Comfort Riding Tips?

[DmbShn41]

Hey all. I'm 6'1", 180, and have a hard time staying comfortable riding at highway speeds. I ride regularly to and from work, 20 miles down highway. Stock 08 Ninja with Jardine exhaust, jetted, pods, 15T sprocket. Thinking about adding rear sets to gain some leg room, and double bubble to push air out of my face. Interested to hear what other combination taller riders have done to make Ninja more comfortable. Thanks~

[CC Cowboy]

I would think rear sets would make it less comfortable.

[DmbShn41]

I don't mind an aggressive style, as I tuck when riding on highway. Being 6', sitting upright acts a parachute and tends to help with steering the bike where you don't want to go.

Would read sets or brackets to reposition rear sets allow for additional leg room by moving legs back?

[csmith12]

@NevadaWolf maybe you can add your input here.

[NevadaWolf]

Would love to, but being only 5'4" I have no real advice for taller folk. Nor do I know any tall sport bike riders.

[DmbShn41]

With the pegs being as forward as they are, when I tuck, my arms/elbows lay on my knees.instead of laying out on bike I basically bend 90 degrees over. I would think if I can move the legs back, then I could straighten out some.

[DaBlue1]

Originally Posted by DmbShn41

....Thinking about adding rear sets to gain some leg room, and double bubble to push air out of my face.

Due to the ergo's of the Ninja 250, it just does not lend itself for comfort to the taller rider. Trying to lay out on the bike can even be awkward for a long period of time.

Adding rearsets will not gain you any real leg room. They mostly tend to make you tuck your legs under more. One way to not be as tucked is to slide back on the seat as far as possible, although it's sometimes hard to maintain this position
on the sloped stock seat.

For a taller rider, a Zero Gravity Sport Touring Windscreen is better to move the wind higher (at least to the top of the helmet) and reduce some buffeting.

Slingshot Racing has adjustable foot pegs. Lowering the foot position along with getting the hips back is the most efficient way to gain forward leg room.

Rider comfort can be accomplished in more ways than one or two. The operation of the bike plays a small part as well. Here are some other comfort tips.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by DmbShn41

With the pegs being as forward as they are, when I tuck, my arms/elbows lay on my knees.instead of laying out on bike I basically bend 90 degrees over. I would think if I can move the legs back, then I could straighten out some.

I'm thinking highway pegs, a sissy bar, and ape hangers is the way to go.

[TheDementedDrummer]

I'm not nearly as tall as you (5'11) but clipons and rearsets made the bike feel a lot smaller for me, with my arms and legs much more scrunched up.
So yeah, just my two cents.

[DmbShn41]

Thanks for the tips. By saying more leg room, I should have put maybe a more comfortable position in which my legs are crammed. My thought was by movng the pegs back with rear sets, that would change my overall position into a more favorable position than current. I understand that due to the ergo design, I am not the average rider of a 250. But was interested in ways that other folks have overcome this.

PO of this bike painted bottom side of stock windscreen black, so it's due for a change in my opinion. I'll check out the links shared above.

Based on searching google for rear sets, Yoshimura makes brackets that will offset the stock pegs and mounts, for reasonable amount too, $89 per set. I believe I will try these out before trying to scavenge a set of woodcrafts. Just trying to see if I can find something comfortable. Ultimately a bigger bike would provide mor comfort, but the wife doesn't see it that way. Plus I like my 250 cause it's mine. Thanks for advice.

[Kevin1956]

You said "sitting upright acts like a parachute and tends to help with steering the bike where you don't want to go". I've never heard of this problem, unless it's a stiff crosswind blowing the bike around. Is it a physical discomfort you feel, or are you uncomfortable with movement in the lane? Both? Tucking will help the movement, but will lead to physical discomfort, as it's such an unnatural riding position.

[misfitsailor]

I have found that there is a down side to having a higher windscreen on the Ninjette. Yes, it deflects the air further up, but at freeway speeds that wind pressure was supporting the weight of my upper body. It was easy to find an equilibrium. Now with my new windscreen, I have to hold myself up by gripping my knees on the tank to keep from holding myself up through the handlebars. It was less fatiguing to let the wind do the work.

[misfitsailor]

Another tip to relieve fatigue is to put both feet down and stand up off the seat at stoplights/ stop signs. When you do this, try shaking your legs or hopping on your heels. It relieves stiffness, helps circulation and entertains nearby drivers!