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Rider Comfort

3K views 18 replies 18 participants last post by  Slickrock 
#1 ·
What have you done to increase rider comfort? My '09 was much more comfortable than the '12 model. I'm 6', 230# and tried several options but I am never comfortable. Seems like my legs are cramped up and can never get my back to stop hurting. Hate to say it but I'm thinking of switching brands
 
#2 ·
I'm 6'2" and weigh in the 240 to 250 lb range.

Hard to give advice without guessing about which model your 2012 is. You might want to add your bike model to your signature help us avoid mind reading confusion.

If your 2009 was a DL650 and your 2012 is a 2012 DL650 You might find a peg lowering kit and handlebar risers (inch up and back) help you. They made a world of difference to me when I switched from my 2006 DL650 to my 2012 DL650.

..Tom
 
#3 ·
If your 2009 was a DL650 and your 2012 is a 2012 DL650 You might find a peg lowering kit and handlebar risers (inch up and back) help you. They made a world of difference to me when I switched from my 2006 DL650 to my 2012 DL650.

I was going to say the same thing. I have not ridden a 12 but my K9 I did put the peg lowering kit and the risers, up and back, and it is very comfortable. Your post about switching reminded me of my 02 Triumph Bonneville. Now there is a bike that your knees are bent TOO much. Might have to get rid of it next spring. If you decide to switch bikes, for sure ride what ever it is that you plan on switching to.
Good luck ,
 
#5 ·
I am 6´2¨.

I put on the AdventureTech peg lowering kit and 1¨ bar risers before I could ride any distance so I can´t speak much to the improvement they made. I did it purely on the recommendation of the users here. But I can say that the rider comfort from replacing the windshield with a Givi Airflow and Aprilla mirrors can not be overstated. I did 650 miles this weekend, all secondary and canyons, and along with Rick´s fork stabilizers I conquered the Sierra Nevadas and Death Valley just fine. Steady 15 mph winds, rain, gravel, and storm debris just rolled by. I would do all of the above before giving up on the Strom. No regrets here.
 
#6 ·
I have a 2011 DL650 and have done lots to make it more comfortable.
Swapped stock seat to a Corbin for all day comfort and swapped out handlebars to Pro Taper ATV bars for increased height and change of sweep. Both these changes make a massive difference to how my back, shoulders and arms feel.
Swapped out mirrors to Kawi mirrors and added Madstad bracket and Cee Baileys screen for much better air flow. Both these changes make a massiv difference in how much wind my helmet is resisting.

I don't know how you ride, but I could not personally lower my pegs - hard cornering and they would touch down too often. In my case I added highway pegs, so I could stretch my feet out often, but then when it's time to play in the nice roads, I can.
 
#7 ·
Customized my seat foam so I don't slide forward, which takes load off arms and back, and gets me off my crotch and onto the wider part of the seat. WAY better. Lowered pegs. WAY better. Changed bar to slightly lower and a good bit less sweep. WAY better. I know everybody likes bar-backs/risers and high bars but this set-up is great FOR ME. I'm 6' and 150#.
 
#8 ·
I had same issue when I bought the bike so I fitted, Peg lowering kit (SV Racing), generic handle bar risers 25mm $30 (would like to replace with 2inch pivot risers) , tall seat + lambs wool cover and Sit and fly. Much more comfortable. Went on a 8 day ride from Sydney NSW to Quorn South Australia and each day I got off I didn't feel fatigued or uncomfortable.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the advice.
I have changed windscreens (can't remember the make but it works), added new bars and a 1 inch lift, Bead seat for summer and a gel pad for winter. Made some highway bars.
I think the peg lowering is the next purchase, as it seems the angle of the legs changes all of the pressure points.
As it is, my back begins to hurt after about 10-20 miles (less after working all day) so a seat is on order as well. It is a shame we have to do so many mods to a great bike to fit our height
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the advice.
I have changed windscreens (can't remember the make but it works), added new bars and a 1 inch lift, Bead seat for summer and a gel pad for winter. Made some highway bars.
I think the peg lowering is the next purchase, as it seems the angle of the legs changes all of the pressure points.
As it is, my back begins to hurt after about 10-20 miles (less after working all day) so a seat is on order as well. It is a shame we have to do so many mods to a great bike to fit our height
That pretty much fits the bill for most motorcycles. :wink2:
 
#12 ·
I am 5'10'' and have done nothing to the 650XT ergonomically since buying it. It's comfortable for both myself and my lady. I don't get any buffeting with the screen in mid position, other than letting me know that I am actually riding a motorcycle, which I like, and it seems I'm just about a perfect specimen for this bike, if not for everything.:wink2:

Stop wasting money changing the bike and get a few nip and tucks done to yourself. Apart from having to shorten your pants a little you won't really notice an inch taken out of your shins. If you have a problem with the reach to the handlebars you can always get them to put it into your forearms and then you have actually lost nothing.

Don't keep blaming Suzuki, it's not their fault that you are made wrong.:grin2:

Coops.
 
#13 ·
"I have had to modify every single motorcycle I've ever owned for better comfort/cockpit ergos."

I recently swapped bikes with a buddy for a couple hours on our trip to Barber vintage weekend. I'm 6'1" 200 lbs. I have 2012 DL650 with Russell seat, Madstad bracket and screen, bar risers, peg lowering. His bike is a $21k stock 2016 R1200GS. The beemer had impressive brakes, suspension, and power, but it wasn't comfortable at all - much like my wee2 before I modded it. Switching brands and trying to find the perfect stock fit is going to be an exercise in frustration, not to mention costing a boatload.
 
#14 ·
Major ergonomic mods I've made are a Seat Concepts seat, an MSR ATV Lo handlebar, and lopping off the gawdawful stock windshield. The hand position isn't much different, but the stronger crossbar handlebar helped get rid of the way the noodly stock bar flopped around. YMMV, but I found it extraordinarily annoying and fatiguing.

Suspension upgrades also helped a lot -- getting the bike's overall handling and geometry working right really affects your body position, fatigue, and anxiety. Suzuki has always set their bike suspensions up for the elite cadre of anorexic Japanese ballerinas they hire as test riders. Or maybe they get discounts on trainloads of squishy springs or something. I've never figured it out, honestly.

Lastly, let's not forget the rider. The bike is only part of the equation, but for some reason people focus almost exclusively on what they can bolt on or adjust on the bike.

You and your body can learn and adapt. More miles help a lot as you mentally and physically adapt to the bike. Even if you don't make any change to the bike, your muscles will adjust, your ass will adapt, your anxiety level will come down, and you'll be far more relaxed and more comfortable.

And quite often riders develop bad habits, like using a death grip, slouching, or huge amounts of muscle tension in the arms, legs, or back. Some riders lock themselves in place and never move, then wonder why their ass hurts and their feet go numb. And some have anxiety reactions they're not really aware of that cause issues -- this is often the source of the painful ache between the shoulder blades, or the death grip that makes their hands go numb in five minutes.
 
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#15 ·
"You and your body can learn and adapt."

Not always. After back surgery, 3 knee surgeries, 2 carpal tunnel releases, and a pending shoulder surgery, my body is not as adaptive as it once was. I just started riding again and I am finding things that I can adapt to, and some things I don't think I'll be able to overcome. On my horizon I see the peg lowering kit (straighten the knees out just a little more) and adjustable bar risers (find that perfect back position). Once my riding position gets a little closer to the optimum I should be able to physically adjust the rest of the way. I am not a big "farkle" guy (blasphemy, I know) but, I will farkle up for comfort.
 
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#16 ·
None on my 2003 V. Never made comfort mods to any bike, exactly. A couple bikes, SV650 and DRZ400 I cut 2 pieces from a foam sleeping pad, taped them together and used it on the seat, worked well. My VFR was by far the most uncomfortable bike I have owned but never modded anything for comfort(came with a 1"up and back riser).
 
#18 ·
My 650 was an '09, and the first thing I did to it was put a Russell Daylong saddle on it. That stock seat was a killer for me. My riding buddy said his stock 650 seat worked just fine for him. I also put on handlebar risers and a Givi tall windshield on a Madstad windshield bracket. Wind deflectors on the handgrips helped, as well. I played around with different handlebars of different widths, rise and material. The pullback of the stock bars hurt my wrists, and I ended up with a set of MSR bars with a high rise. I shortened the bars as they were pretty wide. With the bar risers, they were too tall, so I finally ended up with just the bars and no risers. I also added foam grip covers and a throttle control, which sort of worked. I left the footpegs in stock position. I'm 6'2" but I've got shorter legs and a long torso, so I was comfortable with the stock peg location. In all, I felt that my Wee was as comfortable as my former GL1800 Gold Wing, even for the long haul. I never felt beat up, even after a long 700 mile day I did once, riding from Watson Lake, BC to Tok, Ak.
 
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