Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, seat...

I have an 82 xj650 and am 6'3" (190.5cm) tall. The bike feels just a tad off primarily in the legs. I keep wanting to scoot back an inch or so on my seat, but I have the stock double seat thing. What have you guys done to improve your riding posture?

 

Tractor seat and forward controls and I adjusted the stock bars a bit. I'm 6'4". TC Bros makes a set or if you're of the proper skill set you can make your own.

 

+1 on the tc bros forward controls. i plan on getting a set myself. in the meantime, i threw some crash bars and highway pegs on. try the forward controls or highway pegs out before you try anything as far as seat options. i think youll find that just moving the location of your feet will stop you from inching forward towards the tank. not to mention, finding seats that will fit these bikes can sometimes be quite a chore. good luck and ride safe

 

oh and also i put some drag bars and four inch handlebar risers on mine. very comfortable combo with the forward contols/ highway pegs IMHO and its nice to be able to use the stock length cables.

 

It depends on the riding position you want.

I'm 6'5"+ so for my 550 Secas I went with lower bars on both bikes; and on my daily rider I had the seat recontoured to minimize the "step" and move it back, as well as raise the "riding platform" by a couple of inches.

The recontoured seat made the biggest difference in terms of leg position; but I'm not a "feet first" fan.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

I made my own forward controls. If your going to buy a set, TC Bros. makes the most affordable set. JC Whitney is selling a generic set with control rods that would work, but they want 400.00 for them.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

Can you pm me some pics or info that you have on how to make them so that I may give a shot at making me some.

 

What bars did you put on? I dont care for the stock bars and would like to replace them. Want to upgrade to SS brake lines though, but dont want to pull the trigger on that till i decide on bars.

 

I really like the low profile engine guards with highway pegs. I like the factory position of the footpegs and controls, but the stock seat kinda shoves you forward on the tank. I would start with reshaping the seat.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

I'm totally with Bigfitz on this - feet forward means all your weight and any downward force is right on your tailbone and spine. Use your legs/knees as suspension units.

That being said, I also am 6' 2" (33" inseam) and will be modifying my seat height to fit my inseam; suggest that as a starting point for you too (you can try a temporary raise with a couple inches of firm foam). Then get bars/risers/cable extensions to have a more upright/slight forward leaning ride. Sit on bike; close eyes; put hands where you feel most comfortable; open eyes.

 

This would be true with a hardtail, I don't have any discomfort to the back or tail bone. With the forward controls, my back seems to be straighter with less fatigue. I also don't have any knee or leg discomfort and I don't find myself sliding toward the tank. Whatever makes you feel better, sit on your bike and push your feet forward. How does it feel? If I had a Seca, I wouldn't have forward controls because it just wouldn't be right. Maxim, a cruiser bike is a different story.

 

X2 - I cant wait to pick up a set. but jeepers, 200 bones

 

I had highway pegs on mine when I got it. I found my feet more comfortable out there and didn't like to switch back to shift or brake. So forward controls it was.

 

Well, the 750 Maxim and Seca have the same OEM seating ergonomics, but I still say it doesn't matter - that's just a matter of style/appearance to short-distance riding, bar-hopping posers.

Feet forward positions reduces your control of the cycle and does put more shock in your back. I've seen a large number of letters to the editor in a variety of publications where older cruiser riders are getting out of cycle riding or going to alternative vehicles (trikes, maxi-scooters) due to back problems. In contrast, I've seen many articles about older (like 80+ year) riders still going strong on touring-style bikes. Look up all the guidance by notables like Ken Condon (or do a general search on proper motorcycle seating position) and you will see what I'm talking about. Do not fall for what the TV/movie/print media promotes as proper riding posture (i.e., Easy Rider, Sons of Anarchy, various bike build-offs, V-Twin mags, etc); look at what the Iron Butt riders ride - long distance touring bikes (or other bikes modified to resemble tourers) with an upright seating position and proper handlebar position (both built for their height/reach) so they can be comfortable in the saddle for extended periods, grip the tank with their knees for better control, absorb road shocks with their legs for less impact/better control, forearms level with the road for better control and less blood loss to the hands.

 

I have all of the things you just mentioned except my feet out front. I will ride and have riden it hundreds of miles per day. Not particularly interested in the iron butt rides.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

Not interested in performing any IB rides either - too much to see on the trip to worry about time/distance. However, I am interested in how these rides are accomplished to see what is transferrable to my rides.

I had been reading Ken Condon's guidance in Motorcycle Consumer News; here's a link to a Vulcan site where it has been transcribed: Vulcan forum

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

Well I have serious back problems that started years before I got back into riding. My bike had the mid-controls when I got it. After 40 miles my back and legs would hurt and be stiff. After switching to forward controls I could go for 120 miles before needing a short rest. I'm 5'8" and anyone taller than that would probably benefit from the switch. As far as the idea of mid-controls being better for you, I'll have to disagree, but maybe I'm the exception to the rule. :lol:
If you look at a new Sportster, you'll see it comes with mid- controls stock, which most people change for comfort or looks. Just because someone makes a change, doesn't mean they are posers. If that that was true, all hot rodders and customizers would fit in that category. :wink:

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

I am just 6 feet. But, I always felt a little cramped on my 650 Maxim, always pushing myself back on the seat. I almost wanted to ride on the back seat. I put a little bit lower and straighter bar on, nothing radical. That helped a little. Then, I splurged on the $50 replacement seat cover to replace the cool duct tape cover I had before. While it was uncovered I cut the step in the foam rearward about 1-1/2 to 2 inches and I covered the whole now-extended front seat area with a 3/4" thick piece of crusty, 20 year old closed cell foam camping pad. The bike fit one hundred percent better. My 750 could use a new seat cover too. When I get around to that, I will do the same to that seat. That's my 2 cents.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

O-n-B - I empathize with anyone who has permanent/chronic back problems; 150-mile rides on a bike that you feel is comfortable is not that long a ride. I would like to hear your observations about riding a much taller bike. My observations are that most bike manufacturers over the last several decades do not build street bikes for tall riders. Short seat heights, narrow seats, open-cell foam material and cramped frame geometry all conspire against it.

For an alternative (for good, tall-person ergonomics) test sit/ride a dual-sport bike (Kaw KLR650, Triumph Tiger, BMW GS, most any KTM, etc.). These bikes seem to be built for tall folks. Good seat-to-peg distance, pegs under hips for better control (that's why they are so highly recommended for beginning riders)/shock absorbsion, and good handlebar reach. But they don't look like street bikes and often have dirt bike qualities that are not desired (skinny spoke wheels, low total carrying capacity, etc.)

So what can be done with 30+ year-old bikes? I tested a Suzuki GR650 last year that was for sale locally. Fairly rare twin with a great engine and mono-shock rear but the seat felt like a down pillow. Not only was the seat height on the low side to begin with (for my inseam), the foam padding was so soft as to be almost non-existant so I sank down to the seat platform.

For a starting point, I think the hardest point in the ergo triangle is the peg height. Maybe they can be moved down slightly (if you can adjust the shifting and braking and if it doesn't drag too soon) but that's about it; so I generally think of peg lowering as a last resort. My working theory with bike ergos is to rebuild/purchase a firm/wide seat (at least wide enough for my butt) at a height equal to my inseam - anything less and my knees start to cramp. This is what most high-quality aftermarket seat makers do (Russell Day-Long, etc.). Read about it here. This enables me to get on/off easily, hold balance at stops, and allows good peg-to-seat distance for my knees (in most cases - high-peg bikes are an exception). Then getting the handlebars at the right height/distance so that I have a slight (maybe 7 degree or so) forward lean and horizontal forearms.

But what does the bike look like afterward? Sometimes not too bad; sometimes like something from the circus. How can you know before you start investing time/$ in experimentation? Best place I've found is the adjustable stick-figure ergo comparison site at Cycle-Ergo. Unfortunately, there are not many older bikes here but there are a number of Yamaha XJs (600, 650 Seca, 750 Seca, 900S) plus some Viragos so you can choose a bike, input your personal dimensions, see what you would look like on that particular bike, then modify both seat height and handlebar position to better fit you - then see what the bike looks like afterward.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

When I started back riding, I had a 81 Honda CB750. It was slightly tall for me as only half of my foot would reach the ground. That's the problem with taller bikes for me. When I got my 700 Max, I was happy to be able to put my whole foot on the ground. After riding it a few months, I started thinking about the forward controls. Riding it always felt like I was leaning forward, so maybe the real culprit is a crappy seat or the seat angle. Putting the forward controls on made a difference for me and since I got all the metal from work free, it was cheaper than a new or different seat.

 

Re: Any suggestions for tall riders? Fwd controls, bars, sea

Understand. The (old) CB750 seat height was about 32.6" while your Maxim is about 30.6" - 2" drop. However, I'm thinking your issue is with bar placement. If you are reaching for the bars so that your back is beyond about 7 degrees, you are putting a lot of strain on your back (until you are moving and the wind pushes back). Your feet being forward would help that strain by acting as leverage at your abdomin. You might need bars that are further back and maybe a different height (depending on your torso). Try putting your measurements in the tool previously mentioned (the 750 Seca might be closest to your 700 Maxim) to see (modify seat/handlebar positions under Vehicle Customization).

For me, my XT600E dual-sport ergos are real good (34.5" seat height, 7 degree tilt, arms parallel with ground) but the seat is too narrow, the total weight limit is too low, it has a single's buzziness and it has spoked wheels. I need to raise the Seca's seat about 3" and the handlebars about 2-3" (with a different bar); both fairly doable without looking like I'm in the circus.