A dilemma I don't need - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

NCxM50 · 07-15-2008, 01:03 PM

So, i've been racking up the miles on the M50, and loving it for the most part, only a few small gripes have come up. First, with my feet so far forward and no real foward lean, ALL my weight seems to be on my tailbone, and i get an aching lower back before long. It's nothing severe, but I wonder how bad it might get on longer trips, especially since I've got a ride to MA planned for the end of the summer. Otherwise, I've been having a grand time.

Anyhow, today has created a dilemma. There are a handful of guys here that ride, but today only 3 of us rode in because of "potential showers" later in the day. So the 3 of us decide to go to lunch together and ride out to the beach for BBQ. I'm on the M50, the other guys are riding an R1 and a Dyna Wide Glide. The ride is about 20 minutes, 5 minutes city, 5 highway, 10 city. We more or less stroll there, get our food, and pack it in the saddlebags on the HD and the guy on the R1 says he's never ridden a HD before, he hates to ask, but will the other guy swap bikes for the ride back. The guy on the Harley says he's got no problem letting him ride it, but he can't ride the R1, he has back problems, etc. So I volunteer to ride the R1 if my M is ok for his back. He agrees, and we ride back.
OK, so I won't get into just how fun that bike was, thats a side bar. What really go me was that it was actually comfortable! No back pain, my weight was pretty distributed between my legs, my arms and my tail. Over bumps I was actually able to lift myself slightly with just a quick flex of the legs. The only issue I had was that my wrists weren't used to that kind of weight on them.
So, in my mid 30's with all manner of sore joints from sports in my younger days, I'd completely written off sport bikes initially as uncomfortable (ok, stupid I know to have done so without at least trying, but lets be honest, getting on an R1 with no real riding experience would have gotten me killed) Now I'm starting to question that, and I've got a few questions, particularly for those on sportbikes, or sporty standards.

1. ergonomics is #1. At my age (36) I'm no old man, but I'm no kid anymore either. I want something thats comfortable long distance. I already know the R1 is fine for a 20 minute ride, but has anyone ridden an R class bike long distance, and how was the comfort level (and of course, which bike was it?) And do we have any "older" riders of sport bikes? And by older, I really just mean anyone 35+. What do you think of the ergos?

2. baggage. My vacation days this year were planned out, but i'm getting in one long distance ride later in the year, and I'm hoping for at least 2 next year, maybe 3 since I get another weeks vacation. I know I can get luggage galore for the M, but what about sport bikes? There doesn't seem to be room for much more than a tank bag and a small seat bag on the back...

3. Passenger comfort. My wife won't ride much, but I know her well enough to know that evntually she'll climb on and go for a ride. When she does, I'd like it to be comfortable enough that she'll be willing to do it again. How is the seating on the sport bikes? How are the aftermarket seats?

4. Upkeep. I'm handy with a wrench, but I'm no grease monkey. I changed the oil on the M, and the final drive oil. What kind of maintenance can I expect to be able to handle on my own, and what am I going to have to head to the shop for 9and what can I expect to spend?) This is just maintenance btw, I'm not talking about actual repairs or breakfix stuff.

I know I keep referring to "sportbikes" but I'm also curious to know if anyone can tell me which standards have some forward lean to them in the seating (that forward lean put just enough stretch on my lower back to actually feel kinda good compared to the cruiser) And before someone says it, yes, I'll be going to dealerships and doing the annoying bike to bike seating game, but even then, it's not the same unless you're moving, and in this area, very few dealers provide test rides, and I wouldn't do that until I'm ready to buy anyways.

As for the type of riding I do, I commute 60 miles each way to/from work, and I don't have a problem riding in the rain. I do about 50% backroads, 40% highway, 10% city. I also try to sneak out early saturday mornings for a country ride anywhere from 40 miles to 200 miles (longest so far) of almost entirely country roads. I love the curves, but I'm also a recovering acceleration addict

I used to drag race in my youth on the track and the street until I was 22 (kids + marriage = slow down). The R class bikes scare me a little in that regard, because if I'm on one, I'm not going to go hyperspeed because I don't care for tickets, but I know I'll use every ounce or acceleration to get to cruising speed as quickly as possible.

And last but not least, I'm open to any and all advice about sport bikes/sporty standards. Realistically, I won't even go into a shop and look to actually buy until january/february next year, but in the meantime, I'd like to start gathering as much information as I possibly can regarding my options.