How comfortable is a Sport bike (Katana or CBR) for a tall person?

Question

I'm considering buying a Katana 750 but I just don't know how comfortable I'll be on it. I'm 6'4 and worry that I'll have trouble shifting the gears because of long legs. Any tall people out there, help me out.

I did go to the dealership and sat on one, but sitting on a bike for 30 seconds doesn't really mean anything. I want to know how you feel after riding it for 2 hours.

Answer 1

AH HA.....

I'm 6'4 215lbs I own and race a CBR929RR Erion Racing Eddition

My bike has high pegs for racing and yes my knees are pretty high on the gas tank. I make the sacrifice for ground clearance. If your not concerned about ergonomic and want a performance you have to make the sacrifice.

However if your buying a Katana your not concerned about performance. It really isn't a sport bike. In fact I highly recommend you look at a different bike. Katana is a road bike like a bandit with fairings on it to make it look like a sport bike. No offense but you mentioned a CBR, and I'm not bias but i would be more interested in a good used sport bike for the same price you would buy the Katana.

I have owned a 2001 Harley soft tail. I sold it because it was so damn uncomfortable. I prefer to lean on my hands rather than hold on for dear life...

feel free to e-mail me and i'll give you the skinny on sport bikes.

Answer 2

I've found that my knees are spread to wide because my legs don't conform to the shape of the tank. The wind likes to spread my legs when riding because they're not tucked in enough (strain on the groin LOL). I also have to move the shift lever to a pointing down position and the brake pedal isn't really adjustable. I can't tuck below the wind shield - result, sore arms. For a short ride, 1/2 hr - 1 hr tops, sport bikes are fun to ride. The bikes I feel most comfortable on , as far as street bikes go, are sit up bikes like Honda's CB750 & Kawasaki's naked sport bike ZRX1100. Ask a friend with a sport bike if you can try it, or ask the dealer for a test ride. Good luck!

Answer 3

NO sport bike is comfortable in any respect. You're folded up in a racing position, and it is uncomfortable ALL the time. As tall as you are it will be terriblely uncomfortable. You'll be leaned over with your weight on your hands and wrists all the time, it sucks after a few minutes.

If you want real fast and a degree of comfort check out Yamaha's V Max. I love mine, there simply is NO substitute for the brute power and acceleration, and it is fairly comfortable. It isn't great for 110mph corners, but for going down the open road it's breath taking.

I'm 250lbs and my V Max will eat a 750 sport bike with a small rider for breakfast going light to light. Mine has a Kerker exhaust and has been jetted it runs like scalded dog, and the exhaust note is just awsome, at lights it doesn't even sound like motorcycle. It sounds like V8 car with a big racing cam, that loping bubbleing rumble of shear power.

The sport biker's have to have a real big sport bike to be in my class. When I park my V Max at different places, there can be a 100 sport bikes there and everyone looks at my V Max and just walks past the sport bikes. People come over to talk about it all the time, they don't with sport bikers.

Women like riding on my V Max, most sport bikes only have one rider, the boobs feal real good pressed against my back. You don't get boobs pressed against your back on a sport bike, you're hunched over and down on the gas tank.

Don't buy any Suzukis! My brother and I bought 2 new bikes for a summer vacation. His 1200 Bandit leaked gas and ruined the motor before it got 2000 miles. We asked Suzuki to replace the motor so we could go on vacation.

It took 2 months to get a rep out, then he said it’s to expensive and would cost $3000. After 4 months and the vacation gone they got the motor rebuilt at a their cost of $3700. The dealer wanted to replace the motor but the Suzuki Rep squashed that.

The gas stained cases and burnt exhaust pipes were not replaced, the rep wouldn't go for it. The bike got nicked and scratched all over from being apart for 6 months, I saw the rep do some of it. The rep rode it and looked at it when it was fixed, then said it’ good as new. It ran like crap and looked worse.

We called Japan, and even wrote the US CEO all for nothing. We spent $15,000 for the bikes to get ripped off by Suzuki. We spent our vacation hassling with Suzuki, and not one person there gave a damn!

Beware Suzuki’s warranty is not worth the paper it’s on! Buy one of their lemons, get shafted, we did!

I’m a 30 yr garage vet and I know when a rep and a manufacturer have ripped off a customer. This one stinks to high heaven! RUN from buying any Suzuki!

If the Yamahas or Hondas don't appeal to you take a look at Kawasaki. They all make some great bikes. You get one of Suzuki's lemons and you could in my boat, with your hand over back side! I know you can get a or bad anything, but Suzuki has no customer service, and don't even know what it is!

Answer 4

i am 6-2 and have had both a kan tuna and the cbr 954 the 954 is a much more powerful bike and more fun but both were very comfortable

Answer 5

Sports bikes are meant for speed and corners; for comfort, go get a cruiser... it all depends on ur purpose of having a bike.

Answer 6

did you go in a dealership and sat on one ? that would be the best thing... from experience.. I can say that it's not the most comfortable thing... just be ready to have to stretch those legs...

Answer 7

katana 750 will have a lil adjustment problem...but eventually it'll be allrite!! depends upon how long u goin to keep d bike....!!