Long trip thoughts

Just sorta thinking out loud with this, but I'm going to be going to Denver then Montana this summer and I'm kind of thinking of maybe getting something with longer legs for the trip. I like my 99, but at 6' 2" tall, the VFR is a little too sportbike for a five thousand plus mile trip. That said, I've never ridden with lower pegs, raised bars either, so there is that. I don't know if I'll really buy something else, and with 74,000 miles on my Raza, I'd keep it, as it really has very little resale value. I've test ridden a new 2014 or possibly 2015 FJR, but what are the older ones like?

I also know Yamaha made a V4 cruiser that is supposed to be a total couch, so maybe that? It's the Yamaha Royal Star Venture. It's supposed to be a real luxurious ride. My dad and brother both are cruiser people, so who knows. I just remember at times on my last 5K+ trip to Nashville and all around there and back, there were times when I wanted something roomier than the 05 VFR I had then. Aching knees were my biggest complaint, but a time or two the old buttocks were complaining loudly too.

Do the Buell pegs and bar risers make that much difference for tall people? My inseam is about 31".

 

I'm 6' ... my 6th gen is very comfortable with an upgraded seat. raised bars, and MRA Vario Touring windscreen. Don't forget the throttle lock (I use the Atlas throttle lock) and something for tunes!

Pegs are in stock position. The key here is strengthening your core ... especially back and abs.

If you're set on a different bike ... the Kawasaki Concours 1400 can be had for a great deal, and they are an excellent choice for sport touring.

 

I'm the same size as you. I find my 95 vfr750 pretty comfortable for long trips. 400 miles a day are a breeze. But I believe that's because I have a Corbin on the bike. Without it my butt is sore after an hour. My knees aren't great either, but the Corbin makes all the difference for long haul comfort.

 

I'm the same size as you. I find my 95 vfr750 pretty comfortable for long trips. 400 miles a day are a breeze. But I believe that's because I have a Corbin on the bike. Without it my butt is sore after an hour. My knees aren't great either, but the Corbin makes all the difference for long haul comfort.

 

Interesting. How many miles a month would you say you put in the saddle Lint? I'm thinking here out loud, it's not so much the bike, but, the Butt ( Body) I get it, easier to get a different machine, than work ones self back into shape. You're a big boy, so maybe another machine would be better IDK, I'd look at a 1200vfr? don't throw me under the bus please, just throwing it out there. I tend look at long trips like a bunch of short ones put together get off like every 100 miles or so just to get off and strech. Whats funny, as interesting, I'm just as uncomfortable in a vehicle, so I know it's me, not what I ride.

 

Compared to you, I fall short, but a few inches. But I have done the very long rides. The VFR served me very well. I won't say I didn't experience some pain and discomfort. I did and expected that due to back injuries. But the experience far out weighed the discomfort.

But I do not know how that may affect you being so much taller than me. I do know that when you get off the bike for fuel every couple hours or so, you need to go far a little walk about to get things moving again. That can't be underestimated on long hours in the saddle.

You could try testing out your stamina on the VFR with a whole day long trip on the bike which begins and ends at home. That may give you an idea how you may fare and help deciding if you need a different ride for this trip.

 

I like the new FJ's. They have always been a great bike, fairly quick, comfortable, decent handling. Now with a 6th gear even better. The Concours is a great machine too. A friend I ride with has one. A re flash and a pipe and he laying down close to 170hp in a very comfortable ride with a lot of storage. I have not rode a VFR 1200 yet.

 

Both my 'annual trip' riding buddies from OH and VA ride C14's ... they've done the same with theirs. Fantastic machines.

I almost bought one, but I can't get away from the sound and feel of a Honda V4.

 

Hi all,
RVFR, in the past 10 months, I've done about 8,000 miles on my 5th gen. My average is about 10-15K miles per year on my previous 2 bikes. An 05 VFR and a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS.

Over the next five months before the my trip, in going to go on increasingly longer trips. I've ridden some longer trips on my fifth gen, such as riding to and from R3, or day long trips around here. In regards to fitness, I've actually already started a program, full body, focusing on core strength, just for my own health and personal goals.

I also know that on my trip to Nashville, I was to enamored with the ride and all the new land I'm seeing to really care. I encountered achieving desert heat in the Mojave, (again on this trip too) to oppressive heat and humidity in Arkansas, etc, but it was the novelty of the ride that made it far into the background.

 

His Connie seems huge to me but when its moving its surprisingly nimble. The inline 4 sounds great with a pipe but does not match the V4. But it does really haul ass, basically a detuned zx14. The stock boxes are very nice, not sure of their cost but match the bike well.

 

Continuing the above. I was doing it on my phone when I have a desktop right here...

Again, the premise of this thread was just to think out loud. I know right now that my bars are down on the forks and that I could raise them, or get the bar riser spacers that others have,or just different bars. I could also get lower footpegs as others have done. I know that the seat I have on the bike, something the PO put on from EBay, is comfortable. Not the greatest fitting, as there is a gap up by the tank, but so far has been good. I think the most miles I've put on my bike on ne day is about 200, so the long days ahead getting to my destinations are obviously going to be much longer.

I guess I just need to Anne_Marie up and quit my bitching. Maybe I'll grow up enough to be on her level. I do sometimes wish I fit my bike better. I've had a few people tell me that I look like a monkey humping a football when I sit on my bike... Maybe part of this is because I have ridden some bikes more suited to longer trips, such as the new FJR and the S1000XR, Multistrada, etc. I still come back liking my 99, but I also realize that there are better options for consuming lots of miles. I know I watched the cruiser guys with some jealousy with their big padded seats and their highway pegs etc. Oddly enough, I recently sat on a Goldwing and while it was comfortable,there wasn't any place else to put my feet, except on the footpegs. Not exactly cramped, but I could see how it is made for shorter riders. I guess on the big cruisers, you have more options on where to put your legs. When I sat on the Indian Roadmaster at the IMS in Long Beach, Ca. I felt like I could tour the US on it. Add in cruise control, stereo, etc and wow. It was my living room on two wheels.

To answer Randy above, each time I stop for gas, I do walk around. Get the blood flowing again, etc.

I'll stop rambling now. Aside from the tips above, ie, bars pegs, core strength and increasingly longer trips, what else would you recommend? I know about the absolute necessity of staying hydrated. I learned that the hard way in the Mojave and in Vegas when I bought my 05. You can never over hydrate when riding through the desert in the summer!!!

Anywho, off to accomplish greatness. Exercise is calling my name... ;-) Please add your thoughts.

 

Nawh ... dude, I put over 35,000 km's last year (many being 600+ mile days) ... the VFR800 is well suited to munching tonnes of miles when setup right for the rider.

 

Don't forget a nice bottle of Macallan scotch for after the ride.

 

Not much of a scotch man, but I may just learn...

 

Absurd as it may sound, I found that when I rode in hot hot weather form Phoenix to Palm Springs a few years ago, and the remainder of that trip, it made a huge difference to breath through your nose and not your mouth. I believe that when breathing through your mouth, you dry out even faster. On that trip, while riding in the hot climates, I downed a litre if water at each gas stop whether I felt thirsty or not. It served me well and did not suffer any Charlie horses at night or anything like that.

 

Inexperienced single malt consumers should never attempt the task of consuming Macalans or any other single malt without proper supervision and a qualified trainer to guide you. If you have any, bring it to R3 and I will gladly show you the finer art of consuming such a difficult beverage. I try to be of assistance to my fellow VFR riders, as much as I am really otherwise busy.

 

I like Aberlour 25yr single malt myself ...

Sadly, I don't think they have a 25yr anymore and I finished the last of mine.

 

Don't bother with the bar risers, been there done that. Get the HeliBars and mount them flush with the top of the forks. Get a Sargeant seat. These two things completely changed my ride for the better!!

 

This ... though I REALLY love my Saddlemen refinish kit. It's less than half the price of the Sargent and very comfortable. Comes with all new foam and cover to use on your seat pan.

Some guys swear by Corbin (it was wayyy too hard for me when I've owned them in the past), some by Sargent, and some by other methods ... all depends on your tushy ... lol

 

Randy can I supervise the supervisor?

Check out this blended Scotch. Now before you guys get your single malt panties in a twist, this is very good.

http://www.compassboxwhisky.com/pdf/Hedonism.pdf