Who tours on a sports bike?

[PrincessBandit]

Hmmm... Sorry if I come across as a bit direct ..

If you have to ask then the answer is NO!

Sportbikes can be toured on - provided you're used to the crouch, holding yourself up with your abs, gripping with your knees and heels...

You also need decent wrist, thigh and lower back/abs (core) body strength.

If you already spent all day in the saddle then you'd know this and wouldn't have to ask....so perhaps for this trip perhaps stick to more upright bikes.......

.

going to do Auckland - Christchurch at Christmas on my GSF. Husband will be on his "mobile armchair" (the 650 burgman) and son will be on my ginny. My bandit has the more upright rather than crouched riding position but my wrists still get a little sore after about 2 hours straight. Nothing I can't live with, but the other thing is making sure your butt is "saddle ready"! Had my seat re-foamed a few months back due to a majorly sore backside after a few hours and my arse has been sweet since (so to speak). but leaning onto wrists is not good over extended periods so take the weight off them periodically. have fun, we intend to! p.s. rode the burgman to hamilton and back the other week and the sitting position on that compressed the base of my spine and i found it a little uncomfortable after a while, had to keep wriggling to ease the discomfort. Just did auck-tauranga return yesterday on the bandit and the ride was sweet as, no back problems, no butt problems, just the wrists towards the end!!

[forkoil]

Get back to work Gus

[The Stranger:Me]

It took me months for my wrists to get used to the sportbike riding position,

I found it was much easier on my wrists if I kept some pace on. Dawdling around at 90clicks hurt a lot.

I don't get it, how does a sprot bike hurt your wrists in general riding or touring?
Or did you have a pre-existing wrist condition?

[alanzs]

Toured all over the Western US on a Hayabusa. Is that a sports bike?

[justsomeguy]

I don't get it, how does a sprot bike hurt your wrists in general riding or touring?
Or did you have a pre-existing wrist condition?

A lot of people put their weight on their wrists in a "push-up" type posture to begin with, instead of gripping the bike with their legs and holding their body up with their abs tensed.

[justsomeguy]

Toured all over the Western US on a Hayabusa. Is that a sports bike?

Touring = riding around 100kmph and going around corners smoothly.

Hooning = riding around at 100mph, the corners -yaayyy corners

Did you tour or hoon? Be honest now.

[Suzi Q]

I don't get it, how does a sprot bike hurt your wrists in general riding or touring?
Or did you have a pre-existing wrist condition?

On a sports bike you are naturally putting a lot of weight on your wrists as you are leaning forward.

I had an R6 which I took down to Queenstown from CHCH for a rally - had full pack rack and saddle bags. I coped much better than I thought I would. I reckon a really good fast sports tourer would be the 'Busa - speed and comfort all rolled into one large package!!!! I now have a GSR600 and it is much more upright, not sure how that is going to be on a long trip as I haven't toured far - just to Waimate and Woodstock - but so far so good. Sometimes the butt gets a little uncomfrotable but as long as you stop at least every 2 hours then all is good.

[idb]

A lot of people put their weight on their wrists in a "push-up" type posture to begin with, instead of gripping the bike with their legs and holding their body up with their abs tensed.

What are these "abs" you speak of, I haven't got any of those.
I now have an A-frame mounted on my bike and I'm suspended from that by nipple clamps.
It takes all the weight off my wrists.

[SPman]

Auckland to Wellington and back on a long weekend, no problems....




Now, it's a little more sedate.......





fuck this - why is the IMG code disabled!

[justsomeguy]

What are these "abs" you speak of, I haven't got any of those.
I now have an A-frame mounted on my bike and I'm suspended from that by nipple clamps.
It takes all the weight off my wrists.

Would reply... but I'm too busy -->

[more_fasterer]

Did a 5500km round trip down to invergiggle & back on my 400, with only a weekend blast to napier & back as preparation. Had the seat re-padded which made a great difference, otherwise my knees would've got uncomfortable quite quickly.

As has been said above, the racing crouch becomes less of an issue at 110-ish as the wind pushes against your chest. Having a tank bag to prop yourself up on while cruising through towns etc helps. Stop every ~150km and stretch.


Have fun!

[-df-]

Get back to work Gus

haha....*looks at time*...wait a second...

[Pussy]

Gassit Girl and myself did a few 600km+ days last summer on our K6 750s.... no discomfort, bloody great little bikes to tour on

[MD]

I do the Sth Island circuit twice a year, but must confess I've chosen luxury Tourers; Fireblades, ZX6R and now the softest tourer so far, often referred to as the British couch on wheels - Daytona 675.

When I buy one of those uncomfortable sprots bikes, I'll let you know if they are painful.

[CookMySock]

Sportbikes can be toured on - provided you're used to the crouch, holding yourself up with your abs, gripping with your knees and heels...

I don't do any of that, and I can ride 4 hours without a break, not that I recommend that. Wrists got used to it after about six months.

Another thing is - sports bikes make me wanna ride fast - softly sprung nakeds and tourers make me wanna cruise and take in the view. So unless your idea of a tour is you and the missus racing from A-B....

If you are cruising with your wife, you are going to be following her at her pace - this was VERY hard on my hands. As soon as I was back to 120clicks on my own I was mint again,

A lot of people put their weight on their wrists in a "push-up" type posture to begin with, instead of gripping the bike with their legs and holding their body up with their abs tensed.

That seems to be what I do. I have no problem with it, except under 100k's.

It sounds to me like you should just do it. Its not going to kill you.

HTH,
Steve