I’m fed up with my current bike and want a complete change. I’m currently riding a v-strom and just find it too slow and the handling isn’t great …so i’ve decided to take the plunge and try a sports bike.
I was thinking of a gixer but when I sat on one it felt so small I felt like I was sitting on a mini moto! I’m 6’2 so would like to get something with a bit more room.
So what I’m really looking for is a sports bike that I won’t look stupid on, won’t scare the **** out of me, handles well and could be comfortable on longer journeys.
one bike springs to mind gsxr750! i am 6’ 1 and it feels ok for me, adam h is taller than me and he seems to fit on his one ok, and remember just as the bike has a lot of power you dont have to use it all the time, thats why the throttle go’s both ways!
Change is a good thing normally! The trend for all sports bikes nowadays is smaller and smaller, so getting something to fit your frame could be more difficult than first envisaged if you look at the brand new gear.
The Kawasaki ZX6-R? They look like a bigger 600 than the rest, then of course there’s older bikes such as GSXR 750’s which were bigger but still stonking bikes (circa 2001+). Full blown superbikes work well for big folk, but then those don’t fall under the criteria you specify (not to be scary).
I’m sure there’ll be a lot of good advice posted up soon to give you some ideas!
Which V-Strom do you have? If you send me details (year, mileage, service record, condition, mods, etc) I can pass them on to someone who may be interested in taking it off your hands.
I found the older shape Yamaha R6 to be fantastic fit for my 6ft2, 16 stone build.
I’d get hold of a well looked after 2001 / 02…The 03s have fuel injection and smoother throttle response but the frame is slightly smaller.
The R6 is not too intimidating as long as you treat it with respect but you’re still looking at 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of nearly 160 MPH…So it can definitely party when you want it to.
A lot of owners change the standard fit 120/60 section front tyre to the larger profiled 120/70 section tyre for better front end feel in corners. This slows the quick steering somewhat, but that is compensated by dropping the forks through the yokes about 8mm.
The R6 is a great bike…Fit and finish superb, and comfy enough to tour around Ireland on
thanks guys.I’m gonna try and test ride a gsx 750 and R6 this weekend. The 750 seems to get nothing but rave reviews. I’m also considering looking at a fireblade and busa - anyone got any experience with these?
I think big guys can fit sports bikes really well it just feels so so so odd when you have come from a sit up riding position. It all feels weird and too small and dinky takes a while but you get used to it and not long before you feel like a sportsbike fits you perfectly and anything else would be uncomfortable.
Coming from a V-twin you might want to consider a Aprilia Tuono or RSV-R or Factory, both brilliant handling quick bikes or even the uzuki SV1000 will be a steady but exciting move to pure sports bike handling but with familiar power delivery.
The new GSXR is considered to be the ultimate superbike by some, guess it depends on how much a person weighs as to whether it has enough grunt. Litre bikes need experienced handling and even then you need your wits about you ALL the time.
If you get on a multi you’ll probably ride it like as V-twin for a while. After three months you may get back on a V-twin and wonder why its hitting the rev-limiter but it sdoesn’t seem to be going quick.
The latest multis you tend to have to screw the nuts off them for it to feel right and acquire the required pace.
Good luck with the decision, it always takes me ages, too much choice. I decided recently to buy a new GSXR 750 and hope its all its supposed to be once I’ve adapted to it.
Tell you what…,. I have got the perfect solution for you. Between a twin to a flat four, you have 2 of the best bike currently on the market:
Triumph Daytona 675 (triple engine) for track like bike or the Sprint St if you want something a little bigger and more fast miles cruncher bike.
I have a 675 here and an st in France. Both fantastic bikes.
I find the modern 600s a bit on the small size for my lanky 6’2. Litre bikes are much more comfortable but probably not a good choice for an inexperience rider. I’m not saying you can’t buy one but you have to be sensible. Then again I hate it when you see people that just can’t ride them cos the power frightens them… Saying that the old Fireblade is going to be similar in performance to a new Gixxer 750.
You’ll only know by at least sitting on each one of them. I’m 6’1" and the 2006 ZX6R feels a decent size compared to equivalent R6, Gixxer 6 etc. - though I do feel like a lanky piece of p!ss folded up on it (I’m all arms and legs see). Older sportsbikes are generally bigger - are you buying new?
The 675 Daytona felt horrible to me when I sat on it at the bike show. I felt like an elephant humping a bicycle. Shame. The ST on the other hand. Mwa! Perfection.
If you decide to go down the ZX636 route check out the " classifieds " section . Just put my 04 plate 7000 miler ( Blue and immaculate ! ) on there . PM me if interested.
as danno said, i’m 6ft 5 and im 17 1/2 stone and have no problems on my gixxer 600 k4, only ever cramped up on it once and that was riding from london to birkenhead!
CBR600F is a great entry to sportsbikes even if a little ‘tame’ compared to the more focused 600’s like the RR or R6. Good for all day comfort for 6’ tall or bigger, no wrist trouble and possibly less intimidating. For the ‘apparently’ most common sports 600 surprised nobody else has mentioned it
