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So you have finally decided to pursue the dream of owning a dirt bike. But, you only have one problem. You went shopping for a dirt bike and didn’t feel comfortable on any of the machines that they had at the dealership. Dirt bikes are designed for the average of height, generally from 5 ‘ 7” to 5’ 10” and not specifically for the tall rider that you are. But with a few tips and tricks you could be riding that dirt bike of your dreams in comfort sooner than you think.

Proper set up on your dirt bike is important for everyone that is riding but especially important for a tall rider. Being taller, a larger frame, and generally larger hands and feet can become problems when reaching for the shift lever or the brake levers.  A proper set up can mean the difference between an enjoyable ride and a dangerous ride or the difference between placing in the middle of the pack and standing on the middle of the podium drinking champagne. Below we have listed some important considerations when setting up your new bike so you can enjoy every minute on that next ride.

What’s Important in a set up?

So you want a dirt bike to be safe when riding and maybe a chance to win next weekends race. Well, there are a multitude of adjustments that you can make on your new dirt bike to make this happen. These range from  simple adjustment’s to replacing major components to allow proper adjustability. Some of these countless adjustments include the positioning of your foot control heights, handle bar and handle bar mounts, and shifter positioning. If you wanted to have a Professional Factory Dirt Bike just like the professionals you can make more complicated changes. These changes mostly include tweaking the suspension components to get the bike to feel like its part of the rider. These adjustments can include things like, adjustable rebound dampening, fork and shock oil height and viscosity changes and adjustable pre load. Some of these adjustments are very complicated and do not attempt unless you are well experienced or have done proper research.

Dirt Bike Setup Adjustments

Like described above there is an abundance of adjustments that can be made on your new dirt bike but there are a few that are very important when setting up a dirt bike for a tall rider. These changes generally involve replacing parts to get the desired fit for your specific height.

• Springs
• Seat
• Handle Bars
• Foot Pegs

Stiffer springs are very important for taller riders with a larger frame. By replacing the factory springs, things like sag and ride height are adjusted for your specific weight.

Obtaining a comfortable riding position can be a little more difficult and can be a process of trial and error. Aftermarket companies produce seat foam that is taller than the factory seat. Some of these companies can also offer various foam densities to provide the most comfortable fit.Replacing a seat can be a matter of riding style. Some riders transition to sitting and standing often while riding, however some riders mostly stand. In this situation changing the seat height may not be as important as other adjustments would be. Here is our guide on the best harley davidson seat for tall riders.

Another factor in riding position is handle bar height. Handlebars can be adjusted in many different ways. You can replace the handle bar risers with a taller or shorter riser to adjust height, or you could replace the handlebars with a taller designed handlebar. Some riders find that a combination of both is required to get the proper height for their set up.

After adjusting the handlebars the foot pegs are next. Foot peg height is not generally adjustable from the factory. This means adjusting foot peg height will involve replacing the foot pegs. There are foot peg manufacturers that manufacturer foot pegs with multiple height options which make it easy to find the right height for your specific set up. After a comfortable riding position has been found, focus should be directed towards hand and foot control’s. After all, what’s a good set up if you can’t apply the brakes when you need to. Having larger feet generally mean an extended shifter is required. This places the shifter peg further from the foot peg to accommodate larger feet. Handle bar  lever adjustment can be very simple, the brake and clutch lever’s can be moved further up the handle bar or forward to accommodate the proper location for the tall rider. If you really want to change that bike to fit you like a glove there is a company that offers a solution for you. They have designed, and manufactured bolt on kits that accommodate tall riders by raising the sub frame, handlebars and tank to accommodate taller riders.

While you may not be looking to completely change the frame on your new bike. You now have a little more insight into what goes into setting up a dirt bike for a tall rider. So remember the next time that you are out looking at that dream dirt bike. With a little bit of trial and error and the proper parts you too can have a dirt bike that is not only comfortable to ride but also set up properly to win that next race.

Do you love riding but find that due to your height your back starts to ache after just a few miles. Would you love to be able to go for those marathon, 500 mile rides with your friends on the Harley Davidson you just bought? We looked at and reviewed the 3 best motorcycle seats for tall riders below. Check them out and you will be riding in comfort and style, and when your friends want to go on their next ride you will be right there beside them.

What to Look for in a Seat

There are many things to look for in an aftermarket motorcycle seat, but the most important are, style, comfort, and price. When you replace your motorcycle seat you don’t want it to look like your Grandma’s bicycle seat, you want it to give your Harley Davidson a unique, one of a kind look. With various options like custom saddle leather seats to plain black vinyl there are many different options. We find the best looking, and most cost effective seats are black vinyl with unique stitching patterns. By varying the design of the stitching on the seat you will give your seat an edgy look that is completely different than any seat that came on your Harley from the factory.

The most important benefit of an motorcycle seat for tall riders is comfort. By using custom foam and seat dimensions in there designs aftermarket seat manufacturers can place your body in different positions that can help alleviate the pain that is associated with long rides, which range from severe back aches to butt pain. Also available on some seats are back rests, these can be indispensable on long rides but watch out because some seats do not allow the use of back rests if you carry passengers while riding. Aftermarket motorcycle seats can also vary in width, so if you are a larger rider remember this when you are choosing a new seat, because even though it looks good, if it doesn’t fit good its not going to be comfortable.

Price is one of those aspects of choosing a seat that no one wishes they had to contend with. Motorcycle seats are not cheap and  you get what you pay for. The seats below are not the cheapest options but the benefits they provide are worth every penny. Remember, there are lots of accessories to make your motorcycle look good, but only one that will make it comfortable on those long rides.

So you have found out what we look for when choosing a motorcycle seat for tall riders, take a look below to see our list of the top 3 motorcycle seats for tall riders.

Mustang Vintage Touring with Reciever for Harley Davidson

This one-piece seat measures in at 19” wide for the driver and the passenger seat measures in at 14” wide. By placing the driver 1 3/4” further to the rear of the bike and lower than the stock seat, they are designed for the best fitting and most comfortable seating for tall riders on those long all day rides. There is room for a few improvements with this seat, first if you like riding with a backrest this seat is not compatible with Mustang or Harley Davidson driver backrests, the seat foam is also firm which could be loved or hated by riders depending on their personal preferences. Overall this is a great quality seat, and if you like a firm seat this one will fit your needs perfectly.

Danny Gray 21-414 Solo Seat

This seats low price compared to our other two options make it a great choice for our solo riders that do not carry passengers. Primarily designed for high speed stability and control this seat is ideal on those days when high winds are possible. By providing a different riding position that is forward and down roughly 2” this seat provides a different riding position than a factory seat. Again a slightly firm feel is the only downfall to this seat, but we feel the full grain leather and the fact that it is made in the USA more than makes up for that and those are the reasons this seat sits at number two in our review.

La Pera Maverick Daddy Long Legs Seat with Backrest

This seat is the most expensive on our list, but it does have some of the best features. This custom looking seat is specifically designed for tall riders that need more room during their rides, it provides the driver with an amazing extra 2” of room while still providing the passenger with the best comfort possible. With a 15” wide seat for the driver and a 13 3/4” wide passenger seat, along with special contouring that provides great support to the riders, this seat provides the best possible seating for large and tall riders.  This seat also has a backrest which some riders will find irreplaceable during those long rides. The only downfall and the reason this seat is number three on our list is the price. But if price wasn’t a factor this seat could possible challenge our #1 spot for the Best Motorcyle seat for tall riders.
Hope this overview of the best motorcycle seats for tall riders will help in your decision on what seat to buy for your Harley Davidson, and maximize the amount of miles that you put on this year in the riding season.

When riding motorcycles being tall is a downfall, with  most motorcycles being designed for the average person it leads to uncomfortable riding positions for tall riders. This causes tall riders to not enjoy their ride but always being waiting for that next stop so they can relax and stretch out. (editor’s note: check out our guide on the essential motorcycle gear for tall riders)

What to look for in a Touring Motorcycle for Tall Riders

There are a few things that you need to look for when researching the best touring motorcycle for a tall rider. Comfort is number one, generally a touring motorcycle is designed for traveling large distances so an ideal seat height is important for tall riders, but you don’t want too high of a seat that makes it uncomfortable to reach the pavement during a stop. You won’t want to stop when riding a comfortable motorcycle, this is when fuel capacity becomes important, by having a large fuel capacity you can stop when you want to not when the motorcycle needs refueled. With modern motorcycles, security and safety is a very important need. Most modern touring motorcycles are equipped with large brake discs to allow the shortest stopping distances possible. But, when stopping so quickly, brake lock up becomes a possibility. This is why you will notice some of the best designed bikes will come with ABS, ABS doesn’t allow shorter stopping distances but will keep your brakes from locking up and allow you to keep control of your motorcycle no matter how hard you brake. Along with ABS some of the higher end motorcycles are now equipped with traction control, so no matter what the conditions you will not spin the rear wheel. These are only a few of the things to look for when buying a touring motorcycle for tall riders, so make sure you take each one for a test drive to ensure that you find the best fit for your size.

We have taken these things into consideration and came up with a list of the 5 best touring motorcycles for tall riders, check them out below.

 BMW R1200GS

The new R1200GS is the latest example of a motorcycle that has been defining travel enduro’s for over 32 years. At the twist of the throttle the 1200cc engine that this motorcycle is equipped with puts an amazing 125hp to the pavement. With uniform power and great torque this engine provides all the power needs for a large tall rider. From the factory this motorcycle has a seat height of 33 ½” which is perfect for taller riders. But this motorcycle has the ultimate design for taller riders, not only is the seat adjustable but so are the footrests, passenger seat, brake and gear shift levers, and also the handlebars. This allows taller riders to optimize the adjustments of all these controls to provide the most comfortable ride for their height.

 Suzuki V-Strom

With a seating height of 33.1” this bike is best suited for tall riders that are looking for a comfortable ride. With a smooth fuel injected DOHC v-twin this engine will provide you with all the power you will ever need while providing excellent fuel mileage during those long rides. This motorcycle has a slim seat to tank joining area which allows riders to comfortably reach the pavement when you hit those red lights. Options that make this motorcycle shine are the adjustable windscreen, which adjusts not only for angle but also height, and the ABS and traction control that will help give you a safe ride during the most adverse riding conditions.

Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

If you not only like to be comfortable while riding but also want to look good doing it, than this bike is for you. With amazing Italian design, a 1200cc Testastretta DVT engine and 30 litre fuel tank this motorcycle will take you anywhere you want to go in amazing style.  This motorcycle provides its riders with an excellent seat height of 33 1/2”. It also contains more electronics than your local computer store, DucatiTraction Control, Ride By Wire, Ducati Wheelie Control, Semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evolution, hands free ignition, and buttons on your handlebars that allow you, via bluetooth to your smart phone, to answer calls and listen to music while you are riding, the only thing that is missing is an on board bathroom.

KTM Adventure R

With a motorcycle that comes standard with steel crash bars and adventure in it’s name you know it will be as comfortable off road as it is on road. With a fully filled fuel tank of 23 litres this motorcycle weighs in at 513 lbs which makes it one of the lightest bikes in its segment. With an 1195 cc engine this motorcycle is not only fast but it is also equipped with 320mm front disc and 268mm rear Brembo brake discs and Bosch 9ME C-ABS which will allow you to stop quickly in any conditions.

Kawasaki KLR650

While being the smallest displacement motorcycle(651cc) on our list it is not a slouch, with off road styling and great on road handling this motorcycle is a no nonsense bare bones touring motorcycle. With the tallest seat height of any bike in our list, at 35”, you will be using every drop of fuel in its 22 litre fuel tank before having to stop and fill up. With a factory 12 month warranty and the choice of an optional Kawasaki Protection Plus you can choose between plans that offer up to four years of unlimited miles/hours protection for worry free riding.

As you have seen in our list of Best Touring Motorcycles for Tall Riders, dual purpose enduro style motorcycles all have tall seat heights. With a tall seat height and ample room to move around while riding these motorcycles are the best choice for tall riders, and remember the best part of an enduro style motorcycle is you will leave no road or trail untouched while you are riding.