Riding long distances

[QuincyGixxer]

Does anyone have tips for riding a streetbike long distances?

I'm really new to riding and originally thought a gsxr would be fine for riding a few hundred miles of highway, but man it sucks. Since I have bad wrists from computers/posture, I end up stopping every 30-45 minutes to rest my hands/wrists and don't have much fun. Short of getting a cruiser, is there anything I can do to make it more comfortable?

[Stromper]

I have convertibars that should fit as they did my 2006

www.convertibars.com

moved the bars 4 inches up and 2 back and 2 wider made mine all day comfortable

Need to know diameter of fork tubes but believe its the same

I also have mirrors to go with that

Altogether cost me 750 but could be yours for 250

[Jim]

they're not designed to go long distance cruising on the highway.

[Spooler]

I started out riding standards and when I switched to sportier bikes I had the same problem. After a while I adjusted my riding position and kept my core tighter, that took a lot of pressure off my wrists and now I ride 100-150 miles between breaks. Of course, my current bike's bars are a little higher than a gixxer's, but not too much.

[KawiSmurf]

Higher bars (helibars, convertibars, etc), gel grips, a taller aftermarket sport-touring windscreen, Corbin seat, and a soft sport saddlebag set should make a world of difference.

[VinceF2]

I just did 976 miles in one day coming back from Deals Gap... although my VFR is a bit more upright then your bike I used a crampbuster which helped my throttle hand and a gel seat pad to help my arse...

Other than that I got nothing... it was a long day... I was able to go about 200 miles between stops for gas... I also used a hydropak to stay hydrated which I think helped... oh and music to keep my mind off my arse hurting

[gamorg02]

there are other options, aside from cruisers.

nice standard, or a more upright sport.

or a vmax! altho some would argue its a cruiser.

[Ken C]

The bike is not designed for it, which is why you're having problems. That said, I toured on my ZX636 and did okay with Convertibars. Still, you expect a supersport to provide touring or standard-type comfort.

If the GSXR just won't cut it then get a VFR, FZ1, or similar. They are sporty enough with more comfort.

[Chippertheripper]

Higher bars (helibars, convertibars, etc), gel grips, a taller aftermarket sport-touring windscreen, Corbin seat, and a soft sport saddlebag set should make a world of difference.

done, done, and done. minus your ipod. with the gixxer, this is about all you can do before trading it in.

[Spooler]

Get a sprint st! You'll love the torque and the sound, you'll have factory hard bags, you'll be upright enough to be comfortable for a few hundred miles, but the seating position is aggressive enough so you still know you're on a sport bike. It does pretty good in the twists, ESP w upgraded forks.

[ChicknStripEatr]

I just did 976 miles in one day coming back from Deals Gap... although my VFR is a bit more upright then your bike I used a crampbuster which helped my throttle hand and a gel seat pad to help my arse...

Other than that I got nothing... it was a long day... I was able to go about 200 miles between stops for gas... I also used a hydropak to stay hydrated which I think helped... oh and music to keep my mind off my arse hurting

...no you didn't, don't lie. What are you gonna say next, that the following day you climbed a mountain?

[gadget]

Get a sprint st! You'll love the torque and the sound, you'll have factory hard bags, you'll be upright enough to be comfortable for a few hundred miles, but the seating position is aggressive enough so you still know you're on a sport bike. It does pretty good in the twists, ESP w upgraded forks.

[Lxpony]

Does anyone have tips for riding a streetbike long distances?

I'm really new to riding and originally thought a gsxr would be fine for riding a few hundred miles of highway, but man it sucks. Since I have bad wrists from computers/posture, I end up stopping every 30-45 minutes to rest my hands/wrists and don't have much fun. Short of getting a cruiser, is there anything I can do to make it more comfortable?

Get your weight off your wrists! Bend your arms slightly and hold yourself up with your back and stomach muscles. NO reason to have sore wrists from only 30 mins. on a sportbike.

[VinceF2]

...no you didn't, don't lie. What are you gonna say next, that the following day you climbed a mountain?

Actually it was two days later.... :p

[SAB]

Being light on your grip helps too. It's one of the first things they teach you in bicycle racing and it works with motorcycles too. There's rarely a need to be white knuckled and death gripping the bars. Loosen up and enjoy.

[butcher bergs]

Does anyone have tips for riding a streetbike long distances?

Use your core muscles to support yourself a bit more....then again, with the choice of touring bike you have chosen you'll have abs of steel soon enough.

Look into the aforementioned standard or sport touring bikes. There have been some good suggestions already posted.

[NobodySpecific]

[RandyO]

Short of getting a cruiser

A cruiser is likely to be even more uncomfortable, cruiser ergonomics are terrible, forward pegs and laid back riding position puts all the road vibration right on your spine

standard ergonomics of a nekid bike is best, legs underneath you and slightly forward canted torso acts as suspension for your body

on a sportbike, its important to be physicly fit, strong abdomnimal muscles
wrists get sore cause your trying to support too much weight and as already mentioned, higher clipons


something else that is important is your underwear, cotton underwear with seams absorb moisture and rub your skin raw, bike shorts or motorcycle specific like LDComfort

stay hydrated, do not take preventative pain killers like asprin, acedomenophen, ibuprophen or naproxin, instead, fix the ergonomic problem

[Stoneman]

A cruiser is likely to be even more uncomfortable, cruiser ergonomics are terrible, forward pegs and laid back riding position puts all the road vibration right on your spine

I agree. My back can NOT handle the uprights of a cruiser. Pure fuckin' agony...

[JettaJayGLS]

What I found works really well, is shifting positions ever so slightly, but doing it before you start to get sore and doing it often.

Slide your butt an inch to the left here, 2 inches to the right there, little consistent movements like that keep me comfortable on a few hundred mile ride.

[RandyO]

What I found works really well, is shifting positions ever so slightly, but doing it before you start to get sore and doing it often.

Slide your butt an inch to the left here, 2 inches to the right there, little consistent movements like that keep me comfortable on a few hundred mile ride.

if you have to figit in your seat, your ergonomics are wrong or your wearin the wrong underwear

[CBR929RE]

track sessions are only 20 minutes and you're constantly moving about the bike. all problems solved.

[Rambunctous]

Need to cruise at high speeds. Let the wind support your torso. 125 MPH should be about right. Headwinds a little less. Tailwinds a little more. Experiment to find just the right speed. Traffic can be a hindrance.

[hondarider102]

they're not designed to go long distance cruising on the highway.

exactly!! your on a sportbike, go to a nice set of twisties, get your ass off the seat and you shouldn't have any issues

[Femmekat]

Get your weight off your wrists! Bend your arms slightly and hold yourself up with your back and stomach muscles. NO reason to have sore wrists from only 30 mins. on a sportbike.

Most of those that I ride with do 300+ mile rides on a Saturday or Sunday on supersports. It can be done. I also like my throttle boss cramp buster for long highway stints. It keeps your throttle wrist from getting sore, and is very small so no risk of accidental throttle input.