Looking for my first bike - I'm 6 foot 2, could use some advice!

**mike.w.a** · 26th February 2011, 19:06

Hi,

Im 6 foot 2 and looking for my first bike (sports) im on my learners so want a 250cc
but i have some experinece on motorbikes so something with grunt wouldnt worry me either,

My main concerns are that im soo Tall and dont have the best lower back. I want a bike i can ride in the weekends and around the hills, so it wont be a commuter or sumthing super comfy, but i would prefer something with a more upright Riding stance rather than down low all the time. But any bike thats better for tall people would be good even if the stance is low.

Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

My budget isnt huge looking second hand , and as its my first bike i dont want to spend huge as i hear from alot of people that i will be eager to get a more powerful bike after a short time on a 250cc

**psycho22** · 26th February 2011, 22:44

Can't go wrong with a GT250(R). With their big bike size they look good , feel good and sound like a thou given the right pipe.

Longest trip I did was about 4.5 hours and I got off with minimal sore arse.

I had one for most of my licence time and it never had a fault.

They can be put through corners bloody quick too.

You should be able to pick a good one up for roughly $3500. ( Haven't looked at their pricing for awhile though )

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 26th February 2011, 22:51

vtr250 is also a good all rounder. It doesn't scream two fiddy... I'm 6'1" and happily rode the other halfs vtr and could easily ride it all day if I was allowed to... problem was she wanted it back... We toured and clocked up huge km's on it and it didn't skip a beat... it is a good commuter as well but good for any thing you want to use it for... but remember it is only a 250... being a V-Twin not the fastest but will still keep up with traffic even when loaded...

The VTR is more of the sit up right position compared to your sports bikes...

They also are a good bike for learners... forgiving and have a solid frame, reliable and pretty economical (from memory)

from our experience its a pretty good alrounder of a bike for what it is :-)

**psycho22** · 26th February 2011, 23:00

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

vtr250 is also a good all rounder. It doesn't scream two fiddy... I'm 6'1" and happily rode the other halfs vtr and could easily ride it all day if I was allowed to... problem was she wanted it back... We toured and clocked up huge km's on it and it didn't skip a beat... it is a good commuter as well but good for any thing you want to use it for... but remember it is only a 250... being a V-Twin not the fastest but will still keep up with traffic even when loaded...

The VTR is more of the sit up right position compared to your sports bikes...

They also are a good bike for learners... forgiving and have a solid frame, reliable and pretty economical (from memory)

from our experience its a pretty good alrounder of a bike for what it is :-)

Yeah this is another bike I was thinking of but wasn't sure if I was correct or not.

From what I have heard they are good little machines too.

**kiwifruit** · 27th February 2011, 00:03

GS500 and an exemption

**Desert Eagle** · 27th February 2011, 16:28

Im 6 foot 6, so I struggled to find a bike large enough to fit on, my biggest problem is that I cant get my knees tucked in beside the tank.

In that case I recommend the Hyosung gt250r, Its big enough for me to fit comfortably and I reckon it goes pretty well (with all my 600kms of experience on it

).
I also sat on a kawasaki zxr250rr and found that fitted pretty well.

**CookMySock** · 27th February 2011, 19:53

If you are wondering about the Hyosungs, when cornered really hard the 'R' somehow manages to remain a lot more upright than the Comet. The Comet seems to lay over a lot more and will drag its stand without much provoking, where the 'R' is lot harder to scrape bits.

In many ways the Comet is better trainer because it just seems to want to tip into corners in a relaxed way without any drama. The 'R' is lot more twitchy when cornered hard as its difficult to keep your weight off the bars, although the 650's are pretty similar.

The 250 Comet really needs a steering damper if you like to barrel around at 130k's on it, coz it can get a nasty hop+skip+and+a+jump regularly followed by a huge headshake and occasionally a really brutal tank slapper. Suspension mods will fix.

Unbaffled screaming demon pipe on ANY of the hyosungs is absolutely mandatory.

Also if you are an experienced biker and you plan to stick with a 250 for the whole L/R period, update the rear shock and get some emulators fitted up front. Totally different bike!

**JimO** · 27th February 2011, 19:53

i would vote VTR250 as well

**MrKiwi** · 27th February 2011, 20:15

A friend of mine applied for, and was successful in getting, an exemption because of his height. The VTR250 is a good bike, but so are some of the 400cc and 500cc if you can get an exemption.

Look on the NZTA website for details...

**trailblazer** · 27th February 2011, 22:43

i am 6ft and have a hyosung gt250s its a great lil bike it goes good can easily break the speed limit and still have more (but the road isn't a race track) and it has a semi upright riding position not a low sports and not an upright touring style. I also don't find it cramped and find it very comfortable on longish trips.

**Sable** · 28th February 2011, 00:28

GB400 and an exemption

**sil3nt** · 1st March 2011, 09:18

Hayabusa and exemption

No one should need an exemption unless you are unusually tall. And if your too fat for a 250 go to the gym.

**NOWOOL** · 1st March 2011, 15:57

For the 'vertically rewarded' the easiest bikes to modify are the crusier style 250's. just add highway pegs that allow you to stretch your legs. I doubt 6'2 is tall enough for a exemption unless you have a doctor's note saying that your back, arms or legs can't be placed in certain positions. The only drawback to a medical exemption would be if years later you were claiming insurance for a bike that "medically' you weren't supposed to ride. That would give the insurance company an out.