norge knee room

[peter1]

Hello,

So last year i bought a Aprilia caponord 1200 (horrible bike and sad to say horrible factory support).
Now looking for something new.
I know its also part off the piaggio group.

But how is the knee-cilinderhead room on a Norge.
Sat on a Stelvio and on a Griso and both felt good.
Im 1m88 so dont know if a Norge offers less room and dealer hasn't got one to sit on.

Any got a pic of a bigger fellow on a Norge 8v model?

Any normal person would go for a jap-bike after what i had to go trough with the Caponord, but i need a characterbike.

[Cool Runnings]

Norge knee room is lousy.

Russell Seat and KD lowering pegs will fix the problem.

About $1,000 will do the trick. 

[OlderSlower]

+ 1.  I did the same thing to my Norge and it fits well now.  I'd take it anywhere...

[peter1]

Thx for the reply Cool R.

How tall are u and did your knees hit the cilinderheads with standard seat?
I see you have a 8v is the suspension firm enough out of factory or does it still require upgrade to meet todays standards?
I have owned a aircooled beemer 1200rt a few years back, has suspension on the new version Norge made it to this level?

It's difficult to buy a bike i cant ride, so looking for info to compare with something i can sit or snag a testride on.

I know someone with a Stelvio, but had 2 adv-bikes and have concluded i prefer the (normal) firmer ride that comes with the shorter suspension sporttourer type bikes.


Can you compare the kneebend (standard) with any of your previous bikes for me to form a picture.
Not planning to buy a new bike and put 1k down to make it bearable.

[flip]

I have a Breva 1100 which should have almost exactly the same seating position as the early Norge's. I'm about an inch shorter than you but I have a long trunk and arms instead of longer legs but I have plenty of knee to cylinder head room. I don't even notice any heat from them.

You can check motorcycle fit here: http://cycle-ergo.com/

[Cool Runnings]

Thx for the reply Cool R.

How tall are u and did your knees hit the cilinderheads with standard seat?
I see you have a 8v is the suspension firm enough out of factory or does it still require upgrade to meet todays standards?
I have owned a aircooled beemer 1200rt a few years back, has suspension on the new version Norge made it to this level?

It's difficult to buy a bike i cant ride, so looking for info to compare with something i can sit or snag a testride on.

I know someone with a Stelvio, but had 2 adv-bikes and have concluded i prefer the (normal) firmer ride that comes with the shorter suspension sporttourer type bikes.


Can you compare the kneebend (standard) with any of your previous bikes for me to form a picture.
Not planning to buy a new bike and put 1k down to make it bearable.

I'm 6' 2", inseam 34". Stock the bike was unbearable to ride, after the Russell and KD pegs I'll take it anywhere. 

[Cool Runnings]

Hello,

So last year i bought a Aprilia caponord 1200 (horrible bike and sad to say horrible factory support).
Now looking for something new.
I know its also part off the piaggio group.

But how is the knee-cilinderhead room on a Norge.
Sat on a Stelvio and on a Griso and both felt good.
Im 1m88 so dont know if a Norge offers less room and dealer hasn't got one to sit on.

Any got a pic of a bigger fellow on a Norge 8v model?

Any normal person would go for a jap-bike after what i had to go trough with the Caponord, but i need a characterbike.

Send kingoffleece a PM for seat rebuild. Russell's are very pricey.

[peter1]

Does the Norge offer less room than the Griso?

Its not just the bend im more affraid off my knees hitting the plastikcilinderhead covers.
I can comfortably ride a BMW s1000r naked for a few hours.
I used to tour on sportbikes a few 100km on a cbr1000rr no prob.

I could go Stelvio but like i said, thinking regular tourer makes a more logic bike.
You can ride soft offroad with any bike.

[kingoffleece]

I've done several NORGE rebuilds for more leg room and better comfort.  Tallest rider had a 36 inch inseam.

[twowings]

Could you make my Corbin seat even better?

[afulldeck]

I'm 6' with 35" inseam.

[kingoffleece]

Nice picture.  The second bike has a KoF seat cover on it, correct?

If your question was to me about the Corbin seat-yes, we work on them.  They use a close cell foam.  The break-in is actually "crushing" the cell walls in that foam.  It works for some but as I've mentioned prior, I hear 50/50 split love/hate with those seats.  I have owned two of them-put over 5000 miles on each and then sold them.  While firm is much better than to soft I could never get "sweet" on the shape of the seat.  I'll never say they are bad.  I will say that we have a different approach to seating.  That's fine by me.

IF there is something about it, again assuming you asked me, then most likely we can correct it for you.

Let's throw this out there also.  Any ergo adjustment takes a bit of time to settle in for the rider.  First impressions will most often change unless something is so far off as to be unusable.  Humans are very adaptable and it's amazing what a week or two will do to one's perception.

Carry on, lads.  It's SPRING and time to ride.

[PJPR01]

Nice picture.  The second bike has a KoF seat cover on it, correct?

Good eyes Jim...that's mine indeed.   By the way, I found a hidden benefit for having the KoF seat cover on top of the Corbin, I put a small sheepskin underneath it on top of the seat, it made the 630 mile ride up even more comfortable than just the seat itself, truly a great combination.

[PJPR01]

But how is the knee-cilinderhead room on a Norge.

You can also swap out the footpegs for Goldwing 1800 pegs...flatter, lower by 3/4 inch to give you a little extra leg room.  They are padded, so unless you want the look of the unpadded metal Knight Designs which are beautiful as well, it gives you an alternative.

[peter1]

Thanks for the pics Twowings and Afulldeck.
Afulldeck i seem to be about your size, are your knees hitting thecilinderhead on the pic?

Anyone know if the 8v Norge offers more or less room than the 4v?
I've read somewhere that there was a factory optional highseat, but not finding it in there acc-list.

Keep the pics comming

[peter1]

Is the sitting position/ergonomics the same as the Breva 1200?
That might be an easier bike to find to de a try sit.

[kingoffleece]

Lots of customers do just what you did-put a sheepskin between the seat and the cover.
You still get the comfort and no weather worries.

GUZZI dealer Jim Hamlin from CT likes that idea so much he has it on, if I recall correct, three different bikes.

[peter1]

I've read that it's mostly the platik cilindercover on the leftside that causes the problem for the larger people.

If you remove the covers does this make for an ugly opening?
Im worried that my knee would hit the plastic cover and thus push the knee outwards.
Thx for the seat adjustment recommendation but i'm in europe.

Maybe the lsl adjustable footpegadapters would be the easiest way to go.

[twowings]

peter1:

I'm 5'9" with a long waist and short legs..I have adjustable lowering pegs on mine and I actually rotated them UP one notch for my comfort...if you are @ the 5'10"-6'1" range adjustable or Paul's Gold Wings peg suggestion should make the Norge comfortable...

The Norge had a factory-option LOWER seat available which would exacerbate the problem so you may want to check that the standard height seat is in place or utilize one of kingoffleece's excellent products...

This bike is so wonderful that a little personalization just about makes it perfect!

[tris]

peter1:

I'm 5'9" with a long waist and short legs..

SNAP

 I did a 200 mile run over the weekend and got cramp in my left leg which was a new experience on the bike 

Which rotating pegs did you go for as that might make things better!!!!

[twowings]

http://www.whaccessories.com/Foot-Peg-Lowering-Kit-KTM-Moto-Guzzi.htm

[tris]

Thanks TW