Too tall?

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Edmaddox
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Too tall?

#1

Post by Edmaddox »

I have never seen myself on my 1980 GL1100I. Probably a good thing, but everyone tells me I look likes giant crampeded ogar. Yes it’s true I’m 6’4” 240#, and on a longer ride my legs do get a little tight , but I love my old wing . Am I to big for my ride?
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5speed
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Re: Too tall?

#2

Post by 5speed »

I'm exactly the same as you..give or take 10 pounds. lol
I've never seen a pic of me on my bike so I have no idea what I look like. Nor do I care. anim-cheers1
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Rednaxs60
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Re: Too tall?

#3

Post by Rednaxs60 »

Have a friend who is similar in stature and he rides a CB 500X and the Triumph Speed triple, and he looks like a bear on a bike, but enjoys them immensely. He also has an HD Road King for touring. As 5speed mentions he doesn't care what people think.

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Whiskerfish
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Re: Too tall?

#4

Post by Whiskerfish »

opposite issue here :orange :orange :orange :orange lolol lolol lolol lolol
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low-side
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Re: Too tall?

#5

Post by low-side »

If you're comfortable, that's their problem not yours. If you are uncomfortable, different bars, custom seat, different foot pegs, etc can make a world of difference. I'm 6' with a 30" inseam (think 5' 9" legs with 6' 3" torso and arms), so I usually don't have to do anything with the pegs or seat but I almost always have to swap the bars out for something lower rise and adjust them forward.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Too tall?

#6

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Goldwings in general have surprisingly low seat heights. My KZ1300 and CB750 are markedly taller than either my 1000 or 1200. Which can't help much if you're overly tall.

'course, my 1300 as a bit weird anyway, but still.
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Re: Too tall?

#7

Post by Rat »

I’m 6'4” and 100 kilos (220 lbs) .... dry .... my GL1100 fits OK ....

Gord(rarely dry)Jones anim-cheers1
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Liam
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Re: Too tall?

#8

Post by Liam »

Too tall? Why worry about it. Shortening kits are not readily available as yet.
I am of larger stature also and I make my GL1800 look like a moped.
Do I care? Nope.
33344260_625145221169577_2176515002695942144_o.jpg
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x01660
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Re: Too tall?

#9

Post by x01660 »

The size contrast in that photo is astonishing; Liam, you are a big dude, dude.

:mrgreen:
-x01660

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Re: Too tall?

#10

Post by rcmatt007 »

Whiskerfish wrote:opposite issue here :orange :orange :orange :orange lolol lolol lolol lolol
ditto!

rc-tippy-toes-matt
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Too tall?

#11

Post by Sidecar Bob »

I'm 5'10. I used to know a fellow who was so tall that I looked him squarely in the adam's apple. He said the only bikes that he could stand riding were one of the big Harleys and the GoldWing and even then his legs got cramped after a while on his GL1200. He had Corbin re-do the seat so that the remaining passenger section was about 2 or 3 inches long and that made a big difference to him.

One of the problems with any boxer engine is that the footpegs have to be behind the heads so your knees have to be bent quite a bit. I have always had arthritis and even at 5'10 my knees could hurt after a while so I always had the seat in the rearmost position (you do know that your 1100I's seat is adjustable, don't you?) and when I had it re-upholstered a few years ago I got the front seat lengthened slightly but I still occasionally consider ways to move it rearward another inch. I can only imagine how cramped it would be for someone with truly long legs.
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5speed
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Re: Too tall?

#12

Post by 5speed »

Knock on wood my legs haven't cramped up on me yet but I haven't gone on any really long road trips.
I took the wifes shadow for a ride this summer and felt very awkward with the forward controls.
I like having them in the middle where they are on the wings.
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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CYBORG
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Re: Too tall?

#13

Post by CYBORG »

On my 1200 I found moving it back helped, but raising the front half about 3 inches did a world of good for my knees.
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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rcmatt007
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Re: Too tall?

#14

Post by rcmatt007 »

When I had the seat for our 1200 re-done (the OEM was awful) we moved the ridge back about 2 inches. It made a world of difference for Redwood
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
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delling3
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Re: Too tall?

#15

Post by delling3 »

As a rather large dude myself (6'3", and around 350 lbs.) I can assure you that I will make most any motorcycle look small. Heck, I make a lot of cars look small. Do I care? No. As others have said, comfort and control are what is important.
delling3

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Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.

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