[rrages]

Just thinking out loud here, but the advice of the very experienced among you is welcomed.

I've had my CBR for a couple months now and love it's looks and smoothness and everything about it except the comfort level. I am a bit older and have lots of aches and pains, but riding for more than a few minutes makes my knees and elbows hurt. My right foot goes to sleep. Even my hands and wrists ache. I am much more relaxed than I used to be so don't bother advising me to relax. I hurt when I'm doing nothing. It's the position the bike forces on me, I guess.

My question is, are standards or moderate cruiser designs like a Honda Shadow RS or Triumph Bonneville more comfortable overall? The seating position is certainly very different. I don't plan to travel on the bike and I avoid city traffic so it's come down to simply a pleasure machine for evening rides in the country or quick trips here and there. I realize that sitting on a few bikes will give me more input than all of the advice in the world, but the advice I hear from the experts on this forum seems to be the best around - anywhere! So let's hear it.

Note: I will not be parting with the CBR anytime soon, if ever. It is the perfect training bike and my skill level is improving with each ride. Thinking long term here. The CBR will probably wind up in my college age son's hands after he proves himself a bit more.

 

[ice_burg]

The riding position of the Shadow etc.. is more comfortable in that it is more chair like.. Not forward leaning like a sport, even though the CBR has much less lean than most other sport bikes.

 

[Redeye]

The riding position of the Shadow etc.. is more comfortable in that it is more chair like.. Not forward leaning like a sport, even though the CBR has much less lean than most other sport bikes.

Agreed. For many riders, these bikes are probably more comfortable. I've had surgery near the base of my spine, and find the slight forward lean on the CBR provides a more comfortable long ride by taking some pressure off that part of my body.

My back is fine, but my knees were uncomfortable with the CBR's seating position at first. After less than two months and over 2,200 miles, I'm finding the CBR more and more agreeable overall.

Otherwise, I might be riding an entirely different type of motorcycle and missed out on this great ride. But rrages, I understand aches and pains and being "a bit older." Just a bit. Sometimes we need to make adjustments for things that didn't need adjusting a few years ago.

 

[kfsrq]

A cushion helps.

Every rider is unique, of course, but I may be a typical older rider. I weigh
160 pounds and am about 5'9" tall, so I am bonier than some, but not skinny.

I find that a cushion helps. I use a hunk of foam, two inches thick. Mine is covered with a nifty cover, but that is not necessary. I hold it down with a couple of bungee cords, and I sit on it. It stays put.

I have used this on rides of over 200 miles, and it helps a lot. My 250 is very new, and I have not used my cushion on it, but I have used it on a CBR-125R and on a 650 I also ride, sometimes much farther than 200 miles in a day. The cushion makes a lot of difference.

I am not minimizing your joint pain, but I cannot address it because I don't have it. Yet, I suppose I should add.

Perhaps the additional padding of a cushion would let you adjust your position a little bit from time to time. I find that helps me, and it might help you.

If you find a particular style of cushion helps a lot, you can have the seat reupholstered, incorporating the cushion under the vinyl. That way it won't fall off or get wet.

Good luck!
Keith

 

[jsonder]

If you like the CBR250R except for the ergonomics, try sitting on both the CRF250L and NC700X. The former gives you a "standard" with more distance to the pegs, a near vertical seating/lean angle, and pretty much the same engine. The NC700X is true standard with a under-square engine that gets good gas mileage.

 

[Red_Ryder]

I am a bit older and have lots of aches and pains, but riding for more than a few minutes makes my knees and elbows hurt. My right foot goes to sleep. Even my hands and wrists ache.

Well I'm older than dirt and have aches and pains just about everywhere.
Some days it's to a point where it doesn't seem like a good idea to go for a ride.
But.....to heck with the aches and pain I'm going to ride.

You've heard the saying, "Dress for the crash....."
Well I also dress for the aches and pain.
If I hurt to where I'm uncomfortable sometimes I take 4 ibuprofen before riding.
It helps a lot. That's hospital strength.

My right wrist always bothers me. Not from riding but PC mouse syndrome I guess.
I never have a tight grip on the throttle but it bothers me.
I wrap my wrist with the elastic self adhesive tape.
Helps a lot.

Also you may want to look at other grips i.e. foam.
There's vibration in the bars I can feel just by having my hand on to the throttle.
Maybe better bar ends.
Gloves: If their too tight it will cause your fingers to fall asleep.
Plus good padded gloves help.

Knees: I have wrestler type knee pads I wear under my pants.
Helps a lot plus some protection.

Elbows: When they bothered me I wore those elbow support things
they sell in the drugstore. Helps.

Back: Might want to try a back support belt.
The type they sell at Lowe's for support when lifting.

Foot: If your foot is flexed toe-up on the peg tight boots can restrict blood flow.

I know this all sounds crazy but I dress for the aches and pains.
Look at pro football players.
Pre-game they're taped, supports, braces etc.

 

[Skyway6]

as an older person as well i find any bike get uncomfortable after a long ride. A long ride = a non-stop hwy ride of 80 to 160km. I found my prior ride (x9 scooter) which is a maxi scooter and more upright feet forward like a cruiser to be killer on my knees and back.

never thought i would be riding a sportbike but i like the ergo of this CBR. Still need to take a break every hour or so. Just being able to stop in traffic or at a light for a brief leg stretch is enough. I think a full on RR-type of sportsbike would kill me.
I think a sport tourer is in my future tho. Kawasaki Ninja650abs or ER/6N are more upright compared to the CBR. Too bad Honda does not have a bike of similar ergo and power as those two.

I also like the Kawasaki Versys and Suzuki V-Strom 650. While they are even more upright and Vstrom riders i have spoken with say they super comfy on long rides and even handle twisty roads just fine. i would have to see it to believe it tho.

 

[pete_falcone]

I suffer from scoliosis. I think the problem isn't so much the rider position, but keeping to a fixed position for a prolongued period of time. Airplane seats have a comfortable reclined position, but if I stay in that one position too long, my joints stiffen up and start to ache. The key is to change up your body position periodically. For me, I'll sit standard posture for 5 min, then lay on the tank bag, then sit further back on the seat and do an aggressive laydown, hug the tank with my knees, flap my legs like a duck, stand on the pegs for a few seconds... It looks weird to an outside observer, but it helps keep me loose.

 

[snick8467]

go to the link marked awesome in my sig. it'll help you "sit" on any bike you want, and compare posture.

 

[david92xj]

when i first started riding, my knees would hurt after a few minutes. since then i have been riding with the ball of my feet on the pegs and that has fixed my issues. when i kept my foot under the shifter, my knee seemed to be at a weird angle against the tank and it would make my knee pop sometimes similar to cracking your knuckle.

 

[Cambobomb]

If you can't fix the bike, maybe fix the rider. Are you physically active? Do you stretch? If not, maybe you need a couch with two wheels.

 

[spdklls]

Being 41 years old and having spent many hours riding on long trips on the CBR....some as long as 7-8 hours..I have decided that 4..maybe 5 hours tops..is my limit for a ride at one time in a single day..and thats with the Corbin seat.

I have already decided that I want a Suzuki Boulevard C50 as my 'spend all day ridin" long distance riding bike for 2 reasons.....My comfort and passenger comfort...Hopefully I can get one next year after tax return time...Plan on keeping the CBR250R just the same...daily commuting and short 2-3 hour country rides is this bikes strong suit