| Author |
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Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 03:57 pm: | 
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Zac4mac: The answer is easy: Watch where you put your feet down.
"Doctor, it hurts when I do this."
"Well... DON'T do that!!" |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 04:32 pm: |
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Let's see, oh yeah, the parking lot was COVERED with leaves, yeah that's my story and I'm sticking to it. or slipping on it..
Z |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 05:12 pm: |
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It also helps if you put your foot STRAIGHT down instead of out at an angle. The narrower waist of the 1125R should help in that regard.
I used to have problems at toll booths (the center "stripe" was often SOAKED in all kinds of slippery fluids) until I learned to ride up in the left hand track so my left foot was nowhere NEAR that slop when I had to stop and pay. Put me closer to the toll attendant too.
Also watch for traffic markings on the road. Those are usually painted with Teflon-based paints so road dirt doesn't stick to them (and neither do the soles of your boots or the bottoms of your tires).
Finally, wet steel deck bridges are fun too. But as in MOST things concerning motorcycles, it's all in learning the proper technique when things become unavoidable.
Surely that's cheaper than modifying your bike and possibly adversely affecting your handling and/or comfort? |
Garrett2
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 09:26 pm: |
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bobr - thank you, yes, i ask a pretty reasonable question andpeople give me BS answers.
and ill be honest, no looking at other bikes, my money is already on the 1125 and ill settle for no less.
yes, when you ride your feet arent on the ground.
but
-around town riding, hitting stoplights etc
-passenger getting on the bike
-etc etc etc
its not a crazy question by any means.
thanks for the jerk replies though!
and thanks for the peole who arent jerks too, glad some of us are still out there. |
Ccryder
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 11:35 pm: |
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Heck I'm challenged on my 12r, ST1300, S3T, S2T and X3. One of the compassionate salesman at my 1st Buell dealer made a comment about me being inseamed challenged. For 2% of the time I'll get by. The other 98% I'll kick his azz in the turns (hey he would only ride H-D's so it was easy).
My point is I would like more sole contact but I just have to be real careful when I put my foot down. Real careful when backing and, yes those wet leaves are treacherous!
Garrett, is the 1125r any worse than any of your other Buells?
Ride more, lean more, Grin more.
Neil S. |
Archangel_g
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 12:30 am: |
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Garrett, I feel your pain. I have the same problem. I am also vertically challenged.
But I decided that I will try and get used to the machine as is. Because I am scared that making changes to the suspension may have some negative effects on the handling.
Some of you, more experienced riders out there may have an opinion on the matter... |
Rwven
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 07:26 am: |
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I was on a group ride in the Finger Lakes region of NY this autumn where one couple that were with us both had new Honda ST1300's. The Mrs. was a good rider and could handle the ST fine while it was moving but she dropped it twice on the weekend in parking lots. The first time was in the dark where there happened to be a pothole right where she was trying to place her foot down. The second parking lot had a serious downslope to it and she got her weight shifted to the wrong side when she stopped short thinking that another rider was about to cut in front of her. She fell hard the second time and made a trip to the emergency room, had to spend some recoup time in NY before riding back home. She was wearing boots similar to the ones shown earlier in thread and could still only get her toes down in a level stop on level pavement.
Just like your helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, etc. it is important that the bike fits you. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 07:41 am: |
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http://www.allamericanracers.com/alligator/alligat or_home.html |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 08:02 am: |
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Heheheh Herve Villechaize could ride that and flatfoot at a stoplight. Kinda weird looking, but I might consider riding one with a 124" S&S motor in it and some decent bodywork.
Z |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 08:28 am: |
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Villechaize might be able to reach the ground, but would he be able to reach the controls?
I've a friend who is quite short in the leg, yet he's ridden everything up to and including the KTM 990 Adventure (and even I am on tip toe with that thing). He currently has a Ducati 749R, a Hypermoto, and a BMW R1200RT. Like everything else, it's just something you get used to with practice.
Anyway, he thought it ironic that he could sit flatfoot on a Harley Springer (one of the few bikes on which he can), but that he couldn't reach the foot controls comfortably! |
Garrett2
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 08:10 pm: |
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ccryder - i have a s3, before it was lowered it could flatfoot it.
im not that short of a guy, like 5'8", but its just a bit tall.
i mean, ill have to deal with it i guess, i just didnt know if there was some sort of easy 'fix' to drop it an inch |
Slaughter
| | Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 08:48 pm: |
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Sunny had to actually be LAUNCHED at Inside Pass by me and a staff rider since she couldn't even reach the ground with her tip-toes. Fun bike for her to ride on the track but in traffic it wouldn't have worked.
Pic of her and Eric Schmitt talking over how the launch was going to be handled
Photo credit: Eric "Ebear" Barrows
(Message edited by slaughter on December 13, 2007) |
Bob_thompson
| | Posted on Friday, December 14, 2007 - 01:54 pm: |
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Just my take. I am 5'6'' and have had to adapt to almost everything I really like from cars, guns, clothes and a lot of bikes including pedal bikes. I still choose because of function and quality. The worst thing that has happened to me in riding bikes has been dragging pegs; scares the hell out of me. I have lowered bikes only to ruin its handling. The 1125R I sat on recently, I have on order for March, I could only get the tip of my toes down but felt very comfortable none the less. I just "hang off" a little at stoplights. Some things like clothes are easily refitted and for the other things of true quality and function, just improvise, adapt and overcome...and enjoy. Bob |
Tx05xb12s
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:55 pm: |
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You guys are going to be alright. Some of us will have to adapt to a new bike....because....it's a new bike.
I'm 67" tall and got the Scg for my first bike. Being inexperienced, it was important for me in my purchase decision to be able to control the bike easily in traffic, which included while stopped.
Now that I've been riding for 3 years or so, I don't think much about riding a little taller bike. With a little experience, toes/balls of feet should work out in most any situation assuming you use your experience to keep yourself out of difficult situations where footing would be a problem.
Just enjoy the ride and use your head. Like I said, you'll be alright. Now go play in traffic. |
Bobr
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 08:49 pm: |
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Hey Garrett and all,
Just rode an 1125r. See my post in the 1125r forum. Glad to hear you're going ahead with the bike, Garrett, and interesting to see the posts from other riders with a minimalist inseam. I'm 5'2" btw, so if you're 5'6" and up riding and coming to a stop on the 1125r should be quite manageable based on my experience. |
Garrett2
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 10:09 pm: |
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yeah im right at 5,8 /5,9
like i said, i could touch the ground, but id feel better if i could flatfoot both feet. we'll see how it is once i get it |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 10:14 am: |
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Last night, playing with installing options, I could flatfoot it with the back tire in the air on a rear stand.
I'm 5'10" w/32" inseam.
Good thing too, with all the ice here, I've got to duckwalk it in and out of the subdivision.
Z
Just had a thought, the seat is fairly wide,
Maybe you could have the sides shaved.
That could give you an inch or two right there.
(Message edited by zac4mac on December 19, 2007) |
Jumpinjewels
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 11:23 pm: |
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Even on my SCG I'm on the balls of my feet. Did drop the bike once cause the ground was slightly indented and lost my balance. The hubby just tells me, PUT ONE FOOT DOWN like dirt biking. The only problem is I don't have experience dirt biking but that's gonna change (Kawasaki KLX 140 in my future). |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 08:55 am: |
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Practice, practice, practice.  |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 09:00 am: |
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I've said I can flatfoot my 1125.
Yesterday, pulling back into my driveway, I had to cross a 6' patch of ice.
Nearly fell into my Jeep when my left foot started slipping out.
If I was any shorter, I'm sure I'd have gone down.
Be careful.
Z |
Socoken
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 10:52 am: |
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I sat on an 11 yesterday, and I have to say I was surprised at how tall it sat. I think its largely a function of the wider saddle. |
Johnb
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 01:05 am: |
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1125R'CG' model anyone? Hopefully the aftermarket (or Buell) will offer shorter front fork springs and rear shock setup at some point. 1125R seat height is 30.5-in (wet, no rider) with 4.5-in of ground clearance - the XB12SCG is 28.6-in (design rider, all fluids) at 3.55-in (unladen, wet) - seems feasible to lower it a bit safely. we'll see! |
Metalstorm
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 02:29 am: |
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Perhaps a professional suspension shop might have and can install shorter fork springs that would work and they could revalve the forks to work with the new springs.
They might have a shorter rear shock that would work too.
If lowering the bike an inch is crucial to you, it might be worth it to research such shops and call around.
I wouldn't expect anything from Buell this soon in the game. They got their hands full as it is. |
Edstevens
| | Posted on Monday, December 31, 2007 - 03:14 am: |
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I'm 5'3" and ride a 2003 XB9SL. I stopped into Bob's BMW and Test sat a F800ST that was a low frame option with low seat and with its MUCH softer suspension settled down with the balls of my feet on the ground. To compensate for the stiff slammed suspension I use an Airhawk seat pad for long rides but would prefer a longer suspension with normal seat padding.
Lowering a portion of the frame to accommodate full length suspension and lower seat height sounds very appealing to me. |
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