Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Guzzer on August 08, 2015, 07:46:10 AM
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I have a T3 that I love & picked up another 'project bike" (a T3 with T rear drum brake) for my son.
He is 6'6" (198 cm) and feels like he is folded up when he sits on this bike. Are there modifications like raising the seat, higher handlebars, lowered foot pegs, or changing to floor boards that you tall riders have done and could recommend?
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I would suggest replacing that T-3 with a second generation Cali (mid 80s). They had quite a bit longer wheelbase. I am 5'10 and feel that if I was much taller or had a longer inseam (32") I would also feel cramped on my T-3.
GliderJohn
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Speaking from my experience as a 6'2" rider when I set up my Yamaha DT100 as a mini-roadracer, a higher bar is really the opposite of what's needed. A lower than stock handlebar, and in my case a Clubman with its long reach, greatly reduced the feeling of being folded up on a tiny bike.
Maybe your son can sit on the bike and put his hands and feet in a position he prefers, and you can see where they end up, compared to the existing controls.
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I'm on one of those California II mid-'80s barges myself, so didn't have to mod anything (not that tall anyway), but floorboards are a good thing if they mount low. (Really that means for anyone, you don't have to be 7 feet tall to benefit from lower floorboards.) The way it works on the California II, they're on curved struts that fit around the exhaust when deployed, so they can hang maybe an inch lower than if they came straight out from the pivots.
In keeping with my general practice of not knowing anything about anything, I am unsure whether I've seen pegs that do the same thing, i.e., curve down so they're level with the exhaust. If the T3 is already that way, then of course you aren't going to get a whole lot more depth there, and the boards would be more about loosening up leg position. That is, you can move around a little and set your feet where you want, but dimensionally not much different.
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I rode a T3FB for the first time last weekend at Moto Guzzi Classics. It came to him as a non-runner. Mark asked me to test ride it after he got it running. I'm 6'-1" and to me my knees were way too high. Much prefer my Eldo Police or to a lesser extent, my CX100.
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My hips hurt in short order riding my Eldo, 850T or T3 and I'm 5'-10". After riding the Quota and DR's everything "standard" feels cramped in the knees/hips department. It doesn't help that the seats are 5 inches thick and compress 4-3/4 inches when you sit down. One of my winter projects is to build or get built a seat that doesn't compress as much and see if that helps.
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Yes, you can do any/all/some of the things in your OP. Some of them -- like raising the seat -- can be done easily. Others, like lowering the floorboards, not so easy. You might have to actually DO something about it (make something v spending money for bolt-on solutions).
The place to start is to have him sit on it and take some pics and measurements. There are websites (one posted here on WG recently) with the seating positon/ergonomic charts to help you figure out a good seating geometry.
But be prepared to color outside of the lines. You might find the proper seat height or handlebar reach and angle are not off-the-shelf solutions. You may be starting a diy arts-and-crafts project. This is not a bad thing, but it seems to be a dealbreaker for many, who think that if it's not for sale on the internet it can't be done.
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I bought a beautifully kept 75 850 T last year sight unseen . I'm 6'2'' and always felt the bike didn't fit me . I was pretty bummed out when I first rode it and it was nothing like the riding position on my Eldo . When that is the case I think the chance of rider error is greater and I experienced that a couple of times riding it . Needless to say I sold the bike before the season was over .
I did see a Guzzi re-build on a tonti frame on Cafe Racer for a big guy and might be worth checking out . They extended the seat back from the tank and shortened the bars for a greater reach . Pegs were lowered to I think . The bike was far from stock before they were done but one sharp looking ride . I'm too old for that position or would of considered it .
Good luck with the modifications .
Steve
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Thanks! I certainly don't mind trying to spend some money or spend some time making modifications--if you see that Cafe bike again Steve, send me a link! I have a pair of Harely floor boards & I might pull off the pegs and try to design some arched mounts that go over the exhaust & down on the outside of the pipes. If it works, I'll have to change the controls to match. Good chance it would be ugly! :undecided:
Wish I could see a pic of a T3 with a tall seat. That would be the easiest thing to start.
Guzzer
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He needs to try it out. You need to be flexible! Here I am on my ill-fated S3 with v7sport bars a couple of years ago. I'm 6' 4".
(http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab317/v7johnpics/Scan032-1.jpg) (http://s875.photobucket.com/user/v7johnpics/media/Scan032-1.jpg.html)