive gas tank telling me I was on a bigger bike I felt cramped. On the sporty side of the cruiser equasion I found the Star Stryker to fit really nice and on the touring side the Vulcan Nomad to fit nice. Also really like the fit of the Victory CrossRoad but it certainly was out of range of what I would want to spend.

 

[bikeman6969]

I am 6' 2'' and I am quite comfortable on my vulcan 900 classic

 

[Nine Mile Skid]

I'm six foot something and I sit waaay on the back of the seat of my little Honda. I've tried having a passanger on the back of a GT550, but that put me too far forward for comfort & handling. I liked to sit at the back of that seat, too.

I like the idea of a traditional roadster Triumph type bike, as you have a long supposedly 2 person seat to stretch out on, plus the seat style is simple enough to have an inch or 2 of foam added and re-upholstered for not too much cash.

 

[erybil]

I am 6'3, big guy. I am a first-time rider, taking the MSF. Day2, first day on the bikes, I was given a Honda Nighthawk. Got through the first couple hours of drills just fine, but I was having real problems lifting my feet up high enough to place them on the footpegs. With my left foot, I was having real problems once up there getting my foot (size 13's) under the shifter to up-shift; with my right foot I couldn't get my foot up to the footpeg at all once moving. Needless to say, I was booted from the class - they said they'd get me back in and bring a "taller bike" - an "old dirt bike" that would fit me better. I know because I ride a road bicycle that I'm much more comfortable and flexible when I'm seated higher - is the higher dirt bike really going to make a difference for me - or do I need a bike with more forward foot pegs and controls? It would seem to me that if I can lift my feet high enough to use the pedals on a bicycle, I should be able to reach the foot pegs on the motorcycle, but I was seated so low on this Nighthawk that it inhibited my ability to raise my legs in the position they were in. Help! I'm not ready to give up - I want to ride.

 

[Caladan]

- is the higher dirt bike really going to make a difference for me - or do I need a bike with more forward foot pegs and controls? It would seem to me that if I can lift my feet high enough to use the pedals on a bicycle, I should be able to reach the foot pegs on the motorcycle, but I was seated so low on this Nighthawk that it inhibited my ability to raise my legs in the position they were in.

I'm 6'3"/230, and also hard a very hard time with the bikes used at the MSF course. My hips were hurting by lunchtime on the first day, and killing me by the time we were done.

I think that a bike that has forward controls would most likely work. I've used a Harley Sportster with forward controls and was fairly comfortable for a short time. If you can stand that seating position, take a look at the cruiser bikes on which forward controls can be added (fairly easy to do on a Harley).

OTOH, I found that I'm a lot more comfortable on a tall bike with a more upright seating position. I purchased a Kawasaki Versys, and have been more than pleased with the choice. I did add a footpeg lowering adapter, and an aftermarket seat that moves me a bit further back. Foward controls are not needed (not that they could be added to a Versys anyway).

If you don't want a cruiser-style bike, then I would recommend that you look at the taller "dual-purpose" bikes such as the V-Strom or Versys. They are light in weight and a joy to ride, yet fit us taller guys just fine.....

 

[erybil]

Thanks, Caladan - this is very helpful. I had been reading a lot since I posted this afternoon, and I had concluded someting like the V-Storm or the Kawasaki KLR 650 may be my best option, though I've also looked at the crusier styles and that forward control position looks like it would be much easier to get into. I've also read that they are difficult for beginners to learn on - was that your experience, once you finished the MSF course, or did you go right to the Versys?

 

[Caladan]

Thanks, Caladan - this is very helpful. I had been reading a lot since I posted this afternoon, and I had concluded someting like the V-Storm or the Kawasaki KLR 650 may be my best option, though I've also looked at the crusier styles and that forward control position looks like it would be much easier to get into. I've also read that they are difficult for beginners to learn on - was that your experience, once you finished the MSF course, or did you go right to the Versys?

Hello erybil,

I was mildly experienced when I took the course and also when I used the Sportster w/forward controls, so I can't say for sure if something w/forward controls is difficult to learn on. However, after using a Versys, it is my estimation that the upright seating postion with "regular" controls would be easier for a beginner. This is not to say that a Harley/fowards is difficult - it's just that I think a standard motorcycle is easier. And for a tall person, a tall standard (more or less) like a Versys even easier.

Let us know what you end up with....

 

[kirkcdl]

As I've mentioned earlier, I have a 1983 Honda VF750S Sabre that fits me pretty well. I would be interested in checking out different handlebars, but these bikes don't have traditional handlebars. Each side has an individual handlebar that bolts on to the top of the fork. Any ideas on finding alternative bars for this bike??

Randy
aka Hightower

You'll need to change the "Fork Top Bridge",which is the Honda name for it,with one from a 1984 or later model,then you can use standard 7/8" tubular bars...See the difference between your 1983:
http://www.servicehondapsn.com/fich...n_detail.asp?section=172125&category=MOTORCYCLES&make=HONDA&year=1983&fveh=3937

And the 1984 and later years:

http://www.servicehondapsn.com/fich...n_detail.asp?section=170780&category=MOTORCYCLES&make=HONDA&year=1984&fveh=3913

Good luck,there are many cycle graveyards out there wuth Sabre parts,just start calling around...

 

[KZDAD401]

Tall men and a good Motorcycle for us

I'm 6'4" and about 300lbs, I have owned many types of them. and fond that the larger the CC's What has worked for are Suzuki 1978-1985 GS1000 to GS1150's all had a nice ride for a big guy, Wish I still had some of them.
But I now own a 1977 KZ1000 it works OK for me, and my Big Baby is a 1982 KZ1300 Six cylinder that works So Good for a large man. and the bike looks cool also, hope this helped.
John

 

[jourdan]

I'm 6'5" and ride on a Triumph Bonneville. I am a big fan of the roadster style bikes and think the Bonnies are good for us tall guys

I love the look of the Bonnie but remember someone saying they were a bit small, recommending an America instead. I'm only 6'4", so d'you reckon a Bonnie would do me?

 

[westydexta]

I'm 6'10"

Yamaha Thunderace YZF1000 is really comfortable for a 'rice-burner'.

 

[appaws]

I am 6'4" and 300+ I just took the riders edge MSF class this past weekend. It went well considering it was my first time riding.

The bike for the course was a Buell Blast. Not a good fit for my height, obviously...and the foot controls are kinda small for my size 12 with big timberland boots on...

But the instructor commented on the fact that I really adapted well to the bike.

But man, during breaks I would go into the showroom and sit on something like a Road King....then it was tough to go back out and scrunch on to the little Buell.

 

[dartman360]

This tread is great!
I'm 6'7' 340lbs and have found old super bikes and ols standards fit me very well. I had an 83 Yami XJ900RK(friggin bitchen bike). Fit great and a blast to ride. Would take out an CBR that rode my.
Now I'm on an 80 Honda CB900C that I am triking out. I fit pretty good, but need to fab up some forward controls and have a custom seat made to the wife can ride with

 

[moodygne]

The new Harley's are for tall guys. My son has a ultra classic, very comfortable. He is 6'5". That is 2010 the 2012 are longer yet. They ride great too. I personally have a 2010 Gold wing. I am 6'2" I put 50,000 on last summer I can't get enough of it.
God Bless Gary

 

[theogre1969]

Tall Riders

Have been looking for a bike i can stretch out on. I think i found it. It's seat height is low, but with the huge floorboards and the seat that's angled back, my legs fit nice. It's a Victory Vision Tour, but they are coming out with a new bike on the 20th if you are looking more for a bagger style bike. Im 6ft 3 and top off at about 300lbs.