Anybody else just can't get comfortable?

[zman]

I know of three other F6B board members who now ride and love their Russell Daylong saddles and I suppose there are a few more out there. Also quite a few VTX owners on my forum ride a Daylong. If I'm going more then a 100 miles I will ride no other.

I to have some physical issues like some of you old guys(I'm 65). I broke my neck in 2002 an have bone grafts and a titanium X brace holding it all together at the c4/c5 then in 2005 I had my chest crushed (lost conformity) and left shoulder ripped apart causing nerve damage(can't lift left arm more than chest high now) in a "no brakes" 750 foot ride off a 45 degree slope, then over a cliff. I had the 14 ton piece of equipment I was operating roll over on me causing the issues, so you see I demand and must have comfort when I ride and a custom fitted Daylong fills the bill. You can read all about the accident with a few pic here http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=11591


I have a Daylong on my F6B, VTX1800 "C", 2004 Rune and having one made for my 2009 KLR 650 this winter. I do not run one on my turbo X as I only ride it 100 miles or less a day, but boy is it a fast 100 miles.

+1 I just got my RDL last week. What a difference!! I rode 74k on an Ultimate on my VTX1800C but I like the RDL mucho better.

[Navvet]

6' 6" , 300lbs (on a good day), 36/37" inseam .... Stock seat with an AirHawk for longer rides, Utopia backrest, Comfort controls by Roadsmith, Honda tall windshield .... Works well for me.

I am considering moving the handle bars some, still get a little tingle in my left shoulder after a few hundred miles ...

[Brian D]

6ft3 230-235 depends on how much pizza the night before. Can't get comfy on this bike at all. I love this bike but it's gone after this riding season. Don't know for sure what I'm getting yet but im not willing to dump money into this bike and hope to get more comfortable. My local yamaha dealer told me that yamaha is coming out with a whole new big cc ------r line. I also sat on the bmw k1600 and r1200rt and both were pretty comfy. Who knows... but I do know I'm giving alot of thought on my next bike.

[tozco]

I'm with you on that Brian. But I'm thinking about jumping ship sooner than later. The question is what to buy?
Most all bikes feel cramped to me except Victories, but after owning two of them I'm not going back. The fit and finish has steadily declined on them and the transmission is atrocious.
The Honda was a real leap for me, because I was never attracted to the looks or sound or the extreme level of refinement. But I thought I was going to rip off 500 mile backroad days (not the same a highway miles) in comfort on it. The thing is absolutely nowhere near comfortable for my body. So I'm left with a bike that just isn't working for me, and I'm shopping around.

[Old Ryder]

I'm with you on that Brian. But I'm thinking about jumping ship sooner than later. The question is what to buy?
Most all bikes feel cramped to me except Victories, but after owning two of them I'm not going back. The fit and finish has steadily declined on them and the transmission is atrocious.
The Honda was a real leap for me, because I was never attracted to the looks or sound or the extreme level of refinement. But I thought I was going to rip off 500 mile backroad days (not the same a highway miles) in comfort on it. The thing is absolutely nowhere near comfortable for my body. So I'm left with a bike that just isn't working for me, and I'm shopping around.

If I were thinking like you----



Indian. I was impressed with the Dark Horse or Vintage at the demo ride in Daytona. Hi quality and great ride. Dealer network would be a serious concern to me, so it depends what you have close by.

[ths61]

..., so it depends what you have close by.

And how long the local dealer will last. We had 3 Victory dealers come and go in our area leaving their customers without support (with the interim dealers not having competently trained Victory wrenches).

[Old Ryder]

And how long the local dealer will last. We had 3 Victory dealers come and go in our area leaving their customers without support (with the interim dealers not having competently trained Victory wrenches).

I did not say Victory---it is the Victory dealers fault that I am on the B today. The Indian dealer network is growing like crazy and they cannot build them bikes fast enough. A dealer franchise is a quarter mil to start and it cannot have other bikes on the same floor. And they are growing.

Indian will be here to stay---Not so sure about the Vic.

[tozco]

I won't do another Vic or an Indian for that matter. I'm just not impressed with the support from Polaris. Regarding the gut, I'm in way above average shape for my age. I have a large frame and size 13D feet. My arms are big, my shoulders are wide, etc. My gut is trim. I am an avid cyclist.
Problem with the Honda for me is cramped feet, close together bars, bent knees, not good for me. What is good is the large flat seat, it's great and it threw me off when testing. I equated a large seat with roominess, but boy was I wrong. I put 9300 miles, all back roads, no interstate riding in just under the year I've had it. I think I've given myself time to acclimate. I did put better pegs and risers, an inch here or there isn't fixing what's wrong for me.

[luckyluciano]

If I were thinking like you----



Indian. I was impressed with the Dark Horse or Vintage at the demo ride in Daytona. Hi quality and great ride. Dealer network would be a serious concern to me, so it depends what you have close by.

OMG, I rode the Indians. Gutless pieces of art. That's about it.

[adventurous1]

Here's my .02 w/ similar screwed up body parts;

6' 2" here w/ 36" inseam also w/ 2 herniated discs - AND 27 yrs ago 3 lower back disc fusion (6 screws attached then taken out) as well as portions of 3 ribs cut off - and a shoulder replacement 7 years ago. humpty dumpty fall off the wall. lol As Nick Nolte kinda said in North Dallas Forty, 'different parts of my body wake up at different times'.

Yes, a tad difficult getting used to but acclimating quickly and seems better and better with each ride. So, for leg comfort, I've added the roadsmith lowering kit, kuryakyn mini-floorboards, kuryakyn ergo III's, and Ultimate KIng - and it helps a lot. Getting used to riding in the B's normal position more and more especially with the roadsmith kit. Anything after 4 gear, I"m on the ergo III's. The fairing thing does bug the shit out of me and I do miss the enjoyment of stretching out in the normal position of my V-twin HOWEVER,- I definitely DO NOT feel beat up after riding 400 miles. It would have been nice if Honda would have went the BMW 1600 route with an in-line 6, but the GW 6 is bullet proof and very proven so there's no need for them to change out for a few tall guys.

In 2nd week of June, I'll be doing my first 3K, 8 day trip - (Hollywood to Sedona to Moab to Park City to Salt Lake City, back to Moab, to Zion to N.Rim Grnd Cyn, to Mesquite to Vegas back to Hollywood) w/ two different BBBC's (Big Breasted Blonde Companions) passengers along the way. Plan on putting 15-20 K miles the B this summer and fall. Giving this bike 1 yr hopefully it's everything I desire, 'cuz I do not wish to go back to a V-twin. If I do, it would be an Indian. Or may a BWM 1600.

I'll be 58 this summer, and God willing, I'm able to ride until I'm 75. That's not 17 yrs - that's ONLY 17 summers remaining - so I want to thoroughly enjoy each one of 'em - and I'd like this bike to be my last touring bike.