Short-arm people... Bloody strange

[bomma]

think it's actually known as the gorilla factor....blessed be the ones with such gifts as their ability to forage for food and steal is increased

[Max Headroom]

This is an interesting phenomenon, with quite a difference in nationalities becoming evident in both car and motorcycle design.

Italians typically have long arms and short legs, while Germans are typically taller. I'm six foot in the old money, and fit the German profile well, so I have no trouble getting comfortable in German cars or on German bikes. Similarly I have noticed when driving older Italian cars that my knees are up around my ears while the steering wheel is a stretch. A friend had a '70s Alfa that I loved driving but could never get comfortable in.

I rode a friend's Ducati Darmah recently and noticed that there was a much greater stretch to the 'bars than I'm used to while my legs were folded up like a pocket knife, comparatively speaking.

[vifferman]

I am of average height, but if my limbs were in proportion I would be about 6'5".

That doesn't make sense.
Your armspan is supposed to be equal to your height, so your statement seems to imply you have very long arms, which is not what you meant at all.
But (however), I don't think motorbicyclists are very well catered for at all, in the adjustability department. Cars have adjustable seats and (usually) steering wheels, but we're lucky if anything is adjustable. Instead, we have to shop around for a bike that fits us, or spend big moolah on aftermarket stuff. 'Taint right.
I'm lucky that (apart from my burgeoning waistline, undersized brain, and enormous wanger ) I'm perfectly proportioned. However, I'd still like to have adjustable bits on my VFR. The seat could be higher, and I'd like to be able to adjust the gearlever without resorting to flames and Implements of Force and Punishment.

[imdying]

You chain saw willied it, what the fu.. is that?

Secret SV speak for chopping up your bike on a budget

[skidMark]

My mate, same height as me jumped on my sportsbike, the other day, there was something really weird going on, he looked so uncomfortable, he said he felt as though he was stretching to get to the bars, I said he looked silly on it, he agreed, then we checked the length of his arms ..stuff me his arms from his shoulder to finger tip 700mm; mine where 800mm. No wonder he felt awkward.
I wonder how many more short arm species are lurking out there, trying to ride sportsbikes and suffer from this malady.
I started do a bit of a check with office mates etc, sure enough there is a huge discrepancy about 125mm at least.
I can see why bike makers have such a problem trying to make bikes to suit all
plus to make things worse, if you have a keg instead of a six pack, no way will you reach the bars...the tank gets in the way.

my 6 pack is great.

lets me do this...

[Bass]

That doesn't make sense.

I thought so on first reading, but we all know that his skill with words is better than that.
Isn't he just saying that if the length of his leg was in proportion to the length of his trunk, then he would be much taller?

[skidMark]

I thought so on first reading, but we all know that his skill with words is better than that.
Isn't he just saying that if the length of his leg was in proportion to the length of he trunk, then he would be much taller?

__________________

[merv]

I thought so on first reading, but we all know that his skill with words is better than that.
Isn't he just saying that if the length of his leg was in proportion to the length of he trunk, then he would be much taller?

That's right, Ixion isn't a monkey, he is a small elephant with a long trunk.

[Ixion]

That doesn't make sense.
Your armspan is supposed to be equal to your height, so your statement seems to imply you have very long arms, which is not what you meant at all.
..

Yes it does. I am of average height (5'9"). But if my legs were in 'normal' proportion to my trunk length I would be much taller (ie my height is all in my trunk)

My arms are similarly short. Bloody Igor and his spare parts bins. Armspan may be 'supposed' to be equal to height , but it don't work in my case

[Ixion]

That's right, Ixion isn't a monkey, he is a small elephant with a long trunk.

Well, I didn't want to boast about that. But I guess there had to be some compensation for the short arms and legs.

[vifferman]

Well, I didn't want to boast about that. But I guess there had to be some compensation for the short arms and legs.

Igor'th partth bin again?

[Motu]

I'm a reasonably proportioned short person,so I guess my arms are shorter than a similar proportioned taller person.I don't really have any problems with ergos of motorcycles,apart from seat height - but after years of riding trail bikes,I don't like to lean forward over the bars.I like to be centered naturally on a bike,and my hands to just fall on the bars,with perhaps just a slight amount of weight on them.I also like to be as close to the front wheel as possible - street and sports bikes put me back too far from the front wheel,I don't want it way out there,I want to sit on the front wheel.

[rocketman1]

Yeah someone should make a bike that has bars that can easily move back & forward & up and down, seat that goes back & forward, and up & down , just like in a car.
Why the hell not...It will come....probably at some expense though