coffee_brake
Well-Known Member
I can't get this bike to fit me. I'm undecided between hiring a welder and selling it. The mods I need would likely be more than I have to spend.
I traded my Harley FXDX for this Vmax; I definately traded up. The Dyna, the most sporting model in the Harley lineup, was not only slow, but also I just couldn't stand the riding position any more. There were no rearsets for the Dyna and I can't stand my knees in front of me anymore. I just have to keep my feet under my hips, not out front. A sport-riding position, if you will. For what it's worth, the most comfortable bike I ever rode was a 1st-gen Bandit. Second is my own Concours (bought new in '06, 50k miles).
On my '02 Vmax I got first a used Corbin seat and then Boxenstopp's rearsets, the ones that put my feet furthest back. That much is very good, my weight is where I want it. But that left the stock handlebars which are not compatible with rearsets. Too high and too much pullback, I feel like my spine is shaped like a trained seal when I ride.
I got lucky and scored a set of 43mm clip-ons on Ebay for a song. I LOVED the way it felt while underway, but it was too much weight on my wrists and I couldn't see crap out of either the stock mirrors or bar-ends. What I liked was how far forward the clip-ons put me. What I hated was how far down they put me, because I couldn't turn my head.
Then just for shits and giggles I bought some galvanized pipe from Lowes and made broomstick bars. Nope, wrists can't handle that angle. So I put them in the vise and heated them and bent them to have zero rise and just enough pullback to put my wrists at a natural angle.
But it's too much like stock, still feel like my spine is curved up to reach the bars.
Then I tried a set of clubman bars, they have too much downward angle and were actually painful.
What else is there? Both the drag bars and the Superbike bars have the same problem. Maybe some Z bars?
I do like the bike a lot, I like the way the engine pulls and sounds, and I'm proud of my home-done pink paint job and polished scoops. Quite frankly I think I rode it best with the clip-ons, but how can I call it a good street bike if I can't see out the mirrors or raise myself high enough to do a head-check?
I have no car, I ride year-round. I have a good touring bike. I have a good commuter. This third bike, the Vmax, is supposed to be "cool" and fun. But the more I try to make it fit me, the more it fails. I feel like I'm repeating the story of the Harley.
Any suggestions? Should I have custom bars made for the aluminum clip-ons? I'm not in a place to spend much more on it. Otherwise I'm happy, the bike runs well and can carry enough to go camping, and the local sportbikers mind their manners when they see me on it. Cruisers don't even bother getting near it. Heck it's not even a fast Vmax, but it's fast enough for me...but it's literally a pain to ride.
I traded my Harley FXDX for this Vmax; I definately traded up. The Dyna, the most sporting model in the Harley lineup, was not only slow, but also I just couldn't stand the riding position any more. There were no rearsets for the Dyna and I can't stand my knees in front of me anymore. I just have to keep my feet under my hips, not out front. A sport-riding position, if you will. For what it's worth, the most comfortable bike I ever rode was a 1st-gen Bandit. Second is my own Concours (bought new in '06, 50k miles).
On my '02 Vmax I got first a used Corbin seat and then Boxenstopp's rearsets, the ones that put my feet furthest back. That much is very good, my weight is where I want it. But that left the stock handlebars which are not compatible with rearsets. Too high and too much pullback, I feel like my spine is shaped like a trained seal when I ride.
I got lucky and scored a set of 43mm clip-ons on Ebay for a song. I LOVED the way it felt while underway, but it was too much weight on my wrists and I couldn't see crap out of either the stock mirrors or bar-ends. What I liked was how far forward the clip-ons put me. What I hated was how far down they put me, because I couldn't turn my head.
Then just for shits and giggles I bought some galvanized pipe from Lowes and made broomstick bars. Nope, wrists can't handle that angle. So I put them in the vise and heated them and bent them to have zero rise and just enough pullback to put my wrists at a natural angle.
But it's too much like stock, still feel like my spine is curved up to reach the bars.
Then I tried a set of clubman bars, they have too much downward angle and were actually painful.
What else is there? Both the drag bars and the Superbike bars have the same problem. Maybe some Z bars?
I do like the bike a lot, I like the way the engine pulls and sounds, and I'm proud of my home-done pink paint job and polished scoops. Quite frankly I think I rode it best with the clip-ons, but how can I call it a good street bike if I can't see out the mirrors or raise myself high enough to do a head-check?
I have no car, I ride year-round. I have a good touring bike. I have a good commuter. This third bike, the Vmax, is supposed to be "cool" and fun. But the more I try to make it fit me, the more it fails. I feel like I'm repeating the story of the Harley.
Any suggestions? Should I have custom bars made for the aluminum clip-ons? I'm not in a place to spend much more on it. Otherwise I'm happy, the bike runs well and can carry enough to go camping, and the local sportbikers mind their manners when they see me on it. Cruisers don't even bother getting near it. Heck it's not even a fast Vmax, but it's fast enough for me...but it's literally a pain to ride.
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