Whats the best bike choice for a taller rider new to sport tourers?

[timdow]

Many of the adventure bikes would work.  The DL's are a good option.  

I have ridden a  few ZG1000's and at 6'3" I find that out of the box the bar to seat to peg relationship does not work very well.  Probably could be modded fairly easily though.

I have an FJR and that works well, although a stretch at $5500.  I agree DL650 would be best.

[MContevita]

I'm 6'5" and I'm riding comfy on an 03 Blackbird.  Sure, I got risers (convertibars) and peg lowers (Daves) but anyone over 6' would find those two mods very nice to have.  Got an MRA windscreen with the adjusable lip as well, this helps much on the interstate speeds and higher.  

You can get the Blackbird (CBR XX) for a song these days.  They're still stupid fast yet you can set one up for sport-touring and commuting.  

[2RR2NV]

VFR800.

[timdow]

VFR800.

VFR800 is a good choice.  Sprint ST is too.  The last bike I had I was initially looking for a VFR800 until I did some reading and went for the Srrint ST instead.  Loved those hard bags!

[Ramseybella]

6'3" 297 pounds 32" inseam.

I ride Triumph 1050 Tiger and never looked back, lots of leg room great seating nice Linear powerband.
Had a 1998 Tiger 900 that started the whole bike I can fit on and enjoy all day thing.

[Papa Lazarou]

everybody knows that the Velosolex is the best bike in the world.

[Gypsyangel]

If you're going to ride it,you're going to customize it a bit to fit you better.

But +1000 for the WeeStrom (DL650). My husband is 6'4" and he's owned 5 of them now (I think,possibly more). He changes whenever they get a new color scheme he likes.

But he's got risers on the handlebars that put then up a bit taller than stock, A super tall windscreen and a Russell Day Long seat shown here on the orange bike to the left:

BTW that's not him in the pic.

Since it's A: Japanese and B: not a full faired bike, maintenance is simple and cheap. He's owned the DL1000 but prefers the 650 for all around touring. If you want to ask him more about it,you'll have to pop over to ADVRider and look up Bluelghtning (not a typo,that's how he spells it).

[Dutch]

The best choice is the one you don't have to make payments on.

[timdow]

The best choice is the one you don't have to make payments on.

Jeez no kidding.  Can't wait until mine is paid off.

[Kawgurl]

Don't know if you're interested in an adventure-tourer or not, but a Vstrom 1000 or a BMW GS might afford you a lot of legroom.

My husband is 6'2" and rides a BMW GS 1200 - and I am 6' and have ridden it as well - it really is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden.  My Concours would be crampy for your 6'3" - I find it gets crampy for me sometimes, but I just love the bike.  Good luck in your search!  

[Conni14]

I have an '02 Triumph Trophy (chain-driven) 1200.  While it's a bit top heavy, it's extremely smooth and definitely ample power.  I'm almost 6'3" and weight 250 with longer arms.  The reach is damn near perfect.  You have a choice of varying heights for windscreens (see Yahoo Groups Trophy Forums for specifics on upgrades/aftermarkets/farkles) as well as hard luggage with optional top box.  I bought mine for $3500 and feel I can make a profit if I ever decide to sell it.  She's quiet, minimal vibration, if at all, easy to turn into corners, fairly easy to work on (full fairings) and extremely comfortable - even with the stock seat.  I bought mine in Green Bay, WI and rode it down to Huntsville, AL.  My one and only complaint is she doesn't like rush hour traffic or standing still under the hot sun for long periods of time.  But then, I don't know too many bikes that do.  Do a search on searchtempest.com and I'm sure you'll come across one.  There's a guy on our Yahoo Groups selling one that's green.  I've really been enjoying this bike a lot.

http://www.sportbikerider.us/Index.cfm?Go=SP&ID=178018&CFID=53698785&CFTOKEN=c861b60a4a030cb2-203C3D76-FD7B-CAF0-16B99E5C52C8F2C7&jsessionid=84304282fd68b5a57b3339732035293f4379

Absolutely wonderful bike!  We had one and my husband had the pegs ground down from digging into the corners.  That bike can fool you on power and agility.  Unfortunately we sold it, but may have an opportunity to buy it back (I'm going to try to ride it - but I do remember it being pretty top heavy, but heck - once it's rollin' it don't matter nun)...and if I don't think I can handle THAT, then I'm buying an FZ1 for myself  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Thanks from Vermont!

Feel free to toss that little tidbit into your profile so when I read later "the dirt roads up here" I know about where "here" is  


This little site http://cycle-ergo.com/ might prove useful to see how your long legs will work on various model bikes. Of course, nothing beats sitting on the seat