Well, screw you to anyone who says that!

Rode around all day yesterday on the XR650L. Avoided the freeways and stayed on back roads. About as a straight up riding position as you can get, semi comfy seat, lots of leg room.

My lower back and legs are sore as hell today. Granted, I'm no spring chicken and it was the longest ride I've done so far this year, but I cant recall being so sore on even a sport bike before.

Was thinking of hitting the gym to get in decent shape but then realized that most of the time you're using both hands, and Guinness get's warm quickly

I've never ridden a bike with an upright riding position for a long period. Although I did try DP's cruiser last year. It wasn't too bad, once I learned that I needed to use a different riding position. (I was riding with my hands at my lugs in an attempted crouch. ) It wasn't too bad..

I've been tempted to go for something like the fazer, just because it is more upright.

The viffer is pretty good for doing longer distances or it would be except the seat is like a bread board. After 150 miles, you're ready for a break and if you push on, the stops get more and more frequent. Even down to 30 miles between stops on the trip up from Cambridge.

On motorway miles the wrists have never been a problem but I did find it a bit tiring on country roads but I was still doing about 200 miles. I don't think I had enough of an air cushion to take the weight off the wrists.

I suppose with the upright position, you're spine is taking a pounding because the shock are going straight through it, rather that having your back flex the way it normally would in the crouch. Maybe if you have lower back problems an upright position is not the way to go.

The only back problems I've had were ligaments. No spinal problems at all. I agree that this riding position puts way too much weight on your spine. My old V-Max had flat bars on it so you had to reach a bit and it also took some weight off.

I also think that riding sport or semi sport bikes since the late 70s may have something to do with it. I get on any bike with "normal" handle bars now and it feels really odd. My old TDM was the exception but it to had a semi crouch position compared to the XR650.

MMMMM... interesting Dave, i have never realy looked at the sports bike riding position in that light before.

I have an ostioarthriyic condition in the base of my spine, but for some reason i have always found the more upright position more comfy, it is prolonged bending that sets my back off the most, hence why i cant do as much mechanical work as i used to, but then so does prolonged standing.

I have always stated that a more prone position would not do my back any good, but i must confess (and contradict myself on past statements) that after riding my mates FJ1200 the other day, i actualy found it instantly comfortable, it all just fell into place and was the easyest bike i had riden in a long time.

I have for some time now always fancied a Yamie Thunder Ace, or a Suzi RF900 (Que FastFitter) but thought them to be the wrong position for me.

Akin to DP's coments about what his chiropractor has recomended about him riding his ZZR as apose to his cruiser, i am now wondering if prahaps i should look into the possibility of a change of style in the near future.

Food for thought Eh...!

When I bought the GSXR 1100 last year I expected it to give me,back or wrist ache but it didn't.What it did do was totally cripple my left instep, it didn't matter what I did after even a few miles it started to get really uncomfortable.

I've been riding a CB400 SF for the last couple of years, which is quite an upright position. My riding experiences have been limited to similar style bikes like CB750 and a 600 Bandit.
I bought a ZZR600 at the weekend, which was I knew was going to be a very different riding position, and from the short test ride, it's something I'm going to have to get used to.
I'm quite tall (6'3"), and I'm really hoping I don't suffer any discomfort when riding this bike on longer rides, as I've been looking forward to getting a ZZR for many years.

Does anyone have any tips or experiences to help avoid riding discomfort?

its been mentioned by me (& others in this very thread) but my ZZR whilst not an out & out sports bike-is the most comfortable bike for me.
I also ride a cb500/gs500 during my work as an instructor-i dont have many problems with the "traditional" riding position-but that could be down to sheer relief the student got back in one piece!
My cruiser is mostly my 2nd bike/winter hack & doesnt get used like the ZZR does, so comparisons arent that good-but on the occasions i have used it for Advanced training(100-150 miles in 2-3 hours) its getting uncomfortable towards the end-despite having a seat like a sofa!
My Chiro actually assesed me sitting on the ZZR & said it was the best position for me to be in-bourne out by the fact that the only thing that stops me from riding it long distances is the fuel range. I'm 44 with multiple back injuries-i'd be suprised if i didnt have the odd twinge when i get off any bike, in fact thats the only reason i sold my CBR6-i used to sound like the old dial up internet connection everytime i got off it! i could only go about 120 miles b4 i was aching.

Slightly different prob, but i can't ride an out and out sports bike becasue of my knee op. When there is such a bend in it, it becomes very painful, ie no more than 5 mins riding.

So i sold the Blade and bought my CB750.....

But now the misses says she will buy me something a bit more sporty. Any ideas guys and girls.....

I have been looking at a TL1000 and a Thunderace. Anyone any knowledge. Also i want one that i can 'trick' up a bit.....


All advice gratefully received.

Steve

I have a friend who must be pushing close to 60 now. He's a certifiable Ducati nut!! Since the local track closed down (RIP) the closest Canadian Superbike round is about a 10 hour ride away in Calgary. Bob thinks nothing of riding is 996 there in one day. He's not normal though, as he scheduled his heart bypass surgery last year to coincide with winter There's another anomoly. Never smoked, eats healthy food, and has the occasional glass of wine. Used to race motocross and has always been in good shape. Go figure???

Someone mentioned back exercises. Your doctor should have a brochure on the correct ones to do. I personally will wait for a piece of boring road and then move around, flex my fingers, rotate or twist at the waist, put my feet out and back etc. Before getting on the bike in the morning, I usally do a couple of touch my toes and the waist rotation. It may be only me but the waist rotation and stretching seem to help.

Also, I read somewhere that if you start getting tired on the bike, to start moving around and flexing a bit. This is supposed to get the blood circulating and provide more oxygen for the brain.

I think I did enough of that 2 years ago when I rode from Laguna Seca to Vancouver in one sitting. 21 hours and 55 minutes, around 1100 miles. Thank you Red Bull and coffee!!

Ive done 500 miles straight on my R6 and I am 6'3". Won't say I was comfortable but it was OK. Funnily enough I have just bought an XR650L. It is pretty open to the wind and rain but I am hoping it will be fun. Please tell me it is so .

You may need a wind screen. I've seen guys take a small conventional wind screen and mount it on the bars of their trailies. Seems to work well enough. I saw one particular owner who had some kind of quick release set up which allowed the screen to be removed when he went into the trails. Of course he had to carry a bag on back to hold it.

6'3" eh? You wont have any problems on the 650. I've cut my seat down on mine. I just don't relish the idea of coming to a stop in the forest, putting a foot down and finding a 2 foot depression, then falling over. I'm 5' 11' and the XR650L is bordering on too tall for me. I'm going to see how much a local dealer is going to suck from my pockets on a trade in for a DRZ400. This one is used and the enduro model, but comes with extra tires, larger tank and the Baja Kit which permits it to be road legal, with brake light switch, indicators etc.

The XR650L has such a good suspension that I've been on trails that a 650 shouldnt be on. But the type of terrain here is very wet, tight, lots of steep hills and rocks. The 400 is physically smaller which will help a lot. Too bad that this model of DRZ is kick start only.

Does your 650 have a larger tank on it? Mine came with a monster Acerbis tank that must of held close to 6 gallons I traded that tank for a Clarke 3.5 gallon tank which is more reasonable for the type of riding I do. The weight of that full Acerbis tank when riding in tight stuff was too much. Good for Baja and other open places though.

Re the R6. One of the Journos from Cycle Canada mag rode an R6 across Canada and said he was suprised at how comfortable he was. I doubt very much that he was your heighth though.

I think this is the url..

www.thumpertalk.com

There's also a company that sells nothing but goodies for the XR series bikes. Based in the USA. I think it's

www.xrsonly.com

The XR is a 93, paid 800 quid ($1600 US) . I think that is a good price but maybe wrong. The guy isn't dropping it off until Friday so I don't know a great deal about it. From a guy at work so I know its in good shape. It has Renthal Bars ( Good or Bad ???) large plastic tank, after market pipe, he mentioned Baja but he might have been talking about something else as I am not well up on Dualsport bikes and equipment. New chain and spockets, it also has a small screen. I think he said it has had a jet kit on also. What do you think ???

Keep the speed up..

That way your weight won't be on your wrists. It works for me.