Complete Noob

**Motu** · 31st December 2011, 10:44

If the F650 has dirt bars they are set up for ''elbows out'', which is what you need for off road riding, and also works very well in gravel and twisty back roads - but which for road use will give pain from hands all the way to shoulder blades. Harden up, the dirt bike riding position is the best for all round control of a motorcycle.

After 10 years of adventure bikes and arm pain I set my airhead up with a dirt riding position using flattrack bars - the width,height and reach are exactly the same as an XT600,but the bars have a different wrist angle. I can now ride all day with no arm pain, a lot of that is because it's a BMW, but just the change in wrist angle is also a major part of it.

**Shewolf** · 1st January 2012, 08:17

welcome hellokitty - may see you out and about no doubt, I'm also on the shore.

There's lots of rides available thereabouts and all over so we're bound to catch up.

Now most importantly - what colour did Santa bring?

**Woodman** · 1st January 2012, 08:34

Welcome.

The other factor in riding position/handlebar placement is that it needs to be comfy when you are standing. Its a compromise, but then so is DP riding. Learn to ride standing, it is way way easier to control a bigger bike on gravel than sitting.

But in the mean time just get out and ride so you have some experience to compare the various set ups to.

**nzspokes** · 1st January 2012, 08:48

Was that the yellow one I saw you looking at?

Im eyeing up the CB900 hornet they have.

**Beem02** · 1st January 2012, 10:35

Congrats on getting the F650! What colour?

We've had 5 of these: 2x F650 classics (including a 1998), an F650CS, F650 Dakar, and SWMBO currently rides an F650GS single. They are great bikes and can take you pretty much anywhere in NZ if there's some sort of road or track involved - Just be aware they're not a light weight.

Some thoughts based on experience...

Re lowering: there is a wealth of info on the net if you want to spend the time working through it. See http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/LoweringKitFAQ.htm
My wife is shorter than me, so we tried the BMW lowering kit on our 1998 F650 - lowered it OK and quite significantly, but slowed the handling to a point where it didn't feel right, so we took the kit off. On her F650GS we have slipped the forks up (lowered the front) by about 15mm and keep the rear preload set soft but with damping turned up a bit - This works fine, with the handling good even when carrying lots of gear and one of the kids on the bike at highway speeds (but it may not work if you ride the bike hard out all the time). Getting the balls of both feet down is the key point, you don't need to lower so much that they are flat but that handling is also compromised.

Previous comments (Ocean1) on handlebar setup are on the money. Try some adjustments with the current bars while on centrestand. Bear in mind that lever positioning and therefore hand reach to the levers can be a factor in how it feels. The F650's should have you in a very natural riding style, sitting pretty much like on a chair (straight back, knees bent at right angles etc) the reach to handlebars will feel high if you have come off a sports bike, but low if from a cruiser.

If handlebar height is OK, but the reach is so far that your arms are straight and you are leaning forward, i.e. short arms, then it will be hard to keep relaxed and natural, elbows loose etc. And your riding will suffer a lot in side winds. In this case check out some handlebar risers, as some can offset the bars back towards you; or try a different handlebar bend, but as Motu said be careful when positioning or changing them so you don't get an uncomfortable wrist angle.

Good Luck

**hellokitty** · 1st January 2012, 13:51

Originally Posted by Shewolf

welcome hellokitty - may see you out and about no doubt, I'm also on the shore.

There's lots of rides available thereabouts and all over so we're bound to catch up.

Now most importantly - what colour did Santa bring?

Santa brought me a white one because it will not clash with my pink gear! Hahahhaha

Originally Posted by Woodman

Welcome.

The other factor in riding position/handlebar placement is that it needs to be comfy when you are standing. Its a compromise, but then so is DP riding. Learn to ride standing, it is way way easier to control a bigger bike on gravel than sitting.

But in the mean time just get out and ride so you have some experience to compare the various set ups to.

I am going to a friend's place tomorrow and I will take the bike for her husband to look at. I haven't tried standing up yet as there are so many other things to get used to and adjust!
I rode today and was much more upright than the last time, so I guess each time I ride it I will relax more.

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Was that the yellow one I saw you looking at?

Im eyeing up the CB900 hornet they have.

Do I know you? Mr Hellokitty got a yellow sportsbike.... is that what you were thinking of? I meet people frm this site and I never know them by their KB name - what is your real name?

**hellokitty** · 1st January 2012, 14:03

Hey Beem02 - the colour is white!
I was thinking about the handle bars while I was riding, and they seem to be the right height, they just need to come back an inch. Once I was aware of my posture and sitting upright, it was much better.
The major thing seems to be the skinny little grips. I can get my fingers all the way around the grips and they give me terrible hand pain (I have arthritis and carpal tunnel issues). On my Harley, I have these big Oxford heated handgrips which are very comfortable. I think I need to get new grips before I can even begin to thibk of handlebars. I rode for 15 minutes before I couldn't stand the pain.
I will have to go around the bike shops and see what fat grips I can get to fit.