If you know how to ride a crotch rocket you will be able to scootAfter 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?
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...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?
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 ITI'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.
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...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.
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.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.
Hmmmmmmm not exactly, if I were to ride mine at the bottom of it's power range in 3rd gear, I'd go to jailYeah, 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.
