Learner bike for tall bloke

Lainie · Post by **Lainie** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:11 pm

You all make me sick

, stop rubbing it in

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:12 pm

Quick_Stix wrote:HHHmmm that KLR650 is a nice lookn bike.....

To someone who doesn't know much about bikes, possibly. Once you start learning about what makes an appealing design, you start going, "My, that front disc looks kinda small", "those are some pretty spindly forks", "could that 650cc engine be any bigger, given the power it makes", "not much to that swingarm, is there" and so on.

The KLR started in 1984 and it hasn't changed much. For the specific job it was built for, overlanding on a budget, there are better options out there; Honda XR650R, Yamaha TT600R and XT600, even the Suzuki DR650... there are reasons any of those four outsell the KLR by a massive margin.

If you're set on a sporty bike, learn to function on something like a ZXR250. Like anything else, it's not going to feel natural the first few times you try it. Finding one in Sydney will be a piece of piss; the advantage with them is that there are a fair few new-build examples around from the batches brought in from Malaysia in 2003 and 2004. They'll be the bikes with the gunmetal bodywork and the dark frames.

Blue14 · Post by **Blue14** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:20 pm

I am the same height as you and the zzr was as comfy as a little bike could be. Cbr's and so on are just way to small..

mick_dundee · Post by **mick_dundee** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:39 pm

red_dave wrote:ER-5 mate...

Naked and you wont look like a circus freak...

Do you know what this guy looks like Dave?? He might already be a circus freak with or without a motorbike

mick_dundee · Post by **mick_dundee** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:45 pm

Givan that you're in NSW it might pay to look at one of the LAMS bikes, ie a 650 or a 600 or so even. You can sus the list of "approved" motorcycles here http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/tes ... riders.htm or of course you can do what PLENTY of others do and ride something not on the LAMS list and hope you don't get caught, this isn't a recommendation mind you, just an option

Quick_Stix · Post by **Quick_Stix** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:04 am

mick_dundee wrote:Givan that you're in NSW it might pay to look at one of the LAMS bikes, ie a 650 or a 600 or so even. You can sus the list of "approved" motorcycles here http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/tes ... riders.htm or of course you can do what PLENTY of others do and ride something not on the LAMS list and hope you don't get caught, this isn't a recommendation mind you, just an option

Thanks for all the help guys. Yeah I look like a circus freak enough already without the help of a midget bike

If I can find a cheap GS I might try that. I dont mind the Hyosung either, but probably just go the 250...if I can find one

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:08 am

I think the trick with this is to get in nd out of the LAMS thingo as cheaply as you can...

Buy something cheap to get you through it, sell it and spend the money on a bigger bike that suits you...

I'm 6'1" and rode a 250 for a while...

Almost everyone has had to do it.

WRT_GPX · Post by **WRT_GPX** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:27 am

just a warning, zzr's are comfy but theyre alot lower / flatter ive found than my GPX. But the GPX has an annoying habbit that the tank loves to dig into your crotch.

but im 6'2 and the GPX is fine on normal riding.

Quick_Stix · Post by **Quick_Stix** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:35 am

I've heard that with the GPX for riders much over 65 - 70kgs its a good idea to replace the rear shock with an adjustable one from the ZZR. Is this right?

Jennysc · Post by **Jennysc** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:08 am

Don't forget to put some pics up when you get the bike, so we can all have a good laugh

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:25 am

Jennysc wrote:Don't forget to put some pics up when you get the bike, so we can all have a good laugh

"Here, look. No chance of me ever dropping this at a standstill, is there; hehe."

gray_rm · Post by **gray_rm** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:27 pm

I'm 6'2" and, kitted, about 95kg.
I had a ZZR250 and it fitted OK - I don't *think* I looked like a goose, but then I didn't give a sh1t.

Dark_Angel · Post by **Dark_Angel** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:32 pm

have u tried the ZX2R – A model? they sit a bit higher than the C model and the cbr250.

why don’t u try the 600 – learner legal bikes? maybe?

mmamster · Post by **mmamster** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:32 pm

I had a ZZR250 at 6'0" and 100kg+, it went OK and was roomy. I found the CBR250R/RRs too small. I'd also check out the biiger than 250 LAMS bikes. I found 250 too small in the long run.

kypez · Post by **kypez** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:24 am

when on the zzr250, I was 144kilos at 6'2". Even then it was pretty comfy. Poor bike, lugged me around for 15 months (and my girl friend who was small enough to keep us on the 190 kilo limit) I'd go the ZZR, the GPX feels (from memory) a little cramped... CBR's are wayyyy toooo smalll...