Older sports bike for the older gentlemen?

[dern]

Are older sports bikes such as zx9r, early blades, early r1s a more comfortable sporting option for the taller gentleman who can no longer bend himself like a pocket knife and wants functioning knees in the morning?

[wull]

Possibly, I always found the GSXR litre bikes to be relatively comfy, the BMW S1000RR is pretty much the same especially the early Gen 1 and tbh I’m not the most flexible struggling with tight hips and all that jazz and I make do, tbh the comfiest bike I ever owned was the 1299S but I put that down to the fact the tank was so narrow and the crotch area so it was proper comfy for me.

I had a few 9r’s but it was so long ago and I was much fitter then, I’d probably struggle on them now, I remember them having a big chunky tank at the crotch area so for me I’d feel like I was spreading the legs like the missus before even setting off.

[Supermofo]

More money but test a GSXS 1000, I find mine nice and comfy. The pegs are high-ish which I worried about before I bought it but I've done long rides and my legs have been ok. But the the bars are much higher than a sportsbike and really good for distance, seat is hard but manages to be comfy for a long time.

The fared ones have the same riding position as the nakeds

[Bigjawa]

Sir wants a GSXR1100WP

[KungFooBob]

GSXR1100's are tiny...

[Skub]

Personally,if I wasn't flexible enough,I'd be working on that aspect,then you have a much broader choice.

The Gen1 04/05 ZX10R fitted me like a glove,I sold it because 3 digit speeds were too easy and I fully recognise I'm not as sharp as I was. Comfort was never an issue,unless you are piddling about in city traffic,which I didn't.

The K3/4 GSXR was comfy too,the best stock seat ever! K5 is a great bike too,but would need tweaking for me,only had one run.

[KungFooBob]

They (the press) say that newer sports bike are more comfortable than older bikes, they're physically smaller, but have much better ergonomics.

[dern]

I tried it a k5 gsxr and I got cramp within 15 minutes and that was 15 years ago. I tried again last year and just had to sit on one in a showroom to get cramp again. Something about the leg position of that bike.

[Horse]

BMW R1250RS

Gentleman's conveyance

https://www.adventurebikerider.com/arti ... rs-review/

" a very focussed and competent road bike, even if it is so far under most buyer’s radars that it’s almost invisible!"

"As a package the R 1250 RS is impossible to fault – it’s wonderfully responsive and stable to ride and will handle everything from weaving through commuter traffic to hooning around the bends on a summer’s afternoon and everything else in between."

The only real difference between 'sport tourer' and 'sport' is mindset.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had an early R1 in 2000, it was a horrible riding position when I was 33, 23 years I know I wouldn't fit one, ZX9R is a lot more relaxed riding position, 20 year old GSXRs are somewhere between the two, but the real question you should be asking is "Will a 25 year old bike be safe at 170 mph?" and if you're not going to ride it at over 100 everywhere there's no point buying an early R1, they really don't work very well below that, but they are enormous fun, possibly the most fun bike I've ever owned, but the fun is at mental speeds.

There are much more suitable bikes for the older gentleman, with old bones and old gentleman reaction times.

[dern]

lol. I’m not that old that I’m too slow to react but my joints are starting to feel older than I do.

[Demannu]

F4 zx9r
Awesome sports tourer
One of the 3 bikes I regret getting rid of.

[Yorick]

My GSXR1000 is super comfy. Did a few 400 mile days 2 years ago. And often ride for 4 or 5 hours over on Fuertaventura.

[Bigjawa]

GSXR1100's are tiny...

I always found mine very comfortable and I'm 6'1, compared to an SRAD, they're a gold wing.

[KungFooBob]

GSXR1100's are tiny...

I always found mine very comfortable and I'm 6'1, compared to an SRAD, they're a gold wing.

Before I bought mine everyone told me they were massive busses, but they're not 'big' just every component weights double that of the same year Fireblade.

I think it's slightly more roomy than my 98 Blade, which was dubbed the Touring Blade by the press. you kind of sit more in it than on it like the Blade.

I'm 6'3" so I make most things look small. My 620 Desmo Due racer looked like a minimoto.

[KungFooBob]

I think these are quite roomy...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285271922518

On the list to own some day (if there's any nice ones left by then).

[dern]

I think these are quite roomy...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285271922518

On the list to own some day (if there's any nice ones left by then).

I’ve got the next gen factory version of that and comfy it isn’t

Maybe I should have got the previous version.

[Couchy]

ZX9R is a bit sports tourer but it’s no sportsbike especially compared to modern stuff. I can’t think of one older sportsbike that is any better than a modern one unless you go back years. Of the more recent ones I’ve had the Daytona 675 and Panigale 1199 were among the best. However with non sports bikes being so fast and giving away nothing on the road is there any reason other than aesthetics to go for a sportsbike ?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Short legs.

[The Spin Doctor]

Thundercat? Thunderace? T955?