Comfort, Kat vs Gixxer

[MeowKat]

Anybody ride a gsxr and find it comfortable for a trip 100 miles or more? I've seen photos of people touring with supersport bikes and it make me wonder. I'm not thinking of trading the Kat though.

[Psycho1]

I am comfortable on my 05 GSX-R750 for up to around 650-750 miles/day, much more than that and it starts to lose the fun aspect of riding. I have gone 1100 miles in less than 24 hours twice on it, while on an 8621 mile cross country trip last Oct/Nov. Not sure if the newer GSX-R's would be as comfortable as the 04/05 model though. I also use a big tank bag to lean against taking weight off my wrists, and have a factory gel seat which made a huge improvement over the stock seat.

[jetmerritt]

Well, depends on your size and stuff, but I have rode a '10 ZX-6R and that wasn't comfortable from the get go. I am 5'10" - 200lbs, not too fat, but a bit of a ponch.

I have rode a '08 Gixxer 1K and it was pretty good with the rearsets adjusted all the way down. I could ride it a couple hours but nothing compares with riding a Kat for comfort and even then, I want to do a set of Speigler bars and get a little more upright riding position.

Hope that helps...

[ct3]

no way....my kat is the only sport bike i have ever ridden that is somewhat comfortable for more then a couple hours of riding

[Psycho1]

Well, depends on your size and stuff, but I have rode a '10 ZX-6R and that wasn't comfortable from the get go. I am 5'10" - 200lbs, not too fat, but a bit of a ponch.

I have rode a '08 Gixxer 1K and it was pretty good with the rearsets adjusted all the way down. I could ride it a couple hours but nothing compares with riding a Kat for comfort and even then, I want to do a set of Speigler bars and get a little more upright riding position.

Hope that helps...

I don't know, I know I am able to put in more miles on the GSX-R than on my pre Kat 600 (still staying within 5-10mph of the posted speed limits). Part of it is the gel seat on the GSX-R compared to the stock pre 600 seat, but I think the main thing is with the much better suspension on the GSX-R, my body doesn't get fatigued as quickly from being beat up by every bump in the road. I'm 6' and go back and forth between 165 and 185 lbs.

[ct3]

I don't know, I know I am able to put in moe miles on the GSX-R than on my pre Kat 600 (still staying within 5-10mph of the posted speed limits). Part of it is the gel seat on the GSX-R compared to the stock pre 600 seat, but I think the main thing is with the much better suspension on the GSX-R, my body doesn't get fatigued as quickly from being beat up by every bump in the road. I'm 6' and go back and forth between 165 and 185 lbs.

the better suspension does help...but for me being 6'3'' 250 lbs...sport bikes in general are just a bit uncomfortable with large body types

[Psycho1]

no way....my kat is the only sport bike i have ever ridden that is somewhat comfortable for more then a couple hours of riding

Try it for 19 hours straight sometime and let us know how you feel in the morning. yeah I can see how being 6'3 something like a GSX-R might be a little too cramped for you, a Busa, ZX-12, or a ZX14 would probably be a more natural fit.

[ct3]

Try it for 19 hours straight sometime and let us know how you feel in the morning. yeah I can see how being 6'3 something like a GSX-R might be a little too cramped for you, a Busa, ZX-12, or a ZX14 would probably be a more natural fit.

lol...yeah i've rode a zx14 before and it was "roomier" but still not the best, but such is the life for a baby huey!!!

[MeowKat]

I just had to wonder because my kat makes my neck ache a bit after 40-50 miles and my hands hurt also ( need good larger diameter grips) Did 80 miles in one ride and my behind started to ache too. I sat on an R1 once and I nearly had to be helped off due to the riding position. Sat on a new '00 Harley Superglide and it felt like it was made for me. ( I was going to sell the kat and buy the superglide back then) BTW: I'm 6' 158 lbs

[Kreylyn]

I just had to wonder because my kat makes my neck ache a bit after 40-50 miles and my hands hurt also ( need good larger diameter grips) Did 80 miles in one ride and my behind started to ache too. I sat on an R1 once and I nearly had to be helped off due to the riding position. Sat on a new '00 Harley Superglide and it felt like it was made for me. ( I was going to sell the kat and buy the superglide back then) BTW: I'm 6' 158 lbs

Hands hurting, and neck hurting are clear signs of over gripping/tensing up on the bike. You back won't hurt if you do not arch it (roll your hips forward a tad like your pushing your belly button towards the tank. It's also called sitting up straight... )

If your tense, and tight when riding... no bike is going to "relieve" that.

Krey

[jetmerritt]

Hands hurting, and neck hurting are clear signs of over gripping/tensing up on the bike. You back won't hurt if you do not arch it (roll your hips forward a tad like your pushing your belly button towards the tank. It's also called sitting up straight... )

If your tense, and tight when riding... no bike is going to "relieve" that.

Krey

+1
On any lean forward kind of bike, the gorilla grip of death on the bars will wear you out in no time...

[bob393]

+1
On any lean forward kind of bike, the gorilla grip of death on the bars will wear you out in no time...

Heck just supporting your weight on your arms will kill them.
Add the grip of death and your toast!

[squiggy]

I just had to wonder because my kat makes my neck ache a bit after 40-50 miles

I've noticed with myself that my neck becomes sore quicker in the colder winter season then it does in the warmer periods of the year. The conclusion I've drawn is it because of my leather jacket, specifically the rigid collar of leather as opposed to the softer, more pliable summer fabric jacket I use. My neck muscles are fighting against the rigid leather collar.

[Psycho1]

A lot of it could do with conditioning too. The more often you takw those long rides, the stronger your neck, and the rest of your muscles used when riding will get stronger and used to it, then the pain will slowly dissapear (provided there isn't some sort of physical medical condition that's causing it). I notice in the spring, after my bikes have all been parked for the winter months, my first few long rides of the season are a little more uncomfortable than normal, but after 2 or 3 long rides (300-400mile days), everything is back to normal again and I'm fine.

[MeowKat]

Thanks for all the insight. Actually, I know my hands hurt because of the diameter of the grips. I have large hands and it feels like I'm holding onto bicycle bars after a while. I would like to get larger foam grips. I'm not tense on the bike really, and I think the neck ache is just due to leaning forward a bit. I think Spraque is probably right that it could be due to conditioning of the neck muscles.