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BIG AND TALL - NEW RIDER

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Sasquatch Dan

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I know this question has been asked quite a bit, but I need some insight from very tall riders. I am going to get my first bike very soon. I'm 49 yrs old and I am
6' 7" and 360 lbs. I want to hear from guys who are close to my height and see what opinions and advice they can offer.

I haven't sat on many bikes yet, but am leaning towards a Suzuki v Strom 650, Kawasaki Versys, or KTM 1290 Super Adventure. A friend of mine who is 6' 3" has the Suzuki and he loves it. Whatever bike I do choose, I can probably foresee myself having to get handlebar risers and possibly a custom seat.

What do you large and lanky monsters have to say...?
 
Im not that large, but adventure bikes are the way to go, especially for bigger people
 
Welcome to the Forum.

I think a Vstrom would be a great bike for a guy your size as a first bike.
There are plenty out there and if you look hard enough you can get one for a good deal.
 
Welcome to GTAM.
 
Sasquatch Dan said:
I know this question has been asked quite a bit, but I need some insight from very tall riders. I am going to get my first bike very soon. I'm 49 yrs old and I am
6' 7" and 360 lbs. I want to hear from guys who are close to my height and see what opinions and advice they can offer.

I haven't sat on many bikes yet, but am leaning towards a Suzuki v Strom 650, Kawasaki Versys, or KTM 1290 Super Adventure. A friend of mine who is 6' 3" has the Suzuki and he loves it. Whatever bike I do choose, I can probably foresee myself having to get handlebar risers and possibly a custom seat.

What do you large and lanky monsters have to say...?
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A Clydesdale?
 
Grom!! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: You probably would flatten it.

I believe you have better suggestions already in the adv bikes but the taller ones would probably be your best bet.
 
Welcome to the forum and motorcycling.

I think you are on the right track with adv bikes for your size, I'm 6ft2 and can't flat foot some of the taller ones. Some of the bigger cruisers with forward controls might fit your legs well but I'm uncertain about how the low seat height and limited suspension travel would work with your weight, something to consider as well.

Check out this site to help get an idea of how you would fit on various bikes:


Good luck with your search!
 
Sasquatch Dan said:
I know this question has been asked quite a bit, but I need some insight from very tall riders. I am going to get my first bike very soon. I'm 49 yrs old and I am
6' 7" and 360 lbs. I want to hear from guys who are close to my height and see what opinions and advice they can offer.

I haven't sat on many bikes yet, but am leaning towards a Suzuki v Strom 650, Kawasaki Versys, or KTM 1290 Super Adventure. A friend of mine who is 6' 3" has the Suzuki and he loves it. Whatever bike I do choose, I can probably foresee myself having to get handlebar risers and possibly a custom seat.

What do you large and lanky monsters have to say...?
Click to expand...
All joking aside, you have a unique challenge. First is the insurance thing, as a new rider the larger bikes will be very expensive to insure, I’m guessing the litre bikes will start at $3k or more, big cruisers a little less.

Next you have to look at payload. At 370lbs you are looking at typical 2up adv, st or cruisers. The bikes typically have a 400-430 lb payload (rider, passenger and kit). Finally ergos. The adv bikes 650cc and up will be the most spacious and most configurable. The plucky KLR would be a contender for learning as its tall, can be made spacious, has a 430lb payload and is the on the cheaper side of insurance. You won’t win races, but it’s a comfortable, reliable and inexpensive learning bike for a big fella.

In 2 or 3 years you go up to a litre+ bike of your choice.
 
BMWs F850GS, F900XR. Bigger, beginner friendly bikes with not so scary insurance.
 
ScorpionT16 said:
Isn't the 1250GS low at 850mm?

1290 Adventure is 880mm
T7 is 875mm, and getting the rally seat becomes 915mm. That's the tallest bike I know yet
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You're talking about the R1250GS (non-Adventure). It's stock seat can be installed in two positions, 850mm in the low position and 870mm in the high.

However, I'm talking about the R1250GS Adventure stock seat, which also two settings as well: 890mm and 910mm in the high position. That's pretty close to the T7 with the rally seat.

My god, why am I even talking about high seats?!? I'm 5'7". Standing on a phone book. With boots on...
 
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Lightcycle said:
You're talking about the R1250GS (non-Adventure). It's stock seat can be installed in two positions, 850mm in the low position and 870mm in the high.

However, I'm talking about the R1250GS Adventure stock seat, which also two settings as well: 890mm and 910mm in the high position. That's pretty close to the T7 with the rally seat.

My god, why am I even talking about high seats?!? I'm 5'7". Standing on a phone book. With boots on...
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Ah good to know, I always thought they were short bikes from pictures and seeing them at shows.

Unless the OP has a good budget, that's a hell of a first bike to start on in terms of price. Not sure what the seat height is on the R1200GS. I think Ryan at F9 is over 6'3" tall and loves the F800GSA he has, maybe that's a better stepping stone.

There is a 6' 7" T7 rider on youtube, and he make the bike look tiny. Also needed to upgrade the rear spring, of which I think the OP will have to do for any bike he gets.

 
Assuming he doesn't have an unlimited budget for insurance, KLR may be his best bet. Maybe some of the cruisers but I don't know enough about them to know of a midsize engine for a big bore guy.
 
If you do end up in the cruiser segment make sure you get something with forward controls, and spend enough time sitting on each bike so that they don't feel crowded. Sadly I suspect you'll find many do.

I'm not as tall as you, but pushing 6', and even on my current Vulcan Voyager I find the controls crowded a little. Highway pegs can alleviate that of course once you're underway (and I'd never be without them, they make long distance touring so much more comfortable) but that doesn't help much when you're in town and need to be shifting a lot etc.
 
Mad Mike said:
All joking aside, you have a unique challenge. First is the insurance thing, as a new rider the larger bikes will be very expensive to insure, I’m guessing the litre bikes will start at $3k or more, big cruisers a little less.

Next you have to look at payload. At 370lbs you are looking at typical 2up adv, st or cruisers. The bikes typically have a 400-430 lb payload (rider, passenger and kit). Finally ergos. The adv bikes 650cc and up will be the most spacious and most configurable. The plucky KLR would be a contender for learning as its tall, can be made spacious, has a 430lb payload and is the on the cheaper side of insurance. You won’t win races, but it’s a comfortable, reliable and inexpensive learning bike for a big fella.

In 2 or 3 years you go up to a litre+ bike of your choice.
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Can't beat the KLR. Not even with a stick.
Cheap, simple, tall and you don't have to stop just because the pavement and or gravel ends.
 
PrivatePilot said:
If you do end up in the cruiser segment make sure you get something with forward controls, and spend enough time sitting on each bike so that they don't feel crowded. Sadly I suspect you'll find many do.

I'm not as tall as you, but pushing 6', and even on my current Vulcan Voyager I find the controls crowded a little. Highway pegs can alleviate that of course once you're underway (and I'd never be without them, they make long distance touring so much more comfortable) but that doesn't help much when you're in town and need to be shifting a lot etc.
Click to expand...
PP why would you insist on forward controls? Forward controls are 3 of my top 10 reasons to despise cruisers.
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