Time for a change?

[duganc1717]

So I been debating this in my head for a month or so and decided to enlist the advice of fellow motorcyclist. My current bike a 2002 Triumph Daytona 955i and is a complete love/hate relationship.

This is one of the few bikes I've owned I cannot get comfortable on. I have only owned it a few months and it has been painful experiance from the start, literally!
My palms of my hands hurt after 10 minutes, wrist follow clsely behind. Last Tuesday I rode about 250 miles and I wanted to die. Wrists killed, next day my neck and back hurt and my left foot still hurts today.

That and I just don't seem to be into the "spirited" rides as much lately (mentally and physically) and I'm wondering if I should move to something bigger and slower? Yes a cruiser...

I guess I'm trying to figure out if the miles are catching up with me riding sportbikes (close to 40K in the past year and half alone) or if it's just the bike?
Or a combination of the two?

Anyone else gone through this?

[Pittenger5]

Im guessing its the bike. If youre not looking forward to the ride, you wont enjoy it no matter what. You gotta be in the right mood for it.

[schleppy]

That's how I felt about my SV. I loved the bike, but I could never get physically comfortable on it. New bars, seat, etc etc didn't help.

I'd say sell it and try something else. No sense is keeping something that leaves you in pain.

[Chippertheripper]

What they said, but I'd suggest an adventure type bike over a cruiser. Something comfy, but that can actually turn, and you wouldn't be afraid to take down a dirt road or whatever.

[scottieducati]

My ZRX is a freakin' couch. All-day-comfy... and fast. You're welcome to come give it a whirl if you like.

[Spooler]

Try a sprint. Not quite as much hp, but more midrange, very comfy, very quick.

I've never been happy on a cruiser. I'd go sport touring or adv.

[TheIglu]

ZRX, FZ1, Adventure-touring, etc would all give you the jollies without the follies.

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

superhawks are nice!

[schleppy]

If you want to try my DR650 (supermoto converted) you're welcome to ride up here and we'll swap bikes for a while. Fun, comfy, cheap...

[NobodySpecific]

Try a sprint. Not quite as much hp, but more midrange, very comfy, very quick.

I've never been happy on a cruiser. I'd go sport touring or adv.

I would actually probably look at a Tiger 1050 before I looked at a sprint again. More comfy ergos, same engine, and better brakes/suspension. Same luggage options too.

[Paul_E_D]

Anything might be better than the triumph. THey are apparently built for people with extraordinarily long arms and torsos. I can't ride them.

[Garandman]

What they said, but I'd suggest an adventure type bike over a cruiser. Something comfy, but that can actually turn, and you wouldn't be afraid to take down a dirt road or whatever.

Good advice.

Personally cruisers drive me nuts: too much weight on the spine, too low, not enough weight on the front wheel to know what's going on.

The SV650 I just got is a lot of fun. But I noticed this morning when it was time for a 52 mile (one way) commute with a chance of rain, I took the V-Strom. Handguards, heated grips, windshield, relaxed riding position, hmmmm, no contest.

[Spooler]

Tiger is a very nice bike too, but you need long legs. I'm 6'2" and I can't flat foot it. I was actually a little nervous riding it, it's the only bike I've ridden that I couldn't get at least the balls of both feet down.

[NobodySpecific]

Tiger is a very nice bike too, but you need long legs. I'm 6'2" and I can't flat foot it. I was actually a little nervous riding it, it's the only bike I've ridden that I couldn't get at least the balls of both feet down.

I guess I have should have preceded my comment with the fact that I've never even sat on a new Tiger, but it seems to be a competent bike. That's still surprising though, because one of the people that I know with a Tiger is also one of the shorter guys that I know (I would almost certainly say he is under 5'5" or at least close) and his other bike is a Daytona 675 that he fits on pretty well. No idea if he has done any lowering mods on it or not.

[Stromper]

I like my VSTROM 1K

100HP, all day comfort, go anywhere, cheap, reliable and dorky looking

[fjrrider RI]

Ever try the supersport tourers or now they have sport tourers sportbikes with riased bars like my ninja or the fz6. So many options today! Go with fuel injected models in any case unless you love to clean carbs.

[Ducrappy]

I would also suggest an adventure or sport touring bike.

Tiger is a very nice bike too, but you need long legs. I'm 6'2" and I can't flat foot it. I was actually a little nervous riding it, it's the only bike I've ridden that I couldn't get at least the balls of both feet down.

You get used to not being able to flat foot a bike fairly quickly. I found the Tiger 1050 to be a very comfortable bike and wasn't really bothered by the height after a 20 mile test ride.

My F800GS is quite tall as well, but I've become quite comfortable with it.

FWIW, I'm 5'10" with 32" inseam

[Danz19899]

VFR800 or ZRX both are dam comfy and handle very well.

[Ryno]

I took a spin on my buddy's zzr1200 a while back and fell in love. All day comfy, handles pretty good for a big bike and it hauls ass.

[Spooler]

+1 for VFR and ZRX. I owned a vfr 800 a few years ago, and it was a great bike (although I prefer the sprint) and I love the zrx.

[mojobreakfast]

Anything might be better than the triumph. THey are apparently built for people with extraordinarily long arms and torsos. I can't ride them.

I'm pretty stubby, 30" inseam but built in a way that my legs are really nubby. Not sure if my arms are short or not but my torso is almost as wide as it is long I'm 5'9" on the best of days.

But, the Sprint is extremely comfortable. I rode it 325 miles last Sunday (2-up, no less) and stepped off at the end of the day with no issues. Felt great, besides the usual road fatigue.

The Tiger might be another story.

[duganc1717]

Anything might be better than the triumph. THey are apparently built for people with extraordinarily long arms and torsos. I can't ride them.

Funny part is I'm 6'1" with long arms and a longer then normal torso, according Vanson. There is something about the downward angle of the clipons killing me.

[duganc1717]

Thanks for all the offers, that's why love this place.

Stopped @ Precision Triumph yesterday to look @ the Thunderbird and Speedmaster.. The salesmen seemed to think the Tiger would be a better fit.

[NobodySpecific]

Thanks for all the offers, that's why love this place.

Stopped @ Precision Triumph yesterday to look @ the Thunderbird and Speedmaster.. The salesmen seemed to think the Tiger would be a better fit.

That's a smart salesman

[Ken C]

Most people regret going to cruisers. I echo what other say about a standard, sport tourer or ADV bike.

I've owned a VFR800 and now own a Triumph Sprint RS. I also toured on a 05 ZX6 for a while. The VFR seat sucked and even though it had a sport touring riding position, I still wanted the bars to be higher. It wasn't until I rode the ZX6 that what I really wanted was a bike with handlebars that were CLOSER, not necessarily higher. I found the ZX to be surprisingly comfortable. The seat was much better than the VFR.

The 2000 Sprint I currently own has bar risers, but is a long reach. For some reason, though the ergonomic position isn't bad at all. The seat is pretty good and it's got a low seat height. ...and I get 49-52 mpg. What I don't like is the gruff engine. I learned that I like smooth running motors (I-4).

FYI, I'm 5'9"