Can you be too big?

[BigJ]

Well, I searched the forums and couldn't find a thread on my problem/question... So here I go.

I've been in the market for a bike for a while now, continually getting more and more info to see if I really do want to buy a bike.

I've decided on getting a bike with fewer than 600cc's after many conversations with people who told me it may not be condusive to my health to ride one

My problem is that I'm 6'5" and 230lbs. I want a sportbike and have come to like the GS500F.

I don't want to be one of those people who are waaayyy too big for their bike.

So I guess my question is, Will I fit?

-Big J

[VTNewb]

Honestly, you can be fine with over 600ccs. You just have to take it easy! Drive the bike like you would drive a milk truck.

[indestructibleman]

i'm 5'10", and while i know several people taller than me who ride GSs, i feel the bike fits me pretty snugly.
however, you may be built differently.  go to a dealership and sit on one.
your weight won't be a problem for the little G.
if you're not deadset on sportbikes, i'd recommend a dual sport like the kawasaki klr 650.  properly set up this bike will do just as well as the GS in the twisties (maybe better?) and it should be good for a tall fella.

cheers,
will

[cernunos]

I concur with VTNewb, you are the one who controls the right wrist. And at that, even the Baby G if ridden improperly can get angry and bite back. If you have the cabbage and like the bikes go and get an HD, like a Super-Glide or something along those lines if you like cruisers. If you are into the sport-bike thing then get you a GSXR whatever or an R6 or something. But then, if you have NEVER rode a bike then maybe a used learning tool along the lines of the Baby G would be fine. I know I love my little GS and this forum too.

C.......

[dufoes]

We have something in common - I'm 6'5" at 205 lbs. I picked the GS500F for the same reason you're considering it - for safety reasons. I've spoken with many people about starting off on the street and every single one of them recommend something smaller than a 600cc bike.

I just bought this bike a week and a half ago and guess what? I already fee like I may be outgrowing the bike. My legs feel ever so slightly bunched up while riding (I wish I could stretch them out a little more) and my arms especially give me problems. They're just too long! I find myself trying to sit further and further back on the seat so that I can extend my arms without feeling uncomfortable.

In addition, I also find myself longing for a little more power. Maybe that's just me and due in part to my young age and general aggressiveness, but perhaps it is due to my weight.

I hope this information helps you in your decision.

[BigJ]

I'm pretty much set on a sports bike. And I'm only looking to spend 4500 at the absolute max since I live in WA and it rains about six months out of the year.

I like the GS because its one of the only sub-600cc bikes that actually looks good (in my eyes.)

I was VERY interested in getting an R6, but the pricetag is just a little too much for me since I'm only a 20 year old college student

-BigJ

[john]

In my opinion.. you are probably too big to ever be comfortable on the GS.  You will also find the current crop of 600s to be almost as cramped.

maybe a 919 or even a 599 would be a bigger yet somewhat sporty option.

[pantablo]

I'm with John on this one. if you want a sportbike the gs500 will feel luxurious in comparison. if you're worried about your size and the gs, dont. You'll be fine. you'll be better than when you do get a 600cc sportbike. Think they're too small? liter bikes are even smaller these days.

While you might feel that you've outgrown the bike in relatively few months of riding, as dufoes does, this is only you getting comfortable on it and getting over the fear of riding. This makes you a little more dangerous, giving you an inflated sense of confidence, that your skills havent caught up to yet. Even though you might feel you've "outgrown" it  you probably havent. When you ride it in the canyons and can drag pegs at will, then maybe you should consider moving up.

the relatively low power of the gs will make you a better rider. "the slowest bikes make the fastest riders" is an old saying. Even if you're confident of your skills, keep riding the gs500 for a good year at least. Then consider moving up. It will make you a far superior rider than most out there.

Most experienced riders will respect you for learning on the 500, but most new or relatively new riders will not...but what do they know.

[Mk1inCali]

I'm going to concur with Pablo and John.  I have had my GS since new, it's an '00, and I had the same "new-rider" Pablo was talking about.  This was after racing dirtbikes for 10 years.  I thought I needed to move up, but I didn't, and still don't have the money to get a 600 bought and insured.  I am 6'5, almost 6'6, and I used to feel cramped while riding, but I put drag bars on it, and recently installed CBR600F2 rear-sets to move the pegs back and further up, and it has helped dramatically.  Even my shorter (5'9 or so) friends say it feels much sportier and balanced just sitting on it.

About the power, you can do some cheap mods as you save money back up, cheap as in less than 300 bucks for a full system exhaust, K&N's are easily had, etc etc.

As for improving faster/more on a smaller bike, it's true.  One of my dirtbike racing buddy's, we were about the same speed on the MX track, he got a YZF600R when I got my GS.  Guess who still has their bike today!!  Even after 1 year of riding with him, I could still keep up with him in any corner, and after a while, in the tight stuff, I could get right on his rear wheel.

Good luck riding, and hope you find something that fits you and your personality!!!

[markumenges]

Hey there,


I'm 5'9'' and weight around 220 lbs.... and some of the doubts that beset you do beset me too...


I still haven't my bike as the dealer is nothing but a damn liar...(he was to give it to me on monday 27.... today it's the 29th and you know what? still nothing! he hasn't even called)
anyway's I'm kinda going off topic here....so, tell you, after recently having read a comparison in a Spanish Bikers magazine where they reckon the GS only has 41HP.... whereas the CB500 has more than 50.... and this has me worring..... for I think now I might have rushed my decision with the Gs...  Obviously I'm not as crazy as for speeding these days or ride at around 200kmph...radars, police and accidents are indeed out there in every corner (potentially speaking).... but I wanna make sure that at least I shall be expecting to have fun in windy roads with my new adquisition...

:dunno:


The dealer told me if I got the Gs I was gonna feel sooner than later I wanted more.... I hope he's either wrong or I'm still in time to go and make up my mind and get the SV650 that he firstly had suggested hhahaha.. :mrgreen:

[glenn9171]

Perhps you would fit the V-Strom 650 a bit better?

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/DL650K5/Default.aspx

[Daniely]

IM 6'1" and live down the road from Mk1 (tony), sat on his bike and even with my height and weight (around 220 lbs) its a comfortable fit, i love it im puttin the same setup on my GS later this month.

[mojoworkin]

Don't worry about it. I'm 6'5" and 200lbs and dont feel out of place. In fact, I feel like I have more control of a smaller bike. My only gripe is that my knees are a little forward of the cut-outs in the tank. I think that since I am tall, I am a little more comfortable with lower than stock bars and when my left hand needs a break, I can sit up and still have good control with my right.

[BigJ]

Thanks for the help

From the sounds of it, all I'm going to really have to do in order to get a nice fit is to move the pegs back and up a little in order to have a nice ride on the bike.

Thanks again!

-BigJ

[Jace009]

Well I don't have your body dimensions but I'm 6'-1" with a "skinny" frame...130lbs...my point is i'm not physicaly bigger than some females just taller. I got myself a GS because I knew a 250 couldn't haul my light butt down the highway down here [speed limit is 70) and the insurance for a 600cc bike is about 2.5X that of  a 500. So that pretty much limited my choices. After taking my bike one a 300mile journey I can say the "sport bike" feel does gete old after 200miles and my long legs stick out past the tank...Minor gripe...as far as power goes it's enough to get you in trouble and after I jetted the carbs I had the experience and things worked out perfect....Now if I didn't have to sell it to go to college  :x  :x

[bigdood]

damn, a 6'1 130 lb woman, i'm in love!!   :kiss:

[aplitz]

At  6'2" 200 pounds I feel like a gorilla on a tricycle.  Specifically, I feel like the brakes just couldn't haul the bike and me down from speed.  On the comfort side, my GS wasn't all that great.  I feltt better after rearsets and SM bars, but that might just be because the prefer the position.  Best of luck in the search, a GS can get you in as much trouble as any bike out there, don't let the power deter you from a better bike.

[charleym3]

I'm 6" and 230.  The GS is a fine bike.  I wear textile which makes me look a little bigger than I am.  Still not a big deal.  Don't sweat it.  Enjoy the ride.

[Gofer]

i asked about the same thing in the "For Sale/Wanted" area (6 ft, 195lbs) and the advice i was given was to go sit on one at a dealer. So i'll pass that advice on to you.

If you don't feel comfortable on it, i doubt a 599 will fit. Perhaps a Suzuki Bandit(600cc)--sporty but a little bigger and a little more powerful(and the insurance won't break the bank). If you're really into the sportsbike side of things, check out used Triumphs. The Speed Four and Daytona 600 are good-quality bikes and don't have quite so much power as the R6 or GSX-R, and their handling is top-notch.

Hope this helps.

[JamesG]

Oy, I wish I could find that picture of Craig "Huey" Stewart (6' 2", 250lbs) on a GS at TGPR.  The proverbial "monkey humping a football" pic.

Some bike are just too small for bigger riders. And I include myself in that.  You can still ride one and they will ride fine, they just "look" funny. Partly this is because its naked. A fairing actually puffs out the GS quite a bit. An F model wouldn't look too wierd.