[Moosewala]

After years of riding motocross, enduro, ADV and supermoto bikes, I tried riding a ZX-6R, to see how I like it and maybe buy it as my next bike. After riding for about 10 minutes, it was... a lot worse than I expected. My legs were completely folded up, I was leaned really far forward, my hands were hitting the tank at full steering lock, I was having to actively crane my neck backwards to see anything, basically very uncomfortable in every way. But even worse than that, I had zero confidence when taking corners. I had no control and leverage on the bars, they were way too narrow and low, I tried moving off the seat and sticking a knee out but it felt extremely unstable, sitting upright and not moving in the seat felt the "best" (more like least bad), even though it's not proper body positioning. Being uncomfortable combined with no confidence seemed like the worst possible combination for having fun in the twisties, so this has seriously made me reconsider owning a sportbike.
So I'm wondering, is this just something you get used to? Going fast through a twisty road on a bike like this almost seems impossible based on my test ride, but I know these bikes are capable of it. If this is just something to get used to, does it take a long time to adjust to it, considering the ergonomics are so wildly different? Or are there actually people who can corner better with dirt bars than clip ons, and I just didn't know about them?

 

[anybike]

After years of riding motocross, enduro, ADV and supermoto bikes, I tried riding a ZX-6R, to see how I like it and maybe buy it as my next bike. After riding for about 10 minutes, it was... a lot worse than I expected. My legs were completely folded up, I was leaned really far forward, my hands were hitting the tank at full steering lock, I was having to actively crane my neck backwards to see anything, basically very uncomfortable in every way. But even worse than that, I had zero confidence when taking corners. I had no control and leverage on the bars, they were way too narrow and low, I tried moving off the seat and sticking a knee out but it felt extremely unstable, sitting upright and not moving in the seat felt the "best" (more like least bad), even though it's not proper body positioning. Being uncomfortable combined with no confidence seemed like the worst possible combination for having fun in the twisties, so this has seriously made me reconsider owning a sportbike.
So I'm wondering, is this just something you get used to? Going fast through a twisty road on a bike like this almost seems impossible based on my test ride, but I know these bikes are capable of it. If this is just something to get used to, does it take a long time to adjust to it, considering the ergonomics are so wildly different? Or are there actually people who can corner better with dirt bars than clip ons, and I just didn't know about them?

If you know how to ride a crotch rocket you will be able to scoot

Everytime I've tried a real crotch rocket my hips cramp......and its bad

So I bought a fake crotch rocket(standard) with the same engine detuned to only 113HP.......I'm learning to ride it

 

[dcstrng]

I tried riding a ZX-6R, to see how I like it and maybe buy it as my next bike. After riding for about 10 minutes, it was... a lot worse than I expected. My legs were completely folded up... So I'm wondering, is this just something you get used to?

It's an acquired taste -- depending on your age, knees may take a time to get used to it... most sport-bikes aren't thrown lock-to-lock (except maybe loading on a trailer, or very, very low speeds). Some folks do add higher bars if their riding style supports it, others won't be caught dead with higher/wider/whatever bars... I'd ride out a couple tanks of gas or so, before you decide...

 

[Retired Guy]

I remember, when I was a lot younger than I am now, I was looking for a new motorcycle. I had never even sat on a sport bike at the time. My wife and I stopped at small dealership and I was looking at a Suzuki GSXR 750. A salesman came over and said sit on it, so I did. When I put my feet up on the pegs, almost immediately I started getting leg cramps.

I liked the way the bike looked, it just wasn't right for me. I got Kawasaki 650 CSR instead, a standard motorcycle, and the wife would ride with me on it. She didn't like the Suzuki one little bit.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Another problem with the 600cc sport bikes is the power band. They require revs to move.
For you, I would not buy a sport bike, and definitely a 600, as they are useless around town.
I own an SV1000S Suzuki. Sport bikes do not fit many riders, and it is something you need to get used to.
They respond better to body steering, than bar wrenching steering. UK

 

[cattzap]

I would think the fat tanks that you have in front of you would be like trying to lean over a giant pumpkin. They just look so unconfortable to me. I don't see how anyone can ride them. And the rpm range too make them built so you have to ride like a hoodlum just to make them shift.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

This is how you gain experience riding one. UK

 

[Stablefull]

Back in the day there was a commercial for Supercuts with a very conservative looking man and a kid with a mohawk, who both turn to each other and say, "Get a haircut." To each their own. My friends have crotch rockets and they look at my cruisers and say, "How boring."

 

[Pineknot71]

A salesman came over and said sit on it.

That's ok, as long as he wasn't The Fonz!

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. )

 

[Crawsack]

I've ridden a CBR600RR for 9 years and it's the only model I've ever owned. I'm getting a Ninja 1000SX for next season which I'm looking forward to.

I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs and I do feel pretty cramped on my CBR, especially on long trips, but I love the damn thing. People who own sport bikes want several things that they won't compromise on, myself included. (1) The bikes look like pure sex. They are (in my biased opinion) way more attractive than any other style of bike. They look mean, aggressive, the fairings are awesome, and women tend to agree. When I was younger I got asked a lot for rides on my bike. (2) They are fast as hell. Yes, the power band is 9-12,000 rpm, but when you're in that, you move like a rocket. There's nothing else that replicates it. Knowing that you're faster than everything else except 1000cc superbikes and a few supercars is pretty awesome. (3) Once you're used to the ergonomics the maneuverability is insanely good. Flicks from turn to turn so easily and the thing is made for cornering. It just wants to be leaned over.

I'm getting the Ninja because I absolutely want a more comfortable bike, and I want something I can actually take on longer trips. Doing highway miles on a sport bike is tortuous. The downsides to sport bikes are numerous and you've touched on a lot of them already. They're just not very practical bikes. But most people don't own them to be practical. They own them to look and feel cool, which they are very successful at doing.

 

[gsmith68]

I've ridden a CBR600RR for 9 years and it's the only model I've ever owned. I'm getting a Ninja 1000SX for next season which I'm looking forward to.

I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs and I do feel pretty cramped on my CBR, especially on long trips, but I love the damn thing. People who own sport bikes want several things that they won't compromise on, myself included. (1) The bikes look like pure sex. They are (in my biased opinion) way more attractive than any other style of bike. They look mean, aggressive, the fairings are awesome, and women tend to agree. When I was younger I got asked a lot for rides on my bike. (2) They are fast as hell. Yes, the power band is 9-12,000 rpm, but when you're in that, you move like a rocket. There's nothing else that replicates it. Knowing that you're faster than everything else except 1000cc superbikes and a few supercars is pretty awesome. (3) Once you're used to the ergonomics the maneuverability is insanely good. Flicks from turn to turn so easily and the thing is made for cornering. It just wants to be leaned over.

I'm getting the Ninja because I absolutely want a more comfortable bike, and I want something I can actually take on longer trips. Doing highway miles on a sport bike is tortuous. The downsides to sport bikes are numerous and you've touched on a lot of them already. They're just not very practical bikes. But most people don't own them to be practical. They own them to look and feel cool, which they are very successful at doing.

That about sums it up,I'm in my 50s ,and ride a gsxr1000, its not super comfortable, but neither is a vette or Ferrari. They are more for the ego. But man ,I LUV IT

 

[Goodman614]

When I was considering a sport bike recently, I found a video I really appreciated. I've looked for it and can't find it, but to summarize, they go through what they call the average sport bike owner's process. They get high end sport bikes and Loooovvve the performance of the bikes on the twisty roads of So Cal. But they are almost tired by the riding position before they get to the canyons. On the way home they decide they have the wrong bikes and take a big hit and sell them. They get naked sport bikes and realize they can enjoy riding them around town and to the canyons and beyond. The performance is 95% as good as the supersports, so it's worth the tradeoff.

I know that doesn't tell the story of everyone because some of you can handle the aggressive riding position. But it spoke to me and I got a Yamaha MT-10 and have loved it so far. I can't ride it as far as the FJR or certainly the Goldwing, but I do really well with the ergonomics. It's more of an R1 than I'll ever need.

 

[dcstrng]

I'm getting the Ninja because I absolutely want a more comfortable bike, and I want something I can actually take on longer trips. Doing highway miles on a sport bike is tortuous... They're just not very practical bikes. But most people don't own them to be practical. They own them to look and feel cool, which they are very successful at doing.

This was kind of my choice -- I had a C10 Connie and wanted something more agressive -- I nearly pulled the trigger on the H2 SX SE, but I'm 265# +/- and mid 70s, and right then a C14 fat-ninja came on the market... in truth even though its riding position mimics a sport-bike in a sort of walrus-way, it ain't a sport-bike unless you compare it to a Wing or HD Cruiser, and for me at least it is not a 1K mile a day bike (but then I'm probabably not either anymore...). Anyway, 18 months later, I'm still tickled with the fat-ninja and don't really regret not getting the H2, but there are days I do secretly lust a bit...

 

[Retired Guy]

When I first saw the 2012 Kawasaki ZX14R, green with ghost flames, I wanted one. I went to the local dealership and they had one, but I was still working and traveling a lot and, at that time didn't have a lot of time to ride, so....it just never happened. Probably was best.

 

[Crawsack]

When I was considering a sport bike recently, I found a video I really appreciated. I've looked for it and can't find it, but to summarize, they go through what they call the average sport bike owner's process. They get high end sport bikes and Loooovvve the performance of the bikes on the twisty roads of So Cal. But they are almost tired by the riding position before they get to the canyons. On the way home they decide they have the wrong bikes and take a big hit and sell them. They get naked sport bikes and realize they can enjoy riding them around town and to the canyons and beyond. The performance is 95% as good as the supersports, so it's worth the tradeoff.

I know that doesn't tell the story of everyone because some of you can handle the aggressive riding position. But it spoke to me and I got a Yamaha MT-10 and have loved it so far. I can't ride it as far as the FJR or certainly the Goldwing, but I do really well with the ergonomics. It's more of an R1 than I'll ever need.

Yeah, the naked bikes' ergonomics are so much better and the engines are tuned for regular street riding so much more. I don't really understand why more bike manufacturers don't make a fully faired bike with good ergonomics and same engine tuning as the naked bikes. That's why I decided to go with the Ninja 1000SX, that and the GSX-S1000FZ are the only two bikes that fit that category really, and the Ninja has a lot more features like cruise control, traction control, etc. that are really nice. I was looking for a bike that still looks like a sport bike but is more comfortable to ride for longer trips and riding around town.

 

[Critter]

My belly and those big tanks don't get along.

 

[BAZININJA]

I've owned four NINJAs ('08 250R, '15 1000, '17 300, '18 650). In 2016 I worked Suzuki Demo Days and rode every sport bike they had. I've sat on a ZX14 and a Ducati Corsa. My body likes/liked the seating position of the NINJAs and most of the Suzukis, but I could only take riding the 'Busa for a 20 minute ride, twice a day, due to a bum shoulder from a car accident. I know I would hate the ZX and the Duc in no time, too. I took the MSF ARC and learned how to lean in, as well as reading TOTW2. I have an absolute ball in the twisties on my bikes!!!

The 250 fit me to a T, the 1000 was a little tall, and the 300 had to have the pegs lowered (I couldn't believe that because I have a 28" inseam). Nevertheless, they all "felt" right. But the 650 felt like I was sitting on it, rather than in it, if that makes any sense, and I didn't like it one bit. It felt like I was going to fall off of it every time I leaned it. So I lowered the rear shock one notch and got all my luggage installed and then it felt great! So you might try adjusting your suspension and see if that helps you feel more comfortable on your bike.🤞

 

[anybike]

Yeah, the naked bikes' ergonomics are so much better and the engines are tuned for regular street riding so much more. I don't really understand why more bike manufacturers don't make a fully faired bike with good ergonomics and same engine tuning as the naked bikes. That's why I decided to go with the Ninja 1000SX, that and the GSX-S1000FZ are the only two bikes that fit that category really, and the Ninja has a lot more features like cruise control, traction control, etc. that are really nice. I was looking for a bike that still looks like a sport bike but is more comfortable to ride for longer trips and riding around town.

Hmmmmmmm not exactly, if I were to ride mine at the bottom of it's power range in 3rd gear, I'd go to jail

If they want to make a street worthy, they need to lengthen the stroke decrease the bore to lower the tq rpm to 6000 from 9000 and leave the transmission alone...... definitely make a faster 1/4 if you can hang on and keep the front wheel down.......but just think you could legally ride on the interstate at high tq rpm in 4th...then twist the throttle and be left butt to road

 

[SemiFast]

I had an R6. Very comfortable at 100+ MPH. Sucked at anything slower unless setting up to do a corner, very comfortable there too.
I do a three mile test ride on customers bikes. When it's a racer replica sport bike I just can't wait to get off that thing.
My FZ1 (2001 - 2005 model type) is very comfortable at any speed doing anything. All it needed was a decent seat, bars just a tad higher and a good set of sport tires... Perfect.
It's my "do anything" bike.

S F

 

[RedRooster]

I actually loved the first time I rode sport bikes and supersports. I still do, the inline 4 engine and the way they're built just makes my soul want to nail ever corner going 100+. Though the very first time I rode a supersport I remember the ergonomics feeling pretty damn weird coming off of a cruiser, took me a few times to remember where the brakes and shifters were at with muscle memory. I feel like what "feels weird" on motorcycles heavily depends on what your first bike was. Imagine a new rider who started on a 450 pound sport bike or maybe an even lighter supermoto. There's no way in hell they'd be able to hop on a 700+ pound cruiser and feel comfortable handling it at first. To me, supermotos, motocross and ADV bikes feel odd because their seating position and how light the handlebars often are, but bikes over 800 pounds usually feel odd to me because the handlebars will take too much effort to balance, and I won't have lots of room to lean before I get past the point of no return. It's all perspective but it kinda blends together in the end.