Hi,
My name's Andy and as you can see from my user name I'm vertically challenged (5'7")! I will be going to the bike show at the NEC and will swing my leg over the GTR to see what it is like height wise. I will email kawasaki and ask them to have a lower gel seat for me to try on the bike.
The biggest bike I've ridden thus far is a BMW R1200RT which was standard height, standard seat going back a few years at the bike safe event at Cheltenham racecourse. I was ment to try the F800 ST but it was fully booked! I enjoyed riding the RT but I found it top heavy when stopped as I was nearly on tip toes but not quite.
I've been riding PTW's since May 01 starting off on twist & go's maxi scoots, I then took my geared bike test in Sept 05 and have been riding geared bikes since, starting off with a Honda Deauville 650, BMW F800 ST, Yamaha TDM 900 and my current bike a Yamaha Fazer 600 S2.
I like the look of the GTR but am a tad apprehensive due to the weight of it, which is why I'm going to the bike show to swing my leg over one hopefully. Anyway that's a potted history of my bike ownership.
Regards
AndyM
Hello Shorty ....
I am sure that K will get you a lower seat, but the weight will literally evaporate when you start riding it ... sure it's physically a big bike but I and everyone else here will tell you how fantastic it is .. in all departments ! It's very nimble and you won't notice "weight" once you have been on the roads I can assure you.
I think there are a few of us going to the NEC too .. check out the thread that was started a couple of weeks ago ... looks like it will be a good day out ... don't forget your credit card ( for the Gtr deposit of course ! )
There are a few of us who have ridden/are riding RT's too and they are a very capable bike that you can cane all day long and will take you round the world in total comfort ... but just not as nice as the GTR ;D
Enjoy and let us know what you think when you get back from the show.
Hi Shortyrider
Trust me...just go for it ;D
I am 5'7" and am riding mine with the standard seat at the moment without any trouble. I am going to carry on like this even though I had the same thoughts as you and if it does prove a bit high, i am going to get the seat cut down and a gel pad fitted; this costs about a third of the price of the Kwak gel seat.
The bike carries its weight low and is a doddle to move about even for short arses like us ;)
I have changed the silencer and the rather massive weight reduction has made me even more confident, so much so that the jury's out on the seat lowering.
Andy hi and welcome. I'm only 5' 11" and I have to admit with the standard seat on there have been occasions when I haven't been able to put my feet down flat on the ground, 5' 7" with a lower seat and you might just get away with it. However even with only placing part of my foot down I've never not felt in control of the machine. Weight wise, I have to concur with Rusty, for such a big machine as the GTR is it displaces the weight effortlessly and you wont even realise it's hefty bulk when you are in motion.
I'm intrigued by the term PTW, not a phrase which is commonly used by bikers, I'm wondering if you are employed by the same folk as me. ;)
I hope all goes well with the visit to the NEC, dont be afraid to take a chance. Get one ordered. ;D
Hi Andy welcome to the club, I'm not sure that a trip to the show to try a bike for size is a good idea, as far as I am aware all the bikes on the stands are nailed to the floor on special frames so I fear that you will have no chance to get a feel for the bike as you will be in a totally false position. I would think a better bet for you would be to find one at a dealer or arrange with someone who has one to try for size, ideally with a lower seat to try in a real world situation, ie wheels on floor and suspension settled. AND if it does (fit) buy one as these things are nothing short of fantastic. Hope this helps cheers Geoff ;D
Hi Andy, welcome!
I had a 650 Deauville as my first "big" bike! :)
Where abouts are you from? You should try to get a test ride with a dealer, they are normally very happy to do this! Sit on one in their showroom first too. Or see if there is one at the show you can test ride. I've not done any test rides at the show, but I know there's the test ride thing going on this year.
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the prompt replies and encouragement. I'll try the bike show in the first instance, hopefully having the bike bolted to the floor won't affect the suspension so I should get an idea of feet placement.
Regards
AndyM
Sorry guys, but I HATE people like you.
You fit on every sportsbike.
BARSTEWARDS! ;)
Me, I am forced to ride big ST bikes because I simply don't fit on sportsbikes. :(
Even the ZZR1400 and Busa are seriously uncomfortable after about 50 miles in the saddle.
Luckily, Kawasaki made me a bigger ZZR1400 called the 1400GTR. ;D
Andy, your best bet would be to try a GTR at a dealers as it feels very different when it's not bolted down.
Just HOW big are you Boomer ? ;D
A 5' 7" Kawasaki rider, how original :)
(http://jerrygarrett.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/tom_cruise_motorcycle.jpg)
Like it !!!!!!! ;D
As sad as it is, I actually have that video somewhere upstairs, :o
Your'e ok mate .. that's not sad ... iconic films like that need to be kept for ever .... On a slightly different note I watched " Escape from Colditz " the other day ... black and white, awful music ,made about 1950/60's ? Famous well spoken actors, all the big hitters ... just brilliant ! ;D
I also have Grease the movie, now that is bad! It's my wife's I tell you, honestly, it's my wife's. ;D
Tell me more, tell me more, does she have a car? Hu hu hu hu. ;)
Quote from: Lord Rusty on October 25, 2011, 08:13:42 PM
Just HOW big are you Boomer ? ;D
Effin' HUGE mate! ;)
Look at my avatar pic. That's a 1400GTR underneath me, not a CBR600RR.
6'4" (32" inside leg, I have a long back) , 26 Stone, size 15(UK) feet.
Big enough that when I climbed on a Suzuki TL1000RR a few years back I ended up sitting on my calves, not on the saddle. :o
I can ride many of the older 1000cc sportsbikes, but the new ones are 600 sized and are just too small to ride.
The older "sportsbikes" like the GPZ900/ZX10, early 'Blade, ThunderAce, etc are painful after half an hour or so but I can at least ride them.
Modern "Hypersports" bikes are about the same.
So, I've always been condemned to large tourers but now I have a large SportsTourer! ;D
BANZAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Guys,
Height is about the only thing I have in common with Tom, don't have his money or looks :'( I must admit I like TopGun and the 2nd Mission Impossible film with the bikes near the end.
Anyone had any dealing with the Kawasaki dealership in Towcester as that would be a nice ride down the A5.
Regards
AndyM
I'd wonder what would happen if he hits the fly from the Red Bull ad head on? ;D ;D
By the way Cruise like Travolta are members of the Scientology sect and believe in being rescued by aliens when the world ends.
With other words real nut-cases. ::)