What is a good sports bike for a guy that is 6'5-6'6

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dplaya746 · Thu May 17, 2007 10:35 am

I think i might be too tall to ride sports bike

. Sports bikes are the only ones i like and i am interested in getting a bike soon. What would be a good bike for me? If there is one.. .

Johnj · #2 Unread post by **Johnj** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:29 pm

It's hard to say. I know a 6 foot guy who rides a Ninja 250 and I know a 5 foot 4 guy that rides a Softtail Classic.

IcyHound · #3 Unread post by **IcyHound** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:34 pm

Well if you are getting something sporty you should get a smaller bike regardless. Go sit on them and see if they are uncomfortable or not.

How long is your inseam? Most of the starter sport bikes have a more standard position and you'll be surprised at how comfortable they are. Your main source of discomfort will prob be the air slamming your chest, but you are tall enough that this will happen on most bikes. Not a big deal.

You just have to go see what you like.

BTW the bigger bikes are not actually that much bigger in size. In fact my Ninja 500 is physically taller and larger then its SS cousins until you move into the hyper sports.

tortus · #4 Unread post by **tortus** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:43 pm

yeah, go sit on them at the dealer, best advice.

I am 6'1" and have a ninja 650r. If my leg was half an inch longer the bike wouldn't fit me. When I'm sitting on it, my legs come right inline with the cutouts on the gastank. I really doubt you could fit on a 650R :-/

Grey Thumper · Thu May 17, 2007 3:48 pm

It's just as important to get a bike that fits your experience level and won't get you into trouble (or at least, is less likely to), as it is to get a bike that fits you and that you enjoy.

Damian · #6 Unread post by **Damian** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:21 pm

I'm 6'2"-6'3" and my Katana fits me pretty good. The seat is pretty high and the pegs are somewhere further aft of a standard, but forward of a pure sportsbike. So consider looking at sport-touring bikes. The only ones I know anything about are Katanas and Bandits, but there are plenty others. Do some searching and you might be able to build a list of bikes that you'd like to try and sit on.

There is also an emerging sector of bikes, sometimes called performance-cruisers. V-max, V-rod, Victory Vegas, Victory Hammer, Meanstreak. I don't think many on this forum would recommend any of these to a new rider, but it might make you consider starting out on a small cruiser and eventually graduating to a more performance-focused cruiser that will accommodate your size and need for performance.

Like was suggested, go and sit on some sporty standards like sv650's and the like, you may find that you feel OK on them.