motorcyclebloggers.com

This weekend I went for a little ride on my ST1300 and met up with a guy on an ST forum that also has a 1982 V45 Saber. The V45 Saber was a motorcycle that I had had in the past and have fond memories of. Getting off my ST1300 and swinging a leg over the Saber reminded me how much smaller bikes have gotten these days.

See my ST1300 has its seat in the highest position. In addition, Corbin built my seat 1” taller than a stock seat. All is good in the world for me as I am comfortable and still get my legs down on the ground. But the V45 Saber was defiantly taller and the reach to the bars was a bit father away. I thought how nice it is to sit on a motorcycle that was not designed to fit a 5’5” guy.

At my 6’6” size, most everything seems small. Someone once said that “I make a 600cc sport bike look like a pocket bike” in reference to a photo of me from a recent track day. Now I understand that smaller bikes handle better and everything is good in the world to help out shorter people. But I mean it is getting out of hand as bikes get lower and lower seat heights.

I got my ST1300 because the seat is adjustable and I could give myself some more leg room. I can sit flat footed on my ST1300 with my tall seat and still have a knee bent. Kind of a bummer for me, but I don’t have a choice.

Considering that choice, I spent last Sunday afternoon slamming my wife’s Suzuki DL650 for more stable footing. My wife at 5’8” with a short inseam just can’t reach the ground. After a 1” drop in the rear and sliding the front forks up ¾” an inch, she is a very happy camper. I am looking into a set of spinners for her DL650 to finish pimping her slammed ride.