[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.

 

[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.

 

[Crawsack]

Yes, I sat on one at the dealership. The ergonomics and overall fit immediately seemed good to me. I like that it still has sport bike styling but has a much more neutral riding position.

 

[Crawsack]

I agree, though at this stage even a standard is too sport-ish for my old bones. I think it’s just that most riders who want sport bikes want sport bikes, and those who don’t, dont, and there aren’t many in between. There have been several sport touring bikes that tried to ease up the riding position with sport bike-like performance, but that’s pretty much proven to be a niche market. Since manufacturers tend to stick with what’s going to sell the most, well, that’s why we have what we have. I imagine there are some marketing wonks who thinks they know that there’s a market for a sport bike without the crippling ergos, but try getting a manufacturer to commit to actually trying it.

I bought a Ninja 1000SX this spring, and it's been perfect for me. Upright riding position, handlebars are on risers and pulled back so you aren't crouched over like on a sport bike, it's got a 1043cc engine that puts out about 140 HP, it's got sport bike styling and looks aggressive, but it has ABS, traction control, corner control, quickshifter, really nice TFT display, rider modes, and when I put a touring windscreen on it it's comfortable to about 90 mph sitting completely upright. It's been the perfect bike for me.

 

[Crawsack]

Thats why I say Supersports are girls bikes. It truly seems like the SS is not designed for the male body.

LMAO, what? I'm sorry that you think the male body can't handle going fast and has to be situated on a 800 lb sofa with 40 HP.

Plenty of guys out there riding supersports with no issue. Lol, supersports are designed for women, that's a new one!

 

[Crawsack]

Its not a new one.

Its because I have a penis and testicles that constantly get crushed while I ride a supersport. The seating position puts all your weight on your package. The females don't have that problem.

Then you are doing something incorrectly. My junk sits between my legs on a supersport, I don't understand how you could be sitting ON them. Sounds like a personal problem. Just because you have an issue with something doesn't mean that everyone else does, or that those people are "women" in your estimation, lol. Get real man.

 

[Crawsack]

For real though. I'm not unique. You really do smash your twig and berries when you ride those things.

A quick Google search reveals countless links discussing the topic...

supersport motorcycle crushes my balls - Google Search

www.google.com

The more forward leaning the seating position, the worse it is. Im fine on my FZ09 but fuhgettaboutit on my FZR600.

Top comment in the reddit thread that shows up in the search link you posted:

"Hold on with your thighs to prevent yourself slipping forward. Your forearms should be parallel with the road and your elbows bent."

I pretty much agree with that. I have tank grips on my CBR, I flex my legs to hold on to the tank, use my core and back muscles to keep me sitting upright, and keep my hands light on the handlebars. Now, I'm fortunate that I have long arms so I'm able to keep my groin off my gas tank, but I think it's doable even with shorter arms.

If you maintain a sloppy posture, yes, your junk can get smushed up against your tank- but you shouldn't be sitting ON your junk- I legitimately don't know how that's even possible.

Either way, if you use the right posture and use the right accessories/technique to do that, you're fine. I've never had to take a break on my bike because my junk hurt. Don't get me wrong, riding on sportbikes for long distances IS uncomfortable, and I don't really enjoy it anymore now that I have Ninja 1000 which is far more upright, but it's absolutely doable.