| Author | Message | ||
     Jandj_davis |
I have been riding standards for the last 8 years. I started out on a 76 yamaha XT500 (big dual-sport) and ride an '83 Honda Nighthawk 550 right now (see my profile). I have ridden the 'S' a few times, and while the riding position is familiar, I don't really like it. I don't know if it is the nearness of the bars, or the height of the pegs, but I just plain felt "off" on it. I rode an XB9R (my first ride on a bike with clipons) yesterday (Thanks to Craig and the crew at Silver Eagle HD/Buell in Waterloo, IA). After a short 15 minute ride, both of my hands were numb and my right arm hurt for the rest of the evening (6 hrs.). Other than that, I love the riding position and feel of the bike, along with the added wind protection. For those of you that have also made the transition from Standard to Sport, how long did it take you to get used to the riding position? I think I would rather own an 'R' over an 'S' but if I cannot ride it for more than 20 minutes, it really is pointless to own. So, all that said, I would appreciate your input. Thanks in advance. Josh Davis Cedar Rapids, IA | ||
| Buellin_ri |
Different positions use different muscles. May take a few rides to build those muscles up. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
You can buy different grips and bar ends (vibration elimination) for the hand numbing. As for your back and arms ri is right. You will just have to ride it till you are used to it. I can ride mine all day long and I still even have the stock seat on it. When I say all day long, I mean in the city. I have to get off of the bike every other hour on long trips. | ||
| M1combat |
It helps a LOT to make sure you don't support your weight with your arms. If I'm just cruising along I typically lay on the tank with my arms relaxed. When I'm having fun I use my back. | ||
| Midknyte |
The R is a bike that likes to be talked to (with good riding form), so much so that it pretty much requires it. Body position and shifting your weight will be more effective than trying to muscle it around. I liked reading "Twist of the wrist". It explains how the seemingly small and subtle things you do on a bike mean a lot on a sportbike. Go, get, read. If you are sore and numb, I'd sooner suspect it is because you were fighting the bike instead of talking it's language. | ||
| Xb9 |
The most I've ridden my XB9R in a day (15.5 hrs) was 775 miles. When I got home from that trip, I felt like I could have made another couple hundred miles no problem. I'm no spring chicken either. Eliminating or minimizing fatigue on a sportbike takes some adjustment to how you ride and the muscles you use, here are a couple of suggestions I can think of: 1. Practice using your core muscles (abs mainly) to hold your body weight up, not resting the weight of your upper torso through your arms. 2. Practice relaxing your arms and hands on the bars, no need to have a super tight grip on the bars. If your using your core muscles to hold you up, this will almost come naturally. 3. Relax, relax, relax. Being tense will fatigue you very quickly. These are some of the fundamentals we teach at the FASTTRAX high performance street rider school where I am an instructor. Hope this helps!! | ||
| Firewhirl |
I agree with all of the above. I'm going on 41 and had not ridden for five years. I was sore as hell riding my 9R for the first 5,000 miles and also have bad knees. 8 months later I can ride all day long and feel like I can go some more. Use your knees and stomach mucles to help support your body. I also have short arms so the reach for me to the bars is not easy. Had the same issues, to much weight on my hands, that's all around bad. I've adjusted now and have no pain in my wirst, bike handles alot better and no little tanks slappers. I use my bike to commute so I have had plenty of practice to adjust. | ||
| Scitz |
I added the HeliBars on my XB9R and noticed a big difference. The new bar position is 1" taller & 1 1/2" more rearward than stock. You can also use the XBS pegs on the XBR and drop your foot position by an inch. It also helps to make sure the suspension is set for your weight and riding style. These are just a few easy mods to the bike you can make. My back is not so great and I type all day usually so my wrist hurt but after riding the bike for a few months my muscles and body got use to it. | ||
| Jandj_davis |
Scitz - I actually prefer the longer reach of the stock bars, and the higher position of the stock pegs. If I were to own an 'S', I would put the 'R' pegs on it as the first mod. Looking back on the ride, I didn't support myself with my torso, but with my arms. I was also pretty tense, as I was not used to the way the bike handled. I tried to counter-steer it the way I would a standard rather than use my body input to steer it, which I started to do at the end of the ride. Finally, The suspension was set up for the track, so it was really stiff and not at all optimized for the roads we were on or for my size/weight (5'10"/185). These things all go against the suggestions that have been given here. All of your feedback has been great, and has encouraged me that buying an'R' would not be a bad decision, just another thing to grow into. It is good to know that so many of you are willing to encourage a future bueller. Thanks a bunch. Keep the input coming. Josh Davis Cedar Rapids, IA | ||
| Aldaytona |
After riding thousands of miles on racing bicycles the XBR is like riding a bike with ape hangers. Hang in there, it's worth it.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
As was mentioned above, riding position and muscle training is a big part of riding a bike like the R. Be sure you support your body using your knees by gripping the tank with them, and your back, quads, and abs. Your arms should be relaxed with NO tension on them at all. Putting pressure on your wrists will restrict blood flow and cause your hands/arms to go numb and give you a lot of soreness in your shoulders. Using your leg muscles to support your weight is the best way to do it. To get used to the postion, simply assume your riding posture, then remove your arms from the bars. You should be able to remain upright, and feel the pressure in your legs, stomach, and back. Once that large, strong muscles get built up, you'll love the riding position. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I ride an M2 with peg risers and Crossroads bars - it makes seating position pretty aggressive, about like an XBR but with more legroom. My hands were killing me the first time I rode the bike after making the mods, especially my throttle hand. I didn't think there was any way I could enjoy riding the bike and considered taking the bars off, but over a period of about a month, I gradually got used to it. It feels great now, very comfortable and natural. I'll never ride the bike with the stock bars now. | ||
| Martin |
if it hurts, you aren't going quick enough to balamce your weight with the wind. there will always be a speed that represents the sweet spot. The best way to make miles is to find that spot (you might have to fit a double bubble) and then ride it until the light comes on, fill and repeat. | ||
| Mtnchld |
One word for you- Yoga But seriously, it took me a bit to get used to the positioning as well and yoga/streaching your muscles does help. Xb9 has a good point- Practice using your core muscles (abs mainly) | ||
| L48shark |
I went from a BMW F650GSA dual-sport to an XB12R, so I know what you mean. I decided that if I could not get comfortable on the XB, I would get lower pegs and risers for the clip-ons, but I have not found that necessary. I was sore at first, but it worked out after 2 weeks and 1000 miles. Of course, I don't plan to go touring on it.  | ||
| Bake |
Touring on my R is no big deal, even did some 12 hour days. |
