Motorcycle size, your size - public service announcement

[not-fishing]

Earlier this year, when I was still working, I had a problem with motorcycle size.

Now after 4 months of Retirement and 6 months of diet I'm 25 lbs lighter.

My son's SRX-250 doesn't seem so small. 

My V-11 Lemans doesn't seem so big and heavy.

I still have another 40 lbs to go.

Maybe next year I'll try my son's cafe'd V50 again and see if it's as much fun as my old cafe'd 400F was.

[LowRyter]

 

[Lannis]

Earlier this year, when I was still working, I had a problem with motorcycle size.

Now after 4 months of Retirement and 6 months of diet I'm 25 lbs lighter.

My son's SRX-250 doesn't seem so small. 

My V-11 Lemans doesn't seem so big and heavy.

I still have another 40 lbs to go.

Maybe next year I'll try my son's cafe'd V50 again and see if it's as much fun as my old cafe'd 400F was.

Good for you!   Always been a problem for me, that roller-coaster.    I've always envied (in at least this sense) guys who are built smaller and lighter than me and stay in shape.    A 5'8" guy with a 29 inch inseam and in the light welterweight class can choose from almost any motorcycle ever made and make it fly if he wants to.   Haven't been able to do that since I was 18 ....

Lannis

[wolfeguitars]

I'm 6'2" and 235 lbs and 74 years young. I'm very comfortable on my Cali EV1100 with it's cushy seat & upright position, likewise my "Standard" bike- Triumph T-Bird Sport. Couple of weeks back, as our Palm beach weather began to moderate some,  I unplugged my Ducati 851 from the battery tender to enjoy some miles on that beast. It's a race tuck position and folds me up, but I'm good for short duration rides. Nowhere near an ideal riding position for a guy my age & size.....BUT......t hat thing stirs my soul. Not many years left for me to enjoy such things, so I'll enjoy it as I can. I actually get used to the position after several runs, but I often wonder if it's time to let her go...….
   It'd be a sad day....

[Testarossa]

  A 5'8" guy with a 29 inch inseam and in the light welterweight class can choose from almost any motorcycle ever made and make it fly if he wants to.

That describes me. Out of curiosity I once searched for Italian demographics and learned that in 1970 the average Italian male was 5'8 and 150 lb, which explains a lot about Guzzi ergos of the era. On the other hand, we welterweights have an issue with dirt bikes and bigger "adventure" bikes. Takes a ladder to climb aboard and it's impossible to get a foot down when stopped. It took major surgery on my XR350 saddle to make it manageable and still had to zero out the preload.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I'm about 6  foot, 180 lbs in my leather jacket, boots and helmet...I prefer lighter bikes in the 430 pound range max...I can tolerate a 500 lbs machine if it's not too top heavy...

[keuka4884]

A 400F. Is that a Honda 400F? Sweet, sweet motorcycle.

[MMRanch]

At 5'10" the Roamer seem like it was made for me personally !        Its a little more than twice my weight but that works out just fine to .   At 66 years I don't want much more weight .   

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

Great Wall of license plates MM.  I especially like the Nevada HWY 50.  How’d ya come by that one?

[Adk.IBO]

Well at 5'3" 130#, 28" inseam and age reducing my balance a bit I dropped my Norge at 0 mph I think 3 times and decided to get something different. I have a dirt bike background and GS/ Stelvio/ V85 TT/ Africa Twin/etc.. type bikes would be huge fun and I get it... but... living with that type bike as an only bike now just wouldn't work (maybe never would have). I looked hard at V7s and I like them...a lot... but I tow a trailer and wanted dual discs, ABS, and torque hence my Roadster with mods to make it work for me. I get motorcycle magazines and most bikes manufacturers make are just to tall for where I'm at these days. Cruiser style also does not work for me, 2 hours MAX with feet forward is all my back can take. All day with a slight forward lean and feet under me  . 5'8" and over IS the sweet spot for choices it seems, good for you all

[Gliderjohn]

Might be worth the trouble to look hard for a roadworthy or made roadworthy T-3. I have both a T-3 and a Norge and the T-3 is much easier to push around, get on the center stand and get on and off of then the Norge. Also plenty of power for your purposes. Would not have ABS but it has a very good linked system and upgrade lighting if doing any traveling after dark.
GliderJohn

[Adk.IBO]

...sounds like a good project bike...obviously if the right one is found. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for one. T3s are mid 70s vintage, correct? Thanks

[Gliderjohn]

Correct, mid-70s. The other caveat is that the chrome cylinders have been replaced. They are such a nicely balanced machine.
GliderJohn

[Motormike]

I'm about 6  foot, 180 lbs in my leather jacket, boots and helmet...I prefer lighter bikes in the 430 pound range max...I can tolerate a 500 lbs machine if it's not too top heavy...

I guess that rules out Harley Davidsons "new" Road Glide Limited at 932 lbs!! 

[slopokes]

I am 5’10 and 199 in my riding gear.i bought a red/white v85 that  Italy made just for me(fits like a soft leather glove)— now if only someone would open up a dealership in no..

[severely]

I'm 64 years at 225 nekkid, 6'1". I got up to 245 and thought I'm too young for this and just started eating fewer snacks at night helped me out. I'm going to restart my exercise program shortly and that should help. Hoping to get back around 200 eventually, took 10 years to gain the 50/55 lbs and I don't think it's going to hang around much longer. My bones don't hurt so much and have increased flexibility already motivates me a little more.  My 09 Stelvio fits like a glove and my 04 Breva 750 is a little tight but have GW footpegs and bar risers to open it up a little.

[Testarossa]

Again, 5'8", 150 lb, 71 years old. The 850T fits well, the TR6R is perfect, the Mille feels heavy now but dropping the triple clamps half an inch and dialing out the preload on the rear shocks helps a lot -- makes it feel almost as agile as the T. Similarly, on the F650 I took out all the rear-end preload so I can put both feet down. On the dirt bike I'm still tippy-toe after the mods.

[Lannis]

I am 5’10 and 199 in my riding gear.

You sure don't look that big in your picture.   Must be dense bone structure.   

[philwarner]

Well at 5'3" 130#, 28" inseam and age reducing my balance a bit I dropped my Norge at 0 mph I think 3 times and decided to get something different. I have a dirt bike background and GS/ Stelvio/ V85 TT/ Africa Twin/etc.. type bikes would be huge fun and I get it... but... living with that type bike as an only bike now just wouldn't work (maybe never would have). I looked hard at V7s and I like them...a lot... but I tow a trailer and wanted dual discs, ABS, and torque hence my Roadster with mods to make it work for me. I get motorcycle magazines and most bikes manufacturers make are just to tall for where I'm at these days. Cruiser style also does not work for me, 2 hours MAX with feet forward is all my back can take. All day with a slight forward lean and feet under me  . 5'8" and over IS the sweet spot for choices it seems, good for you all

My "new" 96 Cali has a custom seat because the PO was shorter than my 5-6 shrunken height.  I had read that anyone under 5-8 need not look at a Cali, but I can plant both feet flat from this one. (not on the center stand, of course)





  My other ride is an 04 Triumph America that a similar sized fellow set up for himself and it fits me well.  It's secret is a Corbin seat with a backrest that is a pleasure to ride, although it did take my feet a couple of months to automatically find the forward pegs.  It feels like you ride "in" it as opposed to the Cali's "on" it jockey riding position.