Author Topic: Uncomfortable Bike (Read 5683 times)

derildo · « **on:** 14 August 2012, 01:41:14 pm »

Has anyone ever bought a bike that they just did not get on with?

I have a '00 FZS600 which I bought from the guy who bought it brand new, he only managed to put 3.5k on it in 12 years. so I was chuffed to bits when it came up for sale as it is in really lovely condition. However every time I ride it I cannot wait to get back home and stick it back in the garage.
I feel that it cants me forward and puts all the weight on my wrists and after a while my hands start to go to sleep. Also I find the seat / footpeg distance too short so that my legs are bent up. As far as I can tell the bike is standard, forks have not been dropped in the yokes and the dogbones on the rear suspension are standard length: 135mm

I tried renthal low bars and that improved it a bit, I went for an 80 mile ride and after 30 odd miles, same problem with my wrists and me arse joined in! Total misery!

I next tried renthal highs, back to square one. I have had Bandit 600s, a ZRX1200R, Bulldog, Freewind and Breva 750 in recent years and I cannot recall ever being so uncomfortable. I know I could go on and get the seat refoamed and all that but I have had enough and will be putting the bike up for sale.

Its such a shame cos its a fantastic bike, handling, brakes, engine etc. Just does not seem to have been built for me: 5' 10" with 29" inside leg!!!

GringoRojo · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 August 2012, 03:52:40 pm »

?? have you compared it side by side with another one? what fairing does it have - square lights or foxeye?

and 3.5 K in 12 years? jees, that's not even run in and I'd wonder what it's like inside no matter how polished it is.

Lazarus · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 August 2012, 04:03:15 pm »

have you tried rolling the bars to another position - i did that with mine and it makes it a little more comfortable for me

markbubble · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 August 2012, 04:14:18 pm »

i find my fazer mega comfy(its a 98 model)i had a suzi rf600 that was ace but totally did my back and wrists in so had to sell due to bad back,almost gave up on biking but was recomended the fazer which wasnt my ideal looking bike at 1st(love the look now)and i love not only the comfort but the ride handling,fuel econmy etc etc
as already mentioned try twisting the bars around,different grips(surprise how much this can help wrists/hands) you might be able to get risers etc for bars and pegs etc

MEM62 · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 August 2012, 04:16:34 pm »

There is no way a bike of that type / design should be placing a lot of weight on your wrists. Have a look at the suspension - if you have a manual return all settings to standard and see if that makes a difference.

locksmith · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 August 2012, 04:47:01 pm »

Quote from: MEM62 on 14 August 2012, 04:16:34 pm

There is no way a bike of that type / design should be placing a lot of weight on your wrists. Have a look at the suspension - if you have a manual return all settings to standard and see if that makes a difference.

I'm with MEM, hasn't had rearsets fitted maybe?
Post a nice side on picture for a better understanding.

rustyrider · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 August 2012, 04:56:49 pm »

I'm 5' 10" but with a 32" inside leg and, since I rotated the bars back towards me a little, can honestly say that the Mk1 Fazer is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. Your bars may simply be set too far forward if it is putting your weight on your wrists. Rotate them back until they trap your thumbs on the tank on full lock then move them forward a touch.

Grahamm · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 August 2012, 05:02:44 pm »

Quote from: derildo on 14 August 2012, 01:41:14 pm

Has anyone ever bought a bike that they just did not get on with?

[...]

Its such a shame cos its a fantastic bike, handling, brakes, engine etc. Just does not seem to have been built for me: 5' 10" with 29" inside leg!!!

This site might be of use to you. You put in the bike you want and your measurements and it will show you whether it's the right fit for you.

locksmith · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 August 2012, 05:14:20 pm »

What a cool site Graham, thanks for sharing!

If you add more than 1 bike and use the scroll wheel on the mouse it morphs between the seating positions so you can see the differences.

derildo · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 August 2012, 05:26:29 pm »

Thanks for the replies.......... As far as I can tell the bike is bog standard, I enclose a photo, see what you think.
The rear suspension is set to the fourth from top on the preload collar. When I got the bike one or more of the pilots was gummed up. Put it into Bike Moto in Pompey who removed/cleaned/replaced the carbs and fitted a new set of plugs. They said it was a good'un. I will have a go at moving the bars back to see if that help...... Don't suppose you would recommend Apehangers?

cheers all

derildo · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 August 2012, 05:41:18 pm »

Grahamm

Thanks for that link, have compared the Fazer with bikes I have owned in the past and can see that the Fazer does make me lean forward more.
Perhaps the lean angle is getting more critical for me at my age wiv me aching joints................

manuel32 · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 August 2012, 06:05:34 pm »

The bars are very high compared to other styles of bikes so should be the comfyist bike ever,,have you tried a race rep, then you will see weight forward.

It looks like a nice bike to ride, cant see any other being better.

His Dudeness · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 August 2012, 06:16:19 pm »

cruiser style could be the way to go to get the weight off your wrists

rustyrider · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 August 2012, 06:34:23 pm »

Those bars are much further forward than mine. Try tilting them back.

goldfazer · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 August 2012, 07:12:12 pm »

I tilted my bars fwd a bit and had some extra foam put in the seat as I found the legs a bit cramped. May help you.

CRH · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 August 2012, 08:52:04 pm »

i had the very same problem with mine!! ime also 6ft and 29inch leg!!...what i did ( and it appears to have sorted it)...is to add bar risers 25mm and rotate bars forward slighly!!!....what a difference thats made

Grahamm · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 August 2012, 10:21:19 pm »

Quote from: locksmith on 14 August 2012, 05:14:20 pm

What a cool site Graham, thanks for sharing!

You're welcome.

Quote

If you add more than 1 bike and use the scroll wheel on the mouse it morphs between the seating positions so you can see the differences.

Yep, it's really neat because you can compare your position on your existing bike to one you're thinking of getting and see if you'll be more upright or leaned forward (or can't even touch the ground!) even before you get to the dealers.

Fazerider · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 August 2012, 08:04:15 am »

Yes, that site was a good find Grahamm.
Good for comparing bikes anyway, perhaps less so for comparing riders since hip to shoulder distance and arm length also matter when calculating the amount the bike leans you forward.
The FSZ600 has a pretty upright seating position Derildo, I'm the same height and leg length as you and don't have a problem so maybe I've a longer neck or arms! Anyway, CRH's suggestion of bar risers sounds a good one (though I'd have thought rotating the bars back rather than forward would be the direction to go). Certainly worth a try before giving up on such a great bike (and a fine example of it too).

Fuzzygoth · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 August 2012, 08:49:11 am »

To be fair I used to find my FZS Fazer 600 very comfy, I've found the thou
much less so ironically. I get a sore wrist with the bulldog but I am guessing
who ever fitted the heated grips and glued then badly when make a very stiff
throttle (guessing). I have always had after market bars with raisers on my
bike (pure co-incidence) and i find that helps with the position rather than
the standard bars I've had on loan bikes.

kebab19 · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 August 2012, 09:32:24 am »

Risers under your bars to raise them 25mm or even 30mm will help. These and Renthal 758 bars worked for me.

Get the seat reworked with an extra inch of foam, which will then ease the bend in your legs.

I also suspect you're gripping the bars too tight, which will give you sore wrists in no time. Not a criticism, lots of people do it and are unaware of the consequences - pains within half an hour of riding.

Filing that, you're into upright bike territory - nice TDM perhaps?

darrsi · « **Reply #20 on:** 15 August 2012, 10:37:26 am »

I thought we worked out in another post that 140mm dog bones were standard size?
If that's the case then having the rear jacked up a bit would make you lean slightly forwards, putting a bit of strain on your hands.

caretaker · « **Reply #21 on:** 15 August 2012, 12:38:04 pm »

my advice would be to get rid. if you dont feel right about a bike, it's not worth keeping. had a 1100 katana years ago but we just didnt get on. wish i still had it now though!

Lumpy · « **Reply #22 on:** 15 August 2012, 01:23:37 pm »

Quote from: derildo on 14 August 2012, 01:41:14 pm

Has anyone ever bought a bike that they just did not get on with?

I have a '00 FZS600 which I bought from the guy who bought it brand new, he only managed to put 3.5k on it in 12 years. so I was chuffed to bits when it came up for sale as it is in really lovely condition. However every time I ride it I cannot wait to get back home and stick it back in the garage.
I feel that it cants me forward and puts all the weight on my wrists and after a while my hands start to go to sleep. Also I find the seat / footpeg distance too short so that my legs are bent up. As far as I can tell the bike is standard, forks have not been dropped in the yokes and the dogbones on the rear suspension are standard length: 135mm

I tried renthal low bars and that improved it a bit, I went for an 80 mile ride and after 30 odd miles, same problem with my wrists and me arse joined in! Total misery!

I next tried renthal highs, back to square one. I have had Bandit 600s, a ZRX1200R, Bulldog, Freewind and Breva 750 in recent years and I cannot recall ever being so uncomfortable. I know I could go on and get the seat refoamed and all that but I have had enough and will be putting the bike up for sale.

Its such a shame cos its a fantastic bike, handling, brakes, engine etc. Just does not seem to have been built for me: 5' 10" with 29" inside leg!!!

get fitter, you'll get used to it.

derildo · « **Reply #23 on:** 15 August 2012, 01:41:52 pm »

The wife is on at me to get a pushbike so as to lose a bit of weight, a few years back when I was cycling a lot I was 11.5 stone now I'm pushing 15 stone around so you'd think resting my gut on the tank would ease the weight off my wrists

A TDM is tempting or a Transalp.

Thanks for all the tips, I have moved the bars back now and will ride it tomorrow to see if that helps otherwise it'll be Ebayed.

ElkWorks · « **Reply #24 on:** 15 August 2012, 01:58:03 pm »

same problem with mine

fitted some Raask Jotas, and a fluffy arse pad.

Boom, problem gone.