Tall rider on FJR

[Snoopy182]

I would like to know what modifications tall riders have done to their FJR to make it comfortable for them. I'm 6'2 with 36" inseam & am trying to see if I can make an FJR fit me - oh, I'm 63, and believe me that makes a difference too. I had an ST & never liked it (many things) & now I have a GW 1500 (comfortable but I'm getting real tired of the weight and being Toooo protected). I have ridden a stock FJR a little & know I will need to make a bunch of mods to get it right - so I would like to hear what made it comfortable for other tall riders. Mainly for touring.

Some things specifically.

Russel Day Long Seat - raised some (Mayer, others?

bar backs (which ones & how much back?).

Foot peg lowering (and does this affect the shifting braking -adjustments? new levers??).

Windshields??

Back Rest - Utopia - others??

Highway pegs. I don't want to be raising my feet way up high but I have to be able to streach them out sometime.

Any other suggestions ???

Thanks guys !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ken45]

& now I have a GW 1500 (comfortable but I'm getting real tired of the weight and being Toooo protected).

I'm pretty much in the same boat regarding the Goldwing but wonder if the FJR is a significant improvement in those areas. Just read a comment last night where someone said the ST1300 felt heavier than a Goldwing (more top heavy).

Ken

 

[bikerjim]

I am 6' 4" , 34 inseam , and I would recommend the Russell seat, which made a great difference in comfort and legroom, and a Cee Bailey +6 +6 windshield. You can not really lower the pegs, I find, since I grind my pegs now when hard cornering. I just stretch my legs out every so often, so no highway pegs needed for me. Hope you find a combination that works for you. My FJR is a far better, more comfortable bike than my 1500 Wing ever was.

 

[Snoopy182]

Something about the distribution of weight on the ST made it feel very heavy (almost as bad as the GW). It handeled pretty well but I could never get comfortable - And the throttle - holly cow - was it horrible - & I tried all the fixes - nothing worked. The FJR feels much lighter. The BMW RT feels light also & handles great but my shins are firmly planted on the fairing - not comfortable.

 

[raitchison]

I'm 6'5" with a 34" inseam, I haven't done much yet (other than putting the stock seat in the "high" position.

I did get a new Cee Bailey windshield (see this thread)

I will be getting a Russel Day Long seat.

I thought I was going to have a problem with legroom but other than my first long ride (before I moved the stock seat up) I haven't had cramping issues. I'd be worried about lowering footpegs when I am leaned over in the corners.

For highway pegs I have been thinking of doing something like this for the longer rides. There are highway peg solutions that use the wild bill peg mounts but again I'm concerned about those scraping in corners.

 

[scubatech]

Snoopy,

I let a friend taller than me at 6ft. ride my FJR, same age as you & I and he couldn't get enough leg room for his knees. My bike is fine for me for a couple hours without stretching. If I ride all day and hang my leg out occasionaly it is fine. I think this is another reason the adventure bikes are so appealling for our ageing knees. I hope you can find the right ste up.

 

[RPrice]

I'm 6'2" with a 34" inseam and I'm 58, some things I did for longer trip comfort include:

Gen Mar Risers

Sargent Seat with Alaskan Sheepskin pad

Roho Airhawk pad (small cruiser)

Cramp Buster

Vista Throttle Lock

Rifle +5, +4 Windshield

The one "item" that improved my long distance comfort the most was to learn to ride in the "master yoda" also called the "sit up and beg" position. Always remembering that if there is any weight on my wrists that I'm not riding correctly!!

The Sargent seat seems to sit a bit higher than stock, and of course I have it in the highest position on my Gen II. If I had it to do over again, I'd just get a Russell, which is probably what will eventually happen anyway. The Sargent was a great improvement over the stock seat for me, though.

The Rifle windshield was an incredible improvement over stock. Greatly reduced buffeting, noise, and greatly increased protection.

I've done other things to my bike, like added an audio system, GPS, radar detector, etc., etc.. But these don't add to comfort, per se.

Hope this helps.

 

[joebiodiesel]

I think the FJR is an awesome bike for tall people. I'm around 6'5" or so with a 38" inseam. I don't fit on or in anything. I love my FJR because my knees don't contact the scalloping on the tank. They tuck right in there, where anything else I ride my knees contact the widest point of the tank, right at the bend. The ST, the Concourse, any sport bike...they're all like that for me. On a Gold Wing my shins contact the forward part of the fairing unless I sit as far back as possible in the saddle. Two potholes later my shins are hitting the knobs on the fairing again.

While the FJR does have a steep knee bend for me, especially for having broken both my knees in bike wrecks, it's very comfortable for me. I'm looking for ward to getting a little higher seat position with a Russell, Day Long next season, but I could live without it. I like my bar risers too. They came with the bike, so I don't know what kind they are. They are about an inch higher. My stock windshield is fine for me. The first FJR I ever rode had a higher windshield. I like stock better. I get good wind in the warm weather, and decent protection in the cold.

My 2 cents.

Joe

 

[bob61]

I'm 61, and 6'0", and the FJR fits me great. Had my 2010 for a month, and have not even raised up the seat, but will do it when the taller windshield comes in. Like the feel so well, I almsot hate to mess with anything, including the suspension settings. May be possible to make it better, but I'm loving it as is right now.

 

[loe_tek]

6'5" 35" inseam have both a 2005 and a 2007.

Little more room with the seat "up" on the 07. Get a comfy seat, I have a Russell on the 05 and have done 12 hour days no problem. No bar risers for me. taller windshield, you will have to figure that one out for yourself. I have had a Cee Baily and a CalSci and I am still looking for my perfect shield.

I have Hiway pegs on the 07 and like them for long days. As far as scraping pegs, upgrade your suspension, and it will not happen nearly as often. On my stock suspension 05 I drag pegs alot. I have an Ohlins rear shock on the 07, and it is rare for me to scrape the pegs. Believe me, it is not from a lack of "spirited" riding and cornering. The 07 is much more "planted" than the 05 and it has everything to do with the rear shock. I am going to make some changes on the front suspension this winter, the 07 has not got the same feeling to me as my 05 in the front.

I rode the new Connie for a few hours this summer, and to me it felt more cramped than either of my FJRs(and just kind of boring).

PS I weigh 255, and add gear on top of that.

 

[Jagermeister]

I have a '34 inseam also.

For me, lowered footpegs weren't an option until I upgraded to an Ohlins shock, and raised the bike an inch via dogbones. Even with the extra inch of height, I grind the lowered pegs a lot - will remove them for EOM.