this thread is going places - free bump for it

 

"Riding style"? Meaning what?

Are you talking about body positioning? I don't think it's different because you're a bigger guy. You can still hang off the bike the same as smaller guys. Centrifugal force holds you in place. Make sure to keep your weight off of your arms.

You might wanna consider getting your bike resprung for your weight.

 

I do a little track riding, I have yet to find any disadvantage to being a bigger guy. Im 5'9 240, just go have fun, its all in what you make of it.

EDIT: Getting atleast the shock resprung is a good idea, as you can see I pretty much kill the stock one.

 

Body positioning might not be much different. But, when it comes to shifting your weight, it's a little different. Best thing one can do is start to work out and drop weight. You're going to need the leg strength and stamina.

 

I dont really consider myself to be a FAT guy, I have linemen build, I lift weights everyday and try to do as much running as I can, I have a very strong lower body hence the linemen part in college. I have been doing p90x so for Ive dropped 20 lbs and my target goal is around 215lbs. I have noticed that I tend to float on the back seat, when im doing a lot corning.

 

Float on the BACK seat? I'd like to see what you mean by that.

Your legs definitely need to hold your weight when you're cornering. Many race-bikes don't even have "seats", they might have a little foam where the seat normally would be.

 

I think he meant to say he floats on the back of the seat...

 

just dont let your weight become an anchor on your hands and wrists. keep all your weight transfered in your legs. N def setup the bike for your weight, your not at a mammoths weight at 240, but they def dont come stock setup for that. shit even 200 pounders need to make adjustments from most factory setups.

 

I'm in the same weight category, I weigh 235, and I do agree with above said.
Keep your weight on your legs...

...I've done nothing to suspension other standard stiffening settings to max and one back!

 

This tread hits very close to home. I am 6 2" and weigh about 240 also. I have an 09 R1. The very first thing I did was have the suspension setup properly for me. I have been to two different riding schools and love track days. I know exactly what you mean by floating on the seat.I'm in pretty good shape and although you are not supposed to actually sit on the seat, after a while your lower body gets a little tired and on a straight you might have a tendency to put your rear end down. That's when I find it most difficult to remain in the ideal position on the seat for me. Tech grips definitely made a huge difference and I also have my rearsets down and as far back as possible.

 

Tech grips?

 

TechSpec Tank Grips
http://www.techspec-usa.com/

 

+1 on the tank grips. i also move my rearsets all the way up to keep my knees right on the tankgrips. its a really good anchor point when cornering that way ur arms stay as light as a feather. 6'4 230 as well

 

yeah im 6'2 240 fully geared, im constantly playing with the suspension but i think i will need to really change the spring rate on the rear as i chew the back tyre squatting out and into turns.

 

i'm 6'3" 248 and i'm ordering a rear spring and prolly fork springs too for the 06 i'm picking up. Love doing track days and it should make it a lot easier with correct spring weight. Gonne gat adjustable rearsets also to move the pegs back and up.

 

I'm more interested in how you guys achieve "full tuck" when going down a straight. I'm not the biggest in the group by any means at 6'3" 220 but I just can't get down into the correct position. My butt is all the way back and I'm flat on the tank but my body just won't let me get down there.

 

You need to work on your flexability. It takes time, but it's relatively fast. A lot of it has to do with your core strenght. Next time your ole lady goes to yoga, go with her.

 

track

PM Goobr. He is a big boy but one of the fastest riders at the track. Like a big bowling ball going around the track. Check the Venom Squadron open chat forum for him. Goobr is around 6 feet but probably pushing 300. I am 6' 2" 260 w/o leathers and gear. Athletic build with square shoulders. I played a lot of sports too. Track will definitely test your leg (quads) endurance. I found once I went from novice to intermediate though it wasn't as bad. Guess I was sandbagging a little in novice. I still have stock spring and forks even though in the garage I have Ohlins waiting to be put on. Nothing better than the track to learn about you and your bike though. Where do you live. If you can get to a trackday event that DanQ is gonna be at he is an expert at suspension. He can give you some help there. He travels around the SE riding track weekends. I just did the Forum Memorial Track Weekend at Jennings and I can say it was the best track experience I have ever had. I have done some other track time but this was amazing. You can find that thread too and read some stuff there dating from March 7th on. You will see how close we all became in just two days. The members on this forum are a great set of people and all willing to help. Good luck and if anyone needs anything, feel free to Private Message me.

Phil

 

im 6'5'' 220.. i wish i could upload better pics/ track day pics but they are all too big to upload and i dont know how to resize pictures yet, just switched to a mac and im still figuring out the simple things. also see my profile picture another example of riding style of a "bigger people"

 

Goobr gives me hope! I'm 6'2 325. My bike is my therapy though. Saving up for a track day!

 

ya im 6'2, 300 odd pounds (145kg's) suspension wise its as i picked it up, iv adjusted the front clickers to make it a little stiffer, and rear is unchanged, i might try finding out wat weight spring is on the rear, i dare say ill have to change it, not sure wich way though, as i dont realy ride track as we dont have one, but im starting to drag race it,

i can tuck pretty well, just my head that sticks up a little as i have a bad neck

heres me, not realy doing anything special, but this is how i am on the bike, only tuck while hitting warp speed, i make the other racers look like skinny bastards

*edit* incase your wondering, im the red piggy in the middle

 

Hey Im 6'1 260ish....suspetion work is a must!!!! Also finding gear that fits right, was close to imposible this year we started selling Heroic, tons of stock option then Todds full customs suits!!!

 

I went to Heroic's website...they supposedly make custom suits, but when you click "custom suits" it gives you a blank page. :dundun:

 

Can you post a link to Todds Custom Leathers? How much were they? The only thing I could find similar was Z leathers which do custom suits but there are no prices on their website.

 

There is something defintelly wrong with the color of your leathers <scratch head>

:bash

This is how big guys do corners



All you need is a kick-ass Fazer, a pair of clipons and remove the feelers from the pegs. Then you are game



1.84m tall + less than 90kilos fully geared

 

this thread should be a sticky!

Now I am a big guy as well 5'9" and 240 lbs rider w/o leathers. I still have to play around with my stock suspension, and get static sag right. What leathers are you guys using? I'm about to order a new 1pc suit, (currently have 2 pc suits). I have squared shoulders, and a bit thick around the belly =)

 

I ordered a "custom suit from Pilot. Very nice and you can make them as custom as you want. They have stock sizes that you can try on and can make minor adjutment to them, or you can go full custom where you supply them with all your measurements and they make up exactly what you need. The Stock one pieces are about 850.00 dollars and the Custom is around 1250.00. You can go to their website at www.pilotusa.com

 

as a bigger/taller rider, don't you feel top heavy as you go into the corner and at the apex? coming out of it I can understand the difference in feeling because of the power transition, but that initial lean in is sketchy to me.

 

I don't. But I get pretty low on the bike. I spent a year or two working out balancing my position with my chassis. But as you get faster it will change.

 

Great info here. I'm about to start making my bike into a track only ride. I'm 6'0' 300lbs. working on losing some pounds but my target is around 260. I'm not fat, I'm big boned:sing: Suspension is gonna be my first thing.

 

Im 6'3 230, and the tips on here were well worth the read, thanks to everybody that posted. This forum keeps filling me in on little things I've been missing out on.