Bandit-type bike for long legs?

FBi7

FBi7

FBi7

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Hi folks, my first venture into this part of the forum. I haven't had a bike for 9 years and am thinking of buying a cheap 2nd hand bike to get back into riding. I've started looking at bike trader and have been bitten again!

I used to have a '97 Bandit and a '99 ZZR. My legs are pretty long and after a while, my knees started to ache.

I like the look of the Bandit still, so will probably just have to put up with the knee aches. But, I also like the look of the Suzuki SV650. Anyone know how comfortable they are for the taller guy or can anyone recommend a Bandit/SV sports tourer type for long legs?

Cheers,

FB..
 
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The Versys is quite a tall bike but it's not a comfy bike, the distance between pegs and seat is probably very similar to most.
I have peg lowering kit on mine that drops the pegs about 20mm and it's still not right.
I imagine I need to add about 35mm to the seat height to make it just right.
(I'm 6'3'' with 34'' leg)
 
Well i'm 6'3" & i had a mk1 Bandit 12 back in the day & that used to give me knee ache after a while, these days I have an 02 K2 Bandit 12S & it's a lot roomier than the mk1, I can quite happily park my arse on it for hours at a time & not suffer knee ache, Yams XJR1300 is also another comfy bike for those long in the leg.
 
Thanks for your replies guys.

I'm 6' 4" also with a 34" leg. My old man has a 08 12S which I take out for a ride when I visit, but I still get knee ache with that.

I wasn't aware of peg lowering kits, so that's certainly something I can look into.

Thanks again,

FB..
 
Street Triple? I have the Speed and have never had achy knees. I did have after a while on my Hornet, but never on my Speed (the Street has a very similar riding style, if not exactly the same).

Or just get the Speed if your licence / budget allows it :)

There are nicer bikes you can get rather than an SV650 imo.
 
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Looking on cycle-ergo, the speed triple and early underseat exhuast street triple seem similar to most naked bikes, 70 degree bent legs for me at 6ft 3, 34" inside leg. The newer street triple with the low exhausts have a 2" lower seat height by the look of it, not a good thing for us tall guys!

My CB400 is more like a sport bike, 67 degree legs (same as a CBR600RR) thanks to a stupidly low seat height.

Adventure sport bikes (S1000XR/Multistrada) are in the 77/78 degree area.

How folded up your legs are is a big factor on comfort IMO, forward lean is too but not as much as being properly folded up.
 
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I have a 2006 Speed Triple and 27" legs and find I have to stretch them out after an hour or so in the saddle. Dunno how you taller guys (and gals) manage on sports bikes :)
 
Triumph tiger 800xc? the XC is nice and tall with better suspension than the road version but annoying sized wheels. Some KTM's have good leg room as well.
 
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