250r physically too small for me?

[dimeified]

I took my 250r out for the first time this year today, this will be my second season riding. Now im not saying i need a "faster" bike by any means, the bike has plenty of power for my tastes. But when I went for a ride on 287 back up to my condo from my parents house, it felt unsafe, because the bike felt physically small. I'm about 6'2, 170lbs. When my butt is back and my stomach is on the gas tank, my elbows are below my knees. If i bought a bigger bike, would the physical size difference be significant? Or will I just get more power (which i don't necessarily want)?

[ScraitT]

I'd imagine something like a 650r (or En6r or versys) thats a little more sit up then the ninja and a little larger bike might be more comfortable.

Best thing to do would be to find a dealership and sit on a few and see how they feel in comparison to the 250. First hand experience and knowledge will go much further then anyones advice on here.

[DEXSPEED]

you probably need clip-on's,rear set adjuster's to stretch you out a bit on the bike.just search the subject in the forums if you are interested.

[noche_caliente]

Nick is much taller than me and laughs when he gets on my bike, as I have it lowered, but he's put clip ons and rear sets on his and it is a great fit for him. You might send him a PM njd022588 and ask about his set up

[Mista Bob]

I dunno... maybe it's just me but I can't imagine clip ons and rear sets doing anything to make the bike more comfy for a taller person.
If anything worse?

[ninjabadger]

I would imagine many of the bigger sportbikes (GSXR, CBR, ZX) have even more aggressive riding positions designed around flyweight 5'8" folks like Nick Ienatsch (or the "average" male height)

[CC Cowboy]

You need a Harley. Twice as big and the same performance.

[capt_bugaloo]

Might want to look at a dual-purpose, or something like a Versys or F650.

[Yoda]

I kind of agree with Dex, try adjusting things see if it works better.

Personally I need to find a setting to work with the tendonitis in my right hand, other then that had to train myself to keep weight off my hands again and get comfortable. Till that happens Im still slowing down for curves and such to keep things in my comfort zone.

[Mista Bob]

Originally Posted by ninjabadger

I would imagine many of the bigger sportbikes (GSXR, CBR, ZX) have even more aggressive riding positions designed around flyweight 5'8" folks like Nick Ienatsch (or the "average" male height)

The position is more aggressive yes, but they aren't as physically cramped as the 250.
My 600's riding position is far more aggressive then the 250 and yet I find it a lot more comfortable, and I'm less than an inch shorter then the guy who started the topic.

[laraider]

im 5'10" 220lbs and the ninjette handle me well...

[ninjabrewer]

Originally Posted by ScraitT

Best thing to do would be to find a dealership and sit on a few and see how they feel in comparison to the 250. First hand experience and knowledge will go much further then anyones advice on here.

The only suggestion other than the one above is too find more than one, sit on as many bikes as you can find, take them for a ride if can, if you are able to, go to one of the bike shows where there is a lot of manufacturers showing their wares and some have test rides.

my

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[SteveL]

You will not find much difference in riding position on a bigger bike apart from the 125cc bikes they are all much the same built for mister average. If you need more room then rear sets are a good start, I have no more leg room on my GSX than I did on my 250R.

Steve

[Flashmonkey]

This question varies. It all depends on what you're willing to live with, really. I got a bigger bike that fits me better...with luggage on. Without luggage the 250 was fine.

I've sat on a couple of different bikes with this question in mind. The 650r is pretty good. You may want to look at that bike. The versys....was weird. Some people like it but the foot peg position was a little too forward for my liking. Other options include the Ninja 500 or the fz6. I like the older models better, personally.

As for a sportbike...well...given your height, I'm not sure how comfortable you'll be on one of those. They're not much larger than the 250...and the pegs are up higher. If you do go this route, I'd suggest going with an older model CBR (F3-F4 perhaps) or an old gixxer SRAD, as those are reputed to have HUGE seats. Definitely go to a shop that has both new and used and sit on everything if you're considering a replacement bike.

[g21-30]

I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs with the Buell lowered pegs (1") and the bike fits me perfectly. My legs fit in the gas tank indentations, which they didn't do with the factory front pegs.

Check this out:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17572

[rockNroll]

I'm 6' 195lbs. The 250 has your ass too close to the controls and the shape of the seat tries to keep you up against the tank, which makes it worse. My cbr1000rr was far more aggressive in positioning (the ninja is pretty much straight up n down compared to what I'm used to) but the cbr had more room.

[dimeified]

Originally Posted by g21-30

I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs with the Buell lowered pegs (1") and the bike fits me perfectly. My legs fit in the gas tank indentations, which they didn't do with the factory front pegs.

Check this out:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17572

this is a really cool idea, i'm going to look into this, thanks!

[Angel-be-Good]

Your stomach is on the gas tank? Might want to adjust how you're sitting...

My buddy is about your height, probably 190 and he rocks an '09 250. Never complained about the size.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Mista Bob

I dunno... maybe it's just me but I can't imagine clip ons and rear sets doing anything to make the bike more comfy for a taller person.
If anything worse?

Clip-ons move the bars farther from you... down and away = more room

Rearsets move your feet back and therefore rotate your knees down = more room

[Mista Bob]

But generally rear sets also move the foot peg higher up don't they?

And the clip ons may move the bars further away from you... but that's just going to make you lean over more, which isn't what I'd call a more comfortable solution, especially as a taller person.
Or at least in my opinion anyways

[dimeified]

when you hit 70mph on route 287 it helps to have your head and torso low and your butt back in the seat. the last few days i've tried to sit the natural 250r riding position and although i was much more comfortable for the duration of the ride, i didnt like it as much due to the 70mph jetstream of air blasting me around. i feel like the bike is more controlled when i am down low.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by Mista Bob

But generally rear sets also move the foot peg higher up don't they?

And the clip ons may move the bars further away from you... but that's just going to make you lean over more, which isn't what I'd call a more comfortable solution, especially as a taller person.
Or at least in my opinion anyways

You could try a set of footpeg adjuster plates from Cycle Control. They move the pegs back but have mount holes almost as low as stock. As for clip-ons, the rationale is that tall people have proportionally longer arms. So, lower bars allow you to sit up but still reach the bars with less elbow bend.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by dimeified

when you hit 70mph on route 287 it helps to have your head and torso low and your butt back in the seat. the last few days i've tried to sit the natural 250r riding position and although i was much more comfortable for the duration of the ride, i didnt like it as much due to the 70mph jetstream of air blasting me around. i feel like the bike is more controlled when i am down low.

I routinely change my position, especially on the highway. Sitting in just one position for too long is a sure way to get sore. This strategy kept me very comfortable on last summer's 2400 mile tour.

Tucking on the highway has a side benefit. Your torso is a huge air brake. Get down out of the wind and it gives the bike more power for acceleration and passing. The reverse is also true.... sit up as you approach the exit and begin your downshifts, and the bike slows very nicely and under control without using the brakes.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by tapdiggy

You could try a set of footpeg adjuster plates from Cycle Control. They move the pegs back but have mount holes almost as low as stock. As for clip-ons, the rationale is that tall people have proportionally longer arms. So, lower bars allow you to sit up but still reach the bars with less elbow bend.

Another (FREE) thing you might try is putting your toes on the pegs and see how it feels. If you look closely at where the pegs wind up with rearsets installed, I think you'll find that they're more or less where your instep is when your toes are on the stock pegs.

So broadly speaking, toes on stock pegs = same foot and leg position as instep on rearsets.

[Mista Bob]

Originally Posted by tapdiggy

You could try a set of footpeg adjuster plates from Cycle Control. They move the pegs back but have mount holes almost as low as stock. As for clip-ons, the rationale is that tall people have proportionally longer arms. So, lower bars allow you to sit up but still reach the bars with less elbow bend.

Well, I'm tall and I know clip-ons would have just made things more uncomfortable on the 250 for me.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by Mista Bob

Well, I'm tall and I know clip-ons would have just made things more uncomfortable on the 250 for me.

Okey-dokey

[adouglas]

That right there is what you call a "preconceived notion."

How do you know unless you try?

You've been given two options, one of which is way less than a set of actual rearsets and the other of which costs you precisely nothing.

I'm considerably older than the average forum member at 50. The most valuable thing I've learned as I age is that I do not, in fact, know everything.

These days I'm more open to trying things out even if I think they won't work and judging based on actual observation instead of lemming-like groupthink, political or marketing hype, or so-called "conventional wisdom." My willingness to admit that my ideas might in fact be wrong has led me in some very interesting directions.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by adouglas

That right there is what you call a "preconceived notion."

How do you know unless you try?

You've been given two options, one of which is way less than a set of actual rearsets and the other of which costs you precisely nothing.

I'm considerably older than the average forum member at 50. The most valuable thing I've learned as I age is that I do not, in fact, know everything.

These days I'm more open to trying things out even if I think they won't work and judging based on actual observation instead of lemming-like groupthink, political or marketing hype, or so-called "conventional wisdom." My willingness to admit that my ideas might in fact be wrong has led me in some very interesting directions.

I don't know Andrew, Mista might be right. I'm 5'7", which is not "tall," and clip-ons and adjusters worked for me. They couldn't possibly work for the Nordic types among us.

[Mista Bob]

Originally Posted by adouglas

That right there is what you call a "preconceived notion."

How do you know unless you try?

You've been given two options, one of which is way less than a set of actual rearsets and the other of which costs you precisely nothing.

I'm considerably older than the average forum member at 50. The most valuable thing I've learned as I age is that I do not, in fact, know everything.

These days I'm more open to trying things out even if I think they won't work and judging based on actual observation instead of lemming-like groupthink, political or marketing hype, or so-called "conventional wisdom." My willingness to admit that my ideas might in fact be wrong has led me in some very interesting directions.

And how tall are you?

I'm approximately half an inch shorter then the original poster and I've rode around on the 250 plenty, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how beneficial some changes may or may not be.
Lowering the handle bars being one of those changes. All that would result in is having to hunch over more when riding the bike, tell me how that would be more comfortable?

As tapdiggy previously said, tall people of course have proportionally longer arms.
But are you forgetting about our backs?

None of these things you are mentioning (clip ons and rear sets) are going to fix the problems the OP mentioned in his post.

Clip ons will only make what he described when tucking in worse, as it won't just be the elbows but even more of his arms by his knees instead.
Rear sets could possibly get his knees out of the way a tiny bit, but it's not going to completely solve the problem the OP described (assuming it works for him).
And it most certainly isn't going to magically change the fact that the Ninja 250 is a physically small bike that is cramped for taller riders.

Maybe you should think first before calling me close minded?

[tapdiggy]

Mista, I am not starting a post fight here, so let me clarify my original post. I was suggesting the adjusters on their own, with stock handlebars, because the OP was saying his elbows were below his knees in a tuck. Moving the footpegs rearward would get his knees out of the way of his elbows a bit with stock handlebars. As for the part about the application of clip-ons for tall people, I was responding to your opinion with a different perspective. So if there are no objections:

[adouglas]

I'm not saying anyone's wrong, and no, I didn't call you close-minded. What I said is that you don't actually know the answer unless you try. You're confident that your expected answer is in fact what you'd find by direct experience, but that is not the same thing as actual first-hand knowledge.

What I am saying is that being willing to try something different simply to see if your assumptions are correct is often surprisingly instructive. Even confirming your assumptions is valuable because it proves that you're on track. The important part is that you're trying to establish the fact of the matter.

The best question a person can ask is "Why?"
The best answer to that question is "Gee, I don't know... let's find out!"

Gotta ask, though... No disrespect, but if you're so absolutely sure about what will and will not be comfortable for a person your size without actually trying any options, then why did you buy such a small bike in the first place?

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by adouglas

The best question a person can ask is "Why?"
The best answer to that question is "Gee, I don't know... let's find out!"
[/I]

Answer: Why not

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Answer: Why not

Answer: Because!

[Mista Bob]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Gotta ask, though... No disrespect, but if you're so absolutely sure about what will and will not be comfortable for a person your size without actually trying any options, then why did you buy such a small bike in the first place?

A few reasons, mainly it being my very first bike.
Price was very good especially for one with such low mileage and it felt alright when sitting on it at the dealership. Didn't test ride it as I had only ridden off road and in parking lots previously at the time...plus who knows if the dealer would even let me.

It's not until about 100-150 km's of riding that my knees start to cramp up big time on the bike.
Which is mainly why I ended up selling it.