Maximum Comfort suggestions (with the obligatory anecdote)

Oh great and noble Kings of the Road, I seek your wisdom yet again.

**I'm going to start with a story from this past weekend, but if you aren't into that sort of thing, I'll highlight my questions at the bottom of this post.**

A couple of months ago, I was taking a short spin on my beloved '08, when I crossed paths with an older gentleman on a fully dressed Super Tenere. I sat next to him at an empty intersection just outside of town, and we exchanged pleasantries. I told him I liked his bike (I'll supply pics this evening) and he said he really liked mine. He told me he had recently had heart stints put in and that he was riding this machine because it was lighter and more manageable that his previous cycles. More pleasantries. I went right, he went left, no formal introduction. I didn't see him again.

Saturday at about 11:00am I found myself wandering around on my bike, with no particular destination or agenda. I took a loop around a nice neighborhood and spotted a familiar shape a half mile ahead of me. I let the vtec do it's job and found him waiting for me at the exact same empty stop sign. "We meet again!" I said, and he laughed. He asked me how I was enjoying my bike and I told him I loved it. I told him I still thought his bike was really nice and he said: "Well I'm glad you think that, it's for sale." There was just something off about the way he said it, and being as nosey as I am, I had to dig a bit deeper. I asked him his address and he told me, it just so happens he lives a block from my house. Sometimes the universe just likes to reveal things at weird times. I told him I'd stop by in a bit and to have a good ride. I went right, he went left, and STILL no formal introduction.

It was around noon when I turned onto his street, and there he was out in his front yard, shining his machine with a look on his face like that of a person playing Jenga or Operation- amused and occupied - there was nothing else in his world but the bike and the rag. I left my bike curbside with my helmet and gear (it was HOT and I could tell this conversation could easily get long. It did.) He showed me everything on the bike. Auxilary power, GPS, adjustable windscreen, heated grips, special sauce, lettuce-cheese-pickles-onions-on a sesame seed bun. I asked him what I was dying to know: "Why?". I was prepared for him to tell me that his heart was possibly getting worse, but hoped that it was something trivial like lack of time to enjoy it. It was neither!

The bike was purchased from a guy in Louisiana who has an enviable tradition of buying a new bike every year, and taking an adventure tour (Louisiana to Alaska round trip in this bike's case), then selling the bike. It was then purchased by this man's WIFE- as a gift for him (WHAT A WOMAN!) He told me that she was upset that he was selling it, but the bottom line was that he just couldn't get his leg over it (yes it was adjusted as low as he could get it) and he couldn't sit flat footed on it. Having the recent heart stints, he is not physically capable of lifting the bike if it falls and he wanted something he felt a little more sure on. I asked him what his plan was if someone were to jump at the price (it was priced right, no doubt.) what would he get or what was he thinking about. He pointed at the Interceptor.

WHAT?! I invited him to sit on it and told him he was welcome to start it and even ride it (I KNOW! That's a big no-no to a lot of you, but this one is mine and these were not ordinary circumstances, so halt the construction of the crucifix for now). He sat comfortably, but declined the ride. The conversation shifted back to his bike, and I ended up throwing a leg over to get a pilot's view. there was no denying the comfort and there was no hiding the grin I had on my face, and he said: "alright you ride mine and I'll ride yours, and we'll go for a little spin." Hell yes. Deal. we suited up and we were off. I couldn't believe how comfortable this bike was. I didn't know things got this good without buying a huge touring machine. I let him lead, as he leaned the bike back and forth like he'd been riding it for years. Two perfect strangers with a love for two wheelers. Sometimes you just meet someone and know: you're going to be friends. Keep in mind there's a significant age gap, I'm 35 and I'd put him in his mid to late 60's, but barring him revealing he's a card carrying member of some weird hate-group, I'd say we're probably going to be friends.

So I asked him to reconsider selling the bike, and told him he was welcome to come swap me out any time. he said he thought that could work, and I also told him that a 6th gen interceptor could be found for a relatively low price and altered to fit his comfort. "Oh and by the way, my name's --"

SO... with all that said (IF YOU SKIPPED THE STORY, HERE'S WHERE THE QUESTIONS COME IN!)

What is your setup for maximum comfort on a long ride, for an older guy? I am aware that everyone is different, just looking for suggestions
Seat? Bars? Windscreen? Lowered pegs? What works? What's a waste of time?
Are other generations more comfortable?

 

Like many I've found the combination of Heli Bars & Sargent seat to be what works for me. I had a Puig Double bubble but when I switched from an Arai to an AGV helmet there seemed to be a lot of buffeting. Switched back to the stock windsceen. For me this set up is good for day long rides.

Here's a link to thread from a member that has a bad back: ole man bad back touring setup

 

Not sure if 28 is old enough but, Sargent seat, double bubble screen, NEP throttle lock, and peg lowering blocks (for my knees) and I can make the 800 mile trip to my family in about 12H and not hate my bike the next morning. At 5'9" the wind hits me about mid helmet which at 70-80 seems to hold my head&upper body up taking some weight off my wrists.

 

add a love seat for comfort

 

Love the story! You've spun a good yarn there. I went to your profile to find your name but alas, it was not not to be found, so I will just have to say, thank you Darth for the short story.
So my experience with the beloved interceptor. Mine is an 07 RWB model that I have also put Heli bars on, a Sargent seat, double bubble, flipped triangles and raised the forks 9mm (I'm 5'8"). Also stock suspension upgraded by JD. I've had the bike three and a half years and last August was my first longish ride. San Diego to Yellowstone and back, all side and back roads. 3800 awesome miles. 5 or 6 nights were camping, and motels the rest of the time. Well, this past December I made an EBay purchase of a 2012 Pikes Peak edition Multistrada. OMG! What an impressive motorcycle, probably comfortable like the Super Tenere but with less off road capabilities. Love this bike! I can't bring my self to part with the Honda though(it is special) but the Duc is my ride of choice. After riding the Duc, the Honda feels much more sport than touring. I think that I may invest in the Spiegler bar risers with a taller and wider handle bar (will need new cables) for the Interceptor and probably get a shorter shock spring for the Duc. I can throw my leg over the thing ok, but like your new friend, there's no such thing as flat footin it on this machine!
Oh, heated grips on both bikes, gotta love em. I am a wuss to the cold. By the way, I'm an older dude, Fiddy nine.
John

 

I went pretty much did the same thing most have mentioned here, Heli-bars, Sargent Seat, GIVI windscreen and Daugherty Motorsports modified suspension. Although I'm also 5'8" I did not lower my bike like OutboardJohn did and for some reason I can flatfoot it at stop lights. Maybe we have different length legs/torso?? If I have any sort of additional weight it's easier but unladen I can just get both feet flat.

That being said, the things I would do differently if I were to do them today would be, priority #1 - Update the suspension. This for me was the best of the investments I made and was one of the first I did on my 5 Gen after I bought it. #2 - Go with a custom seat vs. an off the shelf seat like the Sargent. Not because I don't think it isn't any good, I think it could be better, especially the pillion section as the wife still isn't comfortable on the bike for long rides. A custom seat can also be contoured to your posterior and you would more likely have more seat foam options, if the shop is a decent one. The windscreen I'm torn on as I do like the GIVI, I just don't have a comparison to the stock one as I replaced it a while ago and don't remember what riding with it was like.

Although not a bike option, the helmet plays a huge role in comfort and although everybody's head is different and features and preferences are usually unique, picking the "right" helmet can make a huge difference in how you feel at the end of a ride. Ventilation, field of vision, noise level and general fit and feel all add up and can make riding a comfort or a chore. For commuting/touring and any time I'm not going to be really pushing it, I gravitate to my Schuberth C3 modular. Addmittingly it is not for everyone, can be a bit pricey compared to other makes but for me it was also a great ROI. With the SRC comm system it got even better!

Cheers

 

Thanks John, I've always enjoyed telling a good story, and my motorcycle has given me plenty to tell. I also love to hear a good one, and I plan to create an establishment that caters to the modern day bards and travelers, merchants, scoundrels and.. aw hell, we'll just call it a bar. NO, scratch that! Call it a pub or tavern.

Your setup sounds very comfortable! I was looking for a 2007 RWB when I decided I couldn't live without an Interceptor in my garage. I just couldn't pass on the deal I got with the 08. I already have 3/4 inch risers, which for me is very comfortable (6'3). My new friend is somewhere around your height of 5'8 I would say. So here's a couple follow up questions for you: How tall do heli bars get? Can you use risers with them?

BTW, Those Multistradas look great now! I remember browsing a small Ducati shop back in my mid twenties and turning my nose up at the Multistrada, telling the sales guy "it looks like a Llama" to which he replied "Eh, it gets me from A to B" It was neither the first nor the last time I had to pry my own foot out of my mouth.

 

Helibars-sargent seat, gel sport grips, lowering pegs, scotts damper-the bike I think is pretty good and a Cadillac compared to my old R6 Yamaha-I still miss it though.

 

Thank you for the feedback! After much consideration- as to my own comfort setup- I'm going to change my stock windscreen to a Givi because of that distinct upward curve at the top. I may give the zero gravity touring screen a try if that one doesn't do it for me. Other than that, my bike is setup in a comfortable manor for my larger frame. Maybe a bit stiffer forks later, but not right now.

Has anyone on this forum (or off) done a bar setup like the GSX 650F or the streetfighters? I thought that might be a viable option, but didn't know if it would change the handling in a dangerous way.

As for my new friend- I'll keep him current on any listings for used VFRs I find. But if it keeps him on the road in comfort and (most important) in his wife's good graces, I'll swap bikes with him for a weekend.

 

How much more room do you get from the lowering pegs? Are they made to order or is there a retailer that stocks them?

 

An upward curving screen will deflect the bugs but may also create a lot of turbulence behind it, therefore might work against you. A friend of mine had one on his 05 and when he and I changed bikes for a few miles, he found that my stock was better than his Givi. I can't say I noticed much of a difference riding his. A lot will depend of course on the length, or lack of, your upper torso. I have the Puig double bubble which is practically the same shape as the Zero gravity now. I am happy with it. But I bought it more for the smoked screen rather than the double bubble.

I rode mine for a few years with the stock seat and changed to the Sargent seat. I can't say I noticed a big difference here either. I put on a few long hard rides with the stock seat and was fine with that. Then again, I just came out of several years (two decades really) riding a bicycle to and from work so maybe I have callouses on my ass at that time. Now that I am older and probably turned into a softy where the seat meets the saddle, I might notice the difference now. I still have the old OEM so maybe I should give this a try.

I put a set of Helirisers on the bike just last year. There was an improvement there. But is was not earth shattering. Three very long trips were made with OEM and one with the helirisers. Again, it would depend on the length of your upper torso.

 

I love stories like this one. I have no problem letting people I have a good vibe with ride my bike. So I totally "get" why you let this gentleman ride your bike.

I am not older like this guy, but I do have health issues stemming from a serious car accident many years ago. I have a bad back, bad knees, and a bad left shoulder. Should had surgery already, back will be getting surgery in about a year, and at least one knee will be replaced in a few years. I have made comfort changes to all my bikes too. So the following will be from my experiences:

To me the most important thing for comfort is the rider triangle - the distance between the wrists, hips, and knees. With so many variables between leg, arm and torso length there is not going to be a single setup that works for everyone in all situations. On my 5th gen I had Helibars. My 6th & 7th didn't need them. All of them I lowered the footpegs. For the 5th gen, I used BusyLittleShop (BLS) lowering blocks These are my favorite footpeg solution. The 6th gen had MRA Vario adjustable footpegs and I did not like them at all. On my 7th gen, BLS doesn't make lowering blocks so I bought Buell footpegs. Not as good as the BLS solution, but better than MRA. All three solutions give about an inch more leg room.

Helibars are good, but depending on the guys needs, converibars my be the best route. They are adjustable therefore far more likely he will find a position that works best for him. The only drawback to Convertibars and the LSL handlebar conversion is that he would need new lines for the clutch and brakes.

For the hips, Sargent and Corbin work for many, but a custom seat is the best route bar none. Laam seats, Russell Day Long saddles are big names, but you can save a fortune if there is a local upholsterer. that can work with you on the shape.

For the windshield, the best I have used was the MRA Vario touring screen:


At it's lowest it is similar to the OEM, set at it's highest it is higher than the double bubbles. Really nice setup IMO.

That's the important stuff for me. Suspension is something he already knows what he likes.

 

Yeah, I don't let just anybody ride my bike. Even though it's not a supersport, it's no toy. This guy was definitely a motorcyclist, and when you know, you know. That's not to say I didn't have a little anxiety following him, but he rode it smoothly like he'd owned it for years. When we got back he told me it reminded him of when he went to a California Superbike clinic in Wisconsin, in the nineties. It's my assumption that he's earned his stripes.


Thank you for your input! I hope your health improves with time!

The MRA Vario was one I had seen on the street, and didn't get a chance to ask the owner about. Now that I know what it's called I can research it. I ended up ordering the Zero Gravity Sport Touring screen from Revzilla yesterday even though I was dead set on the Givi. I read a couple reviews that supported what Randy was saying about turbulence behind the screen. the ZG should be here Friday, I'll post my findings after a test ride if I can get one in over the weekend.

Just a bit off topic, Marriedman: How do you like your 1200? I've never ridden one, but saw one at a local dearlership and thought I might test ride it.

 

knight design lowering pegs did give my knees a boost

 

I fricken love this bike. No joke. There are only two things about I don't like; the fuel range sucks and I the sound. The gear driven cams and exhaust note of the 5th gen is the best sounding motorcycle I have ever heard. I like it better than the current triples and any of the V4's or V twins. I have a friend with a Ducati Pannigale and I still think the 5th gen sounds better.

The mpg's of the 7th gen is not bad, but I have had the low fuel indicator come on at 120 miles a couple times now. The tank is small. It's not really a big deal because I need to get off the bike and stretch frequently, it's just the perception that I am filling up often. I have a DAM exhaust on the bike now and it has helped a lot with the exhaust note, but it is still no where as cool as the 5th gen with its 90 degree V and firing order for the sound I love.

Aside from those nitpicks, I can't think of a single area where the 7th gen is lacking. It does everything that my 5th gen did, just better. Brakes are better. Much better. The suspension is better and with upgrades it will be light years better. I love having a drive shaft instead of a chain now. No mess and low, low maintenance. You never realize how much noise a chain make until it isn't there anymore. And the drive shaft has this cool spooling or winding down sound when you are slowing down. Similar to the GDC sound, but much more subtle. Even with the 1st & 2nd gear retardation from the factory, the power of this bike is incredible. There is a feeling that the torque is just endless. I don't think I have ever smiled as much on a bike as I have on this one. It is a bike that makes me look like a better rider! I was bemoaning that I was timid on the bike when I first got it because I didn't think I was leaning as far or taking corners as well as my other bikes. But when I was with some friends, they unanimously said that they had never seen me lean as far over nor take corners as fast. The refinement of this bike allows it to ride so smooth that I cannot judge my speed the same way I did on the 5th & 6th gen. The chassis, suspension, and brakes are just phenomenal.

I have to be honest with you, I hated my 6th gen. The only reason I sold my 5th gen was because many people on here and VFRD that have more experience than I do love their 6th gens. So I figured it would be a safe upgrade. I found it to be a gutless bike before the VTEC engagement and souless after it. I had that bike farkled out to the max but I still found no joy in riding it. I made excuses not to ride on any given day. I still think they are gorgeous bikes, but they do not stir my soul anymore. Maybe if I had never owned the 5th gen I would have liked it better, but all I could think about when I was on that bike was everything that it was not.

Now I don't want to sound like I am saying the 6th gen is a bad bike! It just wasn't the bike for me. I loved the ABS and appreciated the updated suspension. So I wanted to keep those aspects and I really wanted to keep a V4. That pretty much only leaves the 7th gen. I took a risk on it hoping that I would learn to love the things that I initially didn't care for. The looks are polarizing. In person it is a much better looking bike. The rider triangle is different than either the 5th or 6th, but it fits me well and I got used to it with only a footpeg swap. I actually like the seat shape, but it needs to be upgraded with better foam. Luckily the gamble I took on the 7th gen has paid off because I just can't get enough of this bike! lol, I remember getting back on my 6th gen after test riding my 7th gen. It was just sad. All I could think about was how great everything was on the 1200. Parking lot maneuvers were easier for me on the 1200 and the feeling of power... just intoxicating!

Anyways, sorry for the book. But as you can see, I love me some VFR's and can talk about them all day!

 

I can appreciate that. As I delve deeper into these forums I see a lot of love for all generations of these bikes. I have no frame of reference on the older generations, but I love mine. I think I'll give that 1200 a ride when I get a chance. It's been there for quite some time, and I just don't understand why. I think they want under 10 grand for it, with hard bags. heres a link...
http://www.mcgrathpowersports.com/d...a&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

 

Man, hard bags and exhaust. That's pretty nice. Mine had 5500 miles on it I think when I bought it, but it was bone stock. I haggled the shit out of them and got it out the door (tax/title/license) for $7500! And that was without a trade in. I would not go higher than $8500 for that bike though. Is it worth $10? Yep. But there are too many of them for sale cheaper. You may have to drive further for a deal, but it would be worth it.
Of course, that is only if you end up lusting after it after test riding!

 

We'll see what a test ride brings, but I'm in no hurry to give up my bike just yet. My son thinks its the single coolest thing on the planet, and being the first bike my wife "let" me buy puts some sentimental value on it. It doesn't have to be special to anyone else, but its mine and it's special to me.